The 7 Best Robot Vacuums of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Ecovacs Deebot T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop

$400 At Amazon

The Ecovacs T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo definitely packs a punch when it comes to cleaning. Pet hair, zip-tie scraps, screws from home projects, and other debris are no match for its strong suction power. From setup to cleanup, it’s user-friendly and intuitive, too. After you unbox it, it takes just a few minutes to get the dust bag into the cleaning station and attach the brush to the machine. There’s an app to download for managing your cleaning sessions, and a QR is located under the lid to make it easy to sync the robot to it when you’re ready. 

While in use, we noticed that the T9+ is quiet and subtle. Thanks to its TrueDetect 3D technology, it even steered around our pet at times—something that can't be said about the other robot vacuums we’ve tested.

We were also pleased with the streamlined self-empty feature of this robot vac. We checked the bin's capacity every other day to make sure dog fur was getting cleared, but homes without any pets or that track less dirt and debris could probably go longer. Notably, the larger, 2.5-liter dust bag can go up to 60 days without emptying, depending on cleaning habits. This is a combo machine, meaning it can vacuum and mop your floors if you’d like, as well. The mop feature was efficient, and there's a mobile fragrance option if you like to add a scent to your space. This unique feature functions like a built-in air freshener, bringing your aroma of choice to wherever it runs. 

We didn't encounter many issues with the Ecovacs Deebot T9+, but it's worth noting any larger items trapped in the machine can affect suction or the self-empty feature (a screw got jammed at one point). We recommend double-checking your floor for any misplaced or dropped items, especially as you're getting used to its abilities (really, this is good practice for any robot vacuum or mop you own). After around three months of regular use, we had a notification on the app about the brush and filter expiring. We were able to order them and install them with no issues.

The mop pads of this machine are disposable, which is something to note if you're mindful about waste. These are minor issues, though, and we ultimately found the T9+ to be a super high-performing robot vacuum and mop, especially given its mid-range price. We highly recommend it for general, everyday household cleaning. Pet owners should be warned that if your pet sheds a lot, you may find yourself running it twice—but that’s as easy as pressing a button.

_{Battery Life: 180 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: Approximately 13.9 inches | Mapping: Yes | Self-Emptying: Yes | Smart Capabilities: Programmable schedule, object avoidance, flooring identification, 3D mapping, mobile fragrance}

Best Value

ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner

$117 At Amazon

We see the ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum as an excellent starter robot vacuum, and an especially great choice if you (or someone you love) want to dip your toe into the robot vacuum world without having to download apps or navigate smart mapping features. The sleek and simplistic design makes it easier to use out of the box, and there’s no app or voice control features that would make it “smart.” 

We love that it has an obvious power switch and easy-to-use remote control—it takes just a couple minutes to set up, especially since there are no app hurdles. This model also avoids obstacles really well, including chocolate pudding we placed in its path to mimic a dog accident. Even when other robot vacuums were getting stuck in the chocolate mess, the ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum sailed past it. We also like its low profile (just 3 inches), which allows it to go under beds or couches more easily than taller models, and we’ve even seen it pick up dog hair that had collected under the bed. 

It’s not perfect, since it can struggle with uneven flooring and some bumps. Like many robot vacuums, its round shape does limit its ability to reach into corners. But, we’re still very pleased with it. In fact, over three months of testing, we didn’t even use our big vacuum once (and only pulled out the handheld vacuum for corners). It did have one encounter with a small phone cable (which the cable lost, suffering some damage from the robot). But, as long as we keep floors clear of small objects, and keep a back-up broom or hand vacuum on-hand for corners, it remains a great option. 

_{Battery Life: 90 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 11.8 inches | Mapping: No | Self-Emptying: No | Smart Capabilities: Anti-bump and anti-fall, programmable schedule, self-charging}

Best Basic

iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum

$239 At Amazon $200 At Wayfair $180 At Home Depot

For smaller homes or spaces where high-tech floor mapping and small object avoidance aren't as essential, or for new users of robot vacuums, the iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum is a reliable and user-friendly option. It’s equipped with a HEPA filter, which helps trap all of the dust that easily accumulates in crowded, smaller spaces. You'll find that this filter keeps dust from recirculating back into your home's air. According to Deni Ivanov, digital marketing director at Royal Cleaning, "Your robot vacuum's filter is its very heart—it ensures even the smallest of smallest dirt particles are captured so you can have a debris-free floor." So, if you're trying to achieve a next-level clean or you have allergies, this is a great feature to have. 

The iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum is easy to assemble and empty, and we love that it does exactly what it promises to do: suck up debris very well. It doesn’t avoid small objects like socks, though, so you'll definitely need to make sure your floors are clear of tiny things before running it in your space. It's also slightly louder than some other models, so plan to turn up your TV's volume or move your conversation into another room when it’s running. The app is easy to use for the initial setup, with step-by-step guidance that’s so thorough we didn't need the instruction manual. You can also schedule cleaning sessions with the app and run it while you’re away, or set up voice controls with Alexa or Google Assistant and give it the command to start while your hands are full at home.

Over time, we've seen that hair does get stuck on this vacuum's brush roll (the piece of your vacuum that meets the floor and rotates, lifting dust and grime), which requires some regular maintenance to keep up suction power. We're comfortable with the bit of maintenance required for an otherwise efficient and effective machine. We think it’ll suit households that don’t need the extra bells and whistles that many of the other picks provide. Its price tag, which is one of the lowest on our list, also reflects the simpler design.

_{Battery Life: 90 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 7 inches | Mapping: No | Self-Emptying: No | Smart Capabilities: Programmable schedule, voice control, smart recharge, anti-drop and anti-collision}

Best Roomba

iRobot Roomba j7+ Robot Vacuum

$319 At Amazon $699 At Wayfair $699 At Home Depot

Roomba was the first brand of robot vacuum readily available for homes and, over the years, the brand has become a staple in the crowded robot vacuum category. While there are a lot of Roomba models we recommend, the iRobot Roomba j7+ is our favorite. 

It’s an ideal pick for those who want a top-of-the-line robot vacuum that only vacuums. Many of the more advanced models have a mopping mechanism too (including our best overall pick, the Ecovacs Deebot T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop), but that’s not the case here. It vacuums so well, we don’t even miss the mopping feature. We love how well it manages pet hair (and other bits of debris) on different flooring types, and how the edge-sweeping brush gets along furniture and baseboards (which can be a pain point for robot vacuums due to the round shape many of them have). 

It’s impressively quiet while it’s in use and, since you can schedule and manage cleaning on the app, you don’t have to give it much thought while it’s running. It even returns to the base when it needs to charge, and then will resume cleaning once it has power again. While this feature isn’t unique to the j7+, we were still impressed with how seamless the automatic charging process is. Another model we love, the iRobot Roomba i3 EVO (3150) Robot Vacuum, also displayed this same maneuverability, and is worth a look if you’d like to consider another Roomba with similar features (it just requires a touch more maintenance and effort to keep the brushes clean). 

One notable detail is that the self-emptying feature is loud on this machine, so maybe don’t put the charging base next to space you want to keep quiet, such as a baby’s nursery. After months of usage, we've come to rely on the app for updates about maintenance (although it didn’t tell us when the dust bin needed to be emptied).

We’ve also now used it enough to see that some hair can get caught in the rollers over time, but it’s easy enough to clear. The battery remains consistent too, and the vacuum’s still running very steadily according to our app schedules. Overall, there’s not a lot we would change about this Roomba and we whole-heartedly recommend it for households in need of a reliable robot vacuum. 

_{Battery Life: 90 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 7 inches | Mapping: Yes | Self-Emptying: Yes | Smart Capabilities: Alexa and Google compatible, smart charge and resume, visual navigation, custom cleaning routine, on-demand cleaning, obstacle avoidance}

Best Self-Emptying

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum

$1,400 At Amazon $1,400 At Best Buy View On Roborock.com

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra doesn’t just have an efficient and advanced self-empty feature, it has many self-managed functions that make users’ lives easier. Maintenance tasks that other models require users to perform manually, like drying, emptying, refilling, cleaning, and mop washing, can all be managed by the S8 Pro Ultra. It's as close as you can get to a hands-off cleaning experience. You can even speak your commands aloud and get it started from across the room. 

The robot vacuum has a variety of cleaning modes, from quiet and light settings to much more powerful deep clean options, and it expertly handles hard flooring and carpet alike. The cleaning modes get louder as you increase the suction power (lower modes are fairly quiet, so you can watch TV or have a conversation while it’s in use). But, like all robot vacuums with scheduling options, you can always run the loudest settings while you’re away.

Another highlight of the S8 Pro Ultra is how infrequently you need to clear the dust bin. Cadence will vary based on each individual home’s cleaning habits, but the brand touts seven weeks for the dust bin, which is absolutely consistent with our experience. (We confess, we went even longer, but we don’t recommend doing that regularly!)

As far as potential downsides, we did run into a few small hiccups with connecting the vacuum to our Wi-Fi. But, once we made it through that step, the instructions were clear and simple. The navigation isn’t completely flawless, and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra does bump into furniture on occasion. But really, these flaws feel minor when we consider how much it simplifies our regular, everyday cleaning routines. 

_{Battery Life: 180 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Mapping: Yes | Self-Empty: Yes | Smart Capabilities: Selective room cleaning, high precision mapping, obstacle recognition, voice control, app control, self-washing, self-drying, self-refilling}

Best for Pet Hair

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop

$500 At Amazon $520 At Walmart $400 At Target

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop quickly became an essential (and favorite) part of our home cleaning routine. We positioned it to regularly clean a high-traffic area of a home that includes multiple people and pets. It was up to the task of handling the hair, grime, and debris that finds its way inside of a busy household. Notably, it also features a HEPA filter, so pet hair, dander, and other irritants are gone for good (at least, until you empty out the base, but we’ll get to that). 

As far as getting started with this vacuum, once it’s connected to Wi-Fi, it automatically begins mapping your home's floor space and layout. You can then configure the map with specific zones to indicate carpeting, no-go zones, high-traffic areas, and no-mop zones. We did find that this zoning process was the most tedious out of the vacuum's entire setup, but it's a one-time thing, so we can accept it. The real star of this vacuum's design is its simultaneous vacuum and mop capabilities. We scheduled it to run every day during testing, and appreciated how the app shows the robot's progress and sends a notification when the cleaning routine is complete. The clean and shiny floors rivaled those that we’ve seen from a steam mop. 

With Shark's unique Matrix Clean Navigation, this vacuum moves in a (satisfying!) grid-like pattern to ensure that every spot in your mapped area is cleaned with multiple passes. It’s also equipped with CleanEdge Technology, which is basically a blast of air and corner recognition for removing debris. It's worth noting that it doesn’t completely catch every bit of debris in corners, but that's not uncommon for a robot vacuum and we're still pleased with its performance. 

We also enjoy this robot vacuum's quiet operation, which allows you to watch TV or have a video call while it’s in use. Keep in mind that this is one of the taller machines we’ve seen (at over 5.5 inches) so its height will limit its reach under beds and other furniture. Additionally, while the vacuum feature does self-empty into your charging tower, the mop setting does not. This means you’ll be tasked with changing out the waste or dust bin in your machine when you’ve used this mode. The task isn’t tough to manage, but it is still an extra chore. Still, there's lots to love with this machine—especially with children and pets always at play.

_{Battery Life: 90 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Mapping: Yes | Self-Emptying: Yes | Smart Capabilities: Programmable schedule, object avoidance, Matrix Clean Navigation, CleanEdge Technology, sonic mopping}

We Still Recommend

Ecovacs Deebot N8+ Vacuum & Mop Robot

$200 At Amazon View On Walmart

After this vacuum sailed through our lab with strong scores across the board, it continued to impress in a home setting, delivering on its promise to clean floors of all kinds. In fact, it also made our list of the best wet-dry vacuums. The vacuum and mop settings work smoothly together, and both functions can be used in the same cleaning session. In other words, you can come home to vacuumed rugs and carpets and mopped hard floors, without having to lift a finger. While there are other picks that offer this (like our best for pet hair, the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop), we still want to call out this feature because it’s so smooth and efficient. 

Once it’s up and running (there's a QR code to scan and an app to download), this machine methodically maps out the floor with its laser navigation, creating an efficient path for itself and avoiding large obstacles along the way. With the app, you can set it to run in key areas of your home (high-traffic hallways, for example), or choose certain areas that need more attention. Its docking mechanism also performs well, and it steers itself to its destination smoothly. If you’re used to robots bumping around your home, rest assured that this won’t be one of them.

If we could change anything about this robot vacuum and mop, we'd make the brushes self-cleaning and give it the option to hold a cleaning solution, as opposed to just water. But, we worked around this limitation by simply soaking the mop pad with solution, so the liquid didn't go through the interior components of the machine. Over time, we did also detect a minor charging issue that was easy to fix by adjusting the robot’s position on the charging dock. These are minor quirks on an impressive machine, though, and we still highly recommend the Ecovacs Deebot N8+.

_{Battery Life: 110 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Mapping: Yes | Self-Emptying: Yes | Smart Capabilities: Laser mapping, obstacle avoidance, smart recharge, interactive map, carpet detection, cleaning report}