# PoolCalc vs AquaChek Connect

The clearest difference is rating: AquaChek Connect at 3.2 against PoolCalc's 1.0. AquaChek Connect also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 1). PoolCalc's advantage is iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PoolCalc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AquaChek Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

AquaChek Connect holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AquaChek Connect has 1.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of PoolCalc's written reviews are positive against 10% of AquaChek Connect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PoolCalc | AquaChek Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolcalc/id514707093/reviews) | **[3.2 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquachek-connect/id1510985740/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **16.7% of reviews** | 9.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bonham Customs](https://appshunter.io/developer/514707096) | [Hach Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/625107878) |

## What reviewers say

### PoolCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolcalc/id514707093)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pool Professional Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |


### AquaChek Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquachek-connect/id1510985740)

This app uses photo capture technology to scan test strips and provide personalized pool water treatment recommendations. It offers features like test result history, a water volume calculator, and maintenance reminders to simplify pool care.

**Highlights:** Photo capture test strip scanning, Personalized treatment recommendations, Test result history, Water volume calculator, Maintenance reminders, Email/print test results

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Quick and accurate test
- 💡 Helpful instructions and recommendations
- 🚀 Makes pool maintenance easy

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Camera doesn't focus or capture strip properly
- 🐛 Inconsistent and inaccurate readings
- 🐛 App crashes or doesn't work as expected
- 🐛 Requires perfect alignment for photo capture
- 🐛 Manual entry option also doesn't work

**Reported bugs**

- Camera doesn't work on newer iPhones
- App crashes when trying to manually enter data
- Keeps prompting for update that doesn't exist
- Deletes user data after updates

**Requested features**

- Add metric unit support
- Improve photo capture functionality
- Provide more granular data entry options
- Bring back previous version's features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PoolCalc free?

PoolCalc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is AquaChek Connect free?

AquaChek Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PoolCalc or AquaChek Connect?

AquaChek Connect is rated higher. PoolCalc averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while AquaChek Connect averages 3.2 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do PoolCalc or AquaChek Connect have ads?

Neither PoolCalc nor AquaChek Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PoolCalc or AquaChek Connect?

PoolCalc ships an update every 2 months, and AquaChek Connect every 2 months. Most recently, PoolCalc was updated on October 15, 2026 and AquaChek Connect on October 11, 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.*