The Best Robot Vacuums, Tested by HGTV Editors

To determine which vacuum would hold the "Best Overall" title, it had to meet three main criteria: affordable, strong suction and good navigation. Ultimately, the eufy prevailed in all of these categories. In comparison to other models on the market, the RoboVac G30 offers the most features for your money. We were unexpectedly won over by its quiet noise level (the quietest one we tested) and the user-friendly app that provides a map of the bot's cleaning job and allows you to manually direct the robot to clean a specific area. It picked up leaves, crumbs and hair, no problem, thanks to BoostIQ, a feature that automatically increases suction power when extra strength is needed. The 0.6-liter dustbin was less than half full after our tester ran it two to three times a week. The G30's slim design fits easily in hard-to-reach spots but, because of its smaller size, struggled to get over thresholds between rooms. All in all, though, the eufy RoboVac met our basic needs from a robot vacuum. It's not the fanciest, but it's also not going to cause you more problems than it solves.

Our Editor's Review: "I really like that it creates a visual map of its cleaning jobs that you can look at while it's running or later after it's completed a job."

While very similar to the eufy RoboVac, the Roborock was a bit louder and clunkier, although it outperformed the eufy in picking up pet hair. The manufacturer recommends emptying the 640-milliliter dustbin once a week, but our pet-owning tester had to dump it after two sessions. It can clean up to 2,152 square feet on a full charge, making it a great pick for larger homes. Our tester loved the app, too, from which you can start cleaning, check the robot's progress, choose a cleaning mode, schedule cleanings and see a completed map. It's also worth noting that this model has an optional extra mopping feature that we did not test. One con of the E4 is its noise level. Our tester noted that the robot was too loud to run while watching TV. And while "Gentle Mode" is quieter, it doesn't clean as deeply as the tester's preferred "Carpet Mode." Another downside to the Roborock is its gyroscope mapping technology; it's not as accurate as laser technology which means it may miss spots. Despite the negatives, Roborock E4 still saved us from lugging around a corded upright vacuum, which is a win. If you're looking for an entry into the robot vacuum world, the E4 is a good pick.

Our Editor's Review: "My family has been dragging in a lot of leaf and yard debris this fall, and the vacuum grabbed all those plus pieces of litter, baby food crumbs and more."

Consistently top-rated, the Roomba 675 rings in at just under $300 which is a great price considering it cleans just as well and has many of the same features as other higher-priced models we tested. The 0.6-liter bin is perfectly suited for large homes, and cleaning sessions can be started and scheduled in the easy-to-use app. Although it's bulkier than other models we tried, its size works in its favor to easily cross thresholds and pick up larger debris. It effortlessly climbs onto rugs from hardwood, auto-adjusting brush height to effectively clean each surface. But size comes at a cost, as we noticed this vacuum was much louder than comparable models. The Roomba 675 also doesn't recharge and resume cleaning when it runs out of battery like our other picks. After 90 minutes, the vacuum returns to the base to charge before having to be manually restarted again. It also doesn't use smart-mapping technology like other vacuums we tested. Instead, it uses a more rudimentary navigation technique, bouncing around until it finds a clear path. It also seemed to leave hardwood floors cleaner than rugs which meant our tester needed to manually spot clean more frequently. So while it may not be the best option for pet owners, it's a great introductory choice for those with large floorplans and who want scheduling options.

Our Editor's Review: "It does a good job sensing objects and furniture, and it fits well under a lot of my furniture that would otherwise be difficult to reach."

Although it's one of the pricier vacuums we tested, the Roborock S4's powerful suction on rugs and carpet, multi-level floor plan cleaning capability, and unparalleled performance of pet hair removal make this vacuum 100-percent worth it in our book. Lidar navigation results in extremely accurate mapping and therefore a much deeper, more precise clean. We loved the zone cleaning feature which allows you to send the vacuum to one specific room or area that needs attention and then return to the base when finished. The 460-milliliter (.46 L) dust bin is by far the smallest of all the vacuums we tested, but our editor found the size sufficient for her 1,400-square-foot home. A user-friendly, approachable app allows for floor plan customizations like setting up no-go zones, invisible walls and cleaning schedules for the whole house or individual rooms. We were really impressed that the vacuum auto-adjusted its suction power to accommodate the surface. In fact, our tester noted that she distinctly heard a difference in the robot's sound as it transitioned from hardwood to rugs. As for pet hair, let's just say it's no longer an issue for our cat-and-dog-owning tester. The Roborock snagged pet hair buried in carpets, tumbleweeds floating on hardwoods and stray bits of food next to the dog bowl. Overall, we have no complaints about the Roborock S4 Max's performance and features. It's noisier than the eufy G30 but on par with the noise level of our other top picks, like the Neato D4. The biggest downside to this model will be, for most buyers, the price.

Our Editor's Review: "I thought we had the house professionally cleaned after the first time running it. Since we've started running it regularly, I can really see a difference in how clean my house is, specifically from a pet hair standpoint. I honestly wish we had this sooner."

With the most customizations and features of any of the vacuums we tried, the Neato is a great pick if you want more control. Neato uses laser technology to navigate around obstacles and walls which results in a much deeper clean and a smarter, more efficient cleaning pattern. The flat front allows it to clean in corners and edges that circular vacuums can't reach, and the 0.7-liter dustbin holds a substantial amount of debris, allowing for more infrequent emptying. But perhaps the best feature is the ability to draw "no-go lines" in the app that tell the vacuum to avoid tricky areas. Our tester used this feature to keep the vacuum away from rug tassels and tight furniture arrangements. Even though this isn't the most sophisticated Neato model, the D4 gets upgraded every time Neato sends out a software update, so you don't have to buy a new machine every year to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest technology. Two cons but not dealbreakers of the Neato are its base sensitivity and tendency to get stuck. Even the smallest nudge will confuse the vacuum and prompt you to reposition the base so the vacuum can recognize the floorplan. Our tester keeps the vacuum and base under the couch so it doesn't constantly get knocked around by kids and pets. It can also be a bit finicky with tasseled rugs and tight corners, but most of the time is smart enough to get out of these "sticky" situations. Overall, though, if you want a vacuum with a long battery life, a good-size dustbin and control over your robot's path, then, for the price, the D4 is a solid choice.

Our Editor's Review: "I love the 'no-go zones' feature that allows me to draw lines on my home's floorplan in the app to mark off areas I want the vacuum to avoid, and, bonus, all Neato vacs are made in the U.S."