Overview
- Jump To Details
Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+
Best Overall - Jump To Details
BISSELL SpinWave 2-in-1 Wet Mop & Dry Robot Vacuum
Best for Thorough Mopping - Jump To Details
iRobot Roomba 694
Best Affordable Roomba - Jump To Details
Eufy Robovac 11s
Best for Tight Spaces - Jump To Details
Eufy RoboVac G30
Best Smart Features - Jump To Details
Samsung Jetbot Mop
Best Affordable Robot Mop
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 robot vacuums for more than a decade and have tested models at just about every price. Plenty of affordable (sub-$300) options are worth your consideration, with the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ ranking as our top pick. It's a hybrid robot that can vacuum and mop your floors and empty its own dustbin when it's done. It debuted at $800 just a couple of years ago, but is now available for a fraction of the cost. Read on for more about the Ozmo N8 Pro+ and our other picks for the best cheap robot vacuums, followed by additional buying advice that can help you in your search.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+
Best OverallWhy We Picked It
The Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ is equally adept at both vacuuming and mopping. Just fill its water tank and pop on the mopping plate to switch it from one task to the other. It's smart enough to automatically avoid carpets and rugs during its mopping runs. It has strong suction power when vacuuming and automatically empties dirt into its base station. It can't wash and dry its own mop cloth, but it has most of the features and smarts of current flagship hybrids for a much lower price.
Who It's For
To get a low-cost robot vacuum, you usually need to make compromises in terms of features, but you have another other option: You can wait until a premium model ages itself into the bargain bin. If you’d rather take the latter approach, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ is the model for you.
Pros
- Vacuums and mops
- Includes self-emptying dustbin
- Strong suction power
- Automatically detects carpet
- Supports virtual boundaries, schedules, and zone cleaning
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Minor mapping issues in testing
- Average battery life
Learn MoreEcovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ ReviewBISSELL SpinWave 2-in-1 Wet Mop & Dry Robot Vacuum
Best for Thorough MoppingWhy 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. Like the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+, you can switch the machine to mop mode just by adding a wet tank. 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 your best option for an affordable hybrid with powerful and versatile mopping capabilities. It lacks some niceties like a self-emptying dustbin and home mapping intelligence, but it's a top 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 Roomba 694
Best Affordable RoombaWhy We Picked It
While it lacks the advanced navigational skills of higher-end models, the Roomba 694 can clean more than 1,000 square feet of floor space on a single charge, then find its way back to the included charging station when it finishes or needs to juice back up. With a button on the robot, you can activate a spot clean feature in which the 694 will repeatedly circle its immediate vicinity to ensure that it’s extra clean. You can control the vacuum with the iRobot Home app (available for Android and iOS) or your voice, or you can schedule cleaning runs.
Who It’s For
From battery life to cleaning performance, the Roomba 694 checks all the boxes for an affordable robot vacuum. Since it still uses bump navigation, this model is perfect for those who don’t care how long the vacuum takes to work. Like most models in this price range, it doesn’t support self-emptying, but you’ll save hundreds of dollars with this model over a more advanced Roomba.
Pros
- Affordable
- Rarely gets stuck
- Seamless app setup
- Supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant voice control
- Allows for scheduled cleanings
- Detects and focuses on heavily soiled areas
Cons
- Loud
- Missed some debris on carpets in testing
- Lacks smart navigation, mapping abilities
- No carrying handle
Learn MoreiRobot Roomba 694 ReviewEufy 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 11sEufy 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 ReviewSamsung Jetbot Mop
Best Affordable Robot MopWhy We Picked It
Fill the water tanks, pop on the mopping pads, then hit the button on the included remote, and the Samsung Jetbot Mop will whir into action. An extremely affordable robot mop, it adeptly navigates different types of hard floors, scrubbing as it goes. The package includes microfiber mop pads for general-purpose mopping and mother yarn pads for spills and dust. You have to manually keep the tanks topped off and plug it in when it needs a charge, but when the Jetbot Mop is done with your floors, you can pick it up by the handle and use the rotating mop heads to clean your shower walls.
Who It’s For
If you have more hard floors in need of scrubbing than carpet in need of vacuuming, the Jetbot Mop is for you. It works relatively quickly, offering several cleaning modes, and scrubs a variety of surfaces—from hard floors to tiled walls—with aplomb.
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
Learn MoreSamsung Jetbot Mop 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.
