# Pool Math by TroubleFreePool vs RUN

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool at 63% against RUN's 21%. RUN's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.7) and monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 and RUN sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

RUN holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 272 and 968 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Pool Math by TroubleFreePool's written reviews are positive against 21% of RUN's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool ships an update fortnightly, RUN every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pool Math by TroubleFreePool | RUN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (272 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-math-by-troublefreepool/id1228819359/reviews) | **[4.2 (968 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-chicken/id6468944470/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 272 | **968** |
| Positive reviews | **63.4% of reviews** | 20.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 314 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TroubleFreePool](https://appshunter.io/developer/1228819358) | [RUN-TIGER](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711002359) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### RUN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-chicken/id6468944470)

Control and optimize your automated chicken coop door. Set custom timers or sync with sunrise for automatic opening and closing. Monitor door status for flock safety and convenience.

**Highlights:** Configure door opening/closing, Set custom timers, Sync with sunrise, Built-in GPS feature, Overview of door statuses, User-friendly interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium - Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy installation and setup (for some)
- 👍 Reliable operation (for some)
- 👍 Keeps chickens safe at night
- 👍 Convenient automatic open/close
- 👍 Works with older models (with workaround)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App connectivity issues
- 🐛 Bluetooth connection problems
- 🐛 App updates breaking functionality
- 🐛 Incompatibility with older/non-Bluetooth models
- 🐛 Loss of manual control/buttons

**Reported bugs**

- Bluetooth not connecting
- App not detecting doors after update
- Door resets and stays open after update
- Non-Bluetooth doors incompatible with new app
- App locks up and doesn't respond

**Requested features**

- Bring back physical buttons
- Allow programming without internet
- Add remote open/close functionality
- Show door status (open/closed/stuck)
- Improve app stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pool Math by TroubleFreePool free?

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

### Is RUN free?

RUN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

RUN is rated higher. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool averages 3.7 out of 5 from 272 ratings, while RUN averages 4.2 from 968 ratings.

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

Neither Pool Math by TroubleFreePool nor RUN shows ads.

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

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool ships an update fortnightly, and RUN every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pool Math by TroubleFreePool was updated on September 29, 2026 and RUN on October 1, 2026.

---

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