Comparison
PoolBase vs Skimmer
Skimmer is the best-known name in pool service software, and it's a capable tool for the route day. The differences that matter are the pricing model and how much of the sales side comes built in.
- Skimmer is priced per pool: $1 to $2 per serviced location per month, with plans starting at $49 and $98. PoolBase is one price per company, $29 to $199, every pool included.
- Both are built specifically for pool companies, and both cover the route day: field app, chemistry readings, service reports, invoicing, and a customer portal.
- PoolBase adds the sales layer: a staged pipeline with follow-up reminders, an automatic lead-nurture sequence, direct-mail lists, and e-sign agreements.
Side by side
PoolBase and Skimmer, point by point
Pricing
PoolBase
One price per company: $29, $49, $99, or $199 per month. A 300-pool route costs the same as a 30-pool route, and the bill stays the same as you add pools.
Skimmer
$1 to $2 per serviced location per month, with plans starting at $49 (Getting Started) and $98 (Scaling Up). A 300-pool route on Scaling Up is $600 per month, and each pool added raises the bill.
Marketing & nurture
PoolBase
Email campaigns to segments you choose, an automatic nurture sequence that follows up with every new lead on its own, and direct-mail lists for the neighborhoods you want more pools in.
Skimmer
Broadcast messaging sends bulk email to customers segmented by tag, service date, or tech. An automatic drip sequence for new leads and direct-mail lists are not among its published features.
Lead capture & pipeline
PoolBase
Lead capture with an embeddable quote form for any website, a pipeline that moves each lead through stages with follow-up reminders, quotes accepted online, and e-sign agreements.
Skimmer
A built-in lead form captures new service requests, and customers can view and approve quotes in the portal. A staged sales pipeline and e-sign agreements are not among its published features.
Field app & chemistry
PoolBase
Techs test the water, see what's out of range, and log every dose. Photos attach to the visit and the service report sends on completion.
Skimmer
Also strong here. The route day is Skimmer's core, with readings, dosing, photos, and emailed service reports.
Billing & portal
PoolBase
Autopay, monthly, or per-visit invoicing per customer. Chemical charges bill at flat or cost-plus prices, and customers pay in their own portal.
Skimmer
Invoicing, online payments, and a customer portal with autopay are included on both plans. Service texts are $0.029 per message on Getting Started and included on Scaling Up.
A straight answer
When Skimmer is the better fit
On a small route, Skimmer's per-pool pricing is genuinely cheap: 49 pools on Getting Started is $49 per month, though a one-person company can run PoolBase Solo for $29. If you want the most widely adopted route-day tool and your route will stay small, Skimmer is a reasonable choice. The math turns as you grow, and PoolBase is the better fit when you want sales, marketing, agreements, billing, and the route in one system at a price that stays put while your route gets bigger.
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Skimmer is a trademark of its respective owner. PoolBase is not affiliated with or endorsed by Skimmer. Descriptions and prices for third-party products come from their published plans and feature pages (getskimmer.com) as of August 14, 2026 and may change; confirm current features and pricing on their site.