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Skimmer vs. pHin
A smart pool water monitor, hardware plus subscription, that was discontinued, leaving owners without automated readings.
Discontinued
What happened to pHin
pHin's water-monitoring sensor and companion app were discontinued, ending the automated readings and cloud-based dosing recommendations the device relied on. As with other smart-sensor products, owners were left holding hardware with no functioning backend behind it.
What pHin users lost
- Automated chemistry readings from the pHin sensor
- Dosing recommendations generated through pHin's app and cloud service
- Any historical test data that was stored only in a pHin account
- The value of the subscription and hardware purchase, now unsupported
What to do now
- 1Retire the pHin sensor, it can't deliver readings without the company's backend
- 2Return to manual test strips or a liquid test kit
- 3Move to a tracking app that keeps your data on your own device
- 4Save any equipment or maintenance notes from the pHin app before losing access
Why Skimmer
Skimmer takes a deliberately different approach: no sensor hardware to fail, no subscription tied to a backend that can be shut off. It's a native iOS app that stores everything on your device, so the routine you build with it keeps working for as long as you own an iPhone.
Feature by feature
Skimmer vs. pHin, side by side.
| Feature | Skimmer | pHin |
|---|---|---|
| Automated water-chemistry readings | Manual entry, always available | Yes, while the service was operating |
| Chemical dosing log | Tied to the app while it operated | |
| Equipment lifecycle tracking | ✗ | |
| Resale-grade PDF export | ✗ | |
| Works without a subscription or backend | ✗ | |
| Still available to buy | No, discontinued |
Why Skimmer
Where Skimmer pulls ahead.
- No hardware sensor to fail or become obsolete when a company shuts down its service
- No subscription tied to a backend, it works the same today as it will next year
- Equipment lifecycle tracking and a resale-grade PDF export
- Fully offline, no account, your maintenance history stays yours
- A flat $19.99/yr price with no hardware to buy upfront
Frequently asked
Questions about Skimmer vs. pHin
Is pHin still available?
No, pHin was discontinued. If you own the hardware, it likely no longer functions as intended without the company's backend service running.
Can I still use my pHin sensor for anything?
Without the app and cloud service behind it, the sensor has no way to take or transmit readings. There's no official path we're aware of to keep using it standalone.
What replaces pHin's automated testing?
Manual testing, test strips or a liquid kit, is the practical fallback for most pool owners. Pair that with a tracking app like Skimmer to log results, chemical doses, and equipment history without depending on a hardware sensor or a company's servers.
Does Skimmer have the same shutdown risk as pHin?
No. Skimmer has no backend, no hardware, and no required subscription server. It's a local, offline-first iOS app, your data doesn't depend on a company staying in business.
Ready to switch from pHin?
7-day free trial, $19.99/yr after. No account, no ads, no backend to shut down.
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