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 2022.