Salt Chlorinator vs Chlorine Tablets

Both systems sanitize your pool by producing the same active chemical — free available chlorine — but they deliver it differently. Understanding the trade-offs helps you choose the right system.

How each works

Chlorine tablets (trichlor or dichlor) dissolve slowly in a floater or feeder, releasing chlorine directly into the water. You test, add tablets, and repeat.

A salt chlorine generator (salt chlorinator) electrolyzes dissolved salt to produce chlorine on demand, then converts it back to salt as it sanitizes. You add salt a few times per season and let the cell do the work.

Cost comparison

• Tablets: low upfront cost (under $100 for a feeder), ongoing tablet expense of roughly $200–$400 per season depending on pool size and usage.
• Salt system: higher upfront ($600–$1,500 installed), but operating cost drops to $50–$150 of salt per year. Most salt systems pay back within 2–3 seasons.

Water feel and maintenance

Saltwater pools feel softer on skin and eyes and rarely have the harsh "chlorine smell" of tablet pools. Maintenance shifts from adding tablets to cleaning the salt cell every few months and monitoring salinity, pH, and stabilizer levels.

Which should you choose?

Choose chlorine tablets if you want the lowest upfront cost, have a small or seasonal pool, or prefer a simple add-and-go routine.

Choose a salt chlorinator if you swim frequently, dislike the feel of tablet-chlorinated water, or want lower long-term operating costs and less hands-on dosing.

Explore Illuminex AquaChlor salt systems or talk to a dealer about the right size for your pool.