# Pool Math by TroubleFreePool vs PoolDrops

The clearest difference is ads: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool at none against PoolDrops's shown. PoolDrops's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 PoolDrops sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool ships an update fortnightly, PoolDrops every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pool Math by TroubleFreePool | PoolDrops |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (272 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-math-by-troublefreepool/id1228819359/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **272** | — |
| Positive reviews | 63.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 314 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TroubleFreePool](https://appshunter.io/developer/1228819358) | [Luis Amador](https://appshunter.io/developer/6814892388) |

## 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


### PoolDrops

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pooldrops/id6814892386)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PoolDrops Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pool Math by TroubleFreePool free?

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

### Is PoolDrops free?

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

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

PoolDrops shows ads; Pool Math by TroubleFreePool does not.

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

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool ships an update fortnightly, and PoolDrops every 5 days. Most recently, Pool Math by TroubleFreePool was updated on October 16, 2026 and PoolDrops on October 18, 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.*