# Pool Doctor vs Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

The clearest difference is price: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool at Free against Pool Doctor's $19.99. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Pool Doctor's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool is free to download; Pool Doctor costs $19.99 up front. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per year. Pool Doctor asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pool Doctor holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 134 and 272 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Pool Doctor's written reviews are positive against 63% of Pool Math by TroubleFreePool's.

Pool Doctor ships an update every 2 months, Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pool Doctor | Pool Math by TroubleFreePool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.4 (134 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-doctor/id375459618/reviews)** | [3.7 (272 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-math-by-troublefreepool/id1228819359/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 134 | **272** |
| Positive reviews | **67.8% of reviews** | 63.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | **#184** | — |
| Size | 7 MB | 314 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gazzini Ventures](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503581197) | [TroubleFreePool](https://appshunter.io/developer/1228819358) |

## What reviewers say

### Pool Doctor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-doctor/id375459618)

**Currently charting:** #184 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This powerful digital tool helps pool professionals and enthusiasts maintain their pools. Input your chemical readings, and it will provide precise instructions on what chemicals to add and why, supporting various pool types and units of measurement.

**Highlights:** Chemical level adjustment (chlorine, pH, alkalinity, etc.), Supports regular, salt-water, and bromine pools, Multiple unit of measurement options, Customizable ideal ranges and chemicals, Saves reading and treatment records, Langelier Index calculation, Shock calculator

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🎯 Accurate chemical calculations and recommendations
- 💡 Customizable pool parameters and chemical selection
- 📊 Helpful for pool maintenance beginners
- 🔄 Multiple unit conversions (lbs, oz, kg, metric)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- ❌ Email functionality doesn't work
- ⚠️ Inaccurate recommendations for some pool types
- 🔧 Settings don't persist or sync across devices
- 💸 Price increased from free to $20

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after entering readings
- Phone keyboard won't close, preventing navigation
- Entered values change automatically (pH decreases, chlorine increases)
- Chemical settings don't save or remember user preferences
- Recommendations ignore user-specified chemical concentrations

**Requested features**

- Customizable input field order to match test kit order
- Support for Baquacil pool products
- Cyanuric acid reading support
- Ability to select specific chemical types (liquid vs powdered chlorine)
- Salt level adjustment based on salt water generator (SWG) ranges


### 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 Pool Doctor free?

Pool Doctor costs $19.99, 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, Pool Doctor or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool?

Pool Doctor is rated higher. Pool Doctor averages 4.4 out of 5 from 134 ratings, while Pool Math by TroubleFreePool averages 3.7 from 272 ratings.

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

Neither Pool Doctor nor Pool Math by TroubleFreePool shows ads.

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

Pool Doctor ships an update every 2 months, and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. Most recently, Pool Doctor was updated on September 23, 2026 and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool on September 22, 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.*