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The Best Robot Vacuums in 2024
Our Top Picks
Best Robot Vacuum Overall: iRobot® Roomba® i3+ EVO (3550)
Best Robot Vacuum under $300: eufy RoboVac 15C MAX
Best Robot Vacuum for Carpet: iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)
Best Robot Vacuum for Hardwood: Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop
Best Robot Vacuum for Large Houses: yeedi Vac Station Robot Vacuum & Mop
Best Robot Vacuum for Hair & Pet Dander: Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum
Best Robot Vacuum with Mop: Shark AI Robot VACMOP PRO (RV2001WDCA)
How to Choose a Robot Vacuum
Ready to start looking for a robot vacuum? Here are a few things to consider when you’re comparing different models:
Features – As more and more robot vacuums hit the market, vacuums with unique features are popping up more and more. Some vacuums are able to sense when they are low on battery and return to the charging dock. Some can empty their own dustbin.
Navigation – Perhaps the biggest elements that will determine how well your robot vacuum works in your house is how well the vacuum can navigate the space it is in.
For a robot vacuum to be effective, it needs to be able to move across your floors, covering all the space so it does not miss any spots, it needs to be able to navigate the size of your rooms, and not get lost.
How your robot vacuum accomplishes this depends on what kind of vacuum you have and your space. Some robo-vacs feature “bump-and-run” systems, where the vacuum runs until it bumps into a surface, where it spins slightly, and moves forward in a new direction. While it might look silly, these systems are surprisingly effective in smaller spaces, up to 1,000 square feet, but can miss spots due to their randomness.
Some more expensive models feature smart navigation systems that allow you to map your space, allowing you to program “do-not-cross” lines that will keep your vacuum away from obstacles, or separate your space into rooms that allow you to clean rooms individually. These devices utilize cameras or laser rangefinders to keep track of where they are in your home, but how much better they function than your “bump-and-run” counterparts truly depends on the model.
Noise level – Where there are vacuums, there is noise. Pay attention to how loud each unit runs and make sure you can handle the noise level. Pet owners may want to look into a robot vacuum to keep up with daily pet hair, but a loud model might startle your pet. However, if your plan is to run the vacuum when no one is home, you do not need to worry about this as much.
Size & Shape – You will want to make sure that your robot vacuum cleaner can fit under couches, cabinets, and other furniture if you don’t want to manually clean those places yourself. Larger vacuums can mean larger dustbins. Considering shape is important too: the D-shaped models can clean corners effectively, but round bots with side brushes can still effectively clean corners.
Smart functionality – Like many technologies, Wi-fi and smart home technologies are a useful implementation into robot vacuums. They give additional levels of controls, like in-app controls over Wi-Fi, for controlling your device even when you are away from home, or receiving updates on your vacuum’s status.
Upkeep – How easy is the dustbin to access and empty? How long does the battery last? Are replacement parts for your cleaning robot affordable and easy to find? How long of a lifespan does each model have? These are questions we think are worth asking, as they can help you make the most out of your robo-vacuum purchase.
The Best Robot Vacuum
Features
iRobot® Roomba® i3+ EVO (3550)
For a robot vacuum that’ll work cleaning magic in just about any type of household, we recommend this particular Roomba. It features both power-lifting suction as well as dual multi-surface brushes, meaning it’ll pick up pet fur, dander, dirt, or whatever else lurking in your carpets without getting tangled up. Compared to the 600 series of Roombas, the i3 model has 10 times the power lifting suction and a premium 3 stage cleaning system.
If you hate emptying out vacuum cleaners after every cleaning session, we’ve got good news for you – this robot vacuum features Clean Base® Automatic Dirt Disposal, which means it can empty itself for up to 60 days.
To ensure your Roomba keeps working at its best, it has automatic software updates that’ll continue to improve on its base features.
Don’t feel like getting up to switch on your robo-vacuum? Just say the word instead – you can tell your Roomba to clean via the iRoomba app, Google Assistant or Alexa.
Finally, this robot vacuum can also learn your cleaning habits and offer suggestions – for example, if it’s allergy season, it may suggest more frequent cleanings to prevent serious pollen build up in your home.
Overall, customers note that this Roomba is particularly great for cleaning up pet hair and it cleans reasonably fast. However, some customers also find that this vacuum is quite loud and that when you do have to replace the dust bag, it’s a hassle.
Pros
- Picks up pet hair well.
- Adapts to your cleaning schedule.
- Empties itself for up to 60 days.
Cons
- Loud.
- Hassle to empty the dust bag.
Best robot vacuum under $300
Features
eufy RoboVac 15C MAX
Not all robot vacuums have to break the bank. Plus, this eufy Robovac has quite a few features that make it worth considering.
Compared to other models, it has a larger dustbin, meaning you’ll not have to empty it quite as often. Additionally, there are various cleaning modes based on your needs. Auto cleaning is the default – there’s also spot cleaning (for intensive cleaning for concentrated areas of debris), edge cleaning and quick cleaning (30-minute cleaning sessions for when you don’t have much time to tidy up your house).
As with many other robot vacuums, this eufy one can connect to Alexa or Google Assistant to help making cleaning your home even easier.
Worried about your Robovac falling down the stairs or getting scratched up during routine cleans? Don’t be – it comes with advanced sensors that tell it when its nearing a drop as well as an anti-scratch tempered glass cover to keep it looking pristine.
Lastly, this unit cleans for up to 100 minutes depending on the mode, making it great for weekly cleanings around the house.
Overall, customers like how convenient this robot vacuum is to empty out. Additionally, many customers find it transitions well between hard flooring and carpet. On the flip side, several customers have noted that this unit cleans in a random pattern and can occasionally miss spots this way.
Pros
- Relatively budget friendly.
- Various cleaning modes.
Cons
- Cleans in a random pattern.
- Can have troubles docking itself.
Best Robot Vacuum for Carpet
Features
Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop
If you’re looking for a Roomba with more power to get your carpets extra clean, the s9+ model could be what you’re looking for.
Compared to the Roomba 600 series, this model has 40 times the suction power. Plus, it can even automatically increase suction to deep clean carpets more thoroughly than previous models. It even has 30 percent wider dual rubber brushes to better dig up pet hair from your carpets.
While corners are a problem area for several robot vacuums, PerfectEdge Technology and a specifically designed corner brush make it so that this Roomba easily deep cleans corners and edges.
Much like the i3+, this model also comes with Clean Base® Automatic Dirt Disposal, which means it can empty itself for up to 60 days.
And as with many other robot vacuums, this one is compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant so you can turn your Roomba on from anywhere in the house.
Overall, customers find that the stronger suction in this model is great for thoroughly cleaning carpets and that the brushes don’t get tangled. However, this unit is more expensive than other units – plus many customers find it quite noisy.
Pros
- Strong suction for cleaning carpets.
- Self empties for extended periods of time.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Some find it noisy.
Best Robot Vacuum for Hardwood
Features
Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop
Hardwood floors can be a hassle to care for, but robot vacuums like this one can make things easier for you.
It features 2500 PA suction, a 300 ml electronic water tank as well as the ability to scrub up to 3000 times per minute – perfect for maintenance cleaning or for really shining up your hardwood floors.
If you’ve got a lot of hardwood floor to cover, don’t worry – this unit can clean for up to 180 minutes at once, meaning you won’t have to wait for your floors to be clean over multiple sessions. Even if it does happen to run low on batteries, it’ll automatically dock itself and go right back to where it left off.
As with many other robot vacuums, this one is also Alexa, Google Home and Siri enabled so you can turn on your robo-vacuum anywhere in the house with just your voice.
One other feature that’s particularly nice about this unit is that it has a child lock – no more random cleaning sessions or finding your robot vacuum drained when you actually need to use it.
Overall, customers appreciate the ability to designate areas to avoid during cleaning as well as the long battery life. However, several customers find that is unit charges slowly.
Pros
- Long battery life.
- Can remember where it left off in the middle of a clean.
Cons
- Takes a long time to fully charge.
Best Robot Vacuum for large houses
Features
yeedi Vac Station Robot Vacuum and Mop
If you have lots of ground to cover, this yeedi robot vacuum might be a good fit for your home.
One concern that people with larger houses that a robot vacuum won’t have enough power to clean large areas at once or that if the robot vacuum dies part way through, it’ll start cleaning from where it began. However, this unit features an extended run time of 200 minutes, meaning it’ll be able to clean longer than the average robot vacuum. Plus, if it does happen to die, it’ll dock itself and go right back to where it left off after fully charging itself.
Unlike some other models that clean in a random pattern, this unit cleans in neat rows so that the likelihood of missing a spot is low. Additionally, it’s able to recognize carpet with its sensors and avoid mopping in such areas.
If you don’t need your whole home cleaned for whatever reason, this robot vacuum has a solution – it features an editable home map on the app where you can select rooms to clean or avoid each time.
Overall, customers find that this robot vacuum isn’t too loud, and that the battery life is great. However, some customers find that the mopping function is quite weak.
Pros
- Relatively quiet.
- Long battery life.
Cons
- Mopping function doesn’t clean as well compared to other robot vacuum with mopping functions.
yeedi Vac Station Robot Vacuum and Mop
VIEW ON AMAZONBest Robot Vacuum for hair & pet dander
Features
Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum
Some of us happen to shed just as much hair as our pets do – and if you’re mildly allergic to your pets, you’ll want a robot vacuum cleaner that can clear up hair and dander efficiently. In particular, this Shark robot vacuum is a great match for that purpose.
Compared to the RV2502AE model, this unit’s suction and ultra clean mode allow it to clean your carpets 30 percent better. Additionally, its equipped with self-cleaning brush rolls that can pick up 50% more pet hair with no hair wrap compared to the RV1100AE model.
One other thing worth noting is that this robot vacuum comes with a self-emptying base, with HEPA filtration, which traps 99.97% of dust and allergens. That means less exposure for those of us who are allergic to pet hair and dander.
Overall, customers find that the suction power of this vacuum is more than enough for getting rid of pet hair. Plus, many have noted that this robot vacuum navigates their houses quite well without missing spots. However, on the flip side, the app can be difficult to worth with – plus, you can’t change the areas you want cleaned in the middle of a clean without returning the vacuum to its base first.
Pros
- Has HEPA filtration.
- Self empties.
Cons
- App can be difficult to work with.
- Can’t change areas you want cleaned in the middle of cleanings.
Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum
VIEW ON AMAZONBest Robot vacuum and mop
Features
Shark AI Robot VACMOP PRO (RV2001WDCA)
If you need more than vacuuming to keep your floors clean, this 2 in 1 robot vacuum and mop is worth considering.
For max efficiency, this unit can mop and vacuum at the same time, leaving your hard flooring extra clean. Additionally, it engages in row-by-row cleaning, which leaves rooms cleaner than random pattern cleaning. No need to worry about your carpets during its mopping cycle – it can avoid carpets with in-app carpet detection.
Other than its mopping function, this robot vacuum features a self-cleaning roll brush with flexible silicone fins to pick up pet hair and human hair alike without getting tangled.
Overall, customers found this robot vacuum easy to set up and it has decent battery life compared to other units. However, the water reservoir for the mop function can require a top up or two to completely finish mopping a floor.
Pros
- Decent battery life.
- Mops and vacuums at the same time.
Cons
- Need to refill water reservoir often.
Why Trust Us
With so many robot vacuums available to choose from, choosing which one to purchase can be a difficult and tedious decision. Our team spent over 12 hours reviewing and selecting the best available robot vacuum cleaners available in Canada, all while taking note of their features and comparing them to one another.
We made our top choices by taking note of dozens of verified online customer reviews as well as taking into account tester analysis from trusted sites such as Consumer Reports.
The review process for this article was data-backed and fact-checked but of course, also contained our own personal views.
How We Picked the Best Robot Vacuums
While we tried to list a robot vacuum cleaner for each budget, we put more weight into the cleaning capabilities and features of each unit that we listed. To find the best robot vacuums, we went through over 30 robot vacuum models online.
In general, many of the units in this guide would work well in any environment, but we also sought out robot vacuums with features that would address special concerns. For example, we looked for robot vacuums that are built to deal with pet hair and robot vacuums that also doubled as mops for people with laminate or hardwood flooring.
Frequent Robot Vacuum Questions
What is a robot vacuum?
A robot vacuum is a compact vacuum cleaner unit that can guide itself around your home and clean your floors for you. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and extra functions so there’s one out there that’s perfect for your home.
Examples of extra features that could be useful in a robot floor cleaner include cliff sensors (the ability to sense and avoid cliffs and steep drops) as well as the ability to add voice commands. Plus, some robot vacuums even function as robot mops, meaning there’s even less for work for you to do for maintaining clean floors.
Robot Vacuums vs Regular Vacuums: Which one to buy?
The biggest appeal to robot vacuums is that they take one less chore out of your day to day. If you need to vacuum regularly because of allergens or pet hair, a robot vacuum will save you lots of time. However, even the best robot vacuum will not be as effective as a dedicated vacuum by a human. Additionally, robot vacuums can be tripped up by furniture, clothes, staircases, pets, and more. If vacuuming is not in your regular list of chores, you probably do not need a robot vacuum. However, if you are like me, and lazy, you will appreciate the little machine making your life a little easier.
Robot vacuum or mop?
If you’re wondering whether you should choose a robot vacuum or robot mop, it really comes down to what kind of floor surfaces you have in your home. A robot vacuum and mop duo like this ILife V5s Pro 2-in-1 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner would be useful if you have both hard floor surfaces and carpet surfaces in your home. Otherwise, if your home is mainly carpeted, go with a robot vacuum. If your home features mainly hardwood or tile flooring, go with a robot mop.
Shark Ion Robot R85 vs Roomba 690: Which robot vacuum is the best?
The Roomba 690 is pretty similar to the Roomba 675 in terms of cleaning capabilities, but it has a shorter battery life/run time (60 minutes). Like all Roombas, replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to come by. On the other hand, the Shark Ion Robot R85 features an extra-large dust bin (662 ml) and is more budget-friendly. It all comes down to what your budget is – either unit is a decent choice.
Where to buy a robot vacuum?
You can find robot vacuum cleaners on sale in Canada from several retailers such as Costco Canada, Amazon Canada, Walmart Canada, Canadian Tire and Best Buy Canada.
Why should I name my robot vacuum?
A robot vacuum is a pretty sizable investment, why not have some fun and give it a name? People name their cars and other vehicles all the time, so it shouldn’t be any different for a robot vacuum.
Are there any tips to name my robot vacuum?
If you’re scratching your head trying to think of some clever robot vacuum names, here are a few naming tips that’ll hopefully get your gears turning.
- Try thinking about book or movie characters you like and naming your robot vacuum after them.
- If you have kids, trying asking them what they think – kids can think of surprisingly good names when it comes down to it.
- If all else fails, try using a pun name – who doesn’t like making their friends groan at a bad pun? (One of our favourites is Dustin Bieber.)
Are robot vacuums worth it?
Vacuuming is a chore that many people aren’t fond of – even if you spend just 10-15 minutes per room and another 15 minutes for stairs each week, the amount of time you spend vacuuming each week quickly adds up. If you have pets that shed a lot of hair or people with long hair in your home, you can probably expect to vacuum even more often.
If you’re working a 9-5 job, your free time is already limited – for many people, it’s worth it to get a robot vacuum to recoup an hour or two of free time each week and spend it on other activities like cooking or any hobbies you might have. Even if a robot vacuum isn’t enough to completely substitute cleaning with a regular vacuum cleaner, it’ll at the least decrease the amount of time you spend doing so. Plus, many robot vacuums come with a scheduling function, so you don’t have to remember to set up your robot vacuum for a cleaning session each week.
What is the best robot vacuum?
In our opinion, a great all-around unit for any home is the iRobot Roomba 675. It features 2 brushes for removing dirt from your floor (versus only one brush), plus it has several vendors that sell affordable replacement parts. You should be able to get years of use out of this robot vacuum, even if a part or two occasionally stops working.
How much is a robot vacuum?
Typically, robot vacuums cost anywhere from around $200 to around $1,000.
How do robot vacuums work?
Robot vacuum cleaners generate suction via an electric motor to suck up dirt and hair on your floors. In general, they avoid bumping into objects and tumbling down the stairs via sensors. Some units even come with mapping technology, to clean your rooms more efficiently. If your unit runs out of power during a cleaning session, mapping technology makes it so that your unit can find its way back to its docking station and continue where it left off once it has charged enough.
Generally, robot vacuums map by either an onboard camera or via laser reflections. Robot vacuums that map via an onboard camera may struggle in low light conditions, while robot vacuums that map via laser reflections may struggle in places with darkly coloured walls as well as rooms containing floor-length mirrors.
What about robot vacuums and dog poop?
If you’re going to be running a robot vacuum, make sure there isn’t any dog poop that it can get to. Otherwise, it’ll track the dog poop (or any animal poop for that matter) all over your house and that’s how you’ll end up with a ‘poopocalypse’.
Which Roomba should I buy?
That really depends on your budget and what you’re looking for – if you’re looking for a robot vacuum, iRobot certainly has you covered with a variety of Roombas at several different price points. For a robot vacuum that’ll work decently in any situation and is more on the budget-friendly side, we’d go with the iRobot Roomba 675. If you have a significant amount of carpet, the iRobot Roomba e5 may be a good choice. If pet hair and hard flooring are your main concerns, the iRobot Roomba 960 could be worth looking into.
Eufyvs Roomba: Which robot vacuum brand is the best?
It essentially comes down to how important being able to replace your robot vacuum’s parts is to you as well as what your budget is. If you have a budget of around $300, Eufy robot vacuums are priced around or below that range and clean well, even when compared to Roombas. Roombas typically sell for upwards of $400 (depending on the model.) However, Eufy robot vacuums less durable than Roombas are – Roombas can easily be taken apart and have parts replaced. Plus, replacement parts for Roombas are affordable. Eufy robot vacuums, on the other hand, can’t be taken apart very easily and may require you to replace the unit entirely if something malfunctions.
