There's definitely something to be said for the crisp handheld control of a powerful cordless stick vacuum. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, the best robot vacuums cross that chore off your to-do list all together.
And after testing more than 25 robot vacuums on my own personal floors (my apartment is very clean), I can confidently curate a handful of robot vacuum recommendations that'll make your life easier — and fit your budget.
Are Roombas the best robot vacuums?
Though some Roombas are really good robot vacuums, they're far from the only good robot vacuums.
iRobot dominated the robot vacuum realm from the early 2000s up until a few years ago, so it's no surprise that much of the general public forgets that "Roomba" isn't simply a generic term for any robotic vacuum cleaner.
But Roombas aren't in a league of their own anymore. I mean, you can't even Google "Roomba" without a related question wondering if Shark or Roomba is better. I'm also here to put some respect on names like Roborock and Eufy — they're continuously releasing new contenders that are often a better value than Roombas in the same price range.
I test new robot vacuums on a regular basis and compare them to the top performers from previous months, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. As I test each robot vacuum, I keep notes on their overall suction power, scrubbing efficacy (if it's a robot vacuum and mop combo), pet hair pickup, the convenience of their automatic emptying and self-washing mopping pads, accuracy of smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, and the overall user experience. But the final boss here is cost efficiency — I'll be the first one to point out when a cheap robot vacuum actually works well for the price, or when a high-end robot vacuum is actually worth the splurge or not.
Throughout my continuous at-home testing, I found the best robot vacuum to buy for every home and budget in 2025.
Other robot vacuums I've tested recently
I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7 were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck.
I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but ultimately aren't a top pick for me. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). A slew of new Dreame robot vacuums are slated to come out in fall 2025, among them a model with improved climbing abilities and a model whose self-empty dock can hold three sets of mopping pads. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for this list accordingly.
