Skimmer vs Pool Brain: Which Pool Service Software Should You Choose?
Per-pool vs per-tech pricing, features on each plan, and which company size each one suits.
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| # | Tool | Our score | Starts at | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Skimmer | $49/mo (up to 49 locations) | See pricing | |
| 02 | Pool Brain | $325/mo (5-tech minimum) + base office fee | See pricing |
Skimmer and Pool Brain are the two pool-specific apps most owners compare. Both are built for weekly routes. The biggest difference is how they charge.
Pricing in one sentence each
- Skimmer charges per serviced location: $1 per pool on the entry plan (from $49) and $2 on Scaling Up (from $98), with unlimited technicians.
- Pool Brain charges $65 per active technician with a minimum of five ($325 a month), plus a base office fee, with all features on one plan.
When Skimmer makes more sense
- You have fewer than 50 pools, where $49 a month covers everything on the entry plan.
- You have many part-time or seasonal techs, since technician seats are free.
- You want to try it risk-free: Skimmer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
When Pool Brain makes more sense
- You already run five or more technicians, so the minimum doesn’t cost you anything extra.
- Each tech runs a dense route, so per-tech pricing works out lower than per-pool.
- You want every feature without choosing a tier.
- You want setup done for you: Pool Brain includes free setup.
How to decide
Count your pools and your active techs. Multiply pools by $2 for Skimmer Scaling Up (or $1 under 50 pools). For Pool Brain, multiply techs by $65, using at least five, and add its base fee. The lower number, adjusted for which app your techs find faster at the pool, is your answer.
Skimmer
Best for: Route-based pool service companies of any size
The best fit for most route-based pool companies: cheap to start, priced by pools not people, and built around the weekly stop.
Route builder on every plan; route optimization only on Scaling Up
Service reports on every plan; Orenda LSI & dosing calculator and LaMotte integration on Scaling Up
$49/mo covers up to 49 pools with unlimited technicians
Invoicing, online payments and surcharging on every plan
Quotes, estimates and job management only on Scaling Up
No setup fee, no contract, 30-day money-back guarantee
Pricing
- Getting Started: $1 per location/mo, from $49/mo (0–49 pools)
- Scaling Up: $2 per location/mo, from $98/mo (50–1,000 pools), first month free
- Enterprise: custom, 1,000+ pools
- Add-ons: AI Phone $99/mo, Marketing Suite $150/mo, Bookkeeping from $198/mo
How it's priced
Per serviced location per month; unlimited technicians
Trial
30-day money-back guarantee; first month free on Scaling Up via promo links
Strengths
- Unlimited techs and admins on every plan
- Price scales with pools, not headcount
- Route builder, invoicing, online payments and customer portal on the entry plan
- Route optimization, quotes and LSI dosing calculator on Scaling Up
Watch out for
- Per-location rate doubles on Scaling Up
- Quotes, job management and route optimization are not on the entry plan
- Service texts cost extra on the entry plan ($0.029 per message)
Pool Brain
Best for: Established companies with five or more technicians that want every feature on one plan
The deepest pool-specific toolset, especially on chemistry, but the five-technician minimum makes it a tool for established crews.
One-click route optimization with drag-and-drop scheduling
Automatic dosing from readings, chemical cost tracking, reading history graphs and alerts
$65 per tech with a five-tech minimum ($325/mo) plus an unpublished base fee
Flat-rate or per-visit billing, in advance or arrears, with automatic chemical billing
Job templates; approved quotes become jobs automatically
Free setup and a free trial; full price only shown in the calculator
Pricing
- $65/mo per active field technician, minimum 5 technicians ($325/mo)
- Base office fee not published on the pricing page
How it's priced
Base office fee (unlimited office users) plus $65 per active field technician, minimum 5 technicians
Trial
Free trial
Strengths
- All features on one plan
- Free setup
- Unlimited office users
Watch out for
- 5-technician minimum makes it expensive for small companies
- Full price is only visible in the calculator
- Per-tech pricing adds up for large crews