Robot vacuums can easily cost more than $1,000, but you don’t need to spend four figures to keep your floors clean. If you’re pinching pennies, rest assured that many models on the market can get the job done without breaking the bank. We’ve tested robot vacuums at just about every price and plenty of affordable options are worth your consideration. So, to help you find the best bot on a budget, we’ve rounded up our highest-rated robot vacuums that cost less than $300.
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Best Overall
Bottom Line:
The Roomba 675 is iRobot’s least expensive robot vacuum with Wi-Fi connectivity, giving you app control, scheduling, and voice support in addition to excellent cleaning capabilities.
Pros
- Rarely gets stuck
- Supports app and voice control
- Allows for scheduled cleanings
- Automatically adjusts to different floor surfaces
- Detects and focuses on heavily-soiled areas
Cons
- Loud
- Doesn’t always automatically return to its base station when finished
- Missed some debris on carpeting in testing
Most Compact Design
Bottom Line:
The Eufy RoboVac 11s is an affordable, frills-free robot vacuum that’s small enough to clean under even the lowest furniture.
Pros
- Affordable.
- Compact.
- Quiet.
- Strong cleaning performance.
- Good battery life.
Cons
- No virtual barriers or app control.
- Limited scheduling options.
iLife A9 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Best Navigation Capabilities
Bottom Line:
The iLife A9 robot vacuum cleans hard floors and low-pile carpet with aplomb, supports app and voice control, and won’t break the bank.
Pros
- Cleans efficiently
- Quiet
- Good battery life
- Low-profile design
- Supports app and voice control
Cons
- Not the best on medium-pile carpet
- Max mode drains battery quickly
- Missed some dog hair in testing
Best Affordable Robot Mop
Bottom Line:
The Samsung Jetbot Mop quickly zips around your home using two spinning pads to scrub your floors until they shine, and features a handle so you can use it to clean walls.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Compact design with two large, spinning mopping pads
- Features a Hand Mode to clean walls
- Moves quickly and has no trouble switching between floor types
- Eight floor-cleaning modes
Cons
- No app or voice control
- Doesn’t always avoid area rugs and carpeting
Quietest Operation
Bottom Line:
Eufy’s RoboVac 30C robot vacuum is a nice improvement on the original, offering app and voice control for just $30 more.
Pros
- Good for low-clearance furniture.
- Strong suction.
- Support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.
- Comes with boundary strips.
- Very quiet.
Cons
- Finicky app notifications.
Best Laser-Powered Home Mapping
Bottom Line:
The affordable Wyze Robot Vacuum methodically zips around your home sucking up dust and pet hair from hard flooring and carpet thanks to top-notch laser mapping and efficient route planning.
Pros
- Strong suction power
- Features laser mapping technology
- Supports app control, area cleaning, scheduling, and virtual walls
- HEPA filter
Cons
- No voice command support
- Relatively short battery life
- Occasionally gets stuck
Most Affordable
Bottom Line:
Yeedi’s K650 robot vacuum is about as barebones as they come, but it does an efficient job of cleaning your floors for under $200.
Pros
- Powerful suction
- Long battery life
Cons
- Lacks intelligent mapping and other smart features
- Doesn’t come with a remote control
Easiest to Set Up and Use
Bottom Line:
The iLife A4s Pro robot vacuum improves upon its predecessor with more power, a new auto-boost feature for carpets, and a lower price, but it still lacks app control.
Pros
- Affordable
- Compact, low-profile design
- Easy to set up and use
- Automatically increases suction power on carpets
- Comes with a virtual wall accessory
Cons
- Lacks app and voice control
- Limited scheduling options
What to Look for In a Cheap Robot Vacuum
When choosing a robot vacuum, consider factors like battery life, size, and suction power. In terms of battery life, most robot vacuums these days 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, but the best battery life award goes to the iLife A9, which lasted 102 minutes on a charge in testing.
The Best Robot Vacuums for 2022
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. The Eufy RoboVac 11s is the shortest robot vacuum we’ve tested at just 2.8 inches, but there are several other affordable and highly rated models under 3 inches out there, including the Eufy RoboVac 30C and the iLife A4s Pro.
In terms of suction, most models on this list offer at least 1,000Pa of power, but the Wyze Robot Vacuum offers an impressive 2,100Pa. Robot vacuums with less suction power but good battery life and obstacle avoidance abilities can still do an excellent job cleaning.
iLife A9
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
On the high end of the robot vacuum market, you can find models with premium features like 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 features, 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’re able to start, stop, and schedule cleaning jobs from your phone. Wi-Fi is fast becoming a standard feature these days, but if you don’t need or want it, you can snag a super-basic bot that offers good performance for less than $200.
Roomba 675 companion app
(Credit: PCMag)
In addition to app control, many affordable robot vacuums support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for added convenience. If you also own a compatible smart speaker, you can control these vacuums using your voice.
Meanwhile, if you have carpeting or a large home, consider a model with smart navigation abilities. Vacuums with this capability, such as the iLife A9, 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.
Wyze Robot Vacuum
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
In this price range, you can’t expect every feature under the sun, so you might have to make some trade-offs. 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 couches and push out pet toys.
For more, see our list of the best robot vacuums for pet hair as well as our Roomba roundup if you want to stick with iRobot.
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 marked down at Amazon and Walmart in particular. In our reviews, we note the MSRP of each model, but you can often find them for less at various times throughout the year.
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.
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