Stamped Concrete
Advantages:

• Cost: Usually priced between $8-$15 per square foot, depending on the size, pattern and application.
  Advantages:
• A lot of Patterns to choose from: Flagstone, Textured stone, slate, brick and cobblestones are some of the most popular patterns.
• Variety of Colors: Stamped concrete is often composed of at least two colors; a base color that is mixed in the concrete or trowelled into the surface, and a second color called a release agent that is broadcasted on top of the concrete just before stamping. The relationship of these two colors is what gives stamped concrete it's unique antiqued look. Looks like the real thing: such as slate, flagstone, or brick for a fraction of the cost of the natural material.
• Sealed Protection: Stamped concrete is sealed which protects it from the elements as well as pool chemicals like salt from salt water systems.

Disadvantages:

• Possible Cracks: It's concrete so it will crack. Two kinds of concrete. The kind that cracks and the kind that is going to crack! It is our job to place control joints to cause the concrete to crack where we want it too....but sometimes concrete cracks where it wants to. The only way to guarantee no crack is not to get stamped concrete!
• Color Variations: If more than one truck load of concrete is required there is no guarantee that the colors of the two trucks will match perfectly. We use a color hardener powder versus an integral color which will prevent this from happening.
• Resealing and Coloring: The sealer needs to be re-applied every 2 to 3 years. Makes it look brand new again.
• Somewhat slippery: The surface can be somewhat slippery without the addition of an anti-skid agent (shark grip) mixed in with the sealer or speckled sand under the sealer. This is a must and will prevent the concrete from being slippery.

Pavers
Advantages:

• Cost: Usually costs anywhere between $12-$20 depending on the size and style that you choose.
  Advantages:
• No Cracking: Pavers won't crack...if installed correctly.
• Expanding Patio or Walkway: Paver patios or walkways can easily be added to in the future.
• Easy to fix: If underground repairs are needed, a seamless fix is possible.
• Not slippery: unless sealed, which is seldom done around pools.

Disadvantages:

• Sinking: There's a good possibility that they will settle and move over time, especially in areas where there was extensive backfill or new construction.
• Weeds: Weeds can grow up between pavers unless polymeric sand is used. This is sand with a polymer additive that causes it to bind together between the pavers and harden. It does prevent weeds, but needs to be re-applied every couple years.
• Limited Colors: More limited color and pattern selections.
• Color Variations: There can be unwanted variation in color of the product. Even between different pallets of material from the same truck.
• Timing: Installing pavers typically will take longer than installing concrete.

So which one do you prefer? Asking me if I prefer stamped concrete or pavers is like asking me if I would rather have a porter house or rib eye steak....the answer is "both". But sometimes there are situations that call for both. A few things to consider are the compatibility of the material with existing elements of the yard, color compatibility, and weather you plan to add to expand the patio in the future. One things for sure, with the durability and beauty of both of these patio materials it's hard to go wrong.