Pool service software
Orbit vs Skimmer
Skimmer is the most widely used pool service app. It bills per serviced location, so the bill grows with every pool you add, and route optimization, quotes and checklists sit on the higher plan.
Where Orbit is stronger
- A flat plan price that does not grow with your pool count
- Route optimization and PDF quotes on the entry plan
- Unlimited photos per visit on every plan
- Chemical logs that cannot be deleted, and a full export
Where Skimmer is stronger
- A dosing calculator in the app on Scaling Up
- A customer portal and text messages to customers
- A large install base and live phone support on Scaling Up
Feature by feature.
Skimmer's column comes from www.getskimmer.com, checked October 2026. Plans and prices change; check theirs before you decide.
| Feature |  | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| How you payWhat the monthly bill is based on | Flat $39 to $139. First tech included, $30 per extra tech | Per serviced location, $1 to $2 each, $49 or $98 minimum |
| Pools or locationsAny cap on pools or locations | Unlimited on every plan | Billed per location |
| Office usersOwner and office staff | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free trial | 30 days, no card | One free month, usage over 49 locations billed |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel any time | Not published |
| Card processingWhat the processor charges you | Stripe's standard rate, nothing added | Not published |
| Routes and scheduling | ||
| Route optimizationReorder a day by distance | Every plan | Scaling Up and above |
| Route map with progressDone and pending stops on the map | Not published | |
| Cover a dayHand a route to another tech for one day without touching the weekly route | Not published | |
| Recurring serviceWeekly stops generated from the service day | ||
| Filter clean schedulingCleans come due from the last clean and the interval | Not published | |
| Calendar with repairs, events and time off | Every plan, phone feed on Pro | |
| Field app | ||
| Works without signalLogs save on the phone and sync when signal returns | ||
| Readings per body of waterPool, spa, fountain, each with its own log | 2 on Starter, 5 on Pro, unlimited on Business | |
| Dosing calculator in the appSoftware tells the tech what to add | — | Scaling Up and above |
| Photos per visit | Unlimited | 5 on Getting Started, 20 on Scaling Up |
| Time clockClock in and out, hours to a timesheet | Pro and up | Not published |
| Truck stockDoses count down what is on the truck | Business | Shopping list |
| Message the office from a stop | Not published | |
| Gate codes, dog and entry side on the stop | ||
| Checklists per client | Pro and up | Scaling Up and above |
| Jobs and quotes | ||
| Repairs flagged from the field | ||
| Quotes with your logo | Every plan | Scaling Up and above |
| Quotes from the mobile app | Pro and up | |
| Accepted quote becomes the invoice | Not published | |
| Price book and job templates | Pro and up | |
| Billing | ||
| Monthly service invoicesGenerated for every client from their rate | Pro and up | |
| Online payments | Pro and up, card by Stripe | |
| QuickBooks Online syncCustomers, invoices and payments | Business | Enterprise |
| Service report emailed after each visitReadings, chemicals, photos, notes | ||
| Customer portalCustomers log in to see history and pay | — | |
| Text messages to customers | — | Per message, or included on Scaling Up |
| Reports and records | ||
| Chemical spend by client, tech and month | Pro and up | Financial reporting |
| Client profitabilityLabor, chemical and travel cost against the rate | Business | Financial reporting |
| Mileage and fleetOdometer readings per truck | Pro and up | Not published |
| Audit log of every changeWho changed what, when | Business, two years | Not published |
| Full export of your data and photos | Business | Not published |
| Chemical logs cannot be deletedNo role can delete a reading | Not published | |
Sources. Pricing and plans. Skimmer is a trademark of its owner; Orbit is not affiliated with it.
See something wrong or out of date? Email support@orbitpoolsoftware.com and we fix it.
Try Orbit next to Skimmer for 30 days.
Run both on your own route for a week. The trial needs no card, and there is nothing to cancel if Orbit does not earn its place.