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Pool Brain vs Paythepoolman
Pool Brain charges a base fee plus a fee per field technician. Paythepoolman charges a base fee plus a small fee per technician. Which is cheaper depends on how many technicians you have.
Sources checked 2026-10-19 (Pool Brain) and 2026-10-19 (Paythepoolman). How we calculate and verify prices.
Monthly subscription cost by company size
| Company size | Pool Brain pricing | Paythepoolman pricing | Lower subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 pools, 1 tech, 0 office | $115 estimate | $65 | Confirm estimate |
| 100 pools, 1 tech, 1 office | $115 estimate | $65 | Confirm estimate |
| 200 pools, 3 techs, 1 office | $245 | $95 | Paythepoolman |
| 400 pools, 4 techs, 1 office | $310 | $110 | Paythepoolman |
| 600 pools, 5 techs, 2 office | $375 | $125 | Paythepoolman |
| 1000 pools, 8 techs, 2 office | $570 | $170 | Paythepoolman |
Monthly billing, subscription only, no add-ons. Estimates cannot establish a winner. Select a company size to adjust it in the calculator, or run your exact numbers →.
A worked example for a small team
At 200 pools, 3 field technicians and 1 office user, billed monthly: Paythepoolman calculates to $95 per month, $150 less per month than the other option. This is a subscription comparison using our recorded prices, not a statement that it is the better product.
Compare this company size in the calculator →
What can change the answer?
- Pool Brain: Each additional field technician adds to the subscription; office users are included in the published model.
- Paythepoolman: Each additional field technician adds to the subscription; office users are included in the published model.
Start with the features you need
The same company size can need a different plan when a feature is required. A feature listed somewhere on a vendor pricing page is not a guarantee that every plan includes it.
| Requirement at this company size | Pool Brain | Paythepoolman |
|---|---|---|
| No must-have selected | $245Standard | $95Standard |
| QuickBooks required | Not confirmed on pricing page | $95Standard |
| Route optimization required | Not confirmed on pricing page | $95Standard |
Required plan changes are included when our data explicitly models them. “Not confirmed” means the vendor pricing page did not establish it, not that the feature is absent. Confirm plan-level availability before buying.
Side by side
| Feature | Pool Brain pricing details | Paythepoolman pricing details |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | $50/mo base for unlimited office users plus $65/mo per active field technician. Both figures are the defaults in the pricing calculator script on poolbrain.com/pricing (checked 2026-10-16); the page draws the visible number with JavaScript. | $50/mo base plus $15/mo per technician. Adding customers never raises the bill. |
| Add-ons | Vendor says all features and free setup included. | Branded customer app (Pool Junction) and payroll are extra; text credits extra. |
| Payment fees | Not stated. | Optional $1.50 convenience fee per card payment, paid by the customer. |
| Chemical tracking | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed |
| Route optimization | Not confirmed | ✓ Listed |
| QuickBooks | Not confirmed | ✓ Listed |
| Customer portal | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Best for (our take) | Larger multi-tech pool companies wanting strict tech workflows | Budget-conscious pool routes |
| Source | Pool Brain pricing ↗ (Some links may earn us a referral fee. It doesn't change our prices or rankings.) (2026-10-19) | Paythepoolman pricing ↗ (Some links may earn us a referral fee. It doesn't change our prices or rankings.) (2026-10-19) |
Fit suggestions summarize the pricing model and published information; they are not hands-on product reviews. Payment processing, setup, texting and unmodeled extras are outside the cost table. Read the methodology.