Best Overall
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum
AMAZON
- Setup5/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Noise Level3.5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Features3/5
- During testing, this robot vacuum received perfect scores for effectiveness on hard flooring and carpets alike.
During testing, this robot vacuum received perfect scores for effectiveness on hard flooring and carpets alike.
- It doesn't have any of the high-tech features other robot vacuums offer.
It doesn't have any of the high-tech features other robot vacuums offer.
Whether your home has hardwood flooring, tile, carpets, or rugs, it's convenient when you can find a device that's versatile enough to clean all surface types in one fell swoop. That's why we rated the iRobot Roomba 694 as the best overall robot vacuum after testing.
This easy-to-use machine effortlessly navigated multiple floor types while collecting dirt and debris with ease. On bare flooring, the Roomba 694 was able to pick up small sand particles and larger debris alike in a single pass, including cereal, pet hair, and human hair.
This is thanks in part to its edge-sweeping tool, which helps to push nearby dirt particles under the vacuum so they can be sucked away by the powerful brush roll.
The Roomba 694 had no trouble transitioning between the hard floor and the rug, though we noted a momentary lapse in dirt removal as it did so. We were particularly impressed by how well this vacuum removed sand from deep within the fibers of the rug, leaving behind no trace of the initial mess after it passed through.
Plus, the built-in sensors allow the robot vacuum to navigate around furniture and large obstacles in its way (though you'll want to make sure there aren't any socks, power cords, or other small items in its path). It can even detect and avoid staircases, so you'll never come home to find a broken Roomba at the bottom of your stairs.
The Roomba 694 uses WiFi connectivity and an easy-to-use app on your phone to complete cleaning jobs. You'll be able to name your vacuum, start a timed cleaning job, locate the vacuum, and tell it to return to the charging station from within the app, allowing you to run the vacuum even when you aren't at home.
If you're looking for features like object detection, automatic dirt disposal, or smart mapping, you'll likely find the Roomba 694 to be a little bit lacking. It doesn't offer the fancy features of a more expensive robot vacuum, but we found this to be an incredibly reliable and effective tool for hands-free cleaning on multiple floor types.
How it Performed After Six Months
The Roomba 694 has become our go-to robot vacuum recommendation. We think it's an especially great pick for apartments or smaller spaces. While it doesn't have fancy features, we were impressed with its ability to navigate the space and return to its docking station at the end of the cleaning.
While it's great for quick cleanings, it probably won't be enough to deep-clean your carpets. We found that it wasn't always able to get deeply embedded hairs and debris. But it's super self-sufficent and perfect for those quick once-overs.
Product Details: Battery Life: 90 minutes | Noise Level: 77 decibels | Object Avoidance: No
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
Key Terms to Know
- HEPA Filter: High-efficiency particulate air. These filters are capable of capturing 99.97% of small particles measuring 0.3 microns in size. People with allergies who need to worry about pet dander or dust should look for vacuums with this filter type.
- Brushroll: A motorized brush that helps capture debris such as hair, especially when vacuuming carpet.
- Self-Empty/Self-Cleaning Mode: Many robot vacuums are considered self-emptying/self-cleaning, meaning they will deposit their contents (usually into the docking station) without you needing to manually clean it every time.
Best Budget
ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner
AMAZON
- Setup2/5
- Effectiveness4/5
- Noise Level5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Features4/5
- Its effectiveness on carpets and hard floors outperformed much more expensive vacuums we tested.
Its effectiveness on carpets and hard floors outperformed much more expensive vacuums we tested.
- This robot vacuum doesn't offer app integration, so you'll have to use the remote to control it.
This robot vacuum doesn't offer app integration, so you'll have to use the remote to control it.
When it comes to simplifying your home cleaning routine, you don't always have to pay top dollar to get the best product. The ILife V3s robot vacuum cleaner is the least-expensive robot vacuum we tested, yet we were surprised to find that it outperformed several other models that cost hundreds more.
While it lacks app integration to help you schedule and run your vacuum, it's excellent at avoiding obstacles, maneuvering around furniture, and picking up dirt. On rugs and carpeting, it made several laps to pick up every last bit of hair, dirt, and sand, even managing to pick up debris that was deeply embedded in the fibers.
This was somewhat surprising, as the robot vacuum doesn't have a brush roll to help it capture gunk and hair. Instead, it has two edge sweeping tools on the front to guide dirt into its path and strong suction. You won't have to cut tangled hairs out of the vacuum every few weeks since everything gets sucked away.
On hard floors, this robot vacuum struggled a bit to suck up the cereal pieces we'd strewn across the ground, but it had no trouble collecting smaller particles. We specifically noted how easy and straightforward this vacuum was to use, especially when compared to some of the high-tech robot vacuums we'd already tested.
The battery-powered remote control has clearly marked buttons for starting, scheduling, and maneuvering the vacuum, and after just a few minutes, we felt like experts using the device.
Its only shortcoming is the lack of app connectivity for even more intuitive use, but for the price and the effectiveness of its settings, we think the ILife V3s Pro is still a great budget pick.
How it Performed After Six Months
This vacuum did a great job sucking up hair—both dog and human—especially in hard-to-reach areas such as underneath the bed. This alone is enough for us to recommend it. If you misplace the remote it can be a hassle not to have app connectivity, but overall we didn't miss the inclusion of smart features.
Product Details: Battery Life: 100 minutes | Noise Level: 72 decibels | Object Avoidance: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Splurge
Roborock S8+ Robot Vacuum Mop
AMAZON
- Setup4/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Noise Level4.8/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Features4.9/5
- Smart features and superior mapping capabilities make this robot vacuum stand out from the crowd.
Smart features and superior mapping capabilities make this robot vacuum stand out from the crowd.
- For the price, we wish it included a few extras, such as backup mop pads.
For the price, we wish it included a few extras, such as backup mop pads.
If the convenience of unsupervised vacuuming and a suite of customizable features are worth the splurge for you, we highly recommend the Roborock S8+. During testing, we found the high-tech features and effortless usability of this vacuum to be more than worth the price tag.
On both floor hardwood and tile flooring, the Roborock picked up hair, dirt, and larger chunks of debris like cereal without difficulty. Hair did not get tangled around the brush roll, and any loose strands were easily removed by hand.
The mapping especially impressed us. Setting it up took less time than anticipated and resulted in an accurate map that we were then able to designate and label. For a tech-savvy user this process wasn’t too complicated, but we felt the instructions were lacking some detail and would have liked to see a how-to video or similar.
Scheduling cleanings is intuitive, with the ability to easily adjust the times (even if you make edits right before the vacuum is supposed to start). It self empties, which is always nice to see, though this mode is very loud—we actually turned automatic self-emptying off because we found it disruptive.
Other modes such as spot clean and mopping also functioned very well. Sometimes with multifunctional vacuum/mop combinations one feature will work better than the other, but the mop quickly wiped away a stubborn sticky patch on the tile floor. Following up with a paper towel test proved the mop got all the residue.
We don't think it would be a total replacement for a monthly wet-vac cleaning, however it’s the perfect device for regular maintenance. While we were unable to test it on carpet, the manufacturer does recommend the vacuum for use on this surface as well.
How it Performed After Six Months
In general, we loved how intelligent this vacuum cleaner was—the smart features really made life easier and improved the machine’s maneuverability (it seamlessly moved around human and chair legs in its path). The robot vacuum also adjusted its performance over time as it got to know the layout of the apartment better.
Downsides are minimal, but we do wish it came with a few extras considering the price—extra mop pads or a few accessories would be nice.
Product Details Battery Life: 180 minutes | Noise Level: Not listed | Object Avoidance: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best for Pet Hair
iRobot Roomba J7 Robot Vacuum
AMAZON
- Setup4/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Noise Level2/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Features3/5
- It uses a rubber brush to scoop up hair and dirt, making it easier to avoid hair wrapping around it and clogging the machine.
It uses a rubber brush to scoop up hair and dirt, making it easier to avoid hair wrapping around it and clogging the machine.
- Though the manufacturer claims this vacuum can avoid pet waste on the floor, it failed to do so during testing.
Though the manufacturer claims this vacuum can avoid pet waste on the floor, it failed to do so during testing.
Owning a pet and keeping a tidy home can often feel mutually exclusive. But while your robot vacuum won't take your dog for a walk or take care of pet accidents left in the house, it can help keep dirt and pet hair off your floors.
The iRobot Roomba J7 did an astounding job at picking up pet hair and dirt without anything getting tangled in the brush roll. This is because it has rubber brushes on the bottom instead of bristles, which scoop up hair and gunk without excess hair getting caught.
We especially loved how easy it was to remove and clean the rubber brush from the vacuum compared to other vacuums we'd used. The powerful suction allows the vacuum to pick up crumbs and sand with just as much ease on both hard flooring and carpets alike.
It received perfect scores on both flooring surfaces, and we found that it was also excellent at maneuvering around socks and other small obstacles scattered on the floor.
During shedding season, your Roomba may recommend a personalized cleaning schedule; over time, it learns where and when you normally clean, and it may suggest extra cleanings based on what it's learned. This makes it easier to stay on top of dust, allergens, and excess pet hair in your home.
One thing to note is that this robot vacuum is guaranteed by the manufacturer to avoid pet waste, yet it ran straight through the fake pet mess we set up during testing. While this could have to do with the conditions of the test, we don't recommend running this vacuum in an area where it may come in contact with pet waste.
How it Performed After Six Months
This vacuum performed so well at home that we want a second model to use on the upper level. We love that the app lets you know when you need to perform maintenance on the vacuum such as changing the filters. The house is significantly cleaner since we started using it, and we tell family and friends about it all the time.
Product Details:
Battery Life: 75 minutes | Noise Level: 70 decibels | Object Avoidance: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Self-Emptying
Ecovacs Deebot T10 Plus Robotic Vacuum and Mop
BEST BUY
- Setup4/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Noise Level4/5
- Maneuverability4/5
- Features3/5
- This vacuum also has a built-in mop that received perfect scores for effectiveness during our tests.
This vacuum also has a built-in mop that received perfect scores for effectiveness during our tests.
- It wasn't able to avoid power cords during testing, so make sure those are out of the way before running this vacuum.
It wasn't able to avoid power cords during testing, so make sure those are out of the way before running this vacuum.
We loved the ease and convenience of this all-in-one robot vacuum, which made cleaning dirt, spills, and pet hair a stress-free task. This smart vacuum and mop combo performed well on all floor types, even cleaning up coffee messes and syrup spills from hard floors with ease.
When mopping, the machine actually scrubs the floor instead of simply running over the mess, allowing it to remove sticky residue and liquid spills alike. It detects and avoids carpets and rugs when in mopping mode, so you won't have to worry about blocking off any carpeted areas.
The vacuum's mapping technology learns the layout of your house and remembers it for next time, allowing it to clean more thoroughly and efficiently. Built-in object sensors and a camera help the vacuum avoid obstacles directly in front of it like toys and laundry on the floor.
During testing, the Ecovacs robot vacuum was able to maneuver around the socks and faux pet messes we laid out in our obstacle course, but it did suck up a USB cord in its path. We recommend double-checking that any power cords are out of the way before using the vacuum.
When trying to move over bumps in the flooring, such as from hard floor to a rug, the Ecovacs vacuum will maneuver itself at different angles in order to successfully navigate throughout the room. This means you won't have to help it onto high-pile rugs or lift it over the threshold between different rooms.
Best of all, this vacuum empties itself out at the end of every cleaning task, so you never have to come in contact with the gunk it picks up.
How it Performed After Six Months
Over the testing period we actually noticed an improvement in performance as the vacuum figured out the layout of the apartment and was better able to locate and clean tricky areas. We also appreciate the self-emptying and mopping elements.
We'd recommend looking out for a sale if possible because the price is high (but you do get a lot of features, plus intelligent mapping).
Product Details: Battery Life: 180 minutes | Noise Level: 68 decibels | Object Avoidance: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Vacuum and Mop
Ecovacs DeeBot N8+ Vacuuming and Mopping Robot
WALMART
- The mapping feature allowed it to move without hesitation throughout the room during our tests, so it never got stuck or lost.
The mapping feature allowed it to move without hesitation throughout the room during our tests, so it never got stuck or lost.
- The mop attachment on this robot vacuum gets dirty easily, so plan to wash it frequently.
The mop attachment on this robot vacuum gets dirty easily, so plan to wash it frequently.
If you have a large home, a complex layout, or want your robot vacuum to clean certain rooms at a time, you’ll likely find that vacuums with mapping technology are the best to use. We found that the Ecovacs DeeBot N8+ was the best product we tested with mapping, as it easily navigated through our testing lab’s complicated course.
This vacuum starts its first job by cleaning around the perimeter of the room, memorizing and storing information about the layout of your home for future tasks. Once it’s made a complete map, it’ll start methodically working its way through the room, seamlessly avoiding furniture and picking up debris in its path.
This allows you to run the vacuum more confidently even when you aren’t around, knowing that it’s not going to get lost in a room or stuck behind furniture while you’re gone.
It worked extremely well on all surface types, barely even pausing to climb up onto the rug as it moved through the obstacle course. It picked up dirt, sand, hair, and crumbs without issue, receiving perfect scores for its effectiveness. We also loved that it empties itself, so you don’t have to clean out the dust bin after every task.
The Ecovacs Deebot N8+ has a mop attachment to handle liquid messes on your floors. We were impressed with this feature, which scrubbed off syrup spills and soaked up a puddle of coffee. However, a lot of residue remained on the mop head after cleaning, so we’d recommend removing and washing it after every session.
How it Performed After Six Months
Using this vacuum at home freed up our time and improved the overall cleanliness of the home. We loved the combination vacuum/mop and often used both features together, resulting in incredibly clean and shiny floors. For anyone who despises cleaning their floors, this is a total lifesaver.
Product Details: Battery Life: 110 minutes | Noise Level: 68 decibels | Object Avoidance: Yes