Mesh Pool Covers
Mesh pool covers stretch, making them an excellent option for fitting whatever shape of pool you have. They use anchors and attachments to hold them in place. Because they are mesh, they have tiny spaces that allow water in (preventing standing water from collecting on the pool cover) while keeping the sunlight out. Mesh pool covers cost between $1,200 and $3,000.
Benefits:
Doesn't allow standing water to collect on the pool cover.
A lightweight fabric.
Stretches to fit many different pool shapes.
Easier to fold and store.
Easier to install.
Downsides:
Doesn't block all sunlight, so algae may grow.
Lets in dirty water from debris that falls on the cover.
Requires occasional pumping to prevent overflow.
Solid Pool Covers
Like mesh covers, solid pool covers can also be custom fit to your pool, but they are rigid in design so they often have to be built just for your pool if it’s not a common shape. They are heavier but still fairly easy to store by folding them up. Solid pool covers are great at keeping unwanted dirt and debris out, although standing water is occasionally an issue.
You can purchase a solid pool cover for $1,800 to $3,600.
Benefits:
Blocks sunlight completely.
Blocks debris and dirty water completely.
Still relatively easy to store.
Algae growth is less of a problem.
Downsides:
Made from vinyl, so they are heavier than mesh.
Standing water can collect on top of it.
Not as flexible as mesh.
Automatic Pool Covers
Automatic pool covers come with the benefits of solid pool covers, but they’re retractable and fold on themselves, so you don't need to lug them around or put them in storage. You just press a button and voila, it rolls up or unfolds. While mesh and solid pool covers do a great job, they are a lot of work to roll out and then fold up again. You don't have to worry about any of that with automatic pool covers. However, they do cost significantly more, at $10,000 to $20,000.
Benefits:
Has all of the benefits of a solid pool cover.
The easiest pool cover to use.
No need for storage.
Downsides:
Has the same downsides as a solid pool cover.
Electric pool covers cost more than other pool covers.