Comparison

Pool Chemistry vs PoolBuddy

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

Head to head
About

Pool Chemistry

Features
Read full description

Chlor is the precision pool chemistry companion built for serious pool owners. Stop guessing - test smarter, dose accurately, and swim in perfectly balanced water every time. WHETHER YOU OWN A POOL, SPA, OR HOT TUB Chlor tracks every body of water you manage. Log test results, calculate exact chemical doses, and follow a smart maintenance schedule - all in one beautifully designed app. ACCURATE CHEMICAL CALCULATORS - Free Chlorine - calculate exact liquid chlorine, Cal-Hypo, Dichlor, or Trichlor dose - pH - calculate muriatic acid or soda ash to hit your target - Total Alkalinity - sodium bicarbonate dosing with precise measurements - CYA (Cyanuric Acid) - stabilizer additions with partial drain guidance - Calcium Hardness - raise calcium with calcium chloride calculations - Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) - prevent corrosion and scaling - SLAM Calculator - shock treatment with CYA-adjusted FC targets - Salt Level - sodium chloride additions for saltwater pools - Volume Estimator - calculate gallons from pool dimensions SMART TEST LOGGING - Log your water test results with a clean, fast interface - Color-coded status indicators show exactly which parameters are in or out of range - Full test history with timestamps and test kit identification - Filter tests by pool or hot tub CHEMISTRY TRENDS (Pro) Track how your pH, free chlorine, and total alkalinity change over time. Visualize trends with interactive charts, spot seasonal patterns, and catch drift before it becomes a problem. CHEMICAL TREATMENT LOG Record every product you add to your pool - liquid chlorine, muriatic acid, sodium bicarb, algaecide, and more. Each treatment is linked to your water body and timestamped so you always know what went in and when. CYA-ADJUSTED FREE CHLORINE TARGETS Chlor uses the scientifically correct FC:CYA ratio to calculate your ideal free chlorine range - not the oversimplified 1-3 ppm most apps use. Your pool is as unique as your CYA level. MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE - Create recurring tasks (skimming, filter cleaning, equipment checks) with custom frequencies - Tasks are automatically sorted by urgency: overdue, due this week, and upcoming - Mark tasks complete and view your full maintenance history AI POOL ASSISTANT (Pro) Ask any pool chemistry question and get personalized advice based on your water body and recent test results. Troubleshooting cloudy water, planning a SLAM, or figuring out the right stabilizer dose - the AI assistant gives you an instant expert answer. MULTIPLE POOLS AND SPAS Manage your backyard pool, the hot tub, and the spa all in one app. Each body of water gets its own test history, calculator context, and maintenance schedule. DESIGNED FOR ACCURACY Chlor's calculation engine is based on the industry-standard chemistry formulas used by professional pool technicians. Every dose calculation accounts for your pool volume, current levels, target levels, and chemical concentration. CHLOR PRO Upgrade to unlock all 9 calculators, unlimited test history, chemistry trends charts, full maintenance history, AI Pool Assistant, and unlimited pools and spas. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

PoolBuddy

Features
Read full description

PoolBuddy is the assistant that takes care of your pool or spa water. It measures, understands and acts: it tells you exactly what to add and how much. β€’ Measure with a photo. Photograph the test strip (next to the bottle, so the light doesn't fool it) or your drop test kit, and the AI reads chlorine, pH and the rest of the parameters. β€’ Instant diagnosis and doses. Know whether the water is safe to swim in, and the approximate doses to fix it, in grams or ounces. β€’ AI advisor. It analyzes your whole pool β€”parameters, weather and seasonβ€” and gives you clear recommendations. β€’ Advanced chemistry. Water balance (LSI index), combined chlorine, stabilizer adjustment, salt and more. β€’ Built-in weather. It uses the sun, UV and temperature of your location to fine-tune filtration and alert you. β€’ Everything in one place. "What to do today", tasks, product inventory, filter pressure, season opening/closing checklists, costs and trend charts. β€’ Bluetooth probe input and Apple Watch app. Doses are approximate estimates; always follow the product label instructions.

Screenshots

Pool Chemistry4 screens
PoolBuddy3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PoolBuddy at none against Pool Chemistry's 3. PoolBuddy also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Pool Chemistry sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PoolBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pool Chemistry ships an update every 6 weeks, PoolBuddy every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Pool Chemistry versus PoolBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPool ChemistryPoolBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch β€” better
Requires iOS1817.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size9 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKarol JaworskiNetknow

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Pool Chemistry

Subscriptions3
  • Chlor Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Chlor Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
  • Chlor Pro Yearly Promo1 Year trial$39.991 Year
None

PoolBuddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pool Chemistry free?
Pool Chemistry is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PoolBuddy free?
PoolBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pool Chemistry or PoolBuddy have ads?
Neither Pool Chemistry nor PoolBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pool Chemistry or PoolBuddy?
Pool Chemistry ships an update every 6 weeks, and PoolBuddy every 4 days. Most recently, Pool Chemistry was updated on October 20, 2026 and PoolBuddy on October 22, 2026.

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