Comparison

PoolCalc vs Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PoolCalc

This utility calculates the scaling potential of pool water using the Langelier Saturation Index. It allows users to save and edit readings, locations, and add notes. A paid upgrade offers advanced features for pool professionals.

Highlights
  • Langelier Saturation Index calculation
  • Save and edit readings
  • Save and edit locations
  • Add notes to readings
  • Quick add readings to locations
  • Paid upgrade for multiple location routes
Features
Read full description

This calculator helps you determine the scaling potential of your pool water by using the Langelier Saturation Index. Save and edit readings. Save and edit locations. Add notes to each reading. Quick add button. Add readings to locations with a single tap. If you are a pool professional then with a paid upgrade you will be able to save multiple locations for your pool route. I want to make this app something that you will use and see a benefit from. If there is something that you wish to see added please use the feedback form in the app and let me know!

About

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

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
Read full description

PoolMath makes swimming pool care, maintenance and management easy by tracking chlorine, pH, alkalinity and other levels to help calculate how much salt, bleach and other chemicals to add. Keep swimming in your TroubleFreePool with Pool Math. Crystal clear algae free pool water is what Trouble Free Pool Math is committed to. Pool Math performs all the calculations you need to keep your chlorine, pH, calcium, alkalinity, and stabilizer levels balanced. Why choose Pool Math over the others? Other apps claim to make testing easy by using test strips and your phone's camera. Unfortunately, this is simply too good to be true. Test strips are notoriously inaccurate and end up costing you much more money in both chemicals and the tests themselves in the long run. Trouble Free Pool believes using a proper test kit is much easier, effective, and economical in the long run. By following these calculations the pool owner achieves and maintains crystal clear water without reliance on the often unproductive advice and unneeded expense from pool stores. Pool Math's great features include: • Calculators for pH, Free Chlorine, Calcium Hardness, Salt, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, Borates, CSI • Track Maintenance: Backwashing, Vacuuming, Filter Cleaning, Filter Pressure, SWG Cell %, Flow Rate • Track Chemical Additions • Track Weather conditions with your logs • Calculate the Effects of Adding chemicals to your pool • Bleach Price Calculator - Find the best deals on bleach easily • Summary page to see an overview of test results and chemical additions • Data backup / Export Premium Subscribers get access to these additional features: • Unlimited Test Log History Storage • Maintenance Reminders • Cloud Sync/Backup • Sync across multiple devices • Unlimited Pool / Spa Configurations • Test Log CSV Import / Export Pool Math Premium Subscription details: • Auto-renewable subscription • 1 year for $7.99 USD • Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration of 1 year) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Current subscription may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use: http://poolmathapp.com/privacy/

Screenshots

PoolCalc4 screens
Pool Math by TroubleFreePool4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool at 63% against PoolCalc's 17%. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool also leads on rating (3.7 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (272 vs 1). PoolCalc's advantage is iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PoolCalc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool has 272 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of PoolCalc's written reviews are positive against 63% of Pool Math by TroubleFreePool's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PoolCalc ships an update every 2 months, Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PoolCalc versus Pool Math by TroubleFreePool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPoolCalcPool Math by TroubleFreePool
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)3.7 (272 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews63.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1272 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.1 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB314 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBonham CustomsTroubleFreePool

Customer experience

PoolCalc

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative66.7%

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

All ratings262 ratings
Positive66.0%
Neutral7.3%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews123 reviews
Positive63.4%
Neutral11.4%
Negative25.2%

Bugs and requests

PoolCalc

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PoolCalc

One-time1
  • Pool Professional Upgrade$2.99
1 purchases

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

Subscriptions1
  • Pool Math Premium Subscription$7.991 Year

Questions

Is PoolCalc free?
PoolCalc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pool Math by TroubleFreePool free?
Pool Math by TroubleFreePool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PoolCalc or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool?
Pool Math by TroubleFreePool is rated higher. PoolCalc averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Pool Math by TroubleFreePool averages 3.7 from 272 ratings.
Do PoolCalc or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool have ads?
Neither PoolCalc nor Pool Math by TroubleFreePool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PoolCalc or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool?
PoolCalc ships an update every 2 months, and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. Most recently, PoolCalc was updated on September 30, 2026 and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons