Self-Propelled vs Pump Driven Pool Cleaner

What self-propelled and pump driven mean on a listing

A listing that says self-propelled describes a cleaner with its own electric motor inside the unit. On this site those listings are grouped as robotic cleaners. A listing that says suction-side or pressure-side describes a cleaner that moves from the flow the pool pumps create. Those are the pump driven types.

The two words rarely appear together on one listing. Self-propelled shows up on cordless robots that run on a battery and on corded robots that draw low-voltage electricity through a floating cable. Pump driven appears as a type word, so the first words of the title usually tell you which side of the comparison the model belongs to.

When a listing uses both kinds of words, such as cordless robotic pool cleaner, the type word comes first and the power word follows. That order is common in titles from makers like Maytronics and Aiper, whose model names appear beside the type word. The model name is the maker's own; the type word tells you which guide the listing belongs to.

• Title words for self-propelled models: robotic, cordless, self-propelled, wall climbing.
• Title words for pump driven models: suction-side, pressure-side, booster pump, hose.

What moves a self-propelled cleaner

Self-propelled cleaners move with an internal electric motor. The motor drives the wheels or tracks, and the power comes from the unit's battery on cordless models or from a low-voltage connection on corded models. ENERGY STAR states that robotic pool cleaners are powered by low-voltage electricity rather than the pool pump or a booster pump. The listing may name the motor type, such as brushless or dual drive; that is the maker's own wording, so read it as a stated detail.

A cordless title tells you the unit carries its own battery and needs no cable back to the pump. A corded robotic title tells you there is a floating cable to a power supply. Neither word promises how long the unit runs; run time and charging time are figures the maker states, so read them on the maker's page.

What moves a pump driven cleaner

Pump driven cleaners use the water flow the pool pump creates. ENERGY STAR describes the pool pump as the component that re-circulates water through a filter. A suction-side cleaner draws from the suction side of that flow, usually through the skimmer or a dedicated line. A pressure-side cleaner receives water on the return side, sometimes with a booster pump named in the listing.

The type word tells you which side of the pump the cleaner uses, but the exact flow or pump requirement is a maker figure. Read that requirement on the listing and on the maker's page before you compare models. If the listing does not state a pump requirement, the detail is simply not stated by the seller.

How the type shows up in the buying guides

The buying guides on this site group cleaners by type before any other detail. The best pool cleaner guide compares robotic, suction-side and cordless picks together. The best suction pool cleaner guide covers suction-side models only. The best wall climbing pool cleaner guide includes cleaners of both types whose stated details list wall climbing.

A title that names no type, such as one that says only automatic cleaner, is read by its other words. If the title says cordless, it points to a self-propelled model. If the title says hose and skimmer, it points to a pump driven model. The guides use the same rule when sorting listings.

The above ground pool guide and the inground pool guide sort listings by pool type first. Within each pool type, the cleaner type decides the rest of the comparison. A self-propelled model and a pump driven model can appear in the same pool type guide, so the type word remains the first thing to read.

Listing details to read beyond the type word

Once you know which type a listing is, the next words to read describe how it is powered and moved. Cordless tells you there is no hose or cable to the pump. Wall climbing is a stated capability. Waterline is another stated feature. Each of these words describes what the seller claims, so take them as stated details, not as promises of results.

The maker's page is where you check the figures the listing does not carry: pool size, pump flow requirement, run time, charging time, weight and the surfaces the unit is designed for. The listing carries the stated details; the maker's page carries the specification. Read both before you decide.

For a deeper look at how the two pump driven types differ, the suction-side vs pressure-side flow article explains the listing words for each side.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Is a self-propelled cleaner the same as a robotic cleaner?

On listings, yes. Self-propelled describes the internal motor, while robotic is the type name. A listing that says cordless is also self-propelled.

Does a pump driven cleaner use the pool pump?

Yes. A suction-side cleaner draws from the suction side of the pump flow, and a pressure-side cleaner uses the return side. The maker states the pump requirement.

Do you need a booster pump for a pump driven cleaner?

Only when the listing names one. A pressure-side cleaner may list a booster pump as part of its stated details; the maker's page tells you what the model needs.

Which type appears in the suction cleaner guide?

Only suction-side models. Pressure-side cleaners appear in category guides that cover them, such as the main pool cleaner guide.

Can you compare a self-propelled and a pump driven cleaner side by side?

Yes, on stated details. Both appear in the main pool cleaner guide, and the site compares them on what the listing states, not on promised results.