5 Robot Vacuum Brands Actually Worth Trying (That Aren’t Roomba) – BGR

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It wasn’t all that long ago when robot vacuums were considered a boutique investment for those with buckets of money to burn through. Back in the early days of automated cleaning tech, there were a couple of brands experimenting with robot vacs (such as Electrolux and Kärcher), but one manufacturer reigned supreme: iRobot. You might actually be more familiar with the company’s signature bot vac lineup – Roomba – a sub-label that became so intertwined with robot vacuum branding that a lot of people just started calling any bot vac a Roomba.

While iRobot has recently filed for bankruptcy, Roombas are still alive and well in 2026, but now the bot vac competition has grown considerably. This isn’t to say that investing in a Roomba isn’t worth it; there are simply a ton of other options to weigh when shopping for a bot vac. We’ve talked about several of the best robot vacuum brands before, but today we’re going to focus on five of the best robot vacuum brands worth trying that aren’t iRobot/Roomba-branded.

To compile this list, we took a look at some of the most popular non-Roomba vacs on the market to see what types of tech and features are on the cutting edge. As you can guess, AI-assisted cleaning has really taken off over the last couple of years, but companies like Roborock have also doubled down on vacuum-mop combos. We also made sure to include one or two budget-friendly options for each alternative brand we selected.

Founded in Beijing in 2014, Roborock is a robot vacuum brand that makes some great products. With prices starting around $250 for entry-level models like the Roborock Q8, and going up to $1,600 for flagship bots like the Roborock Saros 10R, the company has developed an impressive reputation over the last few years.

Roborock was one of the first robot vacuum brands to change up the typical location of a bot’s LIDAR scanners – which are usually top-mounted and can make it difficult to navigate bots under furniture. But Roborock’s StarSight technology allowed the manufacturer to use solid-state vertically-scanning LIDAR sensors, making it easier for bots to travel under chairs and couches. I myself own the Saros 10R and still can’t get over how powerful and efficient it is.

It’s also quite a thrill to watch Roborock’s AdaptiLift system in action — a feature that allows the front and main drive wheels to raise. While the Saros 10R might have a tougher time with pet hair than a product like the Roomba Max 705 Combo (iRobot’s flagship bot vac), it’s still a renowned robot vac maker that deserves the top spot on our Roomba alternatives list.

Similar to iRobot, Shark offers an extensive lineup of robot vacuums at multiple price points. Entry-level models start around $300 for products like the Shark RV2302AE, with premium vacs like the Shark RV2820YE costing as much as $1,500. The latter is a vacuum-mop combo that delivers up to 60 days of debris pickup and 30 days of refillable water via its NeverTouch base.

The RV2820YE also has features like DirtDetect for targeting areas that require extra cleaning, along with Shark’s NeverStuck Technology, which lifts the bot over obstacles and thresholds. User feedback for the majority of Shark robot vacs is mostly positive on sites like Amazon, where reviews mention that it does a good job of cleaning and mopping floors.

Another Amazon shopper purchased a Shark vac to replace a Roomba 960 that kept failing and operated too loudly. It does appear that most Shark bots have a top-mounted LIDAR scanner, so if you decide to give one of them a try, you’ll want to be mindful of how tall your furniture is.

Eufy may not be one of the first robot vacuum alternatives that come to mind (if the company even comes to mind at all), but we’d be remiss to pass over the manufacturer. Owned by Anker Innovations and based in Shenzhen, China, Eufy launched in 2016, and its bot vacs have appeared on numerous best-of roundups. The brand is also among the top robot vacuum makers recommended by Consumer Reports. Prices start around $200 for units like the Eufy L60, and go up to $900 for flagship bots like the Eufy Omni S1 Pro.

One Eufy feature we’d like to draw attention to is the 3D MatrixEye you’ll find on some of the brand’s premium bot vacs. This AI-assisted, camera-based navigation system combines infrared technology and an RGB camera to deliver cutting-edge navigation, mapping, and object avoidance. And when it comes to powerful cleaning, models like the Eufy Omni E28 deliver up to 20,000Pa of suction, on top of mopping capabilities.

Considering the competition is always evolving and discounting prices, it’s hard to say which robot vacuum maker has the best prices on the market. That said, Eufy robots generally offer great value for money, especially with their entry-level models.

Based in Suzhou, China, Dreame’s renowned robot vacs are growing increasingly popular in the U.S. Founded in 2017, it’s also one of the fresher companies on our list, but don’t let its new-kid-on-the-block status deter you – Dreame vacs are popular, well-rated, and packed with the kind of cleaning tech that allows the brand to compete with iRobot and other bot makers.

The Dreame X50 Ultra is one of the brand’s flagship vacuums that is known to deliver premium cleaning. And now that the X60 Max Ultra (the new flagship) is on the market, you can find the X50 Ultra selling for a huge discount. The X50 introduced the retractable, top-mounted LIDAR sensor, a returning feature for the X60 Max that allows the bot to navigate under furniture with ease.

The X60 Max also delivers up to 35,000Pa of suction – compared to the X50’s 20,000Pa suction – and is Dreame’s thinnest robot vac to date. At $1,700, it’s one of the brand’s priciest products, too. But if you’re not willing to drop that kind of money, Dreame has more affordable robot vacuums to choose from as well.

Last up on our list is a brand called Ecovacs, a company that has been around since the late ’90s. Headquartered in Suzhou, Ecovacs has garnered a solid reputation for making great robot vacuums, as well as robotic window-washing products like the WINBOT W2S Omni.

When it comes to affordability, Ecovacs makes some of the cheapest robot vacs on the market, with models like the DEEBOT T8 costing as little as $170. If you’re just looking for a vacuum that’ll manage lighter messes in between cleanups with an upright vac, the T8 has got what it takes. Of course, you can spend upwards of $1,000 as well to get into something like the X11 OmniCyclone. This flagship bot features bagless dirt disposal, as well as a built-in AI assistant called YIKO.

Ecovacs may not receive the same kind of fanfare as brands like iRobot or Roborock, but we still think they’re a bot vac maker you should pay attention to — especially if you’re looking to score a great deal.

We want to make something abundantly clear: the iRobot Roomba lineup is still a fantastic robot vacuum choice. Our roundup of Roomba robot vacuum alternatives was assembled because we just wanted to put the spotlight on some other companies that make great vacuum products. When selecting brands and bot vac models, we stuck to reliable manufacturers that receive plenty of user feedback, as well as professional hands-on reviews.