WaterGuru vs NPT Backyard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WaterGuru
This app provides comprehensive control over your pool's water chemistry. It helps maintain a safe environment by keeping out harmful contaminants and offers lab-grade analysis and treatment advice for simplified pool management.
- Pool water chemistry control
- Harmful virus and bacteria prevention
- Lab-grade analysis
- Water treatment advice
- Simplified pool management
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Get ultimate control over your pool water chemistry with WaterGuru. Keep harmful viruses and bacteria out and simplify how you manage your pool forever. Rebuilt from the ground up, the next generation app includes all features you love and more, including lab grade analysis and water treatment advice.
NPT Backyard
Visualize your dream pool in your own backyard using augmented reality. This app offers stunning 4k graphics, advanced lighting, and realistic water simulations to help you design and preview your perfect pool.
- Augmented Reality pool visualization
- 4k graphics
- Realistic lighting effects
- Advanced water systems
- Design your dream pool
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This application will no longer be available. Existing users will be required to upgrade to the new version and when opened, Users will be directed to our Website.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: WaterGuru at 74% against NPT Backyard's 43%. WaterGuru also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
WaterGuru holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 239 and 101 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of WaterGuru's written reviews are positive against 43% of NPT Backyard's.
WaterGuru ships an update every 4 weeks, NPT Backyard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WaterGuru | NPT Backyard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (239 ratings) — better | 3.7 (101 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 73.8% of reviews — better | 42.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 239 — better | 101 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 155 MB | 117 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | WaterGuru, Inc | Pool Corporation |
Customer experience
WaterGuru
NPT Backyard
User reviews
WaterGuru
From 239 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💰 Money saver
- 🔍 Accurate readings
- 🕰️ Convenient daily monitoring
- 👨💻 Excellent customer service
- 🔧 Easy to use
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔋 Battery drain
- 🤖 Inaccurate readings for some parameters
- 💸 Expensive cartridges
- 🤷♂️ Unreliable device
NPT Backyard
From 101 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great for visualizing pool options
- 👍 Helpful for remodel planning
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Good for comparing finishes and colors
- 👍 AR view enhances visualization
Room to improve
- 😞 Limited design options
- 😞 Cannot create custom pool shapes
- 😞 AR view often doesn't work
- 😞 Inaccurate rendering of water color
- 😞 App crashes frequently
Bugs and requests
WaterGuru
Reported bugs
3 issues- App notifications not working properly
- Inability to upload pool photos
- Inconsistent app performance after updates
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to set custom testing schedule
- Measure salt levels
- Provide more advice on adjusting water chemistry
- Add hourly temperature readings
NPT Backyard
Reported bugs
6 issues- AR doesn't work
- App crashes when viewing tiles
- App crashes frequently
- App is slow and hangs
- Water color doesn't change with plaster choices
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- Tutorial is useless
Requested features
6 requests- Option to design a remodel for existing pools
- Ability to change pool dimensions within the app
- More standard pool shapes available (e.g., round spa)
- Include all pool tiles from the catalog
- Ability to drag and position the pool design in the yard
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- More realistic water color rendering based on plaster choices
In-app purchases
WaterGuru
No in-app purchases
NPT Backyard
No in-app purchases
