The “Swimply” App Is Like Airbnb—but for Renting Swimming Pools

The dog days of summer are seeming a little longer these days . . . but pandemic or not, we can get behind borrowing someone else’s swimming pool, if only for a couple hours. Who needs crowded beaches or pools when you can have a private swimming spot all to yourself?

Thanks to an Airbnb-like platform for pool sharing called Swimply, you can rent access to someone’s backyard pool by the hour. Described as the “first ever online marketplace for pool sharing,” Swimply is the brainchild of Bunim Laskin, a 22-year-old entrepreneur from New Jersey. Laskin created the app, which launched with a pilot program in summer 2018, to “democratize the pool experience so that everyone can enjoy an instant escape from reality.”

Homeowners can sign up to list their underused pools to make some extra cash at swimply.com (all hosts are provided a $1 million insurance policy), while non–pool owners can browse through the 13,000+ listings on the online platform in all 50 states. There are also pools available to rent across Canada and Australia. 

For example, you can rent a self-proclaimed Mermaid Cave (including hot tub) for $80 an hour during your next D.C. trip. Or if you find yourself at your parent’s pool-less house back in Los Angeles over the holidays, you can channel your inner celebrity and invite everyone over to an iconic Hollywood Hills oasis for $70 an hour.

Each owner sets an hourly rate based on details such as pool size, timing, and amenities like bathroom, barbecue, and pool toy access—but the average rental is just $45 per hour. It is also up to the owners to decide whether or not they will be home while you use their pool, so the amount of privacy differs with each rental. But yes, there are COVID safety protocols in place: Swimply requires an hour between bookings to ensure hosts have time to clean and sanitize, and all interactions are requested to follow CDC guidelines. Additionally, each pool is inspected by a local pool service company for hygiene and safety before it can be listed on the app.

This article was originally published on July 31, 2019; it was updated on August 6, 2021, with additional information.

>> Next: The Best U.S. Beach Houses to Rent on Airbnb