ICO Pool
From $449
Current product status
Supported
Live app, inventory and service parts
Full ICO details →
ICO vs pHin: A Current Replacement for Hayward's Monitor
pHin owners are not choosing between two active products: Hayward shut the service down in 2021. ICO fills the same broad role — remote water trends and dosing guidance — without a required subscription or proprietary test-strip program.
Overall winner
ICO Pool
Compare the Specs ↓
ICO restores automatic monitoring with an active app, direct Wi-Fi, no required subscription and replaceable probes.
Hayward ended pHin service on December 20, 2021. The bridge, app and cloud-backed monitor no longer provide the original service.
pHin Smart Water Monitor
Discontinued; old stock has no working connected service
Current product status
Ended
Service stopped December 20, 2021
30-second answer
ICO is the current replacement; pHin is obsolete hardware.
- A pHin bought today cannot provide the original connected-monitor service.
- ICO reads every hour, connects directly to Wi-Fi and does not require a bridge.
- ICO uses owner-replaceable probes and has no mandatory annual app plan.
Side by side
ICO Pool vs pHin specs
These are the ownership differences that matter after the unboxing, not a list of every marketing feature.
| Category | ICO Pool Our pick | pHin Smart Water Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Typical purchase price | $449 Chlorine / Bromine · $499 Salt | Discontinued; old stock has no working connected service |
| Automatic reading schedule | Every hour — 24 readings per day | No current readings |
| What it measures | pH, ORP and temperature; ICO Salt also reports salt / TDS | No current measurements; former monitor tracked water chemistry and temperature |
| Subscription / refills | No app fee, test cassette or reagent refill | Former subscription ecosystem is closed |
| Connection | Direct 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth; no gateway | Former Bluetooth bridge and cloud service are offline |
| Power | USB-rechargeable battery; rated for 6+ months per charge | Not relevant after service shutdown |
| Sensors and service parts | pH, ORP and TDS probes replace individually; Smart Core is also replaceable | No current parts or service program |
| Warranty | 1-year limited manufacturer warranty | No active product coverage |
| Where it goes | Floats in the pool or sits in the skimmer | Formerly floated in the pool or spa |
| Overall winner | ICO Pool ICO restores automatic monitoring with an active app, direct Wi-Fi, no required subscription and replaceable probes. | Discontinued Not a functioning monitor today. |
The pHin shutdown is a hardware limitation now
pHin sent its data through a wireless bridge to Hayward's service. The app and cloud processing were part of the product, not optional extras. When service ended in December 2021, the monitor lost the system that made its readings useful.
That is why leftover pHin inventory is not a bargain. The physical float may be intact, but the connected product is not available.
ICO removes the separate bridge
ICO connects directly to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and also supports Bluetooth for setup and nearby access. There is no additional bridge to power in the house or keep within radio range of the water.
The app records hourly pH, ORP and temperature trends and adds salt / TDS on ICO Salt. Alerts and treatment guidance are included without a paid tier.
Replaceable probes matter after a shutdown
No connected product is immune to business risk. ICO does improve the hardware side: its measurement probes and Smart Core are separate retail parts, and it does not depend on a recurring cartridge shipment.
We still recommend keeping a manual drop kit. It confirms unusual readings and ensures pool care never rests on one app or one sensor.
Pool Robots verdict
Winner: ICO Pool
ICO is the current replacement; pHin is obsolete hardware.
We would not buy pHin at any price because its connected service is gone. ICO restores the useful part of the experience — automatic trends, alerts and dosing guidance — with current hardware, direct Wi-Fi and probes the owner can replace.
Buy ICO when…
Choose ICO for an active pool monitor with hourly data, no required subscription, no bridge and a repair path beyond the warranty.
Where pHin still has an edge
Do not choose pHin old stock. Its shutdown cannot be fixed with a new account, bridge or calibration kit.
Common questions
ICO vs pHin FAQ
Which is better, ICO Pool or pHin Smart Water Monitor?
ICO Pool is our overall winner. ICO restores automatic monitoring with an active app, direct Wi-Fi, no required subscription and replaceable probes.
Does pHin still work?
No. Hayward ended the pHin service on December 20, 2021. The original connected readings, app workflow and recommendations are no longer available.
Can pHin be used without the cloud?
There is no supported offline mode that recreates the original pHin monitoring service. Used and leftover units should not be bought as functioning smart monitors.
What is a current pHin replacement?
ICO Pool is one current option. It reads pH, ORP and temperature hourly, adds salt / TDS on ICO Salt, connects directly to Wi-Fi and uses individually replaceable probes.
Keep comparing
ICO against every major monitor
Last fact-checked November 5, 2026 from manufacturer product pages, manuals and support material. This is an editorial feature comparison, not an independent laboratory accuracy test. Prices, stock and terms can change; make sure the exact model before ordering.