The best budget robot vacuums for 2024

Today’s robot vacuums have gotten a bit like vehicles: with all of the options, upgrades, and fancy trimmings accessible as of late, it’s simple to neglect that they will simply be easy machines that get us from level A to level B. Yes, some bots blow scorching air on their bums (mop pads) and deftly navigate canine poop, however there are many primary budget robot vacuums that simply do an honest job of cleansing your ground autonomously — so long as you tidy up first.

While higher-priced, higher-powered robot vacuums clear higher, budget bots do a superbly good job, particularly when you run them frequently. The largest draw back of cheaper fashions is that they get caught on cables, socks, shoelaces, and different paraphernalia you allow mendacity round. If you’re dwelling and might untangle it, nice, however when you’re not, then it’s going to simply sit there caught till its battery dies, and it’s a must to cost it up once more earlier than it’s going to clear your flooring. 

Fancier fashions have impediment recognition, and a few even use AI-powered cameras to inform popcorn from poop and keep away from the latter. If you need a type of, take a look at my Best Robot Vacuum shopping for information. But when you suppose you may handle the duty of choosing up after your self (and your pet), a budget bot will prevent some huge cash and nonetheless do job cleansing your ground. 

Here’s a listing of my favourite robot vacuums that don’t break the bank and can nonetheless get the job finished.

Suction energy: unknown / Dustbin capability: 419ml / Runtime: 90 minutes / Brush type: twin rubber / Auto-empty dock possibility: sure / Mopping possibility: no / Mapping: sure / Keep-out zones: bodily solely / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri Shortcuts

The Roomba i3 Evo isn’t the most cost effective robot on the block, however its cleansing chops, enticing design, very good software program, and sturdy, easily-repairable {hardware} make it the best selection for spending a smaller budget. 

The i3 cleans nearly in addition to iRobot’s higher-end j7 however for so much much less. While it has barely decrease suction energy, it has Roomba’s signature twin curler rubber brushes, which do a wonderful job of eradicating pet hair from hardwood flooring and sucking up oatmeal from plush carpets. It doesn’t have the AI-powered impediment avoidance of the j7 (which is aware of the distinction between poop and popcorn), however that’s not a function you’ll discover on any budget bot. 

What the i3 does have is mapping and room-specific cleansing, so you may ship it to scrub the kitchen if you need. Only a handful of the budget bot options mapping, and Roomba’s maps are a number of the best in my expertise, primarily as a result of they hardly ever need to be rebuilt. 

The largest damaging right here is there aren’t any digital keep-out zones. If you’ve got someplace you don’t need the bot to roam, you’ll want to purchase considered one of iRobot’s virtual wall towers. It additionally has a comparatively small bin, however you may pair it with an auto-empty base (though that will increase the fee considerably).  

The i3 is a strong vacuum with huge wheels that may simply sort out any ground floor you throw at it, managing most transitions. But it does are likely to stumble upon issues, leading to a number of toppled chairs throughout testing. This means it will get nearly in all places you need it to and received’t be delay by a mattress skirt. But when you have delicate objects on rickety tables, be careful.

As with all Roombas, the i3 is simple to self-repair, and you should buy (not cheap) replacements for all its elements. I’ve truly rebuilt one after it rolled over some canine poop. It’s price noting that the Roomba i4 is basically the identical robot vacuum because the i3 Evo, so decide up whichever gives the best value.

As of final yr, iRobot additionally gives the Combo i5 for $249.99, which provides the choice of primary mopping and a smaller auto-empty dock when you go together with the i5 Combo i5 Plus model. I’m presently testing this mannequin, nevertheless it has largely the identical options because the i3 and is an efficient possibility when you can’t discover the i3 in inventory.

Suction energy: unknown / Dustbin capability: 425ml /  Runtime: 120 minutes / Brush type: single bristle / rubber hybrid / Auto-empty dock possibility: no / Mapping: no / Keep-out zones: no / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The Shark Ion’s huge bin, easy app expertise, respectable battery life, repairability, and bullish nature make this a wonderful bump-and-roll bot. That is a robot that doesn’t map or have any particular navigation options apart from colliding with issues and altering course. It’s not fancy, nevertheless it will get the job finished.

It’s one to stay below a mattress or desk and set to run once you’re not dwelling, because it’s loud and rattly and can bang into every little thing in its path. But its huge wheels and 120-minute runtime imply it’s much less liable to getting caught or operating out of juice than easier $100 bots. 

Unlike many budget bots, it makes use of a hybrid curler brush that’s each bristle and plastic and doesn’t get as tangled as customary bristle brushes. Its brief, squat aspect brushes are surprisingly efficient at getting particles into the robot’s path, and since they’re brief, they’re much less liable to getting tangled in stray cords.

But the best factor ‘bout this bot is its tank-like wheels that may roll proper over something in its path, together with excessive transitions between rooms, obstacles like lounger chair legs, and different furnishings traps that frequently stump different bots. That’s factor, as there’s no mapping, impediment detection, or any method to set keep-out zones right here. This bot simply goes. 

Another bonus: substitute elements are simply accessible, making this extra repairable than most non-Roombas.

Shark doesn’t share suction energy specs, nevertheless it ably dealt with all my exams, together with the hardest: uncooked oatmeal. Those little flakes are exhausting to select up; aspect brushes will spin them everywhere in the ground. It did job on pet hair, too, though, like most robots I examined, it required no less than two runs to get every little thing up successfully.

The app is tremendous primary: simply on / off, primary scheduling, and a selection of three energy ranges (all loud). Disappointingly, you may solely schedule it as soon as a day. Most robots will be programmed to do two to a few passes, however instead of that, I like the choice to schedule it to exit twice to ensure it will get the job finished. I couldn’t do this with the Shark. Still, you may press its button or use the app to ship it out once more if wanted.

Suction energy: 4,000Pa / Dustbin capability: 400ml / Runtime: 180 minutes / Brush type: single bristle / rubber hybrid / Auto-empty dock possibility: sure / Mapping: sure, plus lidar navigation / Keep-out zones: sure, digital / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The midrange Dreametech D10 Plus is without doubt one of the few bots you’ll discover that mops, maps, and auto-empties for $400 or much less. I like its extra compact auto-empty station, which helps compensate for its small 400ml bin.

Decent suction and a rubber / bristle hybrid brush present clear, nevertheless it’s nowhere close to as efficient because the Roomba i3 Evo with its twin rubber rollers.

The huge promoting level right here is that the Dreame does have lidar navigation and mapping to permit for room-specific cleansing with keep-out zones. Keep-out zones are helpful for guaranteeing the robot finishes the job; if it will get caught someplace frequently, you may inform it to keep away from that spot.

The Dreame has no-mopping zones within the app, and you may also take away the mop earlier than you ship it out. The Dreame did job navigating my difficult second ground, and whereas it’s fairly a burly bot, it nonetheless match below most furnishings and dealt with transitions properly.

Suction energy: 5,100Pa / Dustbin capability: 360ml / Runtime: 180 minutes / Brush type: single bristle / rubber hybrid / Auto-empty dock possibility: sure / Mapping: sure, plus lidar navigation / Keep-out zones: sure, digital / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The Yeedi Cube is the least costly robot vacuum that has the identical form of multifunction dock and high-end options as robots over $1,000. It additionally has impediment avoidance tech, though, not like the pricier bots, it makes use of lasers to see objects, not an AI-powered digicam. This is much less efficient however extra avoidance than some other bot on this roundup gives. While it initially retailed for $699.99, it could actually typically be discovered on sale for lower than $500.

The Yeedi resembles the Roomba in its full-speed-ahead nature. It will simply run into issues, and if it could actually clear them, nice! It additionally solely goes round bigger objects. So whereas it ably sucked up Cheerios and picked up all of the oatmeal flakes, it acquired caught on cords and socks. Definitely hold it away from pet waste.

The Yeedi’s mopping prowess is spectacular. It scrubs the ground utilizing a skinny microfiber fabric that vibrates 2,500 occasions a minute to stand up grime, much like the Roborock S8. The dock cleans the mopping pad, drains the soiled water, and auto empties the bin, however the robot carries its one-liter water tank round on its again, so it doesn’t want to return and refill throughout a run.

One draw back is it makes use of a single hybrid rubber / bristle brush, which acquired tangled with hair. However, mixed with 5,100Pa of suction energy, it did job of choosing up filth from the flooring.

I actually preferred the deal with that makes it simple to select up the vacuum and put it the place you wish to clear. An onboard spot clear button means you don’t have to fuss with the app to get it to scrub up a devoted space. The map gives room-specific cleansing and keep-out zones for vacuuming and mopping.

Update, November twenty first: Adjusted pricing and availability.