PAL Commander vs AquaChek Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PAL Commander
This app allows you to control your wire PAL swimming pool lights. It provides a 12V A/C supply for multiple light units and offers precise color advancement with a memory function. Manage your pool lighting with ease through its intuitive interface.
- Controls wire PAL swimming pool lights
- Provides 12V A/C supply
- Supports PAL-Treo or PAL-2000 lights
- Precise color advance function
- 2 Channel Control (8 outputs)
- Memory Function
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PAL Commander App controls 2 wire PAL swimming pool lights. Provides 12V A/C supply for up to 8 x PAL-Treo or 8 x PAL-2000. One touch, precise color advance function. 2 Channel Control 8 outputs,6 on CH. 1, 2 on CH. 2 Memory Function.
AquaChek Connect
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.
- Photo capture test strip scanning
- Personalized treatment recommendations
- Test result history
- Water volume calculator
- Maintenance reminders
- Email/print test results
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Take no chances with your pool—get expert results and treatment recommendations with AquaChek Select Connect. The free, user-friendly app uses innovative photo capture technology to digitally scan the test strip to provide a personalized water treatment recommendation. And no registration required. Spend more time enjoying your pool and less time maintaining it! For use with the app-enabled test strips in the AquaChek Select Connect Starter Kit which includes: • Complete Pool & Spa Care Guide from our water quality experts • 7-in-1 test strips supporting App photo capture or manual read • Reusable UV and water-resistant color chart You can then purchase the Select Connect Refill to continue using the app-enabled test strips without having to purchase the Select Connect Starter Kit again. App Features: • In-App emailing or printing of test results • Pool test history • Built-in water volume calculator • Ability to manually enter the values • Set pool maintenance reminders • Complete illustrated instructions • FAQ’s and Photo Capture Help • Links to AquaChek.com so you can find a shop near you to buy the test strips, or find additional information We would like to hear from you! If you have any feedback that will help us enhance the app in future releases, please email us at ContactAquaChek@hach.com or use the feedback feature included in the app. Note: Verify calculations with the product label of the chemicals intended to be used. Instructions on the product package take precedence over the recommendations made by the app. Follow all label instructions for proper chemical handling, storage, and application. AquaChek® is a registered trademark of Hach Company. The application is for end users that have already purchased or are looking to purchase the test strips supported within the AquaChek Select Connect Application. The app is a resource for pool or hot tub owners.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: AquaChek Connect at 3.2 against PAL Commander's 1.0. AquaChek Connect also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 48 months) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 1). PAL Commander's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
PAL Commander ships an update every 48 months, AquaChek Connect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PAL Commander | AquaChek Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 3.2 (1.2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 9.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1.2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 48 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PAL Lighting | Hach Company |
Customer experience
PAL Commander
AquaChek Connect
Bugs and requests
PAL Commander
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
AquaChek Connect
Reported bugs
4 issues- 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
4 requests- Add metric unit support
- Improve photo capture functionality
- Provide more granular data entry options
- Bring back previous version's features
In-app purchases
PAL Commander
No in-app purchases
AquaChek Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PAL Commander free?
Is AquaChek Connect free?
Which has better reviews, PAL Commander or AquaChek Connect?
Do PAL Commander or AquaChek Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, PAL Commander or AquaChek Connect?
Other comparisons
