Best robot vacuums for every budget

BEST DEALS ON ROBOT VACUUMS:


We all probably know at least one person who claims a robot vacuum has changed their life. And honestly, they might not be wrong. There is something to be said for always knowing your floors are clean. And some people really, really, really hate to vacuum. But not all robot vacuums are created equally (and different people and housing setups have different robot vacuum needs), so in the midst of Prime Day season, it’s good to do some research before grabbing a deal.

Just like all tissues are called “Kleenex,” and all bandages “Band-aids,” robot vacuums and the brand Roomba have become interchangeable, but we’re here to put some respect on the other names in the robot vacuum game.

Given Roomba-maker iRobot’s domination of the robot vacuum market since 2002, this assumption made sense for a while. Roombas have been around longer than the movie Holes and came out less than a year after Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake stepped out in that all-denim ensemble.

But the first robotic vacuum wasn’t even an iRobot brainchild. iRobot may be the brand to credit for making robot vacuums attainable for mainstream households, but Swedish brand Electrolux technically introduced the first robot vac in 1996. iRobot continues its reign as one of the best, but it wasn’t the first — and isn’t the last either. 

Roborock, Shark, and Eufy have entered the chat.

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The crisp control of an upright Dyson vacuum comes with its own type of high. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task off of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having first-day-clean floors every. single. day.? It’s not totally unlike staying in a hotel in that regard.) 

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robovac that acts drunk — scattering dust rather than sucking, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — is completely missing that convenience factor that draws people to robot vacs in the first place. We’ve gathered the best-reviewed models in general for 2021, but some extra criteria specific to your home or needs can help narrow down the options:

  • Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), ranging between 600 Pa to 2,500 Pa in the ones on this list. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set up a barrier around Legos) and to pull patted-down pet hair from rugs.

  • Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robovac that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors. 

  • Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

  • Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

  • Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 150 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,600 square feet covered on one charge.

  • App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.

Robot vacuums and pet hair

Pet hair can straight-up clown a botvac without the right features. If your home is shedding heaven, a D-shaped vacuum could take some of the pressure off of you to find the spots where it collects. We can’t scientifically back this, but we’re pretty sure pet hair gets up and crawls into corners when we’re not looking. A robot vacuum with a flat side can fit into those 90-degree angles and skim the edges of walls better than most circular bots can.

However, the D-shape has yet to really blow up.  The next line of defense is a tangle-free brush roll. It’s essentially an XL brush roll that prevents shedding from long-haired pets from getting wrapped up and tangled, likely having to be cut with scissors. Rubber trim or rubber fingers are a material that hair already doesn’t like to stick to, but also works to kill static that may be pinning hair to a carpet.

A robot vac’s filtration system is also an important consideration for homes with pets, as well as allergy sufferers in general. Vacuuming is bound to kick up dander, dust, and pollen into the air. A good filter captures that and makes sure it also makes its way into the dust bin. A HEPA filter can catch even smaller particles and are becoming a more common addition in many vacuums. (All vacuums listed below have a HEPA filter unless noted otherwise in “The Bad” section.)

Are Roombas better than Shark vacuums?

In an unspoken sort of way, Roomba has been crowned as “the best” on the sole basis that it’s the most established brand in the robot vacuum market. But Shark has the automatic advantage of being a brand that’s hella established in the vacuum market as a whole, from stick vacuums to handheld ones, to ones with huge canisters.

But while Shark may be experts on suction power, brush rolls that don’t tangle, and other things on the vacuum end, Roomba has mastered suction and dominates the robot end. The maps created by a Roomba after it gets a sense of your home feature precision down to each room and the type of messes it typically sees. Shark’s vacuums struggle to make reliable maps more often. Roombas also typically have better run time.

A general comparison between the two brands doesn’t work so well. Like the Instant Pot vs. Ninja Foodi debate, Roomba has significantly more models to choose from at a range of prices and features that can be tailored to your needs. Shark’s whole lineup is generally more budget-friendly than its most direct counterpart from Roomba. Shark offers self-emptying, a self-cleaning brushroll, and smart-home mapping for as low as $449.99, while Roomba’s cheapest self-emptier starts at $599.99 — two models top that at $799.99 and $1,099.99. Shark also tends to offer the latest and greatest tech (like smart AI mapping instead of relying on sensors for navigation) for much cheaper.

Mashable’s Dylan Haas isn’t a fan of his Roomba’s aimless scurrying. Granted, most Roomba models see frequent software updates to correct such issues, and the new, more advanced models are equipped with adaptive smart mapping that allows them to navigate in a much more intentional and customized way.

Whether iRobot, Shark, Robovac, or any other brand is the best at actual cleaning is pretty subjective. “Best” to someone with four dogs and lots of carpet may not mean “best” to someone with a huge house with stairs and 100% hardwood. At any rate, patience is required. Not even the best robot vacuum is guaranteed to not be a bumbling idiot on occasion, especially when they’re still learning the feng shui of your home. 

Here are the best robot vacuums for any home and budget in 2021:


40x the suction of Roomba’s 600 line • Covers huge amount of space on one charge • Self-emptying bin holds two months worth of debris • Can label rooms in the iRobot app • HEPA filter • Wider dual rubber brushes prevent pet hair tangling

Seriously expensive • Can be loud

The s9+ is so hands-off that it can direct itself around your home and self-empty for 60 days.

iRobot Roomba s9+

iRobot’s heavy hitter harnesses quadruple the suction of the i7+ and is totally self-sufficient.

  • Battery life:
    120 minutes
  • Suction power:
    2,500 Pa
  • Navigation:
    Imprint smart mapping of your home
  • App connected:
    Yes
  • Alexa and Google Assistant:
    Yes

A robot vacuum that rivals a MacBook Pro in price has some serious criteria to cover, and the s9+ crushes it. New additions like a slower side brush that won’t scatter debris make it the best Roomba for edge cleaning, but iRobot’s first D-shaped can do much more than suck the dust bunnies out of corners.
Both the s9+ and i7+ (the next-best Roomba) have automatic dirt disposal and a Clean Base that holds up to 60 days of debris. The s9+ may fill up faster, but that’s just because it’s raking in significantly more floor gunk. Boosted suction power, improved air flow, and wider dual rubber brushes take on medium-pile carpets, hard floor, and pet hair without tangling. Leave it to the s9+ to remember your home’s layout, clean in neat rows, and retreat to its base after two hours of uninterrupted cleaning. 


Quiet • Works on hard floors and carpet • Decent suction and dustbin for its small build • Features infrared obstacle sensors • Frequently on sale for $149.99

No room-scanning tech • Gets stuck on high-pile carpet • Doesn’t always make it back to the dock • Filter isn’t HEPA

Quiet, low-clearance cleaning on all floor types make this ideal for apartment dwellers.

Eufy RoboVac 11s

At less than three inches tall, Eufy’s Slim model is low-height with low noise and a low price.

  • Battery life:
    100 minutes
  • Suction power:
    1,300 Pa
  • Navigation:
    Infrared sensors and drop detection
  • App connectivity:
    No
  • Alexa and Google Assistant:
    No
Nuisances like noise level or low profile furniture are magnified in cramped spaces.
 which is reportedly one of the quietest bot vacs even on high-suction mode.
For less than $300, the Eufy 11s packs a serious punch — just don’t expect any bells and whistles. The vacuum uses 1300A of suction power and can clean both carpets and hardwood, but its cleaning paths are more aimless bobbling than they are methodical. There’s no room scanning tech and scheduling is limited, but infrared sensors do ensure that it’s not falling down stairs or running into corners. If you live in a confined space with limited furniture (hey, NYC apartments), this probably won’t be a big deal.
The “S” actually stands for slim: At a mere 2.8 inches tall, it’s also ace for sneaking under lower-sitting furniture.

Schedule cleanings or cleaning of specific rooms • Intelligent mop lifting doesn’t soak rugs • Four power/noise modes • Insane three hour battery life • Automatic room recognition

Bin may be hard to clean • Clunky and awkward to pick up • Cords and fluffy rugs trip it up

The S7 has the power and battery to conquer some serious square footage and leave it gleaming.

Roborock S7

Tenacious suction and effective mopping make the S7 more well-rounded than iRobot’s mops.

  • Battery life:
    180 minutes
  • Suction power:
    2,000 Pa
  • Navigation:
    AI room mapping and sensors
  • App connected:
    Yes
  • Alexa and Google Assistant:
    Yes

Mopping features on robot vacuums aren’t novel anymore, but few do more than push water around. Roborock’s newest take, the S7, is a true hybrid and a reputable alternative to iRobot’s spotty robomops. Fully charged and on quiet mode, the S7 can squeeze out a full three hours — more than enough time to complete a full dry sweep and wet scrub or two.
Laser scale sensors scan each room to adapt the route accordingly, adjusting suction for large pieces like cereal or small ones like salt. The S7 is gentle yet highly effective on hardwood, linoleum, tile, and rugs. Its maneuvering over low-pile area rugs is good enough that you won’t have to babysit, and the mopping feature knows when to stop pumping water, too.


AeroForce system seamlessly switches between floor types • Camera for more nimble navigation • App can schedule cleanings when you’re not home • Rarely gets stuck or lost

Loud • Sometimes doesn’t make it back to its base • Meh battery life • No HEPA filter

A strong, budget-friendly contender for those who’d prefer to start and monitor sweeping from their phone.

iRobot Roomba 675

This mindful Roomba can operate on scheduled cleanings while you’re away and rarely gets stuck.

  • Battery life:
    90 minutes
  • Suction power:
    600 Pa
  • Navigation:
    Adaptive sensors, virtual barriers
  • App connected:
    Yes
  • Alexa and Google Assistant:
    Yes

For a measly chunk of change more than the low-end Roomba 614, the 675’s integration of a mobile app makes it the obvious choice for anyone who would prefer to schedule cleanings when they’re away.
Minus the noise, the Roomba 675 won’t be much of a nuisance when you’re at home, either. iRobot’s iAdapt 2.0 Navigation handles surface changes with ease (even if you aren’t there to nudge it) and can be trusted not to eat scattered toys, shoes, or low-hanging curtains. This Roomba’s cleaning gets more methodical over time, and seeks out high-traffic areas with Dirt Detect.


Covers lots of square footage quickly • Some of the strongest suction on the list • Opening port shaped specifically to combat hair clogging • No-go boundaries can be set up in the app • Remembers where it has already cleaned

Too expensive for hit-or-miss cleaning • Loud • Takes a while to get oriented

The loud hum made by the D7 is easy to ignore when it cleans so fast and effectively.

Neato BotVac D7 Connected

The D-shaped competition for the Roomba S9+ is speedy and strong on carpets doused in pet hair.

  • Battery life:
    150 minutes
  • Suction power:
    2,000 Pa
  • Navigation:
    Smart mapping, 360-degree laser scanning
  • App connected:
    Yes
  • Alexa and Google Assistant:
    Yes
A bumbling robovac and a stumbling toddler are a recipe for an accident. For homes with small children or lots of pets, the Neato BotVac D7 Connected gets in and out in a fraction of the time — and does so without skimping on the sweep job itself.
Speed-wise, Neato ran circles around competing vacuums in a test done by Tom’s Guide. Turbo Mode is loud and fast, but if the coast is clear, you can switch to Eco Mode for a slower, quieter clean. 360-degree laser scanning helps the D7 to scan rooms and execute an efficient plan of attack. It knows when to scoot its flat edge into corners, as well as switch to a spiral combo brush that alternates plastic and standard bristles to pull hair out of rugs.

Self-cleaning brush roll • Base is bagless • Frequently on sale for over $100 off • Pretty serious suction • Covers every inch by sweeping in S-shape

No HEPA filter • Needs to be emptied twice as often as Roomba i3 • Maps are often unreliable • Pitiful battery life • Takes FOREVER to recharge

Compared to the Roomba i3+, the Shark’s bagless self-empty base is better for small spaces.

Shark IQ RV101AE

Shark’s smartest can auto-empty and tackle specific rooms for less than the Roomba i3+.

  • Battery life:
    90 minutes
  • Suction power:
    2,000 Pa
  • Navigation:
    Smart mapping
  • Alexa and Google Assistant:
    Yes
  • App connected:
    Yes
The Shark IQ RV101AE is Shark’s most intelligent machine to date, and the brand’s response to iRobot’s trio of self-emptying machines. The Shark IQ can utilize its smart mapping to select specific areas or rooms to clean, while the identically-priced i3+ can’t. Oh yeah — the Shark is almost always on sale for an extra $100 or so less.
Admittedly, the Shark’s mapping is often dizzier than that of the i3. But the Shark learns as it goes, cleaning in a snake-shaped pattern and unclogging hair and fur as it scoops them up. The bagless dust bin needs to be emptied every 30 days compared to the i3’s 60 days, but the footprint of the base is considerably smaller and out of the way.

Super impressive performance on hardwood • Two-hour battery life • Only three inches tall • Easy maintenance

No room-scanning tech • No roller brush for carpet, even low pile

The V3s Pro tackles hardwood as well as models triple its price, but is less ideal for carpet.

ILIFE V3s

Despite erratic cleaning patterns, this reliable affordable model does the damn thing on hard floors.

  • Battery life:
    100 minutes
  • Suction power:
    1,000 Pa
  • Navigation:
    Infrared sensors, drop detection
  • Alexa and Google Assistant:
    No
  • App connected:
    No (uses a remote instead)

Robot vacuums get a rep for being strictly for people with extra cash. Granted, some cheap ones do nothing more than zig-zag and push crumbs around — but for less than $160, the iLife V3s Pro is the fighter to choose if you just want to walk on your hard floors barefoot in peace.
Your experience with the V3s Pro depends on managed expectations. Hoping for features like fluffy carpet-mauling suction and an app that zeroes in on specific rooms will leave you bummed. But if you go into it expecting the precision of a cheap vacuum, you’ll be wowed. The V3 puts in work on hardwood, sniffing out minuscule debris like pet hair and kitty litter that’s basically dust. It’s sweeping that rivals most high-end models.

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