# NPT Backyard vs Poolside Attendant

The clearest difference is rating: Poolside Attendant at 4.5 against NPT Backyard's 3.7. Poolside Attendant also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 43%). NPT Backyard's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Poolside Attendant holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NPT Backyard has 101 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of NPT Backyard's written reviews are positive against 67% of Poolside Attendant's.

NPT Backyard ships an update every 2 months, Poolside Attendant every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NPT Backyard | Poolside Attendant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npt-backyard/id1478178328/reviews) | **[4.5 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolside-attendant/id1536263951/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **101** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 42.5% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 117 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pool Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/508083385) | [Poolside Tech LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536263953) |

## What reviewers say

### NPT Backyard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npt-backyard/id1478178328)

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.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality pool visualization, 4k graphics, Realistic lighting effects, Advanced water systems, Design your dream pool

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for visualizing pool options
- 👍 Helpful for remodel planning
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Good for comparing finishes and colors
- 👍 AR view enhances visualization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Limited design options
- 😞 Cannot create custom pool shapes
- 😞 AR view often doesn't work
- 😞 Inaccurate rendering of water color
- 😞 App crashes frequently

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Poolside Attendant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolside-attendant/id1536263951)

This app automates pool ownership by monitoring equipment, water quality, and temperature. It optimizes energy efficiency to keep your pool ready while saving you money and reducing environmental impact.

**Highlights:** Automated pool equipment monitoring, Water quality and temperature tracking, Energy-efficient operation optimization, Cost savings and environmental impact reduction, Cloud-based automation system, User communication and alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NPT Backyard free?

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

### Is Poolside Attendant free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NPT Backyard or Poolside Attendant?

Poolside Attendant is rated higher. NPT Backyard averages 3.7 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while Poolside Attendant averages 4.5 from 17 ratings.

### Do NPT Backyard or Poolside Attendant have ads?

Poolside Attendant shows ads; NPT Backyard does not.

### Which is updated more often, NPT Backyard or Poolside Attendant?

NPT Backyard ships an update every 2 months, and Poolside Attendant every 3 months. Most recently, NPT Backyard was updated on October 23, 2026 and Poolside Attendant on October 24, 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.*