● Pool Covers · Comparison

WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover vs GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular

Both made our Best Inground Pool Covers shortlist, at #1 and #3. Here's how they differ and who each one suits.

✎ PickHonest Research Desk▦ Updated October 9, 2026◷ 6 min read

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, independent reviews and owner reports.

WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground PoolView on Amazon VS

GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End StepView on Amazon

Quick verdict

Choose the WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool if you want genuine weight-bearing barrier, not just a debris shieldand classified under ASTM F1346. Choose the GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step if you'd rather have 18x36 sizing covers the most common inground pool footprint without paying for 20x40 extended coverage. Overall we rank the WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Inground Pool Covers list.

Winner overall: WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool

WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool vs GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step compared

Every difference that matters, in one table.

Keep researching

Best Inground Pool Covers
WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool review
GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step review
All pool covers

Bottom line

Best overall

WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool

WaterWarden

Genuine weight-bearing barrier, not just a debris shieldand classified under ASTM F1346

UL-classified per ASTM F1346
Solid vinyl, blocks nearly 100% of sunlight
20-year warranty
Anchors into deck-set brass points
Rated for adult foot traffic

Pros

18x36 sizing covers the most common inground pool footprint without paying for 20x40 extended coverage
Center end step cutout adds access convenience without a custom order
Self-draining mesh avoids the pump maintenance a solid cover this size would require
Solid 143-review base and 4.5-star rating for a mid-size, mid-price configuration

Cons

Mesh still lets fine debris and pollen through to the pool floor
Step cutout is fixed at manufacture, only fits pools with a matching center-end step
Not sized for pools larger than 18x36 without ordering a different configuration

Prices and availability change, so confirm on Amazon.View on Amazon

GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step

GLI Pool Products

Center step cutout matches how most stock rectangular inground pools are actually accessed

Polypropylene mesh, ASTM F1346-rated
18x36 ft rectangular fit
Center end step cutout
No cover pump needed

Pros

Center step cutout matches how most stock rectangular inground pools are actually accessed
Mesh drains ra in and snowmelt on its own, no pump to buy or maintain
Lighter than a solid cover of the same size, easier to remove and store
Strong enough to be walked on, a real ASTM-rated structural barrier

Cons

Blocks only about 92% of sunlight, weaker algae control than solid vinyl
Fine silt and pollen pass through the mesh weave onto the pool floor
Step cutout hardware is a fixed point that needs periodic inspection
143 ratings is a smaller sample than some competing safety covers in this list

Prices and availability change, so confirm on Amazon.View on Amazon

FAQ

Common questions

Which is better, the WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool or the GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step?

What is the difference between the WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool and the GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step?

The WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool stands out because genuine weight-bearing barrier, not just a debris shieldand classified under ASTM F1346, while the GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step stands out because 18x36 sizing covers the most common inground pool footprint without paying for 20x40 extended coverage. The trade-offs differ too: the WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool's ma in caveat is that requires a cover pump since rainwater and snowmelt pool on the solid surface, and the GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step's is that mesh still lets fine debris and pollen through to the pool floor.

Is the WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool worth it over the GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step?

For most buyers, yes: it's our #1 pick. Consider the GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step instead if requires a cover pump since rainwater and snowmelt pool on the solid surface is a deal-breaker for you.