Overview
- Jump To Details
![BISSELL SpinWave 2-in-1 Wet Mop & Dry Robot Vacuum]()
BISSELL SpinWave 2-in-1 Wet Mop & Dry Robot Vacuum
Best Overall - Jump To Details
![iRobot Braava Jet m6]()
iRobot Braava Jet m6
Best for Mopping - Jump To Details
![iRobot Roomba Combo Essential]()
iRobot Roomba Combo Essential
Best Affordable Roomba - Jump To Details
![iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO]()
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
Best for Self-Emptying - Jump To Details
![Eufy Robovac 11s]()
Eufy Robovac 11s
Best for Tight Spaces - Jump To Details
![Eufy RoboVac G30]()
Eufy RoboVac G30
Best Smart Features
Robot vacuums can easily cost more than $1,000, but you don't need to spend four figures to keep your floors clean without lifting a finger. We've been reviewing them for more than a decade and have tested models at just about every price, taking into account factors such as suction power, mopping performance, battery life, obstacle avoidance, and more. Plenty of sub-$300 options are worth your consideration, with the Bissell SpinWave Wet and Dry Robotic Vacuum ranking as our top pick. It's a 2-in-1 robot that can vacuum and mop your floors. It debuted for $400 a few years ago but is now available for less than $300. Read on for more of the best cheap robot vacuums we've tested, followed by additional buying advice to help you search.
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
![BISSELL SpinWave 2-in-1 Wet Mop & Dry Robot Vacuum]()
BISSELL SpinWave 2-in-1 Wet Mop & Dry Robot Vacuum
Best OverallWhy We Picked It
The Bissell Spinwave Wet and Dry is an excellent hybrid robot vacuum and mop that debuted in 2021 for $400, but is now available at a steep discount. It works efficiently and reliably while avoiding carpets and rugs as it mops. Better yet, Bissell offers several different cleaning solutions for the mop, including multi-surface, pet multi-surface with Febreze, and sanitizing.
Who It's For
Thanks to its spinning microfiber pads and multiple options for cleaning solutions, the Spinwave Wet and Dry is our top pick for an affordable 2-in-1 with powerful and versatile mopping capabilities. It lacks some niceties like a self-emptying dustbin and home mapping intelligence, but it's a smart choice to give your hard floors a good scrub.
Pros
- Mops and vacuums
- Works with cleaning solution
- Automatically avoids carpet when mopping
- Quiet
Cons
- No mapping features or voice control
- Robot got stuck on some furniture in testing
![iRobot Braava Jet m6]()
iRobot Braava Jet m6
Best for MoppingWhy We Picked It
If you're in search of a robot that can wash your hard floors, look to iRobot's Braava line of smart mops. The Braava Jet m6 robot mop can both sweep and mop hardwood, tile, and other non-carpet floors. It can't vacuum, but it's effective at getting your hard floors clean and shiny.
Who It's For
If you're tired of dealing with a mop and bucket (or even one of those wet-pad Swiffers), the Braava Jet m6 should be on your radar. It cleans, sweeps, and scrubs many hard floor types in a way that robot vacuums simply can't. You still have to put some of your own elbow grease into cleaning tough stains, but this device can save you time and sanity in the long run.
Pros
- Quiet.
- Small.
- Solid navigation capabilities.
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Deep stains still require some elbow grease.
Learn MoreiRobot Braava Jet m6 Review![iRobot Roomba Combo Essential]()
iRobot Roomba Combo Essential
Best Affordable RoombaWhy We Picked It
The Roomba Combo Essential can both vacuum and mop your floor, and its price undercuts most of the other budget models on this list. This is Roomba's most affordable model, but it still offers voice controls and app scheduling, and it can mop and vacuum just as well as pricier models. It also has good battery life, cleaning for up to 127 minutes on a charge in our testing.
Who It's For
Look to the Roomba Combo Essential if you prioritize price and reliability and are less concerned with extras like a self-emptying dustbin. Its lack of suction power limits its deep cleaning ability on carpets, but it's a great fit if you want a robot that can do double-duty cleaning for cheap.
Pros
- Vacuums and mops
- Excellent performance on hard flooring
- Thoroughly covers small areas
- Seamless app setup
- Supports scheduling, voice control
- Keeps cleaning history records
Cons
- Mediocre pickup on carpet
- Not the best for large homes
- No Smart Maps, Keep-Out Zones
- Requires regular manual maintenance
Learn MoreiRobot Roomba Combo Essential Review![iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO]()
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
Best for Self-EmptyingWhy We Picked It
Self-emptying robot vacuums are more expensive than ones you have to empty yourself, but the convenience is worth it. The Roomba i3+ EVO is iRobot's most affordable auto-emptying robot, and it's much more affordable than the premium Roomba j9+ or its predecessor, the Roomba j7+. It lacks some of their smart navigation features, but you can still direct it to clean specific rooms and control it with your voice or an app.
Who It's For
If you don't want to expose yourself to dust while maintaining your robot vacuum, choose the Roomba i3+ EVO, which has an automatic bin-emptying feature.
Pros
- Self-emptying dustbin
- Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT
- Supports scheduling and area cleaning
- Detects and focuses on heavily soiled areas
Cons
- Average battery life
- Can be loud
Learn MoreiRobot Roomba i3+ EVO Review![Eufy Robovac 11s]()
Eufy Robovac 11s
Best for Tight SpacesWhy We Picked It
The Eufy Robovac 11s cleans thoroughly at a bargain price. It can traverse a variety of floor types and uses a BoostIQ mode to automatically increase suction on carpets. Thanks to its small stature, the robot can navigate under furniture without getting stuck. Like the Roomba 694, it lacks advanced navigation capabilities, but it works quietly, so you can set it and forget it even while you’re home. It doesn’t support app or voice control, but it comes with a physical remote control.
Who It’s For
With the most compact design of any model on this list, the Robovac 11s is a top option for homes with low-profile furniture. And with a lower operating volume than the Roomba 694, it might be a better fit if you work from home. You’ll forgo app controls, but if you want a basic and easy-to-use robot vacuum, the Robovac 11s is a top choice that can clean up quietly while you go about your day.
Pros
- Affordable.
- Compact.
- Quiet.
- Strong cleaning performance.
- Good battery life.
Cons
- No virtual barriers or app control.
- Limited scheduling options.
Learn MoreEufy Robovac 11s![Eufy RoboVac G30]()
Eufy RoboVac G30
Best Smart FeaturesWhy We Picked It
While similar in stature to the Eufy RoboVac 11s, the Eufy RoboVac G30 is more advanced. It can clean in orderly lines instead of a random ping-pong pattern. It also supports app control, home mapping, scheduling, and voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a lot of suction power for its small size and automatically increases its suction when it senses a heavily soiled area.
Who It's For
The RoboVac G30 is a top option if you want a compact robot vacuum that you can control from your phone or by voice. Its petite design makes it a strong choice for apartment dwellers and homes with low-profile furniture.
Pros
- Compact, low-profile design
- Strong suction power for its size
- Well-designed app
- Easy to set up and use
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands
- Features smart navigation for systematic cleaning
Cons
- Doesn’t support strips or virtual boundaries
- Battery life is on the short side
Learn MoreEufy RoboVac G30 Review
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Robot Vacuums for 2024
What's the Best Cheap Robot Vacuum?
When determining which robot vacuum is best for you, consider factors such as battery life, size, and suction power.
In terms of battery life, most robot vacuums can run for at least 60 minutes on a charge, but if you live in a larger home, look for one that can last 90 minutes or longer. Nearly all of the models here pass the 90-minute mark.
Some of the most affordable robot vacuums we've tested are also among the most compact, which is a welcome feature if you have low-profile furniture. Before deciding which one to buy, it's a good idea to measure the distance from the floor to the base of your couch to see which models, if any, can fit under it.
In terms of suction, most models on this list offer at least 1,000Pa of power. Generally speaking, the higher the power, the better a vacuum is at picking up tricky detritus like pet hair. Robot vacuums with less suction power but good battery life and obstacle-avoidance abilities can still do an excellent job cleaning.
Do Cheap Robot Vacuums Have Smart Features?
High-end models offer premium features such as AI-powered obstacle avoidance, automatic bin emptying, cameras for remote home monitoring, and home mapping for virtual boundaries. Robot vacuums in the sub-$300 range don't usually offer these abilities, but you can still find some basic perks such as app connectivity, smart navigation, and voice control.
With a Wi-Fi-connected robot vacuum, you can start, stop, and schedule cleaning jobs from your phone. Wi-Fi is fast becoming a standard feature, but if you don't need or want it, you can snag a super-basic bot that offers good performance for less than $200.
In addition to app control, many affordable robot vacuums support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for additional convenience. If you also own a compatible smart speaker, you can control these vacuums using your voice.
If you have carpeting or a large home, consider a model with smart navigation abilities. Vacuums with this capability clean in a methodical path, making straight lines instead of zigzagging in a random pattern. This allows them to clean your home more efficiently and results in neat vacuum lines on your carpets.
In this price range, you can't expect every feature under the sun, so you might have to make some compromises. When I bought my first robot vacuum, I prioritized strong suction power and smart navigation over Wi-Fi support and a compact design. But you might want a model that you can remotely control with your phone or a smaller one that can pass under your furniture.
If you want to stick with the reliable iRobot brand, see our Roomba roundup.
When Is the Best Time to Get a Cheap Robot Vacuum?
The biggest tip I can offer anyone buying a robot vacuum on a budget is to wait for a sale. Be sure to search around because robot vacuums are frequently available for a discount at Amazon and Walmart in particular. In our reviews, we note the MSRP of each model, but you can often find them for less.
Finally, our in-depth reviews go over all the specs and features of each model, so be sure to check them out. When you find the one that fits your needs and budget, head over to our essential robot vacuum tips. And if you're looking for a robot mop, we've got you covered.
