ICO Pool
From $449
Working water readings
24 per day
Current app and active product support
Full ICO details →
ICO vs Sutro: The Best Replacement for a Discontinued Monitor
This is no longer a normal product comparison. Sutro depended on its app, cloud service and reagent supply, and that service ended in 2025. ICO is a current cartridge-free replacement with hourly readings and serviceable probes.
Overall winner
ICO Pool
Compare the Specs ↓
ICO is a supported, functioning monitor with hourly readings, no reagent cartridges and owner-replaceable probes.
Sutro's monitor and app stopped functioning after October 31, 2025. Leftover hardware is not a working water-monitoring system.
Sutro Smart Monitor
Discontinued; old inventory should not be purchased for monitoring
Working water readings
None
Cloud service has ended
30-second answer
ICO wins by being a supported, functioning monitor.
- Do not buy leftover Sutro stock: the hardware cannot deliver its original monitoring service.
- ICO needs no reagent cartridge and has no required app subscription.
- ICO's probes and electronics module can be replaced instead of discarding the whole monitor.
Side by side
ICO Pool vs Sutro specs
These are the ownership differences that matter after the unboxing, not a list of every marketing feature.
| Category | ICO Pool Our pick | Sutro Smart Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Typical purchase price | $449 Chlorine / Bromine · $499 Salt | Discontinued; old inventory should not be purchased for monitoring |
| 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 system used reagent cartridges |
| Subscription / refills | No app fee, test cassette or reagent refill | Formerly required cartridges and cloud service; service has ended |
| Connection | Direct 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth; no gateway | Cloud-dependent system is 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 | Store and cartridge supply closed |
| 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 |
| Overall winner | ICO Pool ICO is a supported, functioning monitor with hourly readings, no reagent cartridges and owner-replaceable probes. | Discontinued Not a functioning monitor today. |
Why old Sutro units no longer make sense
Sutro did more than display data locally. Its chemistry workflow relied on the company app, cloud processing and a continuing cartridge supply. Once those pieces shut down, the floating hardware stopped being a usable monitor.
A low clearance price does not change that. There is no offline mode that recreates the original readings and recommendations.
What changes when you move to ICO
ICO reads pH, ORP and temperature without consuming a reagent. The Salt version also follows salt / TDS. It uploads one reading each hour and provides trends, alerts and treatment guidance in the app.
The measurement method is different from Sutro's cartridge chemistry, so keep a manual kit for direct confirmation. The payoff is removing the cartridge supply chain from everyday monitoring.
A better service path after the warranty
ICO's pH, ORP and TDS probes are separate parts, and the Smart Core electronics module is replaceable as well. That does not eliminate cloud dependence, but it avoids the consumable lock-in that made Sutro's shutdown especially final.
Pool Robots sells the active monitor through Shopify with live inventory, a 30-day return window and the manufacturer warranty shown at checkout.
Pool Robots verdict
Winner: ICO Pool
ICO wins by being a supported, functioning monitor.
There is no remaining use case in which we would recommend Sutro hardware. Even a sealed unit depends on services and supplies that no longer exist. ICO is the practical replacement because it is active, refill-free and built around replaceable probes.
Buy ICO when…
Choose ICO if you want a current monitor with hourly trends, no cartridges, direct Wi-Fi and a published parts path.
Where Sutro still has an edge
Do not choose Sutro. Old hardware cannot be restored to the original monitoring service by changing a battery or cartridge.
Common questions
ICO vs Sutro FAQ
Which is better, ICO Pool or Sutro Smart Monitor?
ICO Pool is our overall winner. ICO is a supported, functioning monitor with hourly readings, no reagent cartridges and owner-replaceable probes.
Does Sutro still work?
No. Sutro's app and cloud-backed monitor service ended after October 31, 2025, so the original water-monitoring workflow no longer functions.
Can I reactivate a used Sutro?
No supported reactivation path is available. A new battery or old cartridge does not replace the discontinued app, cloud service and supply channel.
Is ICO a direct replacement for Sutro's measurements?
It is a practical smart-monitor replacement, but the method differs. ICO measures pH, ORP and temperature hourly, plus salt / TDS on ICO Salt. Use a manual test kit when you need direct chlorine confirmation.
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.