PoolMath is a calculator. PoolFu is Mastery.

PoolMath and the TroubleFreePool community have done more to educate pool owners about proper chemistry than anyone else in the industry. The FC/CYA methodology is sound. The forums are an incredible resource staffed by knowledgeable volunteers who've seen every problem. For $7.99 a year, PoolMath does exactly what it promises: calculate what to add. We wouldn't be here without the foundation TFP built.

So what's the difference?

PoolMath is a calculator with a solid SWG database and good fundamentals. You enter your numbers, it tells you how much of what to add. It tracks your surface type and SWG model for chlorine output, and it lets you simulate the effect of adding chemicals before you commit. But it calculates each parameter on its own against fixed TFP ranges that can't be adjusted, even when your equipment manufacturer recommends something different. It won't notice that the pH drift you've been correcting for three weeks has a pattern. It doesn't adjust chlorine targets for your actual water temperature or pH. It doesn't tell your SWG to work harder before recommending you add bleach. And it doesn't explain why your numbers look the way they do.

PoolFu starts where the calculator stops. Same sound FC/CYA foundation, but with equipment-first dosing logic across 616 SWG models, surface-aware calcium that protects your finish, pattern detection that catches problems before they become visible, weather intelligence that correlates rain with chemistry changes, and Splash, an AI assistant that explains the why in plain English. For the pool owner who wants to understand their water, not just calculate dosing, the $32 annual difference costs less than one bag of shock.

One thing PoolMath has that we don't: Android support and a browser-based version in beta. If you're not on iOS, PoolMath is currently your best option for sound chemistry calculations.