# pctapp vs Pool Math by TroubleFreePool

The clearest difference is rating: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool at 3.7 against pctapp's 2.2. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 61 months) and ratings volume (272 vs 9). pctapp's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pool Math by TroubleFreePool sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per year. pctapp asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pool Math by TroubleFreePool has 272 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of pctapp's written reviews are positive against 63% of Pool Math by TroubleFreePool's.

pctapp ships an update every 61 months, Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pctapp | Pool Math by TroubleFreePool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pctapp/id569775042/reviews) | **[3.7 (272 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pool-math-by-troublefreepool/id1228819359/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **272** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **63.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 61 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 3 MB | 314 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PAL Lighting](https://appshunter.io/developer/567905333) | [TroubleFreePool](https://appshunter.io/developer/1228819358) |

## What reviewers say

### pctapp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pctapp/id569775042)

Control PAL lighting range LEDs. Adjust colors, brightness, and effects for your lighting setup. Designed for users of PAL lighting products.

**Highlights:** LED control, Color adjustment, Brightness control, Effect customization, PAL lighting compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 pctapp free?

pctapp is free to download, 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, pctapp or Pool Math by TroubleFreePool?

Pool Math by TroubleFreePool is rated higher. pctapp averages 2.2 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Pool Math by TroubleFreePool averages 3.7 from 272 ratings.

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

Neither pctapp nor Pool Math by TroubleFreePool shows ads.

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

pctapp ships an update every 61 months, and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool fortnightly. Most recently, pctapp was updated on September 22, 2026 and Pool Math by TroubleFreePool on October 7, 2026.

---

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