The cheapest Roomba right now is the 694 model.
At around $180.
“Are there even cheaper alternatives?”
Well yes, there are. Plenty, in fact.
But no need to be overwhelmed.
We’ve trimmed down the choices for you.
Continue reading to find out:
- The best robot vacuums under $100.
- 13 robot vacuums that are more affordable than the cheapest Roomba.
- 3 maintenance tips to prolong the lifespan of even entry-level robot vacuums.
- A cheap robot vacuum with a powerful suction that can match higher-end ones.
- And a lot more…
What is a cheaper alternative to a Roomba?
A cheaper alternative to a Roomba is the Eufy RoboVac 15C MAX. At less than $150, it offers many features. These include a compact built and quiet cleaning mechanism. As well as auto-adjusting suction power and app integration. Other brands to consider include Shark, Lefant, Bagotte, and Tikom.
13 best Roomba alternatives (cheaper & better)
#1: Eufy RoboVac 15C MAX
The Eufy RoboVac 15C MAX was released in July 2019.
It was initially priced at around $250. But you can now get one at as low as $145.
“Ok. No what’s so great about the 15C MAX?”
Many.
First, the built.
The RoboVac 15C MAX is slim. One of the thinnest robot vacuums you can find.
Its height is only around 2.85 inches. Which means it’s perfect for tight spaces. Such as under the bed or sofa.
Another great thing about the 15C MAX…
It cleans quietly. With noise level similar to a microwave oven.
So even if you’re at home. You can relax. Let the RoboVac 15C MAX clean. And not be disturbed by the noise.
And here are some of its other great features:
- Auto-adjust of suction power.
- Up to 100 minutes of clean time.
- App and voice control integration.
- Advanced sensors to avoid drops.
Simply put. The RoboVac 15C MAX has all that you’d want for an under $200 robot vacuum.
Check out this video to see the RoboVac 15C MAX in action:
#2: Shark AV752 ION
iRobot is the clear number 1 in the robot vacuum market
But do you know who the number 2 is?
It’s SharkNinja.
And it’s because of their cheap but good quality robot vacuums.
Such as the Shark AV752 ION.
Released in late 2020. You can now buy AV752 ION for only $140.
Its main selling point is the Three-Brush System.
This system uses the following brushes:
- Side brushes.
- Channel brushes.
- Multi-surface brush roll.
This makes the AV752 do well on all surfaces. And with most types of dirt and debris.
A 120-minute runtime also allows the AV752 to clean large surfaces. Up to around 2000 square feet before needing to recharge again.
You can also control it through your phone. Via the SharkClean app. Or with Google Assistant or Alexa.
It’s not the most effective when it comes to pet hairs. But at its price point, still a good buy.
#3: Lefant M210
Lefant is a Shenzhen, China-based robotics company.
Not yet as popular as other robot vacuum brands. But they’re slowly beginning to gain recognition.
And it’s mainly because of their Lefant M210 model.
Like the Eufy RoboVac 15C MAX. The M210 also has a height of just under 3 inches.
Which also makes it ideal for tight surfaces.
The M210 also has 4 cleaning modes:
- Auto.
- Spot.
- Edge.
- Zigzag.
The Zigzag mode, in particular, allows you to control the M210’s cleaning direction. Unlike other cheap robot vacuums that only move randomly.
You can easily toggle between these cleaning modes using the Lefant App.
Another great feature of Lefant M210 is its Brushless Suction Structure. This technology prevents tangles. Allowing for pet hairs to go to dustbins smoothly.
Other features of the Lefant M210 include:
- Self-charging.
- 100 minutes of runtime.
- Anti-collision and anti-drop sensors.
The M210 is, quite simply, one of the best robot vacuums under $100.
#4: Bagotte BG600
Bagotte is another Shenzhen-based company. They specialize in small household appliances.
And recently, they entered the robot vacuums market.
Their 2019 release, the Bagotte BG600, is still their best-reviewed one.
The Bagotte BG600 has a height of around 2.75 inches.
That’s even slimmer than the Eufy RoboVac 15C MAX and Lefant M210.
It offers up to 6 cleaning modes, namely:
- Auto.
- Spot.
- Edge.
- Scheduling.
- Max Vacuuming.
- Single Room Cleaning.
It’s built with a 6D anti-collision sensor. It’s also capable of climbing up to 2 cm. Perfect for those who have thick carpets at home.
It also comes with magnetic strips. You can use these to create barriers for the BG600.
It doesn’t have an app integration feature. But it does come with a remote. Which is great if you like to control your devices the old-school way.
Overall, the BG600 does well for a device that’s only a little over $100.
#5: Enther Experobot C200
Enther is a Burlingame, California-based home appliances company.
Their Enther Experobot C200 is another good entry in the under-$200 robot vacuum market.
The Experobot C200 uses a gyroscope for smart navigation. This allows it to clean in a zig-zag pattern. Resulting in a more thorough cleaning of your house.
Aside from that, the C200 also uses advanced anti-drop and anti-collision technology.
The C200 also does a good job of picking up pet hair. Both on hard floors and carpets.
Like the Lefant M210, the C200 also has a tangle-free suction.
It also has a self-charging ability. And a runtime of around 120 minutes.
But, as with other entry-level robot vacuums…
The C200 can’t be integrated with your smartphone. So you’ll have to use its remote for control.
#6: Tikom G7000
The Tikom G7000 is another affordable robot vacuum from China.
Priced at only $140. It offers several features that others at this price level can’t.
One of the G7000’s best features…
A really powerful suction.
At 2700Pa, it’s much stronger than other entry-level robot vacuums. This means the G7000 can pick up dust and debris with ease.
You can also integrate it into your phone using the Smart Tuya app. And it also allows for voice control with Alexa and Google Home.
Other features of the Tikom G7000 include:
- Self-charging.
- Zig-zag cleaning pattern.
- Boundary strips for no-go areas.
And considering its price?
This is definitely a great bang for your buck.
#7: ILIFE V3s Pro
ILIFE is fast becoming one of the top brands in robot vacuums.
Founded in 2010, they have headquarters in China and Hong Kong.
Their products now reach over 40 countries worldwide. With millions in units sold.
The ILIFE V3s Pro is the first of 2 ILIFE robot vacuums we’ll feature in this list.
The V3s Pro is a user favorite among ILIFE products.
Mainly because of how well it actually picks up pet hair. Among budget robot vacuums, the V3s is one of the best in that aspect.
It’s also integrated with tangle-free technology. Making it easier to clean out hair.
Their performance on the hard floor is also great. With a thorough cleaning that’s impressive for a $120 robot vacuum.
The only drawbacks to the V3s Pro?
It has no consistent cleaning pattern. And it can be loud at times.
It also doesn’t have app integration. But that’s fine considering its price.
#8: ILIFE V5s Pro 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop
Our 2nd ILIFE entry is the V5s Pro.
This is a mop and vacuum combination.
Unlike the V3s, this one’s quieter when cleaning.
Its vacuuming capability is also impressive. Works great on both hard floor and carpets. Much like the V3s pro.
The mop itself isn’t the best. At least when compared to higher-end vacuum-mop combos. But it’s still a good feature to have.
The V5s also happens to have a beautiful design. The white and gold combination definitely looks pleasing to the eye.
Here are some other features of the V5s Pro:
- Self-charging.
- Up to 140 minutes of runtime.
- Advanced anti-drop technology.
#9: SereneLife PureClean PUCR26B
SereneLife is a home appliances company. They’ve also been producing budget robot vacuums under the PureClean brand.
The PureClean PUCR26B is one of the most affordable robot vacuums you can find.
It’s about as basic as it gets when it comes to robot vacuums. But at $82, it’s still worth it because it gets the job done.
It has dual rotating side brushes for a more thorough cleaning. And it does well on hard floors.
It doesn’t perform as well on carpets, though. So if your home is heavily-carpeted, look elsewhere for a robot vacuum.
At 2.9 inches in height, it’s also ideal for tight spaces under furniture.
The PUCR26B also has a good air filter. So it’s both allergy and pet friendly.
If you’ve never owned a robot vacuum. And you want to try one without having to spend much.
Then the PureClean PUCR26B is worth a try.
#10: OKP K3
The OKP K3 is another one of those affordable vacuum-mop combos.
What’s great about the OKP K3 is its strong suction power.
At 2000Pa, it should have no trouble picking up crumbs, hair, and dust.
It’s also one of those robot vacuums with a slim design at around 3 inches. But what’s even better is OKP K3’s small diameter. At only about 11 inches.
This means it can pass by narrow spaces. Such as between chair legs. Or between your sofa and table.
The mop itself is nothing special. But we’re not expecting much at this price point.
The OKP K3 is already packed with other features such as:
- Voice control.
- Self-charging.
- Smartphone integration.
- Advanced anti-fall technology.
Great features for a robot vacuum that costs around $160.
#11: AIRROBO P10
AIRROBO is a tech company based in Hong Kong. They specialize in both air purifiers and robot vacuums.
One of their best releases is the AIRROBO P10.
The P10 has a really powerful suction at 2600Pa. A bit lower than the Tikom G7000’s 2700. But still pretty much beats every other entry-level robot vacuum.
The AIRROBO P10 also uses a brushless motor. You won’t have to worry about tangled hairs. And cleaning it would be easy.
Some of its other great features include:
- Voice control.
- Self-charging.
- App integration.
- Anti-collision and anti-drop sensors.
It’s currently also selling at about $160.
#12: Golongele HB-1001
Golongele is another Shenzhen, China-based tech company. They specialize in affordable robot vacuums.
Case in point…
The Golongele HB-1001. At only $99.
It’s a small robot vacuum. At only 2.7 inches in height. This is the slimmest among the robot vacuums here on our list.
And as far as performance goes?
The HB-1001 cleans well on hard floors. But with only a 1000Pa suction power, it’s not ideal for carpets. It also doesn’t do well with pet hairs.
It does offer 4 different cleaning modes:
- Auto.
- Edge.
- Random.
- Powerful.
The HB-1001 is ideal for smaller, non-carpeted homes.
#13: Acekool CI1
Acekool is a start-up home appliances company. They’re based in Tukwila, Washington in the US.
They may not be as known as the other brands we featured. But they’re still worth mentioning. Mainly because of the quality of their robot vacuum.
Particularly, the Acekool CI1.
For a robot vacuum under $100, it packs a lot of features.
For one, it works really well on carpets. It does well in cleaning pet hairs.
It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. And integrates with the TUYA app so you can control it via smartphone.
It has a 550ml dustbin. So it can store more debris than average.
And it has advanced anti-collision and anti-drop sensors.
Definitely worth considering. Despite being a newcomer in the robot vacuum market.
3 tips for using and maintaining a robot vacuum
#1: Keep your robot vacuum clean
Our robot vacuums may be serving as our home cleaners.
But they also need cleaning.
So it’s your job to clean your cleaners, basically.
Here are the main robot vacuum parts that you need to regularly clean:
- Body.
- Wheels.
- Brushes.
- Dustbins.
- Sensors and cameras.
Also, see to it that you refer to the manufacturer’s website or manual for the following:
- The proper way to clean.
- How often to clean each part.
#2: Remove possible obstructions in your home
This is especially true if you’re buying cheaper robot vacuums.
High-end vacuums are smart enough to avoid wires and cables. Some, like the Roomba j7, can now even avoid pet poop.
But most other robot vacuums can’t.
So before getting them started?
Remove any possible obstructions. Wires. Cables. Toys.
Make it easier for the robot vacuum to do its job.
#3: Make sure the charging dock’s location is good
Even some entry-level robot vacuums have a self-charging capability.
But see to it that your robot vacuum doesn’t struggle to find its home.
Place the charging dock in a location that has plenty of space. With nothing that may block the robot vacuum’s path.
This is another way to keep your robot vacuum in tip-top shape.
Further reading: How Often Should You Run Your Robot Vacuum? 5 Facts