Pool water monitor comparison

ICO vs iopool EcO

A lower price and faster readings sound great—until you decide where the gateway has to live.

By Brian Williamson, Pool Express product specialist Published November 4, 2026

Winner: ICO Pool

iopool is a solid budget option, and its two-year warranty is better on paper. I would spend the extra $90 on ICO for direct Wi-Fi, a rechargeable battery, actual salt measurement, and separate replacement probes.

Why I'd choose ICO

Direct Wi-Fi without a powered gateway near the pool
Rechargeable battery with no replacement cell
ICO Salt reports salt and TDS
Replace one worn probe instead of a combined sensor kit

Where iopool EcO has an edge

About $90 less up front
Two-year warranty and 15-minute readings with the gateway

See ICO Pool View every comparison

My pick

ICO Pool

$449 chlorine/bromine · $499 salt · direct Wi-Fi with no gateway

iopool EcO V2 + cOnnect

$359 start · $409 salt bundle · powered gateway required for remote readings

Important: iopool's U.S. availability has moved between preorder and sold out. Confirm that the V2 monitor and its replacement parts are in stock before buying.

The simple comparison

What matters	ICO Pool	iopool EcO
Starting price	$449 chlorine/bromine · $499 salt	$359 start bundle · $409 salt bundleEdge
Automatic testing	Every hour	Every 15 minutes with cOnnect gatewayEdge
Measurements	pH, ORP, temperature · salt/TDS on ICO SaltEdge	pH, ORP, temperature · no salt reading
Remote connection	Direct 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi + BluetoothEdge	Bluetooth probe + plug-in Wi-Fi gateway
Subscription	None	None
Battery	USB-rechargeable · 6+ months	Replaceable · estimated 2–3 years · $34.95 kit
Warranty	1 year	2 years, subject to support evaluationEdge
Replacement sensors	Separate pH, ORP, and TDS probesEdge	Combined sensor kit

iopool gets a lot right for the price. It reads pH, ORP, and temperature, has no subscription, and starts about $90 below the comparable ICO. The catch is its connection: the EcO probe uses Bluetooth, so remote monitoring depends on a separate cOnnect gateway.

My take

If you have a protected outlet in exactly the right spot, iopool is a reasonable value. With its gateway connected, it can send a reading every 15 minutes—four times ICO's hourly schedule—and it carries a two-year warranty.

I would still buy ICO. The extra money removes a box, an outlet, and a second wireless hop. It also buys a rechargeable battery, actual salt measurement on ICO Salt, and probes I can replace individually.

The gateway question

The EcO itself is Bluetooth. Its cOnnect gateway must stay plugged in where it can reach both the probe over Bluetooth and your router over Wi-Fi. That may be easy beside a small patio pool; it can be annoying across a large yard or through masonry walls.

ICO connects directly to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and also has Bluetooth for nearby use. I like having one device to troubleshoot. Fewer pieces usually means fewer mystery disconnects in July.

Salt pools

This naming is easy to misunderstand. The iopool Salt model is designed to work in a saltwater pool, but it does not report salinity. It still measures pH, ORP, and temperature.

ICO Salt adds a conductivity sensor that reports salt and TDS every hour. If I own a salt pool, that is enough by itself to justify much of the price difference.

Battery and parts

iopool's replaceable battery is estimated to last two to three years. That is a long interval, but replacing it requires a $34.95 V2 kit; the current kit does not fit the sealed V1. Its sensors are sold as a combined kit.

ICO runs six months or more per USB charge. Its pH, ORP, and TDS sensors are separate $149 parts, so I do not have to replace a healthy sensor because a different one aged first. That serviceability matters more to me than avoiding a seasonal charge.

Final call

ICO Pool wins for me. iopool is cheaper, reads more often with the gateway, and offers a longer warranty. ICO is the cleaner system to own: direct Wi-Fi, no powered bridge, no disposable battery, salt measurement where it matters, and simpler repairs.

If your budget is strict and the gateway placement is easy, iopool is not a bad choice. If you want the monitor with fewer dependencies, I would pay the extra $90 for ICO.

See ICO Pool and choose your water type →

Common questions

Does iopool EcO need a gateway?

Yes for remote readings. The EcO probe uses Bluetooth, and the cOnnect gateway relays its data to Wi-Fi. ICO connects directly to Wi-Fi without a gateway.

Does iopool measure salt?

No. Its Salt version is compatible with salt pools but does not report salinity. ICO Salt measures salt and TDS.

Is iopool cheaper than ICO?

Yes. The compared bundles start about $90 below ICO. The ICO premium buys direct Wi-Fi, a rechargeable battery, separate probes, and salt measurement on the Salt model.