There are plenty of things to think about when you get a swimming pool, but probably the most important is whether to go for an above-ground model or an in-ground model. Most homeowners naturally gravitate towards in-ground, but there are actually plenty of compelling benefits that go along with an above-ground pool, and here are just five. 1. You Want to Keep Costs Down Probably the most compelling and widely-cited reason for opting for an above-ground instead of an in-ground pool is that you'll lower your costs.