Quick answer: Raypak and Hayward are both top-three pool-equipment brands, and the pick comes down to what you’re optimizing for. Raypak wins on gas-heater value — the AVIA 264K (around $3,890) adds Wi-Fi control that Hayward’s comparable model skips — and on heat pumps, Raypak’s newer Crosswind V 8550 now wins on both price and COP, at $4,550-$5,100 with a 6.0 COP versus the newer-generation HeatPro HP21405T’s ~$6,500-$7,000 and ~5.7 COP. Hayward still wins on service and availability — its Universal H-Series and HeatPro are stocked by more dealers and technicians nationwide, which matters if something breaks mid-season. Match the brand to whichever priority — upfront price, running cost, or easy local repairs — matters more for your pool.
Raypak and Hayward are two of the three brands (alongside Pentair) most pool professionals install first, and both make full gas-heater and heat-pump lineups for residential pools. Here’s how they compare head to head.
Raypak vs Hayward at a glance
| Factor | Raypak | Hayward |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship gas heater | AVIA 264K (Wi-Fi) | Universal H-Series (H400FDN) |
| Flagship heat pump | Crosswind V 8550 (COP 6.0) | HeatPro (COP ~5.7) |
| Max gas BTU (residential) | 399,000 (AVIA) | 400,000 (H400FDN) |
| App control | Raymote (AVIA line) | OmniLogic (add-on) |
| Price | Competitive to lower | Comparable to slightly higher |
| Service/parts network | Common, fewer techs than Hayward | Very common, widest network |
Gas heaters: AVIA vs Universal H-Series
Both flagship gas heaters land in the low-to-mid-80s for thermal efficiency and cover overlapping 250K-400K BTU ranges, so raw heating power is close. The real differences:
- The Raypak AVIA 264K ships with built-in Wi-Fi via the Raymote app at around $3,890, and its Digital 266K sibling drops that smart-control layer for roughly $3,200-$3,900 if you don’t need remote start.
- The Hayward Universal H400FDN tops out higher at 400,000 BTU for around $4,589, and its wide service network makes finding a local technician easier if it ever needs a repair.
Choose Raypak if you want app control without paying extra for a separate automation system; choose Hayward if you want the highest BTU option or the deepest bench of local service techs. See our best Raypak pool heater breakdown for the full AVIA/Digital/Crosswind V lineup.
Raypak AVIA 264K (Gas)
- 83-84% efficient, 264,000 BTU, Raymote app control.
- Flexible copper or NiTek heat-exchanger options.
If you want it installed before the season starts, delivery speed matters — try Amazon Prime free for 30 days for two-day shipping on parts and accessories from either brand.
Hayward Universal H400FDN (Gas)
- 84% efficient, 400,000 BTU, easy to service.
- Cupro-nickel exchanger option handles salt pools.
Heat pumps: Crosswind V vs HeatPro
Raypak edges ahead on both counts now, more decisively than before. Raypak retired the older R8450ti in favor of the Crosswind V 8550, which posts a 6.0 COP under AHRI 1160 testing with a titanium heat exchanger and built-in Wi-Fi/app control, meaning roughly $1 of electricity buys about $6.00 of heat, at $4,550-$5,100. Hayward’s HeatPro moved to the newer HP21405T microchannel generation, which lifted its COP slightly to around 5.7 but also pushed its price up to roughly $6,500-$7,000 — now both the pricier and the lower-COP of the two. See our pool heating cost guide for what that COP gap actually means in monthly dollars.
- Choose the Raypak Crosswind V 8550 if you want the lower upfront price alongside the higher tested COP and built-in app control.
- Choose the Hayward HeatPro if you specifically want Hayward’s titanium-microchannel exchanger or easier local service in your area.
Hayward HeatPro HP21405T (Heat Pump)
- 140,000 BTU, COP ~5.7, titanium exchanger.
- Quiet, corrosion-proof, salt-friendly.
The bottom line
Both brands are safe, top-three choices — there’s no wrong answer. Buy Raypak if you want the highest-COP heat pump and built-in Wi-Fi on the gas side without paying extra for automation. Buy Hayward if you want the highest available residential gas BTU or the widest local service and parts network for peace of mind down the road. Weighing a third option? Our Hayward vs. Pentair comparison covers the other major matchup, and our best gas pool heater roundup lines up Raypak, Hayward, and Pentair’s natural gas models side by side by BTU size and price. Pentair’s MasterTemp itself and Gulfstream’s HE-RA lineup — now sold under Pentair — are both worth a look if COP or price is your deciding factor, and Jandy is the fourth major brand if you’re already running its AquaLink automation. Whichever brand you land on, a fitted pool heater cover is a cheap way to protect either cabinet between uses. Still deciding gas vs. heat pump first? Our gas vs. heat pump breakdown covers that decision before the brand. For a full warranty and price-tier breakdown across every brand on this page, see our pool heater brands compared guide.