Comparison

Pool vs Pool Notes

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

Head to head
About

Pool

This app guides users through spa and hot tub water chemistry using a professional-grade test kit methodology. It ensures the correct order of chemical additions, provides precise dose recommendations, and calculates the LSI score for optimal water balance. The app is designed for poolside use with a focus on privacy and safety.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step chemical balancing
  • Precise dose calculations
  • LSI score calculation
  • Chlorine and bromine modes
  • Wet-hand friendly interface
  • Local data storage
  • Safety guardrails
Features
Read full description

Stop guessing. Stop Googling. Pool-Proof walks you step-by-step through a complete spa or hot tub water chemistry session using Taylor K-2006 Platinum test kit methodology — the gold standard used by pool professionals. THE RIGHT ORDER, EVERY TIME Water chemistry is order-dependent. Balancing pH before alkalinity causes instability. Adding chlorine when pH is acidic corrodes equipment. Pool-Proof enforces the correct sequence: Free Chlorine, Total Alkalinity, pH, Calcium Hardness. Every time, without fail. PRECISE DOSE RECOMMENDATIONS Pool-Proof calculates exactly how much of each chemical to add — baking soda, muriatic acid, liquid chlorine, Cal-Hypo shock, dry acid, sodium carbonate (soda ash), calcium increaser, or granular bromine. Every dose follows the 50% Staged Dosing rule: add half the calculated amount, run jets for 45 minutes, then re-test. This prevents chemical bounce and over-treatment. Dose cards show liquid amounts in fl oz and mL, plus granular equivalents in household measures (tsp, tbsp, cup) — so you can use whatever product you have on the shelf. THE LSI SCORE The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) is your water balance report card. Pool-Proof calculates it using CYA-corrected alkalinity per Taylor K-2006 methodology. A large color-coded score — from corrosive to scaling — gives you the full picture at a glance. CHLORINE & BROMINE Switch between chlorine and bromine mode from the Setup screen. Bromine mode adjusts all target ranges, skips CYA correction, and uses the correct dosing rates for granular bromine automatically. WET-HAND FRIENDLY Built for poolside use. Giant tap targets. Physical-style +/- drop counters that mirror the real test kit workflow. No tiny keyboard fields. Dark theme for outdoor readability. THE VAULT Save every test session. Review past LSI scores and readings. Spot trends over time. All history is stored privately on your device — no account required, no cloud sync. BUILT-IN SAFETY GUARDRAILS Pool-Proof includes the same safety rules professional techs follow: pH gate — chlorine dosing blocked when pH is below 7.0 Alkalinity guardrail — emergency baking soda forced when effective alkalinity drops dangerously low Acid cap — muriatic acid limited to a safe maximum per treatment cycle TA-first logic — pH corrections deferred until alkalinity is balanced FLEXIBLE FOR ANY SPA Gallons or liters volume input F or C temperature toggle Liquid or granular dose format preference Basic Mode (acrylic or fiberglass spa) or Pro Mode (plaster pool, full LSI and calcium hardness) Chlorine or bromine sanitizer COMPLETELY PRIVATE All data is stored locally on your device. No login. No subscription. No data collection. Nothing ever leaves your phone. Works with the Taylor K-2006 Platinum test kit. Trusted methodology. No guesswork. DISCLAIMER: Pool-Proof is a calculation aid designed to assist with routine residential spa maintenance. It does not replace professional water testing or licensed pool service technicians. Always follow chemical product labels and safety precautions.

About

Pool Notes

This app simplifies pool maintenance by converting water test readings into precise chemical dosage instructions. It automatically adjusts targets based on stabilizer levels and offers guided algae treatment. All data is stored locally on your device for privacy.

Highlights
  • Precise chemical dosage instructions
  • Automatic chlorine target adjustment
  • Trend tracking over time
  • Test reminders
  • Guided algae treatment
  • Local data storage
Features
Read full description

Pool Notes turns a water test into plain instructions: log your readings and get exact doses in the units of the chemicals you actually own — "add 42 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine," not vague advice. Chlorine targets adjust to your stabilizer level automatically. Watch trends over time, get test reminders, and when the water goes green, sound the Mayday: a guided rescue that walks you through knocking out algae step by step. Everything stays on your phone — no accounts, no cloud, no nonsense.

Screenshots

Pool4 screens
Pool Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

Pool and Pool Notes are too close to call on the numbers: across 8 compared parameters — price, rating, ratings volume and ads among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Pool against 5.0 for Pool Notes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Pool versus Pool Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPoolPool Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequency—Fortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB37 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBrandon CurrieJONATHON TIMOTHY MORTON

Customer experience

Pool

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Pool Notes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pool

No in-app purchases

None

Pool Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pool free?
Pool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pool Notes free?
Pool Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pool or Pool Notes?
Pool and Pool Notes are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Pool or Pool Notes have ads?
Neither Pool nor Pool Notes shows ads.

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