The best cheap robot vacuums for every home
Overview
Table of Contents
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
Robot vacuums can get pretty pricey, with some of the more advanced options costing more than £1,000. If you don't need all the bells and whistles — like smart home mapping, mobile app integrations, and self-emptying canisters — then you don't have to spend that much cash (phew). There are cheaper robot vacuums out there, and the best ones will get the job done without a fuss.
Inexpensive options typically don't have smartphone app integration and must be controlled with a remote. You're usually able to set a timed schedule with the remote or set it to go off in the moment, so you do have some sort of control aside from just pressing a button on the vacuum itself. Remotes often act as a steering device, allowing you to operate the robot vacuum like an RC car.
Most cheaper robot vacuums can handle sweeping up dirt and debris from hard flooring, but for your carpet, you'll want to get a robot vacuum with a roller brush. The spinning fan brushes that come standard and work well on hard floors can't dig into the carpet to lift embedded hair and dirt.
Robot vacuums are worth considering if you are someone who doesn't have the time to vacuum regularly, someone who physically can't vacuum, or someone who simply doesn't want to do the vacuuming. They take the work out of cleaning and can be really useful appliances to have in your home device lineup, but that's only if the robot vacuum actually performs the way it's supposed to.
This is a problem you could run into when searching for a budget-friendly robot vacuum, since the simple truth is that some forego quality in the name of a lower price tag. Before pulling the trigger on a cheap robot vacuum, make sure you consult reviews to see if anyone is experiencing problems or quality faults.
Some cheaper robot vacuums are not equipped to handle carpets. They either don't have enough suction power or don't have the correct brushes to really dig into the carpet to pull up embedded dirt, dust, and hair. In any case, a cheap robot vacuum is mostly to act as a supplemental cleaning device that does your day-to-day cleaning while still requiring you to do a deep clean every so often. They typically don't fully replace a standard upright vacuum.
What is the cheapest robot vacuum?
You can find some pretty cheap off-brand robot vacuums, but don't expect them to be top tier in quality. Be wary of any robot vacuums that cost less than £50. They likely won't be able to give you a great clean and probably won't have a very long run life. Some of the cheaper models can't handle thick carpet or large areas.
There are plenty of robot vacuums on Amazon for under £50, but reviewers do not recommend buying them. They generally don't work on rugs and don't have enough suction power to pick up hair and larger debris, making them basically worthless unless you are just cleaning hardwood floors that are already pretty clean.
Does "cheapest" mean "best inexpensive" robot vacuum?
For the reasons already mentioned, it's clear that the cheapest option does not always represent the best value for money. You want to find a good mix of functionality and price. Typically the vacuums that are £100 and up are going to be pretty decent and give you features that will actually leave your home looking and feeling clean.
Keep in mind that underside brush rolls are better for carpeted homes and if you have a big surface area to cover you'll want to pay attention to the robot vacuums with longer run times to avoid having to recharge before the job is done.
What is the best cheap robot vacuum?
If you happen to see any robot vacuums from iRobot, Shark, Eufy, or Ecovacs on sale for less than £250, snatch those up. It can be hard to find a good brand for that price, but those ones are definitely worth the money if you can find them for that price.
If you're still struggling for options, we've got you covered. We've tracked down the very best robot vacuums that offer good quality at an affordable price, including popular models from top brands like Eufy and Ecovacs.
These are the best cheap robot vacuums in 2025.
Ecovacs N8 Pro+
Best For Mopping
The Good & The Bad
- Avoids tricky objects
- Smart integration
- Virtual boundaries
- Strong suction, but not loud
- Won't mop on carpet
- App glitches
- Needs lots of charging
Why We Like It
Ecovacs is one of the most popular robot vacuum brands. You'll pay for the pleasure, of course. The Ecovacs N8 Pro+ isn't the cheapest on the list. But it's not the most expensive out there, either. It's actually much cheaper that competing the Roomba j7+ and Samsung AI+ — and neither of those mop. Indeed, it's worth the price, thanks to its smart features.
The Ecovacs N8 Pro+ integrates brilliantly with smart homes, connecting to Alexa and/or Google Assistant. It also comes equipped with multi-floor mapping capabilities. This means it can scan and remember maps for two different levels and deploys customised cleaning routines for either — or even for individual rooms.
There are three suction levels, and an auto-boost function that kicks in on tougher carpets. We also like the fact that it avoids obstacles like socks and other debris on the floor, rather that getting stuck on them, and returns to its charging station when needed. Some reviewers have noted long charging times, which makes its cleaning a bit stop-start.
Details
Eufy RoboVac 11S
Best For Carefree Cleaning
The Good & The Bad
- Slim design
- BoostIQ technology
- Automatically adjusts suction
- Quiet cleaning
- Better navigation available
- Struggles on thick rugs
Why We Like It
A robot vacuum cleaner is supposed to make your life easier, so it kind of defeats the point if you're constantly having to charge your device.
This is not something to worry about with the Eufy RoboVac 11S, as it automatically returns to its charging base when power is low, ensuring it’s always charged and ready to go. It also runs for up to 100 minutes per charge, so you get to enjoy a completely clean home from a single charge.
It's rare to get a robot vacuum cleaner at this price with so many premium features. Anti-scratch tempered glass cover provides a sleek look and superior protection, while the triple-layer high-performance filter cleans your home thoroughly. BoostIQ technology senses when extra oomph is needed and increases the suction.
Some reviewers have commented that the navigation could be better, and that is does occasionally struggle with thick rugs or carpets. It's normal for robot vacuum cleaners to get stuck from time to time, so this isn't a reason to not invest.
Details
Bagotte BG600
Best For Value
The Good & The Bad
- Powerful suction
- Six cleaning modes
- Obstacle detection
- Automatic recharging
- No smartphone app
Why We Like It
Reviews are not always the most reliable source of information, but this robot vacuum has received such excellent feedback that it's hard to not be impressed. Especially for the price. In robot vacuum terms, it's essentially a budget model.
The Bagotte BG600 is massively popular with users due to its powerful suction and six cleaning modes. The idea is that this vacuum has the guts to get to work on multiple surfaces, including thick carpets. This is made possible thanks to the double-sided brushes and central brush that combine to sweep up everything in sight.
There is no app integration, but it does have infrared capture technology that automatically detects stairs and obstacles, and then re-plans its route to complete the task. Once it's done, it automatically goes back to the base to recharge. Just sit back and relax.
Details
Coredy R300
Best For Noise
The Good & The Bad
- Quiet
- Good on hard flooring
- Random cleaning pattern
- Not great on carpet
- Gets stuck on some things
Why We Like It
The Coredy R300 robot vacuum comes with a remote control that lets you schedule and customise cleaning preferences. The vacuum has an auto-adjusting cleaning head that increases suction power and adapts its height to transition from hard flooring to carpet.
Reviewers did note, though, that the robot might need some babysitting to make sure it doesn't get stuck. It has a rough time with cords and tends to eat them up if you're not careful.
There is no main brush roll (just two side brushes), so this vacuum won't be the best for carpets and hair. This vacuum is definitely a solid option if that's not a priority for you.
Details
Eufy RoboVac 30C
Best For Endurance
The Good & The Bad
- Three-point cleaning system
- Big suction power
- Large wheels
- Quiet
- Anti-collision sensors not perfect
Why We Like It
The Eufy RoboVac 30C is not the cheapest robot vacuum, but it's certainly cheaper bigger brands like Roombas, and boasts many of the same advanced features.
It offers up to 100 minutes of constant and powerful suction without being noisy. Its three-point cleaning system uses three brushes to effectively loosen, extract, and vacuum dirt, with large wheels that roll over carpets and climb over door ledges to reach everything.
The EufyHome app combined with Alexa and Google Assistant voice control services let you schedule and control your vacuum without any hassle. One drawback, according to some users, is that the anti-collision sensors cam get confused in sunlight, so they're not always 100% reliable.
Details
Topics Robot Vacuums
Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.
Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashable's sister site, AskMen.
Matt Ford is a freelance contributor to Mashable.
