Best Pool Cleaner Robot Under $500

aiper robotic pool cleaner next to inground gunite pool

This Article Was Last Updated on June 24, 2023

When choosing a robotic pool cleaner, you may have noticed the majority of them are in the $1,000+ range.  There are some less expensive ones, and depending on your needs, they may work great for you. In this article we will review the best pool cleaner robot under $500 and give you some pointers as to what you should factor in when making your choice.

Will A Pool Cleaner Under $500 Fit Your Pool?

First, the most important factor to consider is the type of pool you will be cleaning.  If you are cleaning an above ground pool, or a nearly flat bottomed inground pool, best pool cleaner robot under $500 applies to you.  Luckily above ground pool vacuums are much less expensive than inground pool vacuums with any complexity in their designs.

#1 Best Pool Cleaner Robot Under $500

First up, the Aiper Seagull SE.  This is one of the best pool cleaner robot under $500 on the market today.  However, this robot will only work if you have a flat bottom or nearly flat bottomed pool. 

AIPER Seagull SE Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner, Pool Vacuum Lasts 90 Mins, LED Indicator, Self-Parking, for Flat…
  • CORDLESS & EASY TO USE: No more messy hoses and no more tangled cords. The Seagull SE is completely cordless and hassle-free! Simply power your…
  • INCREASED BATTERY LIFE: The newly designed battery only takes 2.5 hours to fully charge and provides over 90 minutes of cleaning capabilities. Ideal…
  • POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: Equipped with powerful dual-drive motors, the Seagull SE tracks down and collects the most types of dirt and debris with ease….

If you have excessive wrinkles in your liner, or you have bumps from a poorly prepared base for your pool, you may have some problems with this cleaner.  Needless to say, this cleaner will not climb walls like some of the more expensive cleaners out there.  

However, you might find yourself surprised at what it can do.  First off, the Aiper Seagull SE is cordless.  This means you will need to retrieve the cleaner when it stops working.  There is an ingenious program built into the cleaner which forces the cleaner to the edge of the pool when the battery is low.  This makes retrieval a cinch.  Aiper also includes a retrieval hook for you to use on your pole so you don’t have to dive into the pool after the cleaner to get it out.  

The battery will take 2-3 hours to fully charge, and will clean for between 60 and 90 minutes before needing a charge.  This is enough time for most above ground pools, and many inground pools.  Knowing this limitation however, is good when choosing whether or not you want to go with a cordless robot under $500.

#2 Best Pool Cleaner Robot Under $500

Ofuzzi Cyber Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner, Max.120 Mins Runtime, Self-Parking, Automatic Pool Vacuum for All Above/In…
  • Long-last Run Time – Simply start up by turning the knob for efficient cleaning. With 120 minutes maximum runtime the pool vacuum can clean up to…
  • Powerful Cleaning Capability – With two powerful motors and dual suction inlet part,the automatic pool vacuum cleaner can efficiently clean leaves,…
  • Cordless and Safe – With cordless & IPX8 waterproof design, the pool robot can freely get the job done without worrying about tangled wires, damage…

The next cleaner we reviewed was the Ofuzzi Cyber.  This cleaner is also cordless. It’s designed for use on flat bottomed above ground pools or gently sloping floors at most.  However, the wheeled design of this cleaner will do slightly better than the Aiper Seagull SE when it comes to dealing with wrinkles in your liner.  This cleaner will also operate for slightly longer than the Aiper Seagull SE at each charge. It features an impressive 2 hour run time.  

There are some fun aspects to the Ofuzzi Cyber, like the sticker set that comes with it so you can decorate it yourself.  Ultimately, the Aiper Seagull SE looks more futuristic and technologically advanced, but both cleaners will get the job done on a small pool.

Best Pool Cleaner Robot Under $600 (Better Than The $500)

Though there are numerous cleaners available in this price range, they have a limited track record.  We find it hard to recommend best pool cleaner robot under $500 beyond the two mentioned above.

If you’re willing to spend a little more on your cleaner, the obvious choice in our minds is the Dolphin E10.  This cleaner is engineered by the progenitors of the robotic pool cleaner. 

Deal
Dolphin E10 Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner — Powerful Active Scrubbing Brush — Easy-Access Top Load Filters for Easy…
  • The Dolphin E10 robotic pool vacuum cleaner does the work so you don’t have to. The active scrubbing brush provides exceptional pool cleaning every…
  • Get your pool exceptionally clean with the easy-access, top load fine filter basket. The fine filters remove debris from your pool for crystal-clear…
  • Cleaning your pool has never been easier. With the Dolphin’s plug-and-play system, just plug your robot in, drop it into the pool, and turn on the…

Although it can’t make the list of best pool cleaner robot under $500, it comes pretty darn close.  One of the benefits of the Dolphin E10 is it has a cord. This may seem like an advantage to have a cordless cleaner. Although, in reality a cord makes it much easier to get the cleaner out of the pool. 

best pool cleaner robot under $500 dollars shown as the dolphin E10 on the side of a blue liner pool next to a small gray dog

You also don’t have to worry about the battery deteriorating. This is a concern with a cordless robotic pool cleaner over time.  This cleaner will not climb the walls and clean the tile line like some of the other Dolphin robotic cleaners on the market. However it does do well with gently sloping inground pools as well as above ground pools.  Also, this cleaner will be the best option if your pool floor is uneven and your liner is excessively wrinkled.

Best Pool Cleaner Robot Under $500 Summary

A short amount of research can leave pool owners worried about robotic pool cleaner costs. However, unless you have an intricate pool design, you don’t have to spend $1,000. Both the Aiper and Ofuzzi mentioned in this article are good cleaners under $500. If you really want to splurge for the best inexpensive cleaner, it will be closer to $600. That cleaner of course is the Dolphin E10.