We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Vacuums We Tested 44 of the Best Robot Vacuums in 2024, and These 12 Continue to Impress After six months of additional testing, the iRobot Roomba 694 still came out on top By Madison Yauger Madison Yauger Madison Yauger is a shopping editor at PEOPLE.com with eight years of digital media and journalism experience. She has a penchant for lifestyle content with a focus on staples like cozy throw blankets, chic dog jackets, Away luggage, and the linen pants celebrities can’t stop wearing. People Editorial Guidelines and Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE with two years of experience in the digital media industry. Her expertise lies in the realm of fashion and beauty, where she covers the best products that your wardrobe and makeup vanity need like the best lip oils, boyfriend jeans, workout sets, ballet flats, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 12, 2024 03:12PM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Henry Wortock Robot vacuums are just the latest example of modern technology making our lives easier. Leaving your vacuum cleaner unsupervised to clean your home saves you the time and energy of having to do the tedious task yourself. Using the latest technology, robot vacuums are very self-sufficient; some can map out your home, avoid stray objects, and suck up every crumb and strand of fur on your floors. Today’s Top Deals Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop is 43% off ILife Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner is 38% off Narwal Freo Self-Mop Clean Robot is 29% off We've tested robot vacuums extensively over the last two years, both at home and in our testing lab. We let 44 robot vacuums loose to pick up crumbs, fur, and sand, and we evaluated each for setup, effectiveness, maneuverability, noise, and special features. We also tested Wi-Fi connectivity, mapping, and app features at home during long-term testing. Our Top Picks Best Overall: iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum at Amazon $275 Jump to Review Best Budget: ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon $208 Jump to Review Best Value: Black + Decker RoboSeries Robot Vacuum at Amazon $128 Jump to Review Best Mop Combo: ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop at Amazon $437 Jump to Review Best for Hard Floors: eufy by Anker RoboVac G30 Edge at Amazon $290 Jump to Review Best for Carpet: SALE iRobot Roomba J7 Robot Vacuum at Amazon $600 $369 Jump to Review Best for Pet Owners: SALE Neato D9 Intelligent Robot Vacuum at Amazon $500 $340 Jump to Review Best Navigation: SALE Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop at Amazon $700 $400 Jump to Review Best Self-Emptying: SALE ECOVACS DEEBOT T10 Plus Robotic Vacuum and Mop at Amazon $950 $400 Jump to Review Best Quiet: SALE Narwal Freo Self Mop Clean Robot at Amazon $1,400 $1,000 Jump to Review Best Overall iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $249 at Amazon $246 at Walmart $250 at Home Depot Star Qualities One of the most affordable Roombas we’ve tested Self-emptying, quiet, and maneuvers around furniture with ease Super-strong suction lifts dirt, sand, and pet hair from both rugs and hardwood floors Held up well over six months of home testing Red Flags Had issues picking up debris at the edge of the rug Hair tends to get stuck in the brush roll Does not have mapping technology, though this keeps price low When you think of a robot vacuum, the first name that pops up may be Roomba vacuums, a highly popular model beloved for its ease of use and top-notch cleaning skills. The iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum earned a perfect five out of five stars for how simple it was to set up, its effectiveness on both rugs and hard floors, and its maneuverability. It took us five minutes to set up this vacuum, thanks to clear and easy instructions. We loved how well this little vacuum maneuvered around the space — it moved quickly, fitting between chair legs, under tables, and around other furniture. The robot vacuum handled pet hair, human hair, and Cheerios extremely well and lifted an impressive amount of sand. It should be noted that while this vacuum had some trouble getting debris at the edge of the rug where it met the floor, the combined brush and vacuum technology got most dirt up on a first pass. The only inconvenience with this model is its lack of object-avoidance technology. That's not a dealbreaker by any means, but it should be considered if you have small kids who leave items on the floor or pets who have accidents. Plus, it's not overly loud, is easy to empty after use, and has some smart technology such as voice control and app connections. How It's Held Up After six months, the quality has not changed a wink. Considering the tester's apartment's unique layout, this vacuum does a mighty job navigating various corners and oddly shaped walls. It expertly picks up long hair and all the dirt from the NYC streets (although some hair did tend to get stuck in the brush roll). The only thing our tester wished it had was mapping technology because it often strays into unwanted areas and rooms. Works On: Hard floors, rugs, carpets | Special Features: App control, voice control | Object Avoidance: No | Mopping Capabilities: No | HEPA Filter: No | Good For: Pet fur, hair, crumbs, dirt People / Rachel Marek People / Henry Wortock People / Rachel Marek People / Rachel Marek People / Rachel Marek Best Budget ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner PHOTO: Amazon $208 at Amazon View on Iliferobot.store Star Qualities Quick and easy setup Maneuvers well around furniture and other obstacles Remote control allows you to adjust settings from the couch Quiet enough to hold a normal volume conversation while it’s near Red Flags Had some trouble picking up Cheerios in corners Doesn't have many smart tech features and doesn't plan routes This budget-friendly robot vacuum was a favorite among our team because it moves around a space efficiently, picking up most dirt on carpets and hard floors along the way. We spent some time reading the manual, but after doing so, the setup took less than five minutes. This model also comes with a handy remote control, so you can change the settings while you lounge and watch your favorite TV show. It can navigate between carpet and hard floors with ease, avoiding most objects despite not having specific object-avoidance technology. We loved how quiet it was — we could hold a clear conversation during testing even when the vacuum was close by. This vacuum had trouble grabbing Cheerios from corners during testing, but that was the only hitch in its effectiveness. Though there aren't many smart tech features with this model, when considering its easy maintenance, cleaning abilities, and low price, we think this is a great value and would be a good starter robot vacuum. How It's Held Up Six months after using this robot vacuum in our tester's home, we can say that it's still highly efficient at picking up everyday messes, like stray kibble around the dog food container. They rarely had to empty the trash compartment even though it constantly sucked up debris and hair. Though it doesn't plot routes, which could be a con for some folks, it does an excellent job cleaning the space it's in. Works On: Hard surfaces, carpet | Special Features: Remote control | Object Avoidance: No | Mopping Capabilities: No | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Pet hair, dirt, other debris People / Henry Wortock PEOPLE / Henry Wortock PEOPLE / Henry Wortock Best Value Black + Decker RoboSeries Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $128 at Amazon View on Jcpenney.com $130 at Lowe's Star Qualities Cleans dirt, hair, and dust from all floor types Easy to control and schedule via the app Maneuvers well around and under furniture Red Flags Requires strong Wi-Fi connection for app control Hair got tangled in the rollers but came out with a tool easily We love Black and Decker's dustbusters, so we were pumped when they released a robot vacuum. We used this vacuum all over our apartment and loved how well it worked. The setup took about four minutes; however, the app had a hard time connecting to the device (which we suspect was a Wi-Fi issue). Once in the app, you can schedule cleanings or choose a cleaning based on the modes you programmed. During testing, this vacuum was highly effective at lifting dust, pet hair, stray crumbs, and dirt. It goes over the same spots a few times and gets everything up; we didn't see any debris once it was finished. This robot vacuum is versatile on hard floors and rugs, and it reduces the time you spend cleaning since it works independently. It's not the quietest vacuum, but it's comparable to other standard vacuums. Some hair got tangled in the rollers, but it was easy to get out with an included tool. This Black and Decker robot vacuum has decent object-avoidance technology — it got stuck once in the bathroom, but other than that, it maneuvered around and under furniture with ease. How It's Held Up After six months, we still love the RoboSeries vacuum from Black and Decker and continue to use it every day to pick up dirt and debris. We've found that the robot vacuum significantly reduces the amount of time we spend cleaning, which is a huge win in our book. The only issue we've had with it is that the brush sometimes falls off, but it's easy for us to clip it back on when that happens. Otherwise, the battery life and performance have remained consistent, and we rarely need to use a traditional vacuum thanks to this automatic robot. Works On: Hard floors, carpet | Special Features: HEPA filtration, smart charging, multiple cleaning modes, stairs sensors | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: No | Good For: Dirt, pet hair, sand, crumbs, and more People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson Best Mop Combo ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop PHOTO: Amazon $400 at Amazon Star Qualities Self-empties and holds up to two months of debris Works well on tile, wood, and multiple types of surfaces Quick setup Mop feature has disposable pads for easy and hygienic use Solid object avoidance, even around animals Red Flags Air freshener component wasn't installed, so we had to do that This hybrid mop-vacuum combo (like a robot version of a wet-dry vacuum) proved an easy ally during setup, coming together in six minutes despite us having to add the air freshener component ourselves. As part of the initial clean, the Ecovacs vacuum creates a diagram of your living space while it does the first clean — this took about two hours. While in motion, it picked up a ton of dog hair as well as scraps from a recent renovation. We tried the mopping feature a few times, and the disposable pads were a nice touch. The TrueDetect 3-D technology was our favorite part of this robot vacuum. It can avoid tables, walls, and napping pets by sensing the areas ahead. It cleans twice a day and empties itself after each clean (unless it sucks up a big item that blocks the self-emptying feature). We loved the scheduling capabilities that allowed us to clean specific areas of the home according to our cleaning needs. It's also super quiet; we can use it during the day while we work without it being a nuisance. How It's Held Up The Ecovacs Deebot T9+ continued to impress us over six months of additional testing. Most notably, the battery life remained just as strong as the day we opened the package. We did get an alert on the app three months into testing that notified us that the brush and filter were expiring, so we ordered those replacement parts at Amazon. We also noticed that while this robot vacuum does a great job handling dust and debris, it isn't the best vacuum we've tried for picking up large amounts of pet hair. Works On: Hard floors, tile | Special Features: Floor mapping sensors, auto-emptying station | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: Yes | HEPA Filter: No | Good For: crumbs, sticky messes, other debris People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson Best for Hard Floors eufy by Anker RoboVac G30 Edge PHOTO: Amazon $270 at Amazon Star Qualities Navigates corners and edges well Excellent at cleaning pet hair and dust Remote and app connectivity offers manual control Red Flags Struggles to move from hard surface to carpet, though it cleans both well Does not navigate around smaller items (like cords) on the floor Not self-emptying We were super impressed with the Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge, which did a great job of cleaning pet hair, dust, and food messes. It navigated corners and edges well, decently avoiding furniture and chairs (though it didn’t avoid socks, cords, and other small items). It cleaned with ease on hardwood floors, though it struggled to transition to carpeted areas. Setup was super easy, and the connected app allows you to schedule cleanings and manually control the vacuum for extra precision. If you’re not tech-savvy, no sweat — the vacuum also comes with a remote that allows for the same controls. While the vacuum does well on carpeted areas, it really shines on hardwood. If you’re looking to eliminate pet hair and dust, the Eufy RoboVac G30 makes maintaining clean floors easy. Works On: Hard floors, tile, carpeted areas | Special Features: App connectivity, scheduling, boundary-avoiding navigation | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: No | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Pet hair, dust Best for Carpet iRobot Roomba J7 Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $369 at Amazon View on Irobot.com $650 at Lowe's Star Qualities Voice-activated controls and app connectivity make it user-friendly Easily moves from floor to carpet Has object-avoidance technology Red Flags Pricier than others we’ve tried Has some difficulty finding new rooms and spaces Features are less accessible if you don't use the app Sleek in design and accompanied by a complimentary app, the iRobot Roomba J7 vacuum is a model that vacuums and cleans carpets with ease (a feat that we've found to be quite rare with most of these vacuums). The standout quality of the Roomba was the care it took to fully clean the carpet, going over spots multiple times to truly clean while also going against the perimeter of the room and traveling in a grid-like system. We also appreciated how easy it was for this model to work on hard floors, and we loved how effortlessly this vacuum could pick up everything from dust to food and pet hair. It can be hard to access all of the features that the Roomba provides without downloading the app, which not everyone may want to do. One of the main features of this model is its object-avoidance technology, and we witnessed a few messes that would have been avoided if we had used the app. We also suggest setting this vacuum in the room that you want it to clean, as it has some difficulty sensing new rooms and spaces. But once you have your room set, you're free to let it roam and can trust that you'll have a sparkling clean room afterward. Works On: Hard floors, carpets | Special Features: iRoomba Genius app voice-activated, three-stage cleaning system, power-lifting suction | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: No | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Dirt, pet hair, other debris People / Niky Cross Taylor People / Niky Cross Taylor Best for Pet Owners Neato D9 Intelligent Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $340 at Amazon $499 at Walmart $247 at Lowe's Star Qualities Everything is controlled within an app, and setup is quick Easily picks up pet fur and other debris Creates targeted cleaning zones, which you can also schedule Red Flags Sometimes gets lost when trying to find the docking station Not great for spot cleaning Pet owners constantly face tumbleweeds of pet fur rolling around their homes, so if you don't want your living room to look like the set of an old Western movie, we suggest investing in a pet hair vacuum. The Neato robot vacuum comes with a quick start guide, which helps with assembly, but you have to download the app to use the vacuum (all control features are linked to the app). During the three months, our two testers used the robot vacuum at home, and they found it completely user-friendly. One tester, in particular, appreciated the functionality and how the vacuum creates targeted cleaning zones. They used it daily to clean their apartment and were impressed with the amount of cat hair and litter it picked up. The only hiccup? It's hard to spot clean spills because it doesn't have a cleaning feature you can set for a precise spot, and it also gets turned around sometimes but usually finds its way home to the docking station. Works On: All floor types | Special Features: App controls, targeted cleaning zones, scheduling | Object Avoidance: No | Mopping Capabilities: No | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Pet hair, dirt, dust, debris Best Navigation Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop PHOTO: Amazon $400 at Amazon $400 at Target View on Sharkclean.com Star Qualities You can schedule the vacuum to clean specific rooms while you're away Quiet and has good object detection Mop combo also self-empties Works on carpets, hardwood, and tile floors Spot-cleaning feature removes dirt and mud Red Flags Trickier to set up than others we tried If you're in a home with multiple dogs or cats, you're no stranger to seeing dirt on the floors. We were relieved to try out this model since Shark vacuums have a good reputation, and we gave it a perfect score for effectiveness. Though tricky to set up, we created a schedule for the vacuum to do its thing while we went to work, and we always came home to clean floors. We used the robot vacuum on tile floors, but it also works well on carpet and hardwood flooring. We particularly loved the spot-cleaning feature, as it picked up all the dirt and mud the dogs dragged in from the backyard. The mop works in tandem with the vacuum to clean the floors after debris is removed and uses minimal water, so floors dry fast. It's also a quiet device with solid object detection. During our tests, the vacuum didn't run into anything, highlighting its maneuverability around chairs and tables. The vacuum also self-empties, and the mop pads are reusable and washable, which is an added (and sustainable) bonus. Works On: Tile, hardwoods, carpet | Special Features: Spot cleaning, scheduling, app, self-emptying | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: Yes | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Dirt, grass, pet hair, other debris People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson Best Self-Emptying ECOVACS DEEBOT T10 Plus Robotic Vacuum and Mop PHOTO: Best Buy $400 at Amazon View on Ecovacs.com $950 at Home Depot Star Qualities Self-empties when the cartridge is full Went over the same spot several times until it was completely clean Object-avoidance technology helps it navigate around furniture Red Flags Pricier than most others we’ve tried It's not fun to empty the dustbin after each use, which makes the self-emptying Ecovacs Deebot T10 Plus a huge help around the house. When the cartridge is full, the vacuum automatically returns to its docking station to eject the debris into a hypoallergenic dust bag that automatically closes to prevent dust or other particles from getting into the air. We appreciated the inclusion of a mop on the inside of the machine, which cleans stains on the floor as it sweeps up dirt and dust. The vacuum also comes with small air filter pods that can release clean fragrances into the air as it cleans. This model effectively vacuumed almost everything it was tested against, be it cereal, sand, or hair. It's also super resilient, approaching bumps on the floor by trying to go over them twice and then attempting to move over them from an angle, braving whatever obstacle was in its way. Though the price for this model is a bit high, we did think the quality was worth the splurge thanks to its great results and self-emptying capabilities. How It's Held Up At home, our tester runs this Ecovacs vacuum weekly with the mop function, and it has held up well over six months. They noticed it empties with each cleaning, so it might require several empties if it were cleaning a larger house. They also observed that it had a hard time with rugs. After several months, the vacuum mastered the mapping of the apartment and worked even better than the day it arrived. Works On: Hard floors, carpets | Special Features: Oscillating sonic mopping system, self-emptying, hypoallergenic dust bag, front-facing camera | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: Yes | HEPA Filter: No | Good For: Dirt, pet hair, other debris People / Henry Wortock People / Henry Wortock Best Quiet Narwal Freo Self Mop Clean Robot PHOTO: Amazon $1,000 at Amazon $1,400 at Narwal.com Star Qualities Functional on tile, hardwood floors, and carpets Dirtsense detection finds specific areas of debris Self-cleans and can be scheduled to clean via an app Super quiet, so we could watch TV at a normal volume while running the vacuum Red Flags App is slightly confusing to set up Doesn't self-empty, so you have to remember to do it This little robot works on tile, hardwood, and carpets, making it versatile for many types of homes. It seemed to get everything on the floors, such as dust, pet hair, and other debris. The machine mops and vacuums simultaneously, determining which surfaces need each type of cleaning. And during Freo mode, the robot cleans a spot until there's no dirt left rather than moving on after one or two passes. The app shows the progression of each cleaning session and highlights areas in different colors to show where the robot vacuumed versus mopped. The vacuum also has a self-drying feature, so it won't leave your floors wet. Overall, we were amazed by the capabilities of this robot vacuum, especially how quiet it is. This is one of the quietest robot vacuums we have ever been around — we were in the same room watching TV while the vacuum was running and could still watch at a normal volume level. How It's Held Up After six months of use in our tester's home, the Narwal vacuum has become an invaluable resource. It is the go-to for easy maintenance between deep cleans. Our tester found it easy to use but added that one challenge is remembering to empty the machine and keep the water tank full. The mop feature has been especially helpful given that children and pets live in the home. Works On: Hardwoods, tile, carpets | Special Features: Dirt detection, self-cleaning, scheduling, smart navigation, app | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: Yes | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Dirt, debris, pet hair Best App Miele Scout RX3 Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $899 at Amazon $899 at Mieleusa.com Star Qualities Comprehensive app allows you to change cleaning modes, set schedules, and see the vacuum's navigation Picked up all hair, dust, and debris during testing User-friendly setup Works on all floor types and navigates furniture with ease Red Flags Struggles to navigate rugs Our teammate had never used a robot vacuum until they tried the Miele, and they absolutely loved the experience. The vacuum works on all floor types and can maneuver around your home with ease. We were pleasantly surprised with the simple setup and appreciated how intuitive the app was for a first-time user. In the app, you can change the cleaning modes, set schedules, see a map of your floor area that the vacuum covers, and send it back to the charging station with a simple tap on your phone screen. To schedule, you can set the day and time you want the vacuum to clean, which was a dream for us during at-home testing. The Miele vacuum picked up hair, dust, and debris easily; in fact, there wasn't anything it didn't pick up in our tests. The machine skirted around the low furniture and navigated the space well. We cheered out loud when it went under the couch because it's hard to move and is often overlooked on cleaning days. The vacuum struggled a little with rugs, but overall, we were impressed. Works On: Hardwood floors, carpets, tile | Special Features: Comprehensive app, scheduling | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: No | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Dirt, hair, debris Best Investment Roborock S8 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $1,400 at Amazon $1,400 at Best Buy View on Roborock.com Star Qualities Works on all floor types Has map and vacuum capabilities Self-cleans, empties, and dries Has multiple cleaning modes, with loud and quiet options Red Flags Programming setup can take some time You have to change the dirty water tank biweekly or monthly if you use the mop feature This is a lot to spend on a vacuum cleaner, but after trying this self-emptying robot vacuum in our day-to-day routine at home, we believe the quality matches the investment. We used this robot vacuum in every room and on every type of flooring. It cleaned everything from general dust and debris to food messes and spills. We also utilized the mopping capabilities, and they were highly effective at cleaning up small spills. In terms of setup, getting the robot vacuum up and running took four minutes (with an additional 10 to set up the programs like scheduling cleanings, etc.). There are several cleaning modes, such as deep cleaning mode (which is quite loud but effective) and light cleaning mode (which is quieter and you can hold a conversation over). You can set it to clean just one room or zone at a time. With regards to maneuverability, this robot vacuum is quite nimble and fits under the couch with ease. After cleaning, it empties all debris into a bag. The mopping feature also empties any excess water after every three cleanings into a container that you can pour into a sink. Plus, the app tells you when it's ready to empty. Given how time-saving and effective this robot vacuum is, we think the price is valid. How It's Held Up Our tester is absolutely in love with this vacuum. After three months of use, they still haven't needed to empty the dustbin after weekly use. “It is no longer an addition; this is a staple product for me. It is my main cleaning routine, and I could not be happier about it," they raved. That said, the dirty water tank has to be changed every other week or once a month (depending on the frequency of use). It was easy to set up, easy to use, and more than earned its spot on this list. Works On: Hard floors, carpet | Special Features: App, self-emptying, multiple cleaning modes | Object Avoidance: Yes | Mopping Capabilities: Yes | HEPA Filter: Yes | Good For: Pet hair, dirt, dust, debris People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson People / Dera Burreson What to Know About Robot Vacuums Maneuverability Since one of the perks of robot vacuums is their ability to be left unsupervised, you'll want to make sure you choose a model with plenty of maneuverability. Home mapping technology can help because it lets the vacuum know where there are stairs and other hazards, as well as detecting where furniture is. You'll also want to consider whether the vacuum can easily maneuver between rugs, carpets, and hard floors. Object-Avoidance Technology One benefit of certain robot vacuums is object-avoidance technology. These vacuums are equipped with sensors (sometimes cameras) to help avoid things like kids' toys, socks, and pet messes that you don't want to spread around your house. Models like the Shark 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop are specifically designed to maneuver their way around items on the floor, like cords or toys, thanks to their object-avoidance technology. Another vacuum on our list with excellent object avoidance technology is the iRobot Roomba J7 vacuum. This design feature can help save toys that get left on the floor while helping to avoid confusion for your robot vacuum. Special Features Robot vacuums can be pricey, so you want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. Some special features to look for include home mapping, self-parking in the dock, and self-emptying, which the Ecovacs Deebot T10 Plus has. The self-emptying vacuums do have a base that takes up more room; however, the convenience they provide is worth it. Other features include voice control and app integration, where you can control the vacuum from your smartphone or other smart device. If you would rather not use an app, some robot vacuums have an included remote, like the ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum. Most apps also allow you to schedule cleanings while you aren't home, so the vacuum can do its thing while you're out, and when you return, your home is spick and span. Price Range Another aspect to consider is the price of your robot vacuum. Often these small but mighty machines will range anywhere from $300 to $900, with the extremes on this list starting at just under $120, like the ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum, and stretching to the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, which retails at $1,600. While higher prices typically indicate higher quality and more special features, there's plenty of bang for your buck in the vacuums closer to $100 as well. People / Henry Wortock Behind the Scenes For the past two years, our team has evaluated 44 robot vacuums in the lab and at home. We scored them on ease of setup, effectiveness, noise level, features, maneuverability, ease of emptying, and overall value. Ease of Setup: During the lab test, we read the instructions, timed how long each vacuum took to set up, and got to work testing the capabilities of each model.Effectiveness: In a small contained area, we set the robot vacuums free to munch on various debris (Cheerios! fur! sand!) and considered the effectiveness of each. For hybrid models with mopping capabilities, we also tested these components by pouring coffee and sticky syrup on the floor to see how well the mop functions lifted these substances. We ran each vacuum-mop hybrid for two minutes and looked at how many times the device went over the mess and whether or not there was leftover residue.Noise Level: We took the vacuums home to test the noise level, monitoring if we could hold a normal conversation and hear the TV at a normal level while it was on.Maneuverability: We evaluated special features, like smart mapping and object avoidance, when applicable and took note of how well the vacuums maneuvered around the space.Ease of Emptying: We emptied each vacuum to see how messy or simple that process was.Long-Term Testing: We had a couple of hiccups during lab testing with Wi-Fi and noise, so we took the robot vacuums home to assess ease of connectivity, mapping, app use, noise level, and long-term performance. Frequently Asked Questions Should I buy a robot vacuum or a regular vacuum? The choice ultimately depends on the type of flooring that you have, the number of obstacles in your home, and how you prefer to clean. Robot vacuums are great for maintaining dust-free floors, especially in homes with hard flooring or low-pile carpets and in rooms with minimal clutter. Unlike regular vacuums, robot vacuums are also great for maneuvering under low tables and sofas. Because they are not as powerful as regular upright vacuums, robot vacuums are not as effective for deep cleaning and extra thick carpets. What's the best robot vacuum? Our top pick is the iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum because of its effectiveness at picking up debris during our tests, its versatility (as it can be used across different surfaces), and its relatively affordable price point compared to similar models of its capabilities. Can robot vacuums go over carpeting? While robot vacuums can go over carpeting, the deeper the carpet, the more suction power is required for the robot vacuum to clean effectively. A robot vacuum will spend more time going over carpeting than other types of flooring. If your flooring is primarily carpeted, look for a robot vacuum that is specifically intended for use on carpeted floors, as some we tested proved more effective on hardwood floors versus carpet. Our top pick for use on carpeted floors is the iRobot Roomba J7. Do robot vacuums empty themselves? Some robot vacuums include a self-emptying feature, and models that have this convenience tend to be more expensive. When a self-emptying robot vacuum returns to its home base after cleaning, it will automatically empty its dustbin. Base dust containers can hold about 30 to 60 days of dust and debris before they need to be emptied. The Ecovacs Deebot T10 Plus was our favorite vacuum with a self-emptying feature. Will a robot vacuum fall down the stairs? Ledge detection sensors on robot vacuums prevent them from falling down stairs. It's all part of the navigation system, and numerous sensors are built into robot vacuums that allow them to avoid furniture and other obstacles. Why Trust PEOPLE? Madison Yauger is an editor for PEOPLE who's tested hundreds of lifestyle products across all categories. Alyssa Brascia is a commerce writer for PEOPLE, covering beauty, fashion, home, and lifestyle products. In our lab, we ran tests using Cheerios, fur, and dirt to see how well these vacuums picked up each type of debris. We continued using these vacuums for up to six months in our homes to compare real-world results. This story was recently updated by commerce writer Cai Cramer, with fresh insights and new product picks based on our long-term testing. Our Expert Panel Brent Hild, the former director of Product Management at iRobot AI, used insights from our lab tests to help determine the best robot vacuums of 2024. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.