A robot vacuum takes all the toil and sweat out of traditional vacuuming by employing automated sensors and navigation tools to do the hard work for you. While not intended as a full-on replacement for upright vacs, robot models are best used as cleaners for keeping the home neat and tidy in between regular vacuuming. Admittedly, some of the best robot vacuums can get pretty close to completely replacing the old push-and-pull Kirby.
We’ve tested dozens of robot vacuums, and our pick for the best is the iRobot Roomba S9+. The S9+ is the Ferrari of robot vacuums, offering advanced navigation and emptying its own dust bin. We’ve also included our picks for the best value robot vacuum, as well as the best models in other categories. Still not sure which model to get? Check out our robot vacuum guide that can help you decide.
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)
The best overall
Pros
- Superb cleaning performance
- Self-emptying dust bin
- Multi-floor smart mapping
- Precise object detection and navigation
Sure, a robot vacuum makes cleaning your floors a heck of a lot easier. But, you still have to empty the dustbin just about every time you run it. With its Clean Base and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, the S9+ is the latest model from the esteemed company that’s capable of literally vacuuming without having you lift a finger. Just say “Alexa” or “OK, Google, ask Roomba to start cleaning,” and your S9+ will start cleaning. The best part about the S9+ is that it sucks dirt and debris into an anti-allergen base that holds up to 30 deposits (60 days of dirt).
In addition to being one of the most user-friendly robots you can buy, the S9+ adopts a new D-shaped design to allow for better edge and corner cleaning. Naturally, it’s outfitted with the latest tech under the hood — consisting of a new 3D sensor in the front bumper that enhances Roomba’s wall detection, a more powerful cleaning head, and intelligent mapping. It can tell where it has already been and where it still needs to clean. The robot can clean your entire home, or you can instruct it to clean specific places. Its sensors can locate the higher traffic areas in your home, and the robot will be extra attentive to those dirtier areas of your floors. The S9+ is perfect for those that can’t fit a regular upright-vac cleaning into their packed schedule, thanks in part to the many automations and customizations the bot is capable of.
While the iRobot Roomba S9+ is expensive, its performance and features are top-notch. If you want the best of the best in terms of robot vacuums, the S9+ is the way to go.
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)
The best overall
Neato Botvac D8
Best for edges and corners
Pros
- D-shape makes it ideal for cleaning nooks and crannies
- Lidar mapping means detailed cleaning blueprints
- Intuitive app
Cons
- Doesn’t support Google Assistant
- Can get stuck on certain furniture
The Neato Botvac D8 has a laser-based navigation system, which allows it to scan and map your home and even clean in the dark. It has a large main brush that picks up pet hair and small debris, and an ultra-performance filter to trap allergens. Plus, with Neato’s D-shape build, this robotic vacuum is a boss when it comes to cornering and edging.
You can easily set the Neato D8 to clean your entire home or spot clean a specific section of a room. Once set up, you can check in on the bot to schedule tasks and similarly receive notifications as rooms are cleaned via the Neato app. With a 100 minute runtime, the D8 is perfectly capable of tackling a full cleaning of a single-story home. And not to worry: If the battery runs down, the vac is smart enough to re-dock without you even needing to lift a finger.
You can also create virtual “No-Go Lines” in the Neato App that tell the robot which areas to avoid, making it great for homes with delicate furniture and other cherished belongings. All of this, plus Alexa voice assistance, makes the Neato Botvac D8 a solid robot vacuum option.
Neato Botvac D8
Best for edges and corners
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30
Best multi-surface
Pros
- Adaptive cleaning
- Great price
- Customizable companion app
Cons
- Not compatible with voice assistants
- Sensors can be finicky sometimes
Whether you need a quick sweep or a full home detail, the Eufy RoboVac G30 is your best bet for getting the house spotless. With Eufy’s Smart Dynamic Navigation 2.0, your RoboVac takes a detailed scan of your home that the vac will reference during each cleaning. Where other robot vacs set off on randomized paths when enabled, the RoboVac will build its cleaning course based on what floor it’s located on, the room, and the surface type it will be cleaning.
Featuring 2000Pa of suction power, the RoboVac will have zero issues with whatever carpeting, tile, hardwoods, or other surfaces your home has to throw at it. Plus, with the included BoostIQ technology, the RoboVac will automatically increase suction power when it moves from a hard surface to a carpeted area, so you won’t have to worry about adjusting suction strength in the companion app.
Speaking of which, the Eufy app (for iOS and Android devices) is your one-stop command center for your Eufy RoboVac G30, allowing you to assign spot cleaning duties, create vacuum schedules, view the bot’s cleaning history, and more.
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30
Best multi-surface
Roborock S7+ with Auto-Empty Dock
Most versatile
Pros
- Smart navigation makes it efficient
- Quiet operation
- Sonic mopping requires fewer passes to mop
- Goes over dividers/humps with ease
Cons
- On the pricey side
- Rubber brush can still get tangles
The Roborock S7+ is an all-in-one vacuum, mop, and whole-home detailer. On the vacuum end of things, the S7+ features an advanced lidar scanner to build intuitive apps for your home, covering multiple floors in a pinch. When it comes to tackling the deep-seated dirt in those carpet fibers, the S7+ employs 2500pa of suction power to draw out the dirt that normally escapes us.
For mopping capabilities, the S7+ uses a sensor-driven water tank that only shoots out water when cleaning, so no need to worry about watermarks on your carpet. We also love the Sonic Vibration technology that scrubs floors up to 3,000 times per minute, getting up grease and other substances that have been glued to the floor for weeks.
The S7 can seamlessly traverse multiple floor types and clean for up to 2.5 hours on a single charge. We’re also big fans of the auto-empty dock that can store up to eight weeks of detritus. Once the dust bag is full, you’ll receive a notification to pull out the bag and replace it. For those concerned with airborne allergens, rest assured that the dock’s multilevel filtration will catch up to 99.9% of allergens.
With the Mi app (for iOS and Android), you can create customized cleaning zones for the vac, save and load specialized cleaning maps of your home, and access real-time video of your vacuum mid-clean by tapping into the S5’s onboard camera. There’s also Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit compatibility, so you can fire up the vac or tell it to stop cleaning using voice commands.
While you can purchase the Roborock S7 as a stand-alone vac, you’ll want to grab the Roborock S7+ with Auto-Empty Dock bundle for automatic dust-emptying.
Roborock S7+ with Auto-Empty Dock
Most versatile
Eufy RoboVac 12
Best budget robot vacuum
Pros
- Great price
- Decent amount of cleaning customizations
Cons
- No voice assistant capabilities
- Lacks features of more advanced robot vacs
There are more budget-flexible models and devices on the market, like the Eufy product. This vacuum doesn’t have the Wi-Fi or tech capabilities that some of the more expensive models may have. However, you’ll still benefit from a long-lasting battery charge, a drop-sensing system, and multiple cleaning settings that boast stellar suction.
This vacuum runs for an hour and forty minutes before needing a recharge, and its suction ranks at 1500pa. It can tackle your dirt powerfully through three different forms of filtration. You can trust the Eufy RoboVac 12 to suck up any dirt, hair, and debris while also appearing fabulous. The anti-scratch glass will keep it looking new and the streamlined design will ensure it runs efficiently in any space.
Eufy RoboVac 12
Best budget robot vacuum
Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Best robot vac for home security
Pros
- Home security patrol feature works well
- More efficient cleaning performance
- Good at avoiding obstacles
- Minimal disposal with self-emptying system
Having a mobile security camera that you can access on the go is never a bad idea. Fortunately, the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ boasts a powerful security camera that you view through the SmartThings app. Once in a room, the vac will scan the environment and send you a notification if it detects a motion. While it won’t cue up automatically, you can still build a schedule for the vac to follow.
In terms of cleaning features, there’s plenty on board to get your house spotless. Lidar sensors create detailed maps of your home while navigating the vac to all the hard-to-see cracks and crevices, employing a main roller brush and side-sweepers to grab whatever dirt and pet hair is around. Object avoidance is on-point, too, combining lidar and the camera to keep away from valuables and furniture while still getting the job done.
Voice controls, a 90-minute runtime, and automatic dirt disposal are all sweet additions to this Samsung package. While the price is a bit on the high side, the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ is a phenomenal patrol vac and a solid cleaner, too. Read our full review of the Samsung Jet Bot AI+, and learn about how the vacuum uses A.I.
Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Best robot vac for home security
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of owning a robot vacuum?
A robot vacuum turns the normal push-and-pull labor of vacuuming your whole home into an automated cleaning experience. Additional customizations for scheduling and bot settings are adjustable in the bot’s companion app. You can also use a number of voice assistants to give commands to the bot.
What does a robot vacuum look like?
Typically, robot vacuums are puck-shaped and often measure no wider than 10 to 12 inches. Casing colors are usually hues that will blend in well with common home decor, with white and black featuring prominently across multiple brands.
What tools do you need to clean your robot vacuum?
Many of today’s leading robot vacuums come with dirt-disposal stations that your bot will automatically connect to for emptying its internal debris tank. These stations often feature disposable dirt bags that can carry dirt for as long as 60 days before replacement is necessary.
Editors’ Recommendations
