Robot vacuums make it so you have one less chore to do each day. Instead of lugging out a cumbersome upright vacuum and pushing it all over every area of your floor, you can simply press a button or ask Alexa or Google Home to start your robot. While robot vacuums don’t necessarily eliminate the need for an upright vacuum, they do reduce the frequency of required upright vacuum sessions, making them a periodic chore instead of a regular task.
When it comes to purchasing a robot vacuum, one of the biggest deterrents is price. It wasn’t too long ago when you’d be forced to pay $500 or more for a good robot vacuum. These gadgets have become more popular, and more competition has entered the market, so the price has drastically declined. We’ve gathered our picks for the best robot vacuums you can buy for $200 or less.
Shark ION R85
The Shark ION R85 retails for $299, but you can often find it on sale for right around $120. It has features you see in higher-priced robots, like compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as powerful suction and an extra-large dust bin. Although the R85 doesn’t have visual mapping, it does have Smart Sensor Navigation 2.0, which allows it to navigate around obstacles and cover each area of the floor with daily use.
We reviewed the R85 as part of the Shark ION S87 cleaning system, and one thing we loved about the R85 is the included magnetic BotBoundary strips, which block off areas where you don’t want the robot to enter. Don’t want the robot going into your bathroom? No problem. Just place a BotBoundary strip in front of the doorway.
Although the battery could be a bit better on the R85 (and you may need to replace it after a year or so), this affordable robot does an excellent job of cleaning floors. It’s great for homes with pets, too, as it picks up those tiny pet hairs from hard floors and carpets. The R85 can also be tough to find on its own, and it typically sells as part of the entire S87 cleaning system. We also like its predecessor, the Shark R75, which may be easier to find sold on its own.
Ecovacs Deebot N79S
Perhaps one of the most feature-rich robot vacuums on this list, the Deebot N79S boasts a 110-minute battery life and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant. Plus, the Ecovacs Home app is one of the better robot vacuum apps when compared to those of other robots in the lower-to-mid price range. In the app, you can control the unit directly, set schedules, choose between different cleaning modes, check the status of the unit and accessories, and more.
It doesn’t have the most advanced navigation, but it does have exceptional suction power, and it will keep your floors clean and tidy with regular use.
Tenergy Otis Robot Vacuum Cleaner
The Tenergy Otis cleaner is designed for all types of terrain in your home, including hardwood, tiles, and carpets. With 1200Pa of suction power, it can pick up clumps of pet hair, dust, and dirt to leave your floors spotless. Plus, with two sweeping arms, it picks up any particles along its route. It’s designed with high-powered, built-in sensors that prevent the cleaner from falling off of stairs or running into walls.
Tenergy manufactured this model with four cleaning modes: Auto/S-shape mode, edge mode, spot mode, and double cleaning mode. This is great for a quick or a thorough clean. You can also schedule cleans, so it’ll automatically operate at a specific time, even if you’re out of the home. Also, with a 0.9-liter bin, you won’t have to empty it too often, allowing you to clean multiple rooms without dumping the dust bin.
Pyle Pure Clean Robot Vacuum
If you want to go with a really inexpensive model, Pure Clean robots are often a good option. This sleek robot vacuum features a low profile, measuring short of 3 inches in thickness, allowing users to clean under furniture. With dual rotating brushes that extend outwards with every clean, this robot vacuum will do a reasonably good job at cleaning your floors. For such an affordable price, it’s also fitted with an anti-fall sensor to automatically detect if there’s a gap or drop approaching.
When in operation, the no-brush design allows it to pick up dust, debris, and hair without clogging. It’ll also automatically detect the surfaces it’s working on, so there’s no need to monitor the vacuum while it’s switched on.
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