# Pool vs First Timers

The clearest difference is price: First Timers at Free against Pool's $4.99. First Timers also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2). Pool's advantage is ratings volume (629 vs 1). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

First Timers is free to download; Pool costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

First Timers holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pool has 629 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pool ships an update every 5 weeks, First Timers every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pool | First Timers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.2 (629 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-calculator/id412876581/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-timers/id6740599274/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **629** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 21.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 17 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pool and Spa Resources, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1358030201) | [KAYJO, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1790766804) |

## What reviewers say

### Pool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-calculator/id412876581)

This app simplifies swimming pool and hot tub chemistry maintenance by performing all necessary calculations. It provides clear instructions on chemical dosages to maintain balanced, clear water, eliminating the need for complex charts and formulas.

**Highlights:** Chemical dosage calculations, Pool volume calculation, Chemical effects analysis, Customizable chemical ranges, Offline functionality

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Useful pool chemistry calculator
- 🚀 Makes pool maintenance easy
- 👍 Provides chemical dosage recommendations
- 🔍 Helpful 'Effects' tool to understand chemical impacts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Accuracy issues with certain chemical calculations
- 🔍 Confusing or outdated chemical names
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🐛 Crashes and compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch for many users
- Keyboard issues preventing data entry
- Incorrect chemical effect information (e.g. soda ash)
- Volume calculation not updating properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to save and track test history
- Support for multiple pools/spas
- Metric-only unit support
- More detailed chemical dosage information (e.g. weight-based)


### First Timers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-timers/id6740599274)

Document and cherish your life's first experiences, from trying new foods to visiting new places. Capture these moments with photos, notes, and ratings, and organize them by category. Enjoy a private and secure journal with smart calendar views and detailed statistics.

**Highlights:** Log first experiences with photos and notes, Categorize experiences by type, Private and secure local storage, Calendar and list views, Detailed statistics and insights, Share experiences and statistics, Light and dark mode support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pool free?

Pool costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Timers free?

First Timers is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pool or First Timers?

First Timers is rated higher. Pool averages 4.2 out of 5 from 629 ratings, while First Timers averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Pool or First Timers have ads?

Neither Pool nor First Timers shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pool or First Timers?

Pool ships an update every 5 weeks, and First Timers every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pool was updated on September 23, 2026 and First Timers on June 1, 2026.

---

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