Poolsuite FM App Review: Your Personal Summer DJ

By Alissa Bird

Last updated 10 May 2024

5 out of 5 overall
iPhone

Imagine blending the retro charm of a 1990s Macintosh computer with the refreshing ambiance of a poolside martini, all set to the backdrop of the perfect summer playlist. Enter Poolsuite FM, the radio app for iOS and desktop that perfectly captures this unique blend of nostalgia and relaxation.

I’ve been streaming Poolsuite FM for nearly a month and have yet to tire from the vintage vibes and lo-fi pop beats. Part radio app, part virtual social club, this unconventional internet radio is creativity at its finest.

Whether at work or sunbathing in Tahiti, Poolsuite FM will bathe you in chill. Download this app before your friends do and get cool cred where credit is due.

What is Poolsuite FM?

Poolsuite FM is a retro-inspired radio app available on desktop and iOS (coming soon to Android). Featuring lo-fi dance pop from both mainstream and independent artists, Poolsuite curates seven different radio stations for easy, breezy listening. But, lest you think this is simply a radio app, think again. Poolsuite not only sets the vibes but offers an enjoyable, interactive experience.

Born in 2014, Poolsuite is the brainchild of tech entrepreneur Marty Bell who set out to create a virtual getaway for his rainy-day blues. Since then, Poolsuite has become just one of Bell’s many trend-setting internet brands.

Poolsuite app cost

Poolsuite is free and absent of ads—amazing, right? In keeping with Poolsuite’s aesthetic, all marketing opportunities, including its NFT club and sunscreen line a (more on this later), are cloaked behind vintage desktop icons or tucked within Poolsuite’s dropdown menu to browse at your leisure.

Poolsuite FM features

The fun starts the instant you open the Poolsuite FM app and realize it's more than a highly stylized radio. A pixelated simulated live stream begins—women in 1960s-era bikinis, poolside cocktails, and roller skaters play on a loop. You can interact by tapping on the PoolCam to take your own photos with Poolsuite’s vintage filter.

Poolsuite FM home screen. | Image: Alissa Bird

Lifeguard Luis will walk you through the app. | Image: Alissa Bird

While Millennials may be most charmed by the grainy, tile-based graphics reminiscent of the Oregon Trail era, I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t appreciate Poolsuite FM’s retro allure. Everything from Lifeguard Luis, who shows you the ropes, to the 1,000-track unlock feature gives the app a 1990s gameplay feel. You can even change the app’s display color by choosing from various Themes with cheeky names like Saved by the Shell, Green New Deal, and PoolBoy 3210 (an AOL screen name throwback).

It would be one thing if Poolsuite were simply an aesthetic goldmine, but with an array of commercial-free dance-pop radio stations, Friday Nite Heat being my favorite, it’s easy to find the perfect playlist for a summer pool party or to alleviate your office blues. You can even organize all your favorite tracks into one station.

Change your display's color and choose between eight radio stations (including Favorites). | Image: Alissa Bird

Streaming and data usage

Will streaming Poolsuite FM eat up your data? To an extent, yes. Steaming of any kind, whether it be music or video, will use up data more quickly. For some perspective, streaming music at a high quality for 8 hours straight will use close to 1GB of data. In general, most people use about 20GB of data a month. If you are worried about data usage, check out some of these tips:

Opt for Wi-Fi vs. cellular data when you can
Check out the best apps for monitoring your data usage
Learn more about data usage

Alternatively, you can upgrade to an unlimited data plan and stream to your heart's content. Browse some of our favorite, affordable unlimited plans from these smaller carriers, otherwise known as MVNOs:

#1	Public Mobile	Public Mobile $36 Unlimited Canada-US Talk + Text + 50GB 50GB at 5G full speeds up to 250Mbps Deal: Receive $1.80/mo. in points value with Public Points + Get a FREE eSIM or $5 off on a physical SIM with new activation on this plan $36 + $5 Upfront Go	$36 + $5 Upfront	Go
#2	Fido	Fido $15 Basic Plan with 100 Minutes + 250MB 250MB data $15/mth Go	$15/mth	Go
#3	Koodo Mobile	Koodo Mobile $40 Prepaid Base Plan 75GB at 4G speed up to 100Mbps Deal: Black Friday Offer: Get FREE third month of service with new activation on this plan $40 Per 30 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront Go	$40 Per 30 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront	Go

Poolsuite FM for desktop

The date is Wednesday, May 1, 1997—at least according to Poolsuite.net, the apps web-based interface. While the Poolsuite app is perfect for on-the-go chill, the webpage is great for streaming music at the office and for a quick (virtual) trip down memory lane. If you are like me, a tried-and-true millennial, Poolsuite’s old-school desktop display will remind you of your grandpa’s first Macintosh and hours spent playing Railroad Tycoon.

Enjoy Poolsuite’s 1990s-inspired desktop display. | Image: Alissa Bird

Spend enough time tooling around the site, and you’ll quickly realize that Poolsuite boasts more than just an online radio. Tap on one of several desktop icons or head over to the dropdown menu in the upper right corner to learn more about Poolsuite and its other unconventional projects, which include selling a stylized line of sunscreen and NFT opportunities (don’t ask me to explain).

Some features you won’t want to miss include the Poolsuite TV (located in the Poolsuite TV icon), which plays 1980s and 90s video clips, infomercials, and more. Select Next File to switch stations and relish in the familiar static reminiscent of old VHS tapes and home videos.

Check out Poolsuite TV. | Image: Alissa Bird

In addition, check out the Guestbook, which serves as a virtual chatroom. Who doesn’t love creating a clever username?

Check Poolsuite's Guestbook. | Image: Alissa Bird

From pop-disco beats to trendy sunscreen, Poolsuite’s creators prove that you can do whatever you want if it looks and, more importantly, feels cool.

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Is Poolsuite worth checking out?

I couldn’t be a bigger fan of this app (if it wasn't obvious). Poolsuite’s creators have tapped into a universal love for nostalgia and good vibes. Plus, the music is solid. Blending classic R&B, synth-pop, and lounge music, Poolsuite has a playlist for everyone. Even my dad, who doesn’t necessarily share my musical taste or technical know-how, found the app easy to use and even easier to enjoy.

My only minor gripe with the app is that you can’t play, pause, and skip songs from your iPhone’s lock screen as you can with other streaming apps like Spotify. Call me lazy, but sometimes an extra tap is a tap too much.

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