Ruunly vs Skimmer
No per-pool billing ratchet. Your Stripe, your rates.
Skimmer is purpose-built pool service software with deep route and chemical logging features. But as your route grows, so does your bill — and you can't use your own Stripe account. Ruunly charges a flat monthly rate, connects to your existing Stripe, and adds a website and client portal on top.
Ruunly
$19/mo
website + billing + portal
Skimmer
$49/mo minimum
Skimmer Getting Started plan: $1.00 per serviced location/month, $49/mo minimum (0–49 pools/month). Source
Why service businesses switch to Ruunly
Flat pricing — no per-location surprises
Skimmer bills $1.00 per serviced location per month on their Getting Started plan, jumping to $2.00/location on Scaling Up, with no pause option. Ruunly charges a flat monthly rate regardless of how many customers you service that month.
Bring your own Stripe account
Skimmer's billing system runs on Stripe Connect, but they explicitly state you cannot use an existing Stripe account — their processor setup is Skimmer-controlled. Ruunly uses Stripe Connect with a tenant-owned account — your payouts, your control.
Website and full billing portal included
Skimmer offers a customer portal for branded quotes, deposits, and e-signatures, but no website builder. Ruunly ships with an AI-built service website and a client portal where your customers manage their active service plan and billing — not just approve quotes.
Better fit for new and small operators
Skimmer's route optimization, chemical logging, and field-tech tools are built for established multi-route pool businesses. If you're starting out or running a small route, Ruunly's simpler setup and lower price floor are a better match.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Ruunly | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $19/mo | $49/mo minimum (Getting Started plan)[src] |
| Scaling pricing model | Flat monthly tiers | $1.00/location (Getting Started), $2.00/location (Scaling Up, $98/mo min)[src] |
| Pause option | Cancel anytime | No pause feature — minimum floor applies even when inactive[src] |
| Card processing fee | Stripe passthrough + Ruunly platform fee | 2.9% + $0.25 per transaction; 0.5% extra for recurring/keyed[src] |
| ACH processing fee | ACH via Stripe | 1.0% + $0.25, capped at $10[src] |
| SMS texts add-on | Included on Pro+ | $0.029/text on Getting Started; included on Scaling Up+[src] |
| AI Phone add-on | Not available | $99/mo add-on[src] |
| Payments | ||
| Use your own Stripe account | Tenant-owned Stripe Connect | Cannot use existing Stripe account — Skimmer-controlled processor setup[src] |
| Website | ||
| Website builder | AI-built service site | Not available[src] |
| Customers | ||
| Client portal | Service client portal | Customer portal (branded quotes, deposits, e-signature)[src] |
| Operations | ||
| Route management / optimization | Job scheduling | Route builder + optimizer + map scheduling[src] |
| Pool-specific workflows (chemical logs, LSI) | Deep pool ops: water readings, dosages, LSI, installed items[src] | |
| Recurring work orders | [src] | |
| Integrations | ||
| QuickBooks Online sync | [src] | |
| Best for | ||
| Ideal use case | New and small pool service operators seeking flat pricing and website | Established pool service businesses with multi-route operations |
Common questions
Can I switch from Skimmer to Ruunly?
Yes, though migration is manual — Skimmer does not have a bulk data export wizard. Export your customer list, then import via Ruunly's CSV importer. Ruunly's AI builds your website during signup, so you're live quickly on that front.
Ruunly doesn't have pool chemical logging — is it a real Skimmer alternative?
For a multi-route pool business that runs on water readings, LSI, chemical dosing, and proof-of-service reports, Skimmer is deeper. Ruunly is the better fit for new or small pool operators who primarily need a website, membership plan billing, customer portal, and a simpler per-job scheduling flow — without the per-location pricing ratchet.
Why can't I use my own Stripe account with Skimmer?
Skimmer's billing documentation explicitly states that customers cannot connect an existing Stripe account — Skimmer controls the processor setup via Stripe Connect. Ruunly's Stripe Connect integration ties to your own Stripe account: payouts go directly to you on Stripe's standard schedule.
Sources
Comparison facts last verified against Skimmer's public pages on . Pricing and features can change — always confirm on the vendor's own site before switching. If you see something out of date, email [email protected] and we'll fix it.