If vacuuming is high on your list of least-favorite chores, a robot vacuum may very well change the way you view housework. These autonomous gadgets have come a long way since they were first released, and today, the best robot vacuums are equipped with numerous high-tech features, including everything from emptying their own dustbins to responding to voice commands and gestures.
Best Buy
When shopping for a robot vacuum, it’s important to set a budget for yourself, as their prices range pretty dramatically. Entry-level models can often be found for less than $200, but they may lack more advanced features, such as Wi-Fi connectivity. On the other end of the spectrum, the newest robot vacuum models from top brands can cost well over $1,000, and they truly make cleaning a hands-off task, thanks to automatic dirt disposal, floor mapping technology, and advanced sensors.
Another thing to consider when buying a robotic vacuum is where you want it to clean. Does your home have hard floors or carpet? Do you want it to fit under furniture? Certain models also perform better with pet hair and/or allergens, so you may want to look for a vacuum that can help in these areas. No matter what your needs, these are the best robot vacuums for getting the job done.
Best All-Around Robot Vacuum
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum
iRobot is one of the most well-known robot vacuum brands on the market. So well known, in fact, that most people use the term “Roomba” interchangeably with “robot vacuum.” It’s popular for good reason, though. Its products have a reputation for reliability and high-quality performance, and while the iRobot Roomba 675 may not have as many high-tech features as newer (and more expensive) models, it’s still a top pick thanks to its solid performance and reasonable price point.
The Roomba 675 has a three-stage cleaning system that’s effective at lifting and sucking up dirt and dust from both hard floors and carpeting and it’s Wi-Fi connected, so you can schedule and monitor its cleaning sessions from your smartphone. This robotic vacuum navigates around your home using several sensors, going under and around furniture and other obstacles. It has two multi-surface brushes that grab both fine particles and larger debris, and it can clean for up to 90 minutes before docking and recharging itself. Dirt-detection sensors alert the Roomba to do an additional pass on particularly messy or high-traffic areas, and its edge-sweeping brush ensures it gets along edges and into corners, leaving your home nice and clean.
Need proof that the Roomba 675 is one of the best options out there? It has just under 20,000 5-star reviews on Amazon and many buyers sing its praises: “It picks up SO much dirt and hair. We have three dogs and a cat, and my floors are spotless.”
Best Budget Robot Vacuum
eufy Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 11S
The eufy Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 11S is one of the most popular budget-friendly robot vacuums out there, boasting more than 36,000 reviews on Amazon. In addition to its low price, this model is also one of the thinnest robotic vacuums you’ll find, at just 2.85 inches tall, allowing it to fit underneath more furniture in your home.
In addition to its slim profile, users love the RoboVac 11S for its powerful suction, which automatically increases on particularly dirty areas. This vacuum is quieter than other models (the brand compares the noise level to an operating microwave) and it can run for up to 100 minutes per charge. While this vacuum doesn’t sync to your smartphone, it does include a remote control that allows you to start, stop, and schedule cleanings.
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair
Samsung POWERbot Wi-Fi Connected Pet Plus Robot Vacuum
Pet hair poses a tough challenge for robot vacuums, as it often gets wrapped up in their wheels and brushes. However, the Samsung POWERbot Pet Plus was designed with these problems in mind. Its soft-action brush automatically detangles and removes pet hair around the brush, all while picking up fine dust from your floors.
This robot vacuum automatically detects the floor type to optimize suction power and it delivers 40 times more powerful cleaning, compared to other similar robot vacuums, on all floor types. Its Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to control and schedule the unit from your phone and it’s equipped with large wheels that more easily roll over rug edges, door frames, and wires.
Plus, this model gets the seal of approval from pet owners: “I was looking for a robotic vacuum that would work on dog hair,” writes one reviewer. “I have a constant layer of dog hair on my floor that I just couldn’t keep up with. My “Alice” does the job! … My house is cleaner than it ever has been.”
Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
iRobot Roomba i7+ Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum
One of the best robot vacuums with automatic dirt disposal is the iRobot Roomba i7+, a popular model with close to 6,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating. When its dirt chamber fills up during cleaning, this high-end robot vacuum automatically empties into its base, which is equipped with an AllergenLock bag that can hold up to two months worth of dirt, dust, and hair. This saves you the hassle of emptying the dustbin after every cleaning session — a common complaint about robot vacuums.
The Roomba i7+ also has several features that will appeal to pet owners. The vacuum’s two multi-surface rubber brushes don’t get tangled with pet hair and the vacuum has a high-efficiency filter that traps 99% of cat and dog allergens. Additionally, the Roomba i7+ features smart mapping technology, voice controls via Amazon Alexa or Google Voice Assistant and smartphone connectivity. It really does it all!
Best Robot Vacuum for Carpets
iRobot Roomba 960 Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum
Another top-rated, mid-priced option from iRobot is the Roomba 960, a Wi-Fi connected model that’s designed for powerful suction. It features the brand’s signature multi-surface rubber brushes for unbeatable performance carpets, and it boasts five times more air power than other models for improved dirt and dust pickup.
The Roomba 960 syncs up to your smartphone, allowing you to schedule cleanings and control the vacuum. It also maps out your home, cleaning one room at a time. This model is great for pet hair thanks to its three-stage cleaning system and high-efficiency filter, and if it ever runs out of juice before it’s done cleaning, it will simply return to its base, recharge, then get back to work.
While it’s a little pricier than other models, happy buyers say the Roomba 960 is worth it: “This vacuum doesn’t seem to miss anything. I have it go over everything twice then do an edge run, and it has gotten years of dust out of the carpet.”
Best Robot Vacuum for Hard Floors
Eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 30C
If you mostly have hard floors in your home, the Eufy RoboVac 30C is a great low-price option that has more than 9,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating from users. This model has a slim 2.85-inch body that can fit under furniture, and it delivers up to 100 minutes of cleaning per charge. The RoboVac 30C also has BoostIQ technology, which automatically increases its suction when it moves onto a carpet.
And according to its glowing reviews, this model’s three-stage cleaning system is extremely effective on hardwood, tile, and laminate floors. “This Eufy model has exceeded all expectations thus far!” says one buyer. “We have four dogs and two cats with a combination of hardwood and tile flooring. It’s very quiet, delicately weaves through dining room chairs to get any dog hair and dirt and senses the stairs that lead down into the living room.”
Best Robot Vacuum with Mapping Technology
Shark IQ R100 Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum
Shark is a widely-trusted vacuum brand, and consumers seem to be as pleased with the Shark IQ R100 Robot Vacuum as they are with the brand’s full-size vacuums. This robot vacuum is available for a reasonable price, yet it still boasts a number of high-tech features, including home mapping, Wi-Fi connectivity, and voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
On its first few runs, the Shark IQ takes the time to map out your whole home, and once its mapping is complete, you can select exactly which rooms you want it to clean. It then vacuums each location in a methodical, row-by-row pattern, not just bumping around randomly. The vacuum features an extra-large dust bin, a self-cleaning brush roll, and a high-efficiency filter, and the brand claims it delivers the same powerful suction that you’d expect from other Shark vacuums.
Best Robot Vacuum for Large Homes
Neato Robotics Botvac D7 Robot Vacuum
Neato Robotics is another major player in the robotic vacuum space and one of its top products is the Botvac D7. While most robot vacuums are circular, the Neato Botvac has a unique D-shaped appearance, with one flat edge that helps it clean corners and edges more effectively. It’s ideal for large homes, as it boasts a 120-minute battery life and can store up to three individual floor plans.
The Neato Botvac D7 has an advanced home mapping system that allows you to set up virtual “no-go” areas, trouble areas that need extra attention and even separate maps for different floors of your home. The vacuum is Wi-Fi enabled so you can control it from your smartphone, and it’s compatible with a wide range of smart products. Plus, it’s equipped with a high-performance filter and Turbo mode, which increases both brush speed and suction for a deeper clean.
Best Robot Vacuum and Mop
BISSELL SpinWave Robotic Mop and Vacuum
Your floors will be cleaner than ever with the Bissell SpinWave, a robotic vacuum and mop in one! It comes with both a dry and wet tank, allowing you to choose how you want it to clean. The wet tank includes two rotating mop pads that scrub your floors, automatically avoiding carpets and area rugs. When the dry tank is attached, the unit uses its dual spinning brushes, rotating brush roll, and powerful suction to vacuum both hard floors and carpets.
Plus, according to reviewers, the Bissell SpinWave does a better job mopping floors than other similar products: “I have a ‘robot mop’ from another brand, but all it does is release water slowly and drag a microfiber pad over the floor. The spinning pads in the back are what sold me on the SpinWave. It vacuums the floor as it mops, and it’s extremely quiet so I can run it while my kids are sleeping.”
Best Splurge-Worthy Robot Vacuum
iRobot Roomba s9+ Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum
Sleek and modern, the Roomba s9+ is one of the brand’s newest products, and this robot vacuum is equipped with all the bells and whistles you could ever need. It offers increased suction, better sensors, and a special brush to clean corners and edges. It also has automatic dirt disposal, emptying its dustbin into the unit’s base to save you some maintenance.
The s9+ can be controlled via a smartphone and creates a map of your house as it cleans. It’s truly a smart gadget, learning where and when you normally clean to suggest personalized schedules. Plus, it has an anti-allergen system that captures 99 percent of pollen and mold — ideal for anyone with allergies.
While the price is certainly high, buyers say it’s worth the expense: “I have owned an ‘off branded’ robot vacuum for quite sometime now, and I was relatively impressed with the performance,” explains one reviewer. “I did not see the point or the need to spend a huge amount of money on a robot vacuum … In came the iRobot Roomba s9+, and I must say, I am honestly blown away. There most certainly IS a difference in the quality and performance.”