# ControlMySpa vs Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool at 63% against ControlMySpa's 10%. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). ControlMySpa's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (3.9 vs 3.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per year. ControlMySpa asks for nothing beyond the download.

ControlMySpa holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 618 and 287 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 10% of ControlMySpa's written reviews are positive against 63% of Pool Math by TroubleFreePool's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ControlMySpa ships an update every 5 weeks, Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ControlMySpa | Pool Math by TroubleFreePool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (618 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controlmyspa/id1193806359/reviews)** | [3.6 (287 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-math-by-troublefreepool/id1228819359/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **618** | 287 |
| Positive reviews | 10.3% of reviews | **63.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 12 MB | 314 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Balboa Water Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/469886191) | [TroubleFreePool](https://appshunter.io/developer/1228819358) |

## What reviewers say

### ControlMySpa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controlmyspa/id1193806359)

Remotely manage your hot tub's temperature, lighting, and schedules from your smartphone or tablet. Receive instant alerts for potential issues, ensuring peace of mind even when you're away.

**Highlights:** Remote temperature control, Lighting management, Schedule setup, Push notification alerts, Problem detection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- ⏱️ Scheduling capabilities
- 💰 Potential energy savings
- 👍 Intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- ⏱️ Slow response times
- 🔌 Unreliable connectivity
- 📚 Lack of documentation
- 🤖 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent temperature display
- Inability to save settings
- Login issues and lost credentials
- Crashes and freezes after updates

**Requested features**

- More granular temperature control
- Ability to control lights and jets
- Improved scheduling options
- Push notifications for status changes


### Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-math-by-troublefreepool/id1228819359)

Easily manage your swimming pool's water chemistry by tracking key levels like chlorine and pH. This app calculates the precise amounts of chemicals needed to maintain clear, algae-free water, offering a cost-effective alternative to pool store advice.

**Highlights:** Chemical level calculators (pH, Chlorine, Alkalinity, etc.), Track pool maintenance tasks, Log chemical additions, Weather condition tracking, Chemical addition effect calculations, Bleach price comparison, Data backup and export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pool Math Premium Subscription | $7.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Excellent for maintaining a clean, balanced pool
- 🔍 Comprehensive tracking of test results and chemical additions
- 🧠 Helpful recommendations for chemical adjustments
- ⚙️ Useful features like SLAM mode and timeline
- 🤖 Automatic weather data logging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with data syncing and backup
- 🤔 Unintuitive interface and navigation
- 💰 Subscription model and lack of one-time purchase
- 🚫 Limited support for non-chlorine sanitizers and spa-specific options
- 🔄 Bugs with chemical addition logging and target value retention

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues and inability to restore purchases
- App crashes and freezes on certain actions
- Incorrect chemical recommendations and calculations
- Disappearing historical data after updates

**Requested features**

- Custom target ranges and alerts
- Ability to log non-standard chemical additions
- Export options for data analysis
- Apple Watch integration
- Improved user guidance and on-boarding


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ControlMySpa free?

ControlMySpa is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pool Math by TroubleFreePool free?

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ControlMySpa or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool?

ControlMySpa is rated higher. ControlMySpa averages 3.9 out of 5 from 618 ratings, while Pool Math by TroubleFreePool averages 3.6 from 287 ratings.

### Do ControlMySpa or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool have ads?

Neither ControlMySpa nor Pool Math by TroubleFreePool shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ControlMySpa or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool?

ControlMySpa ships an update every 5 weeks, and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. Most recently, ControlMySpa was updated on November 13, 2026 and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool on November 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*