Robot vacuums offer something a little different from our typical cordless and upright vacuums. Without the suction power of these bigger models, they're not always as able to deep clean our floors as effectively. Instead, they provide light and frequent cleaning, taking care of the general day-to-day maintenance in between big house cleans.
But different robot vacuums excel in their own ways. Some are versatile and work well on different floor types, while others are better suited to either carpet or hard floors. A more expensive model might have better performance on pet hair, while another may create more detailed maps of your home.
So, as H&G's home tech editor, my team of product testers and I have tested 53 of the world's best vacuums and 15 of the world's best robot vacuums. These are the six that are worth your money, for all homes and budgets.
The quick list
If you've already got your eye on a particular robot vacuum, you can skip straight to that section using the jump menu. If you'd rather slow down and take stock of your options, browse the best robot vacuums below.
The best robot vacuum you can buy
It may cost a lot, but the eufy S1 Pro Omni is so powerful that its cleaning is on par with a normal vacuum cleaner. That's almost unheard of in a robot vacuum, and it doesn't hurt that it works like a dream on pet hair, dust, and large debris on all surfaces, too.
The second best robot vacuum you can buy
The Roomba Combo j9+ automatically vacuums, mops, and empties itself. It was once our best overall thanks to its incredibly impressive suction on all floor types, its anti-hair wrap rollers, and its sleek design.
Best mid-range
The best mid-range robot vacuum cleaner
Considering it costs a great deal less than our two favorite robot vacuums, the eufy X10 Pro Omni surprised us on test with its strong cleaning performance on all surfaces, and its thorough mopping ability despite its lack of cleaning solution.
A top pick robot vacuum for pet owners
The iRobot Roomba j7+ is particularly great at tackling pet hair, and comes with a pet-owner guarantee that it'll avoid any accidental pet messes. Better pet hair pickup can be found in the eufy S1 Pro Omni and the Roomba Combo j9+, but this costs much less while still performing exceptionally.
A solid all-rounder robot vacuum at a fair price
It's not the best robot vacuum we've reviewed, but you get a lot for your money with the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1. It has smart features, stain detection and a low-maintenance cleaning base, and if you don't mind cleaning up after it every once in a while, it's a great way to save money.
The best budget robot vacuum cleaner
Our expert tester, Laura, tested the eufy X8 Pro on her high-pile carpets at home. She couldn't believe how much dust, dirt, and hair this thing picked up. It's now an older model, costing $100s less than others in this guide.
The best robot vacuum cleaners
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The best robot vacuum cleaner
The eufy S1 Pro Omni has the most comprehensive floor cleaning of all 15 of the robot vacuums we've tested. It also happens to be the most expensive, but if you're in the market for a robot vacuum and you want the absolute best, this is the one to go for.
Punteha van Teherheyden, tester and head of Solved at H&G commented that it leaves 'nothing on hard floors when it comes to pet hair and dust and picks up much more than any canister vacuum I've owned when tested on carpet.' Robot vacuums aren't typically the best vacuums for carpets as their smaller motors aren't as able to pull dirt from the fibers, so for the S1 Pro Omni to capture more than a canister vacuum is not to be ignored.
It also mops excellently, using a specialized cleaning solution to deep clean hard floors, and using targeted sensors to avoid wet mop pads touching any rugs or carpeting. 'It tackled sticky, sugary liquid spills with ease, and much like the tests available to view on the manufacturer’s website, blasted through coffee, milk and ketchup stains with zero issues, residue or spread,' wrote van Terheyden.
And after months of use, no hair has been trapped in the robot's rubber rollers. Manually removing hair and fur from a robot vacuum is a common problem and one that almost defeats the hands-free nature of an automated cleaner. Luckily, the S1 Pro Omni lives up to its anti-tangle claims.
Read more in our full eufy S1 Pro Omni review.
The runner-up best robot vacuum cleaner
Any robot vacuum worth the investment can dig up dust. It takes a special sort of machine to tackle bigger bits of dirt and debris. For a deep clean across carpet, linoleum, or hardwood floors, you need something like the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+.
Our reviewer Alex noted that the Combo j9+ is 'one of the best I've ever tested for hair wrap,' which is rare praise for a robot vacuum. 'It always pulls hair out of the carpet and does a much, much better job than even some of the best vacuums for pet hair.' And, as the mop does such an effective job of deep cleaning the floors, the Combo j9+ can clean up after more than your pets' hair.
A lot of robot vacuums claim to be automatic but aren't, really: you still have to manually switch between vacuum and mop settings, and get your hands dirty as you empty the base. The iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo allows for hands-free cleaning. Once you've filled up the water tank for the mop to function, you don't need to touch it for months. Our tester Alex has been using it since last year and hasn't needed to refill the water once.
When you download the iRobot app, you can schedule cleanings, monitor progress, map your home, and empty the bin, all through remote access. It's a user-friendly interface with cleaning prompts written in plain language that anyone can understand: you don't need to be a tech whiz to use it.
There's not much we don't like about the iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo, apart from these two considerations: cost and noise. Retailing for more than $1,000 outside of sales season, this little robot is seriously expensive. Although it cleans quickly and quietly, the iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo reaches 80dB as it self-empties. You can't hear yourself talk over it. Granted, that's common for any self-emptying robot vacuum.
Read more in our full iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ review.
The best mid-range robot vacuum cleaner
The X10 Pro Omni is the predecessor to our favorite robot vacuum, the eufy S1 Pro Omni, and retails for around half the price. Robot tester Punteha certainly noticed the difference between the two models, especially on carpet where the X10 Pro Omni only achieved a solid clean when in turbo mode.
'When I tested this robot vacuum on Turbo suction mode and Deep Clean with zero hair on the rubber brush roll, there was an enormous leap in performance, leaving no loose debris on the carpet,' she wrote in her review. In standard mode, the cleaning 'left a lot to be desired' as plenty of small and large debris was left behind after a complete run of the floor.
'Where this robot vacuum excels in my view is hard floors. It picked up absolutely everything in its path,' she added, so this could be one of the best vacuums for hardwood floors if you're looking to take some effort off your hands.
Another noticeable difference between the X10 Pro Omni and the S1 Pro Omni is in the obstacle avoidance. 'Whilst the object collision technology was mostly great, avoiding people, pets, doors, and stairs, it is a little bumpier by nature,' Punteha commented. It also bumped into baseboards often and got so confused by the legs of a wooden table that it was unable to enter a bathroom.
The mopping function works well, removing all tested liquids from the floors without a sticky residue or visual trace. It doesn't however utilize any cleaning solution, so while the floors can appear clean, you'll still need to mop the floors or use anti-bacterial wipes to remove the last of any mess.
Read more in our full eufy X10 Pro Omni review.
A great robot vacuum cleaner for pet owners
The iRobot Roomba j7+ was once the reigning champion of our 'best robot vacuums' buying guide: that is until the newer Combo j9+ and the eufy's landmark S1 Pro Omni came out. But still, now that the Roomba j7+ is a few years old, it's much more affordable while still boasting great cleaning performance.
The iRobot Roomba j7+ incorporates something called PrecisionVision navigation. This robot vacuum uses a combination of cameras and sensors to chart the quickest, neatest cleaning route around a room. There's a wall follow sensor to protect your kickboard, as well as several floor tracking sensors to keep your robot vacuum from falling down the stairs.
It uses soft-bristle rubber brushes to dig up dust and dirt from carpet, hardwood, and linoleum floors. There's a special edge-sweeping brush to coax out dirt from awkward corners and the gaps between floorboards. The iRobot Roomba j7+ should clean all the same dirt you'd pick up with a standard vacuum, though it might take a little longer to get around to each spill and stain.
You can enjoy a P.O.O.P. guarantee (Pet Owners Official Promise) with the Roomba j7+ that promises the robot will avoid any pet accidents, and will replace your machine if it does. And as it works so well on hair, this is one of the best robot vacuums for pet hair if you're on a budget.
With its limited runtime of 75 minutes, I wouldn't recommend you rely on your Roomba to clean the whole house in a single session. The iRobot Roomba j7+ doesn't have a mop function, but you can opt for the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ which does, for an extra
Read more in our full iRobot Roomba j7+ review.
A great value robot vacuum cleaner
The best Shark vacuums always have a strong value for money. Shark's latest robot vacuum is in line with what we've learned to expect from previous Shark robots we've tested. It doesn't quite match the cleaning power of your Roomba or eufy, but it has useful features and decent cleaning for a more reasonable price.
The PowerDetect 2-in-1 is an intelligent cleaner that can detect the messes on your floors, most evident when mopping: 'I was impressed by the robot’s stain-detection abilities – as soon as it drove over one of the stains, it would immediately stop and go back over the area, rotating in circles to ensure every inch was scrubbed thoroughly,' pro tester Camryn wrote in her review.
When vacuuming, it was able to pick up almost all of the rice, coffee grounds, pet hair and fiberfill, but not quite all of it. A noticeable amount of coffee was left on the carpet after cleaning, and although it performed better on hard floors, there was still some debris left behind.
It also didn't perform as well as promised when cleaning floor edges. A unique feature of the PowerDetect 2-in-1 is its ability to blast air at floor edges to loosen debris, making it easier to vacuum. In practice, this didn't quite live up to the claim and a disappointing amount of mess wasn't cleaned up.
Still, this is a much more affordable robot vacuum than others in this guide and will make a great companion for light maintenance at home, between your more thorough vacuuming sessions. It also has a great docking station that cleans, empties and dries the robot without you having to do anything.
Read more in our full Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 review.
The best budget robot vacuum cleaner
As a combination cleaner, the eufy X8 Pro can vacuum and mop across all floor types. This robot vacuum can dig up fine dirt from deep within high-pile carpets and store it inside its capacious dust bin.
The whole point of a robot vacuum is hands-free cleaning. If you feel the need to run around after your robot, picking up wires and cables, then you might as well grab a vacuum and do the cleaning yourself.
The eufy X8 Pro is remarkably self-sufficient. It deftly maneuvers around obstacles to clean what needs to be cleaned and leave what needs to be left. Bar a few minor knocks against the wall, it performed almost perfectly.
I'd recommend the eufy X8 Pro to pet owners, and anyone who has long hair. Out the 15 robot vacuums we've tested, the eufy X8 Pro is one of the best for pet hair pick-up. This machine incorporates anti-tangle technology to keep you from having to pick out the hairs with your fingers.
The eufy app is fully functional, with options to schedule cleanings and adjust intensity, but it's a little overbearing. It wants to know the location of your phone all the time, not just when you're on the eufy app. If you're a bit of a technophobe, you might feel more comfortable with a basic cleaner.
Read more in our full eufy X8 Pro review.
How to choose the best robot vacuum
I'll run through the main considerations when making your decision, but you can find the complete guide on how to choose a robot vacuum cleaner.
Budget. I'd say this is the most important factor. Once you know the maximum amount you're willing to spend, you can start figuring out exactly what features and cleaning power you can get for that price. If you don't have a max budget, then you can choose the best model available, which is currently the eufy S1 Pro Omni.
Floor type. Some robots perform better on carpets while others are better-suited to hard floors. This is often down to the type of rollers they use: bristled rollers are best on carpets,and rubber or soft rollers are best on hard floors.
Pets. If you're a pet owner, you'll need a robot vacuum with anti-tangle brushrolls, and preferably a mop if your pets are often bringing muddy paw prints through the house. Many robot vacuums will claim anti-tangle vacuuming without living up to those claims; in our experience, eufy and Roomba are the best for this.
Mapping and navigation. If your home has a fairly straightforward layout, you could save some money by choosing a robot that doesn't have the latest navigational tech. But if you'd like to be able to create maps of your home, select no-go zones and areas that require special attention, and see exactly where the robot is cleaning wherever you are, look for a comprehensive app.
Mopping. Robot mopping isn't essential, but it can keep your home in a much cleaner and fresher-feeling state in your day-to-day. In my experience, I'd recommend a robot mop that uses a cleaning solution. Those that use clean water are great for removing liquid messes but aren't actually sanitizing the floor.
Cleaning station. The station plays an important part in how truly automated your robot cleaner is. If you choose a robot with a comprehensive cleaning station, like the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 with NeverTouch Pro Base, then the moments where you have to do anything yourself are infrequent. But if the cleaning station is more basic, it might not clean the robot itself or dry the mop pads, both of which can lead to nasty smells and bacteria buildup if left unattended.
How we test robot vacuums
We put a lot of thought into how we test robot vacuums. The testing process looks pretty similar to how we test vacuums, with a few key differences.
We test all of our robot vacuums across the three major floor types: carpet; linoleum; and hardwood. Carpet can be difficult to clean, as the long fibers tend to cling to dirt. Linoleum is easier to clean, but that sleek, shiny surface is unforgiving with spills and stains. Of all the floor types, wood might be the trickiest to clean, as dust and dirt can slip between the cracks in the floorboards.
We test various substances like flour, sugar, cereal and rice to test each robot's vacuuming. If there's a mop function, we'll use sauces like ketchup, mustard and wet coffee grounds to see how well they fare. A good robot vacuum should be able to suck up dirt, rather than pushing it around the floor or crushing it beneath its wheels. Only the best robot vacuums boast decent hair pick-up, so this is a good way to sort the wheat from the chaff.
Many of the best robot vacuums incorporate smart technology to map your home and visualize the most effective cleaning route. A few even come with their own apps, so that you can schedule cleaning sessions and monitor particle pick-up. Where relevant, we put all of these special features to the test, and include our findings in the review.
Meet the team
I am the home tech editor, covering vacuums on a near-daily basis. I've tested 12 vacuum cleaners for H&G, and I've been writing about and reviewing products since 2021.
Punteha is head of the Solved section at H&G, and has tested a few robot vacuum cleaners over the past few months including our best pick, the eufy S1 Pro Omni.
Alex is our head of eCommerce, and in his lifetime as a product tester has spent more than 1,000 hours testing 30 vacuum cleaners, including the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ in this guide.
Laura is our former eCommerce editor and long-time product tester. She has a real range of expertise in everything from vacuums and fans to coffee and candles, and has tested 21 vacuum cleaners over two years, including the eufy X8 Pro.
Camryn is a writer and product reviewer, and has tested more than 50 vacuums since 2019 including the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 in this guide.
FAQs
Are robot vacuums really worth it?
We've written an entire article answering the question: are robot vacuums really worth it? If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here are the headlines.
Robot vacuums are undeniably expensive. We're talking thousand-dollar price tags for the top models, and even the more affordable cleaners will set you back a few hundred dollars. If you use your robot vacuum a couple times a week, and it saves you time and effort dusting, then you might think it's worth the price.
I've also spoken with dozens of pet owners on the best way to stay on top of pet hair at home, and the most common solution was investing in a robot vacuum cleaner.
If you're looking to clean up larger piles of dirt and debris, your money might be better spent on one of the best vacuum cleaners.
Are robot vacuums good for pet hair?
Robot vacuums excel in their ability to clean little and often. They're not as powerful as the cordless and upright models in our best vacuums for pet hair guide. Instead, they offer frequent maintenance of your floors, picking up pet hair that's likely to accumulate throughout the day.
This cleaning style makes robot vacuums a big help for anybody with pet allergies. Removing pet hair daily will limit exposure to the allergens found in pet dander, significantly reducing symptoms compared to those who clean once a week. And with the rise of combination robot vacuums and mops, you can clean up after your pets more hygienically.
Read more in our dedicated guide on the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
To discover more from our vacuum tests, be sure to look over our guide of the best cordless vacuums and the best upright vacuums. Robot vacuums are expensive, so perhaps one of these alternatives could be a better option for your home.
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