The 6 Best Suction Pool Cleaners
Updated by · How we research
Six suction-side pool cleaners compared on climbing, debris, pool size and pump needs. The Zodiac MX6 leads for its grip, speed and modest price. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A suction-side cleaner has no motor or cord of its own. It rides on the pull of your pool pump and sends dirt to the filter, which makes it the cheapest automatic type to buy but puts extra load on the pump. It suits in-ground pools with sand, silt and small debris; heavy leaves call for a leaf canister.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Zodiac MX6 moves up to lead the list. It scored highest among suction cleaners in an independent two-week pool trial, its rubber tracks grip walls well, and it costs less than most brand-name rivals. The Zodiac G3 stays as the simple choice with one moving part.
The Zodiac MX8, Pentair Kreepy Krauly, Hayward Wanda the Whale, Intey and the older XtremepowerUS listing are gone because of availability concerns. We swapped the Hayward AquaNaut 400 for the Hayward PoolCleaner 4-Wheel, a close sibling that costs less. We dropped the Intex Auto because it's a pressure-side cleaner, and the Poolmaster 27402 because it's a vacuum head you push on a pole. New to the list are the Hayward PoolCleaner 2-Wheel, the Polaris MAXX and the low-cost VINGLI 277.
For this category, the useful evidence was the makers' pool-size and pump ratings, two editorial trials of suction cleaners, a pool retailer's guidance on leaves and pump size, and owner reports on split hoses and worn diaphragms. If your yard drops a lot of leaves, read the guide below before you buy.
Earlier notes
July 13, 2020, by Will Rhoda:
While we did decide on retaining many of our previous selections for this category, we also removed the OAI SkimmerMotion due to availability issues, replaced the XtremepowerUS X5043 with the XtremepowerUS 75037, and changed the Hayward PoolCleaner out for the Hayward AquaNaut 400 — the latter essentially being a replica of the former (which was originally designed by Poolvergnuegen, which was purchased by Hayward in 2013) with some slick-looking cosmetic changes. We also incorporated the Zodiac MX8 into our list — a larger version of the Zodiac MX6 that we recommend for users servicing big pools.
A few things to think about for this category:
Hose: For experienced users who already own a suitable pool vacuum hose, this consideration will be of little relevance. But for new pool owners purchasing equipment for the first time, you’ll want to make sure that, if the pool cleaner you’re considering comes with a hose, it comes with a hose that’s long enough to easily traverse the span of your pool.
With models like the Intex Auto coming with a 24-foot hose, while others like the Zodiac MX8 including a 39-foot hose, there’s quite a bit of variability between options, and the last thing you want is to be stuck with the additional cost of an extra hose, so it’s worth paying attention.
Abilities: The shape, design and functionality of machines in this category can vary just as drastically as the pools they keep clean, so you’ll want to make sure you select one that’s up to the task of servicing your spa.
If you’re looking to take care of a small, barebones, above-ground pool, then you might be able to get away with a basic unit – like the Hayward Wanda the Whale, XtremepowerUS 75037 or Intex Auto – but note that these cleaners will only clean the bottom of your pool, they can’t handle stairs, they’re prone to getting hung up on ladders and other obstacles, and are typically recommended for above-ground pools as they’re not fond of the sloped floors which are indicative of deep ends in in-ground installations.
If you recognize your pool as presenting one or more of those challenges, then you’ll likely want to consider a high-end model like the Zodiac MX8 — which climbs pool walls right up to the waterline, or the Hayward AquaNaut 400 — which is equipped with a four-wheel-drive transmission. They can cost considerably more than their budget-friendly counterparts, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be happy with a less capable model unless you have a suitably small pool.
Style of Cleaner: Since you’ve already found your way to this set of rankings, there’s a good chance that you’ve already narrowed down your choice, and you’re confident that a suction unit is the kind of pool cleaner that you’d like to go with. But, in case your research hasn’t gone that far yet, then there’s a couple other sets of rankings we maintain that you might like to check out.
Pressure pool cleaners work in a manner quite similarly to a suction cleaner, only that instead of hooking up to your filter inlet, they hook up to your return jet, blasting loose particles off the floor of the pool and catching them in a debris bag. And, robotic pool cleaners tend to be some of the best options out there, if you don’t mind inflated up-front costs and additional energy expenses.
June 6, 2019, by Karen Bennett:
A suction side pool cleaner relies on your pool’s pump to collect debris, by connecting to your skimmer via a long hose. This effectively turns it into a vacuum cleaner that will move around your pool automatically, saving you time and effort and providing clean, clear water.
In this update, we added the Intey Vacuum, a highly efficient model that works by way of a rubber disk that moves across the floor, walls, and stairs of your pool to pick up dirt, sand, hair, and more, all of which can be seen in its clear debris cup, so you can easily determine when it needs emptying. It comes with 12 hoses that can be connected together, so chances are you’ll have more than an adequate line. It’s backed by a two-year warranty.
We also added Wanda the Whale, who is sure to entertain your kids as “she” makes her way around your pool. (This selection is also available in fun aquabug and penguin designs.) It’s easy to operate: Just plug the hose into your skimmer, and its steering system takes over and picks up debris effectively. Its bumper ring helps it to move easily around with minimal friction.
The Zodiac Baracuda G3 receives high marks for its quiet operation and powerful motor, and it’s known to handle corners like a champ. It’ll pick up small- to medium-sized debris, including what’s on the walls and steps.
Special Honors
Pentair Kreepy Krauly Kreepy Krauly is Pentair's long-running line of suction cleaners, and one of its models placed second in a recent editorial trial of suction cleaners. The model this page used to list is hard to find now, but pool dealers still carry the line, and Pentair lists its current suction cleaners and parts on its site. pentair.com
Suction, Pressure Or Robot
The trade-off is that they borrow your pump's suction, which weakens skimming while they run and can raise energy use.
Automatic pool cleaners come in three kinds, and the difference is where the power comes from (Wikipedia). A suction-side cleaner, the oldest type, has no motor. It connects by hose to the skimmer or a dedicated suction port, and your main pump pulls water through it. That pull turns a turbine, gears or a flexing diaphragm that moves the cleaner, and the dirt ends up in the skimmer basket and the pool filter. Roy B. Everson of Chicago patented the first one in 1937.
A pressure-side cleaner hooks to a return line instead. Many need a separate booster pump, and they carry their own debris bag, so they cope better with leaves. A robotic cleaner plugs into a power supply, runs its own motor and filter, and leaves your pump alone, but it usually costs much more.
Suction cleaners are the cheapest automatic type and the simplest to run. They're at their best on fine silt and sand, according to the pool retailer Leslie's. The trade-off is that they borrow your pump's suction, which weakens skimming while they run and can raise energy use.
Pool Size, Hose Length And Your Pump
Start with the pool. Hayward rates its two-wheel PoolCleaner for pools up to 16 by 32 feet and the four-wheel version for pools up to 20 by 40 feet. For hose length, Bob Vila suggests measuring from the skimmer to the farthest corner and adding the water depth: 25 feet of reach plus a 5-foot deep end means 30 feet of hose. Most cleaners here ship with 32 to 40 feet, and extra sections are sold separately.
Next, check the pump. A suction cleaner only works with enough flow. Bob Vila puts the range at roughly 1,600 to 2,200 gallons per hour, Leslie's recommends a pump of at least 1 horsepower, and VINGLI asks for at least three-quarter horsepower. Zodiac and Polaris say their tracked models and the G3 work with variable-speed pumps on lower settings.
Almost every suction cleaner comes with a flow regulator valve, and some with a gauge. Set it the way the manual says. Too little flow and the cleaner stalls or won't climb; too much and it races, bangs into walls or pops out at the waterline.
Leaves, Care And Safety
Leaves are the weak spot. Big, wet leaves and twigs can jam a suction cleaner's throat or clog its hose, and everything it picks up goes to your skimmer basket and filter. If trees hang over your pool, add an inline leaf canister between the cleaner and the skimmer, which Leslie's sells as a bundle option, or look at a pressure-side or robotic cleaner.
Care is simple but it matters. Bob Vila suggests running a suction cleaner about twice a week in season and about once a month off-season, taking it out after each run, and rinsing it, since pool chemicals wear it down when it sits in the water. Algae on the walls also stops a cleaner from climbing, so keep the water balanced. With care, plan on roughly five to seven years, with hoses, diaphragms, tracks and gears as the parts that wear.
A suction cleaner draws on the same plumbing as your pool's drains. Drain suction entrapment is a real hazard, and the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires anti-entrapment drain covers on public pools. At home, keep drain covers in place and undamaged, and follow your cleaner's manual on which port to use and how to set the valve.
How we researched this
We compared 19 suction, pressure and manual pool cleaners, read the makers' specs and pool-size, hose and pump ratings for the six finalists, used two editorial trials of suction cleaners and a pool retailer's buying guidance, analyzed owner feedback on hoses, diaphragms and lifespan, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which listed no pool cleaner recalls.
Sources (8)
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a suction-side, pressure-side and robotic pool cleaner?
A suction-side cleaner runs on your pool pump's pull and sends dirt to the filter. A pressure-side cleaner runs on a return line, often with a booster pump, and has its own debris bag. A robot has its own motor and filter and plugs into a power supply.
What's the best suction pool cleaner for leaves?
No suction cleaner loves heavy leaves. Add an inline leaf canister so leaves don't reach the skimmer and filter, and choose a model with a wide intake. For a pool under trees, a pressure-side or robotic cleaner is often the better tool.
Do I need a booster pump or a big pump?
No booster pump is needed. The main pump has to move enough water, though: guides put it around 1,600 to 2,200 gallons per hour, or a pump of three-quarter to 1 horsepower. Many models work on a variable-speed pump at a lower setting.
How long does a suction pool cleaner last?
With rinsing and storage out of the water between runs, about five to seven years. Hoses, diaphragms, tracks and gears wear first, and most makers sell them as parts.
What's the difference between the Zodiac MX8 and the MX8 Elite?
Both are larger tracked Zodiac cleaners with a 39-foot hose on Zodiac's spec sheet. The Elite adds replaceable scrubbing brushes. Retailers currently show the MX8 Elite sold out; the Polaris MAXX is a close in-stock option with brushes.
