Best-Rated Robot Vacuum Cleaners

See Our Ratings Methodology.

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Most Satisfied Customers | iRobot

Aussies have rated iRobot as the top pick in Canstar Blue’s latest robot vacuum ratings, with five-star reviews in overall satisfaction, performance, design, ease of use, features & functionality and battery & charging performance.

Fact Checked Fact Checked

How we rate robot vacuums

Our review compares robot vacuums on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which robot vacuum they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 225 Australians for their feedback on a vacuum they have purchased and used in the last three years.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.


Respondents rate their satisfaction with their robot vacuum brand(s) from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
  • Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a robot vacuum cleaner brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Performance: the vacuum cleaner is able to effectively clean multiple surfaces, and performs as expected considering frequency of use.
  • Value for money: the cost was reasonable for the quality and functionality of the vacuum cleaner.
  • Design: the vacuum has a functional design, is compact enough for storage, and aesthetically pleasing.
  • Ease of use: the vacuum cleaner is easy to set up, use and store.
  • Features & functionality: the vacuum cleaner has sufficient settings and features to enhance performance and ensure a thorough clean.
  • Battery & charging performance: the vacuum has sufficient battery for a thorough clean and can be charged quickly.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.


Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
  • iRobot
  • Ecovacs

Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.


Best robot vacuum brands in Australia

    1. iRobot
    2. Ecovacs

Not sure which robot vacuum to buy? Check out our buying guide below.

1. iRobot


Ratings result

iRobot managed to grab the top spot with five star ratings for overall satisfaction, performance, design, ease of use, features & functionality and battery & charging performance, with a four star rating for value for money.

Editor’s notes

iRobot is a leader in the world of home robotics and most famously known for bringing us the Roomba vacuuming robot, which now includes several series, the latest one being the Roomba j7+ robot vacuum. This model features a three-stage cleaning system for carpets and hard floors, including dual multi-surface rubber brushes and an edge-sweeping brush to clean along walls and corners. It also comes with PrecisionVision navigation to spot and avoid hazards in real-time, a Clean Base automation dirt disposal mechanism that allows the robot vacuum to empty itself for up to 60 days, and more.

Shop online now

2. Ecovacs


DEEBOT X1 OMNI

Ratings result

Ecovacs was rated five stars for value for money, features & functionality and battery & charging performance, with four stars for ease of use, design, performance and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

You may have seen ECOVACS DEEBOT robot vacs in one of ALDI’s Special Buys sales, or simply know of the brand as one of the more popular options available on the market. The ECOVACS DEEBOT range offers various advanced models, each with varying functionalities suited to modern homes and busy families, and one specifically designed for pet hair, with the DEEBOT X1 OMNI robot vacuum cleaner model featuring voice control, mop functionality, auto-clean station and 3D obstacle detection.

Shop online now

Other robot vacuum cleaner brands


Aside from the major brands rated in this year’s review, there are several other brands worthy of your consideration, including:

  • Dyson
  • Eufy

Robot vacuum buying guide

What are robot vacuums?

Robot vacuum cleaners (or robot vacs for short) are self-navigating vacuum cleaners that offer continuous cleaning and automatic charging. They are designed to clean floors and carpets without anyone having to lift a finger. Robot vacs are typically disc-shaped and compact, usually no more than 10cm high, and no bigger than a frisbee to easily fit around those hard-to-reach places like under furniture. They use motorised wheels to glide across surfaces and pick up dirt and grime, so you don’t have to.

How do robot vacuums work?

Robot vacuums can detect dirt, dust, and other particles and automatically set their cleaning path according to what their sensors pick up. They use those same infrared sensors to scan their surroundings and determine obstacles in their path, including ‘cliff sensors’ that detect sudden drops, such as the top of a staircase. Most also come with an inbuilt algorithm that scans and stores multiple maps of different floors of your home to achieve complete floor coverage and some models even let you customise which room you’d like the robot to clean on each floor (though this varies by manufacturer).

How much do robot vacuums cost?

Robot vacuums can start for as little as $300 and reach upwards of $2,000. The higher priced models will generally come with a number of additional items like a dock, self emptying bin, remote application access and more. Australians spent an average of $573 on robot vacuums according to our most recent survey results.


Read more: Robot vacuum cleaner running costs


Can robot vacuums mop?

Yes, some models of robot vacuum now have mopping capabilities so you can have the best of both worlds in your home. Robot vacs with mopping capabilities have an additional attachment that works in the same way the vacuuming path does by detecting the areas of the floor yet to be cleaned. However, models with this feature may cost more as a result.

Features to consider before buying a robot vacuum

Many robot vacuum cleaners come with advanced features that allow for ‘hands-free’ cleaning. Some common features of robot vacuums to look for include:

  • Stair detection: This feature is standard across most basic models, and it helps your robot vac detect drops to prevent it from falling down the stairs. Falls can obviously damage a small piece of technology like this, so this feature is a must-have.
  • Virtual boundary: This feature allows you to control the robotic vacuum cleaner’s operating area, choose only specific rooms that need cleaning, or restrict access to certain areas if privacy is needed (i.e. bathrooms).
  • Floor mapping: Scan and store multiple maps of different floors in your home. The robot will customise its cleaning path once it knows the map it’s in. You can also customise which room(s) you’d like the robot to clean on each floor.
  • Scheduled cleaning: You can schedule your robot vacuum cleaner to clean rooms of your house or apartment while you’re away. This is one of the key appeals of purchasing this type of appliance, as it’s all about convenience! 
  • Automatic charging: When the battery runs low, the robotic vacuum cleaner automatically returns to its docking station for charging and continues cleaning the floor where it left off. This can be extremely convenient when combined with scheduled cleaning.
  • Smart compatibility: Allows for remote control by linking your robot vac to smart devices, so that you can calibrate your robot, schedule a cleaning time and check the current cleaning status anytime via your smartphone or home voice assistant.
  • Vacuum power: The more powerful a vacuum cleaner is, the better it will be at sucking up dirt and debris. Interestingly, the difference in price between vacuum cleaners is usually due to the efficiency of their navigation – size and power tend not to vary much to preserve mobility and battery life. If power is your priority, you’re better off simply buying a cheaper model.

Compare Stick Vacuums

About our consumer experts


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Kate King: Home & Lifestyle Content Producer

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Producer Kate King. Kate holds a Bachelor of Creative Industries from QUT majoring in Journalism and Media and Communications, and has written for a number of publications over the past five years.

 

Meet the Editorial Team

 

Samantha Howse: Consumer Research Specialist

Sam Howse Research Specialist

Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.

 

Meet the Research Team

Past ratings

Here are the past winners from Canstar Blue’s robot vacuum ratings:

  • 2022: Ecovacs

 

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