GorillaDesk vs Pool Brain 2026: Which Is Better for Pool Service?
Choosing between GorillaDesk and Pool Brain for your pool service business? Both platforms serve field service professionals, but they take different approaches to scheduling, invoicing, and mobile tools.
This comparison breaks down everything pool service professionals need to know: pricing, features, mobile apps, and which platform is better suited for your specific needs.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | GorillaDesk | Pool Brain |
|---|---|---|
| Capterra Rating | 3.5/5 | 2.8/5 |
| Best For | Field service with pest control focus | Pool service automation platform |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Route Planning | Available | Available |
| Invoicing | Built-in | Built-in |
What Sets GorillaDesk Apart
GorillaDesk has built its reputation on specific strengths that matter to field service businesses. Here's what users consistently highlight:
GorillaDesk Strengths
- Excellent customer support with free onboarding
- User-friendly interface, minimal training required
- Robust scheduling calendar (best-in-class)
- 96% user satisfaction rating
- Chemical tracking for pool service
- Reliable QuickBooks Online integration
- Unlimited training and video library
- Multi-industry support (pest, lawn, pool)
What Sets Pool Brain Apart
Pool Brain differentiates itself with features that appeal to businesses looking for specific capabilities:
Pool Brain Strengths
- Excellent for technician accountability and quality control
- Intelligent alerts eliminate need for manual follow-ups
- Per-user pricing is affordable for larger teams
- Highly customizable checklists and workflows
- Great customer support with direct founder access
- Detailed analytics help identify trends and issues
- Works offline with no signal needed
- QuickBooks Online integration available
GorillaDesk Limitations
No software is perfect. Based on user reviews and our analysis, here's where GorillaDesk falls short:
Areas for Improvement
- ~20% of users report offline sync issues
- Limited payment integration options
- No real-time traffic in route optimization
- USD pricing challenging for international users
- Recurring note issues reported by some users
- Pool features are secondary to pest control
- Less pool-specific than dedicated pool software
Pool Brain Limitations
Similarly, Pool Brain has some weaknesses to consider:
Areas for Improvement
- Significant battery drain on mobile devices (major complaint)
- Recent app updates have caused frustrating bugs
- Route optimization can be problematic after updates
- No built-in payment processing
- Photo requirements can feel excessive to some techs
- Steep learning curve for full feature utilization
- Mobile app rating (2.8) much lower than web platform
- Requires credit check for billing features
Mobile App Experience
For pool service professionals, the mobile app is critical—you're in the field all day. Here's how both platforms stack up:
- Excellent customer support with free onboarding
- User-friendly interface, minimal training required
- Robust scheduling calendar (best-in-class)
- Excellent for technician accountability and quality control
- Intelligent alerts eliminate need for manual follow-ups
- Per-user pricing is affordable for larger teams
Looking for Pool-Specific Software?
PoolDial is built specifically for pool service professionals with chemical tracking, water testing integration, and a 24/7 AI receptionist included at no extra cost. Simple $2/pool pricing with no contracts.
See How PoolDial ComparesWho Should Choose GorillaDesk?
GorillaDesk is likely the better choice if you:
- Excellent customer support — Excellent customer support with free onboarding
- User-friendly interface, minimal — User-friendly interface, minimal training required
- Robust scheduling calendar — Robust scheduling calendar (best-in-class)
- 96% user satisfaction — 96% user satisfaction rating
Who Should Choose Pool Brain?
Pool Brain might be better if you:
- Excellent for technician — Excellent for technician accountability and quality control
- Intelligent alerts eliminate — Intelligent alerts eliminate need for manual follow-ups
- Per-user pricing is — Per-user pricing is affordable for larger teams
- Highly customizable checklists — Highly customizable checklists and workflows
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for pool service, GorillaDesk or Pool Brain?
It depends on your priorities. GorillaDesk excels at excellent customer support with free onboarding, while Pool Brain is stronger for excellent for technician accountability and quality control. For pool-specific features like chemical tracking and water testing, consider dedicated pool software like Skimmer or PoolDial.
Can I switch from GorillaDesk to Pool Brain (or vice versa)?
Yes. Both platforms allow data export. Customer records, service history, and basic job data can typically be migrated. The complexity depends on how much historical data you need to transfer.
Do either have pool-specific features like chemical tracking?
Most general field service software doesn't include pool-specific features like chemical tracking, LSI calculations, or water testing integration. If these features are important to your business, look at pool-specific platforms like Skimmer or PoolDial.
Which has better customer support?
Both platforms generally receive positive feedback about their support teams. Check recent reviews for the most up-to-date information about response times and helpfulness.
Our Verdict
Choose GorillaDesk if: You prioritize excellent customer support with free onboarding.
Choose Pool Brain if: You prioritize excellent for technician accountability and quality control.
For pool service specifically: Consider pool-specific software like Skimmer or PoolDial that includes chemical tracking, water testing integration, and pool industry features that general FSM software lacks.
For deeper reviews, read our complete GorillaDesk review or Pool Brain review. Or explore our Best Pool Service Software guide for a broader comparison.