The Airbnb of swimming pools: Swimply app allows people to rent private pools by the hour

Andrea Johns built a swimming pool at her Lawrence Township home in 2018. It has a diving board and night lighting and is surrounded by a large patio.

She and her family enjoy spending time by the pool on weekends and weekday evenings.

But on weekdays, Johns rents the pool by the hour. She is a host on Swimply, an online platform that has been dubbed the Airbnb of swimming pools.

"I refer everybody that I know that has a pool to it," said Johns, 45, who works in the banking industry. "They think it's kind of crazy, but when you invest the kind of money that it takes to invest in a pool every year, not to mention the initial investment, it's nice to be able to share it with others at a reasonable cost."

Swimply was launched by cofounders Bunim Laskin and Asher Weinberger in New Jersey in 2018. It allows those looking to rent a pool to connect with private pool owners in their area. The company says it offers about 25,000 pools across the U.S., Canada and Australia, including nearly 100 in the Buckeye State.

Johns is one of several pool owners in the Akron-Canton region who has her pool listed on Swimply. She and other renters say it's an easy way to make extra money to help offset pool maintenance costs.

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How does Swimply work?

Pool owners can sign up for the platform and create a listing that includes pictures, details and other amenities (restroom access, speakers, umbrellas, etc.) available in their space. They also upload documents to confirm their identity, including name and date of birth, contact information and a valid government ID. A Swimply employee verifies the information.

Swimply has a $2 million protection plan that automatically covers all hosts in the U.S. Hosts are also eligible for up to $10,000 if their pool or property is damaged during a reservation and the guest is unwilling or unable to pay for the damages.

Hosts set their own pricing and availability. They can also establish their own pool rules, such as no smoking or drinking, or limit the number of guests per rental period.

Kristen Marion, a spokesperson on behalf of Swimply, said in an email the average cost of a pool rental is $45 an hour. Costs range vary depending on the pool and backyard setup and location. Marion said they range from $15 to a few hundred dollars per hour.

"Since people use Swimply for various reasons, we find the best rentals are actually ones that have the most robust profile with nice-looking pictures of the pool and space," Marion said. "That way, users know what they’re getting. This prevents any confusion and users know what to expect upon arrival."

Some of the most lavish rentals on Swimply include a 20-by-54-foot outdoor pool located in New Jersey that features a lazy river, hot tub and full basketball court. It costs $180 per hour and allows up to 80 guests. Another in Arizona has a grotto, rope swing, slide, waterfalls, and bar and grill. It goes for about $132 per hour and permits up to 50 guests.

There is also a 40-foot by 60-foot saltwater pool listed in New Jersey for $550 per hour, but it does not have any reviews.

Pools listed in the Akron-Canton region range from $45 to $125 per hour. Some have additional amenities like hot tubs or grills that guests can rent for an extra fee.

Swimply's website shows that the company plans to expand its rental services to include pickleball, basketball and tennis courts and other unique rental spaces.

What do hosts say about Swimply?

Johns started renting her pool during the pandemic. She saw a lot of bookings over the last few years, particularly when community pools were shut down because of the coronavirus. She even had kayakers using her pool for training sessions while YMCA pools were closed.

"I had probably at least a booking a week," Johns said. "And it would range anywhere from one hour to three or four hours."

She said bookings slowed down a bit after public pools reopened, but that it's great way to share the pool with others and cheaper than going to a water park.

Angela Trayer, meanwhile, was introduced to Swimply in 2021. She has a secluded inground pool with a water slide at her Jackson Township home. Her boyfriend was talking to some friends about the pool one day when someone suggested renting it on the platform.

"I thought, 'Oh my gosh, what a good idea,'" Trayer said.

She saw it as a good opportunity to make extra money for gas and electricity costs related to the pool. Signing up for Swimply was a simple process, she said, that involved submitting photos of the pool and writing some brief descriptions about the setup.

Trayer said she's been pleased with the platform. Most of her renters are families, she said, and she sees a lot of interest from customers throughout the summer months.

"You really can't see our pool from the street, and it's fenced in and everything, so when people actually go through the gate they go, 'Wow, I didn't know all this was back here.' It's a nice response," she said.

Gary Underwood: 'It's not a lot of money, but it's better than nothing, and it helps with some of our pool costs.'

Swimply host Tara Howard, who lives in Dover, said she heard about Swimply a couple of years ago and thought it was a great way to share her pool space with others.

Howard works at a garden center. She moved to Tuscarawas County from California in 2015 and wanted to create an outdoor space that reminded her of her former home. Howard spends a lot of time setting up the space every year. It contains a variety of plants, an outdoor kitchen and a daybed.

"I keep my rentals to a minimum," she said. "I do not want big parties. So a lot of the things I have are more like dates, couples getting together and wanting a nice space to spend the afternoon."

Gary Underwood, a pool owner in Green, said he was initially hesitant about the idea. His opinion changed after he learned more about Swimply's features, including the ability to block off certain dates and message with potential customers before they book the pool.

"You can also do settings where before (customers) book anything they have to message you and tell you what they want to do," he said.

Underwood said he didn't know what to expect when he first listed his pool, but he was surprised when he started getting two or three requests for bookings per week.

"It's not a lot of money, but it's better than nothing, and it helps with some of our pool costs," he said.

Reach Paige at 330-580-8577, pmbennett@gannett.com or on Twitter @paigembenn.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Swimply app, the Airbnb of swimming pools, allows folks to rent pools