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Autopilot vs Skimmer
Skimmer is the category leader in pool service software, and for route-based pool care its chemical tracking and per-pool workflow are the real thing. Autopilot is the better fit when you want one flat price and a system that answers your phone, not one that bills you more for every pool you win.
The Skimmer alternative built for pool pros who hate metered pricing
The numbers that decide it, side by side.
| Comparison point |  |  Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo flat | $49/mo + $1 per pool beyond 49 |
| Team members included | 1, 5, or 10 by plan | None; priced per pool serviced |
| Free trial | 2 weeks, no card required | 1 month free for new customers |
| Onboarding fee | $0 | None advertised |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | Month to month |
| AI receptionist | Full Throttle, $149/mo | $99/mo add-on |
| Full business phone system | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Not offered |
| Support | Human support chat, no ticket queue | Email only on entry plan; phone on higher plans |
Last updated July 2026. Skimmer details are based on publicly available information; verify with Skimmer.
Who is Skimmer?
Skimmer is the biggest name in pool service software: roughly 29,000 pros servicing over 700,000 pools run on it, and it raised a $74 million Series C in October 2024, making it the lone heavily funded player in an otherwise fragmented vertical. It is built around the pool route: visit checklists, chemical readings and dosing history, photos, customer emails, and billing.
Pricing is per pool. The Getting Started plan is $49 a month covering your first 49 locations plus $1 per additional location, and the Scaling Up plan is $98 a month plus $2 per location, which adds included two-way texting and marketing broadcasts. On the entry plan, texting is metered per message. Skimmer doubled its per-pool price from $1 to $2 on the higher tier in 2024, a sore point with some long-time users. New customers get a month free.
An AI answering product is available as a $99 a month add-on. For a pure pool route, Skimmer's depth is honestly hard to match. The tradeoffs are the meter on your growth and the extra bills for the phone-answering piece Autopilot includes flat.
Who is Autopilot?
Autopilot is an all-in-one CRM built for home service businesses: junk removal, cleaning, landscaping, moving, and the rest of the trades that keep neighborhoods running. Plans start at $49 a month for scheduling, estimates, invoicing, payments, and online booking. Crew at $99 adds two-way texting and limited calling. Full Throttle at $149 adds the full phone system, AI receptionist, QuickBooks, GPS, and marketing tools. Plans include 1, 5, or 10 team members respectively.
It was built by a founder who ran his own junk removal company and got tired of paying for three tools that didn't talk to each other. Over 400 businesses run on it today, and it holds a 4.8 rating on the App Store and 4.9 on Google Play.
Against Skimmer, the pitch is one flat bill instead of a per-pool meter, with the AI receptionist included rather than sold as a $99 add-on.
Feature by feature
Not just checkmarks. Where a feature costs extra or sits on a higher plan, the table says so.
Phone & AI
| Comparison point | | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist that answers and books calls | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | $99/mo add-on |
| Built-in business phone (VoIP) | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Call recording & transcripts | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| AI call summaries | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Two-way business texting | Crew and Full Throttle | Per-message fee on entry plan; included on Scaling Up |
Scheduling & Jobs
| Comparison point | | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling & dispatch | ||
| Online booking | ||
| Estimates & quotes | Not advertised | |
| Client & lead management | ||
| iOS & Android crew app | 4.8 App Store / 4.9 Google Play | iOS & Android apps |
Payments & Money
| Comparison point | | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Not advertised | |
| QuickBooks sync | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Price book | Not advertised | |
| Customer tipping | Not advertised |
Marketing & Growth
| Comparison point | | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Review funnel | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| SMS blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Broadcasts on Scaling Up plan |
| Email blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Broadcasts on Scaling Up plan |
| Automated marketing sequences | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Google Ads tracking | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
Where Skimmer goes deeper
| Comparison point | | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical readings & dosing history | ||
| Pool-visit checklists with photos | ||
| Route-first mobile workflow | Scheduling & dispatch, not route-metered |
An honest comparison cuts both ways. If these are must-haves for your business today, Skimmer earns the look.
What you actually pay
Autopilot
- Starter$49/mo
- Crew$99/mo
- Full Throttle$149/mo
Clear plans for 1, 5, or 10 team members. No onboarding fee or annual contract. Free 2-week trial.
Skimmer
- Getting Started$49/mo base
Covers 49 locations, then $1/location; texting per message
- Scaling Up$98/mo base
Covers 49 locations, then $2/location; texting and broadcasts included
- EnterpriseCustom
1,000+ pools
Priced per serviced location per month. The AI answering product is a separate $99 a month add-on on any plan. The per-location rate on the higher tier doubled from $1 to $2 in 2024.
Last updated July 2026. Skimmer details are based on publicly available information; verify with Skimmer.
The bottom line
Two different tools for two different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose Skimmer if…
- You run a pure pool route and chemical tracking is the heart of your day
- You want visit checklists, readings, and dosing history your techs fill in per stop
- You want the tool most other pool pros already use
- You service under 49 pools and the $49 base covers you fine
Choose Autopilot if…
- You do not want your software bill growing with every pool you add
- You want the AI receptionist included instead of paying $99 a month extra
- You want a built-in phone line with call recording and AI summaries
- You also do repairs, renovations, or other services beyond the weekly route
Switching from Skimmer takes an afternoon
Four steps, and our team does the heavy one for you.
- 1
Export your customers
Pull your client list out of Skimmer as a CSV. Every FSM platform supports this, and it takes about five minutes.
- 2
We import everything for you
Send us the file and our team loads your customers, jobs, and price book into Autopilot as part of free onboarding. No spreadsheet wrestling on your end.
- 3
Point your phone number at Autopilot
On Full Throttle, keep your existing business number. We port it or forward it, so calls start landing in Autopilot with recording, transcripts, and the AI receptionist behind them.
- 4
Run both for a week, then cut over
Your Skimmer account keeps working during your free trial. Most crews book their first Autopilot job on day one and cancel the old subscription within the month.
- 400+
- businesses run on Autopilot
- 4.9
- Google Play rating
- 4.8
- App Store rating
- $49
- per month starting price
Autopilot vs Skimmer: your questions
The things owners actually ask before they switch.
Try the Skimmer alternative built for your crew
Start a free 2-week trial and book your first job today. No credit card, no onboarding fee, no contract.
More comparisons
Skimmer is a trademark of Skimmer. Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Skimmer. Competitor pricing and feature information is based on publicly available sources as of July 2026 and may have changed; features missing from a plan may be available on higher plans or for an additional fee. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.