Inexpensive robot vacuums are way smarter than they used to be. Even without all of the fancy features, they can absolutely shave some time off of your chore routine — if they work the way they’re supposed to.
But many of the ultra-cheap robot vacuums floating around are so basic that they quickly go from helpers to agents of chaos. Let’s say the low price stems from basic bumper car navigation instead of smart mapping, or from outdated sensors that get confused by table legs. Your chances of coming home to a vacuum stuck under the couch are probably higher than the chance of coming home to a fully-swept floor plan. Many low-budget robotic vacuum cleaners also cap suction power at 2,000 or 3,000 Pa, which simply can’t compete with any remotely stubborn crumbs, hair, or dust. You’d be all but guaranteed to step on debris that the vacuum blew around and left behind.
Long story short: Buying a certain robot vacuum just because it’s cheap puts that glorious hands-off cleaning experience in jeopardy. But not all budget robot vacuums are disappointing. Compared to five years ago, the budget-friendly end of the robot vacuum spectrum has experienced just as much of a glow-up as the premium end has. Smart mapping and automatic emptying are incredibly common and affordable in 2025, especially when deals on robot vacuums happen year-round.
These cheap robot vacuums get even more affordable during savings events like Prime Day, which is running from July 8 through 11 this year. And we’re staying on top of all the best robot vacuum deals before, during, and after the sale.
At the end of the day, the best way to ensure a cheap robot vacuum doesn’t suck is to take a recommendation from someone who’s tested some out before. I’m regularly testing budget robot vacuums in my own apartment, actively keeping the “bang for your buck” mentality in mind. Here are the best inexpensive robot vacuums to buy in 2025.
Other robot vacuums I’ve tested recently
I have tested several other inexpensive robot vacuums in the past that didn’t make the most recent cut for this list. These include older models like the Roomba 694, the Roomba Combo Essential 2, and Shark Matrix RV2300, which have simply been overshadowed by newer vacuums that offer more suction power and smarter features in the same budget price range.
One comparison that sticks out is the Roomba 205 DustCompactor versus the 3i G10+, which both “self-empty” without a self-emptying dock. However, I wasn’t psyched on my experience with the Roomba 205 — it got stuck on rug corners and got lost too often. Plus, the 3i G10+ offers more advanced features like small obstacle and pet waste avoidance and a livestream pet camera, whereas the Roomba 205 doesn’t.
