Pool service software

Avolv vs Skimmer

Skimmer is the pool-native leader and it's a solid product. It's also the reason people search this page. When it makes sense to stay, when to switch, and the math on both.

Skimmer is best for

You're under 200 pools, you love your current Skimmer setup, and you don't need CRM, marketing automation, or an AI receptionist.

Avolv is best for

You're 200+ pools, you're tired of paying for four apps that don't talk to each other, or you want the AI receptionist without the $99/month upcharge. Or you're any size and you want to talk to the founder instead of a support queue.

Pricing side by side

All numbers verified from public sources as of September 2026.

Skimmer

What Skimmer charges
Getting Started tier
$1/pool/month, $49 minimum. Missing route optimization, LSI dosing calculator, and recurring work orders.
Scaling Up tier
$2/pool/month, $98 minimum. Full features. Doubled from $1/pool in 2024.
AI phone add-on
$99/month on top of the subscription.

Avolv

What Avolv charges
Subscription
Per service location, month to month
Users, techs, trucks
All included, no per-seat fees
AI receptionist
Included
QuickBooks sync
Included, line by line
Marketing, follow-up, reviews
Included
Setup
One-time, scoped to migration
Contract
None. Month to month.

See full Avolv pricing →

What it looks like at your size

Real math, not vendor math.

Your operation On Skimmer On Avolv
300 pools Skimmer Scaling Up: ~$600/month + $99 AI add-on = $699/mo Avolv: quoted per location, all features included
500 pools Skimmer Scaling Up: ~$1,000/month + $99 AI add-on = $1,099/mo Avolv: quoted per location, all features included
988 pools (Resort's size) Skimmer Scaling Up: ~$1,976/month + $99 AI = $2,075/mo Resort runs Avolv at enterprise pricing, all features

What each one is actually good at

No pretending. What we'd say about them if we didn't sell against them.

What Skimmer does well

  • Pool-native from day one. Chemistry, LSI, water testing built in.
  • Category leader. 700,000+ pools under management, 29,000+ pool professionals.
  • Well-funded ($84M raised, Mainsail Partners). Not going anywhere.
  • Solid mobile app. Field techs generally like it.
  • Best-in-class if all you want is pool operations without CRM, marketing, or AI receptionist.

Where Avolv wins

  • AI receptionist included in the base price. On Skimmer it's a $99/month add-on.
  • Route + QuickBooks + marketing + AI in one system. Skimmer splits features across tiers.
  • Per-service-location pricing that doesn't double when they raise prices. Skimmer's did.
  • Chemical P&L with labor burden. Profit per pool is fiction if drive time is free.
  • Ask the Supervisor SMS bench for techs in the field. Built for Resort, works for everyone.
  • You get the founder on the phone. Not a support queue.

Which one should you pick?

The honest read.

Pick Skimmer when

You're under 200 pools, you love your current Skimmer setup, and you don't need CRM, marketing automation, or an AI receptionist.

Pick Avolv when

You're 200+ pools, you're tired of paying for four apps that don't talk to each other, or you want the AI receptionist without the $99/month upcharge. Or you're any size and you want to talk to the founder instead of a support queue.

Migration story

Resort Pool Services migrated 988 pools from Skimmer to Avolv with zero days of route downtime. I reconciled $370,779 of invoicing against QuickBooks Online line by line, and the final variance across the books was $580. Simon retired Skimmer entirely in September 2026.

Read the Resort Pool Services case study →

Questions we get about this comparison

Is Skimmer bad software?

No. Skimmer is a solid product, especially for smaller pool operators who don't need a CRM, marketing tools, or an AI receptionist. If it fits your business, stay on it. Nobody at Avolv is going to pretend Skimmer is broken. What we do differently is bundle the full front-of-business (AI receptionist, marketing, CRM, website) with the pool operations, so you're not paying for four separate tools that don't talk to each other.

Can Avolv migrate my Skimmer data?

Yes. Every account, every service location, every history record, every recurring schedule. Addresses re-geocoded, route zones checked against real vehicle data. Resort moved 988 pools without stopping a single route. Your migration is quoted upfront based on how much data you have and where it lives.

Do I have to give up Skimmer's chemistry features?

No. Avolv has pool chemistry logging with AI meter scanning built in. Some operators keep Skimmer running for a period during migration and turn it off once Avolv has proven out. Most switch entirely.

How does the pricing actually compare?

Skimmer's Scaling Up is $2 per pool per month plus a $99/month AI phone add-on if you want the AI receptionist. Avolv is priced per service location too, but the AI receptionist is included, plus route optimization, QuickBooks reconciliation, marketing campaigns, follow-up sequences, and the website builder. Most operators pay less on Avolv than they were paying on Skimmer plus their scheduling app plus their answering service combined.

What if I want to switch back?

Your data is yours. Avolv doesn't hold it hostage. Every account can be exported at any time, no lawyers required.

Fifteen minutes and I'll tell you honestly which one fits.

If Skimmer is a better fit for your business, I'll say so. My job is helping you pick the right tool.