Advertisement
Home Shopping Buyers guides

Automate your cleaning on a budget with one of these top-rated robot vacuums under $500

Low-effort, low cost.
Best cheap robot vacuum under $500 Australia: The Roborock Q7T Plus on sale for less than $399 in October 2025.Roborock
Our editors handpick everything we recommend. We may receive revenue for sharing this content or when you shop through our links. Read more here

Do you have a robot vacuum? It seems just about everyone I know either has one or wants one – including me. But they’re not always cheap – as someone who writes about shopping and household appliances for work, I am very aware of the fact that some of the best robot vacuums cost upwards of $1500 (some are more than double that).

Advertisement

The good news is that you can find cheap robot vacuums that get the job done for you. And in a busy household with a budget, sometimes that’s just what we want.

So whether you’re keeping an eye on your money, or just want a more entry-level model before investing in a premium one, here we have rounded up some of the best cheap robot vacuums based on features including suction power, mapping and app features, warranties and price. We’ve also focused on robot vacuums priced under $500, or close to that price, including some on sale now.

Top 5 cheap robot vacuums October 2025

  1. Best robot vacuum on sale for under $500: Roborock Q7T Plus, $998 $399 at Amazon
  2. Best affordable robot vacuum: Dreame D10s, $499 $199 at Amazon
  3. Best for cleaning settings: Kogan SmarterHome LX16, $359 (or $319 for FIRST members) at Kogan
  4. Best sale robot vac with a long warranty: Ecovacs Deebot N20, $749 $448 at Amazon
  5. Best cheap robot vacuum with obstacle avoidance: Lefant M1 robot vacuum and mop, $364.95 $331.95 at Amazon

Best robot vacuums under $500 in Australia

Roborock Q7T+ Robot Vacuum & Mop

01

Roborock Q7T Plus

$998 $399 at Amazon

Best robot vacuum on sale for under $500

The Roborock Q7T+ is a powerful robot vacuum and mop combo that takes the hassle out of keeping your floors spotless, with navigation and 3D mapping, 10,000Pa suction power and anti-tangle brushes. With a detachable mop, you can use it to vacuum separately, or do a vacuum and mop at the same time for cleaning that suits your home.

“Pretty amazing robovac if you’re looking for something in this price range,” one Australian customer shared in a 5-star review on Amazon, where it’s one of the best-selling robo vacs (ranked #2 when I checked). “It doesn’t have the auto water drain functionality like the top tier robo vacuum mops but it cleans our tiled floor pretty well. The suction is really strong and it maps our house perfectly.”

Key features:

  • 10,000Pa suction power
  • LiDAR navigation maps and remembers your home’s layout
  • Includes a JawScrapers Comb anti-tangle main brush and an anti-tangle side brush
  • Detachable mop to vacuum and mop simultaneously
  • Up to 150 minutes running time
  • Auto-empty dock with 2.7l dust-bag
  • 1-year warranty

Also available at:

Dreame D10s robot vacuum cleaner and mop

02

Dreame D10s robot vacuum cleaner and mop

$499 $199 at Amazon

Best affordable robot vacuum

The Dreame D10s is a budget-friendly robot vacuum and mop from one of the leading vacuum cleaner brands in Australia. This entry-level model is packed with convenient features, including advanced laser navigation, multi-floor mapping, 5000Pa suction and custom scheduling, this robotic cleaning marvel effortlessly vacuums your home. And when your hard floors need a deeper clean, just attach the mopping pad.

“You won’t be disappointed with the vacuuming and mopping ability of this base model robot vac. It does a great job of mapping your house,” one Australian customer shared in a detailed 5-star review on Amazon that even includes a video of the vacuum in action.

Key features:

  • 5000Pa suction power picks up dust, debris and pet hair with ease
  • LiDAR navigation accurately maps your home for efficient cleaning
  • Up to 280 minutes of runtime, with auto-docking when battery runs low
  • Intuitive app allows customised cleaning schedules, no-go zones and multi-floor mapping
  • Voice control via Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri for hands-free operation
  • 1-year warranty

Also available at:

Advertisement
Kogan SmarterHome LX16 Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop with Auto-Empty Dock

03

Kogan SmarterHome LX16 robot vacuum cleaner and mop

$359 (or $319 for FIRST members) at Kogan

Best for cleaning settings

Kogan’s SmarterHome LX16 robot vacuum and mop gives you a huge range of automated and custom settings, including five cleaning modes and four suction modes. Its high precision laser also generates and saves your home’s floor plan, with the added benefit of you being able to zone areas and create virtual “walls” so it won’t mop your carpet (but will vacuum it).

Priced at just $319 for Kogan FIRST members, and a still cheap $359 for non-members, this model has a solid 4.51-star average rating from over 540 customers.

“Does the job efficiently, navigates all the rooms without any issues. You can easily tell where it has vacuumed and seems to have a logic to the areas it is vacuuming. Doesn’t quite get close enough to the edges of the room, but I guess this would be similar to most of these robot vacuums. Very impressed,” one customer shared in a 5-star review from September 2025.

Key features:

  • 4000Pa suction power and auto-empty docking station
  • 360° intelligent laser navigation and mapping
  • Five cleaning modes (automatic, partition, zig-zag, spot, edge cleaning) and four suction modes (silent, normal, turbo, max)
  • Washable HEPA filter captures up to 99.97% of fine dust
  • Kogan SmarterHome app controls let you set zones, virtual walls and cleaning schedules
  • Voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant
  • 1-year warranty
ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop

04

Ecovacs Deebot N20 robot vacuum cleaner and mop

$749 $448 at Amazon

Best on-sale robot vacuum with a long warranty

On sale, the Ecovacs Deebot N20 is an affordable and powerful robotic cleaner for your home, with 8000Pa suction power that picks up dust, dirt and pet hair from hard floors and carpets. The intelligent TrueMapping navigation system also ensures thorough coverage by systematically mapping your space and planning an efficient cleaning path. Plus it has a 2-year warranty compared to most models that have a 1-year warranty.

“It does a perfect job every time,” one customer shared in a very detailed 5-star review on Amazon that includes a video and update after a month of use.

“It’s a great value robot vacuum that rolls around my home smoothly and picks up everyday dirt without any hassle (so much pet hair i don’t see !!!),” another customer shared in a review on the Ecovacs website. “While it doesn’t have fancy features like voice commands or advanced mapping, it’s definitely made my regular cleaning routine simpler and more convenient.”

Key features:

  • 8000Pa strong suction power for deep cleaning
  • TrueMapping technology for precise navigation and mapping across multiple levels
  • 400ml dust bin and 220ml water tank
  • ZeroTangle brush design prevents hair tangling
  • Up to 300 minutes of runtime on a single charge
  • 2-year warranty

Also available at:

Lefant M1 robot vacuum cleaner and mop

05

Lefant M1 robot vacuum and mop

$364.95 $331.95 at Amazon

Best cheap robot vacuum for obstacle avoidance

Lefant has made a name for itself in the robo vac space with more than five different models on Amazon’s best-seller list for Robot Vacuums. The M1 has long been a favourite budget model, with impressive navigation and obstacle avoidance features at this price-point – it has a scanning range of up to 15 metres and an anti-collision infrared sensor that can detect obstacles in multiple directions. Plus 5500Pa suction power, two side brushes and a floating roller brush, and customised cleaning functions alongside it’s automated settings.

“What a gamechanger this product has turned out to be,” one verified Australian customer wrote in a detailed 5-star review on Amazon.

“It effectively maps all 3 levels of my house and vacuums each room sequentially and methodically, not just in random patters like other cheaper models do. You have to turn the ‘auto save’ button on to save the map, then you can pick to use whichever map you have saved. It has a really good anti-collision system and sensors to avoid falling down stairs, goes right to the edge of the stairs which I love so it doesn’t miss a spot.”

Key features:

  • 5500Pa suction power picks up dust, debris and pet hair with ease
  • dToF (direct time of flight) navigation technology with a scanning range of up to 15 metres
  • Advanced obstacle avoidance with the built-in 6D anti-collision infrared sensor for 720-degree omnidirectional detection
  • Up to 200 minutes of runtime
  • 24-hour customer support
  • 1-year warranty
TP-LINK Tapo RV20 Max Plus Robotic Vacuum and Mop with Auto Empty Station

06

$499 at The Good Guys

Best cheap and low-maintenance robot vacuum

This robot vacmop from TP Link takes hands-off cleaning to another level, with an auto-empty dock that includes a generous 3-litre dust bag so you typically won’t have to empty it after every clean. Its 300ml water tank for mopping is also on the larger side. With MagSlim and IMU dual navigation, smart obstacle avoidance and app control, the Tapo RV20 Max Plus offers great value for a model under $500.

“Cleans and empties immaculately. The price is very good compered to more expensive brands,” one verified customer shared in a 5-star review on The Good Guys after using it for a month. Another happy customer summed it up as “one of the cheapest robot vaccum with bin, and it does get the job done. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for robo vaccum on budget.”

Key features:

  • 5300Pa suction power with HEPA filter
  • 3 Litre dust bag with bagged auto-empty design
  • MagSlim and IMU dual navigation, app control, virtual walls
  • Up to 180 minutes of runtime
  • Tapo app lets you set no-go zones, schedule cleanings and track progress
  • Compatibility with Google Assistant and Alexa
  • 1-year warranty
Advertisement
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot

07

iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot

$379 at Amazon

Best simple robot vacuum

The iRobot Roomba 105 is a budget-friendly robot vacuum that takes the hassle out of keeping your floors clean. With intense 7000Pa suction power and smart navigation features, this little cleaning machine effortlessly sucks up dirt, dust and debris from hard floors and carpets. Its app is also designed to be easy to use, allowing you to set schedules, custom cleaning and no-go zones, among other things.

Unlike many of the other robot vacuums on the market, this one doesn’t have mopping capabilities, making it suited to people who want less parts to deal with.

One Australian customer on Amazon went as far as describing it as the “Perfect Cleaning Companion” in their 5-star review, noting that it replaced a different robot vacuum and they “could not be happier”.

Key features:

  • 70x more power-lifting suction than the Roomba 600 series
  • ClearView LiDAR and PrecisionVision AI technology neatly map and clean your home
  • Multi-surface brushes tackle dirt on hard floors and carpets
  • Customizable cleaning routines via the Roomba Home app

What to consider when shopping for an affordable robot vacuum

Just like any appliance, a cheap robot vacuum will usually be one that has more basic, entry-level features than the models with higher prices. Personally, as someone who has used a robot vacuum once (about a decade ago) and really would love to not have to pull out my stick or corded vacuum as often, I’d still consider buying a model under $500. But at this price, it’s worth considering some key features to help find one that’s suitable. This includes:

  1. Suction power: Look for models with reasonable suction strength – typically 2000Pa (pascals) or higher to effectively clean carpets and hard floors.
  2. Navigation and mapping: Laser or visual mapping systems will ensure thorough coverage and efficient cleaning patterns.
  3. Battery life: Longer battery runtimes of 90 minutes or more mean the robot can clean your whole home (or as much as possible) before needing to be recharged.
  4. Dustbin capacity: Larger dustbins require less frequent emptying and auto-empty docks also add convenience.
  5. Mopping capabilities: At this price, mopping is typically with cold water, but it’s worth considering for hard floors. Ideally, a cheap robot vacuum and mop should also offer programming so it can be set to mop hard floors and only vacuum carpet.
  6. App and voice control: Most robot vacuums come with apps and many are compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri. But it is worth checking app reviews, screenshots or video demos (when available) to get a sense of how it actually functions.
  7. Brands: As well as leading brands like Roborock, Dreame, Ecovacs and iRoomba, established budget options from brands like Lefant and Kogan are also worth considering. But beyond the actual brand name, make sure you consider the customer service options and warranty support.
  8. Customer reviews: I always use reviews as a way to gauge real-world performance and value for money, which is why I’ve included them here.

Seven tips for getting the most out of a cheap robot vacuum cleaner

Some cheaper robot vacuums might not be as intuitive or straightforward as the more premium models that also have more innovative features (like the world-first retractable legs on the Dreame X50). So here are some strategies to get as much value as possible from a lower-priced model:

  1. Keep floors clear of clutter and cables to allow the vacuum to navigate freely.
  2. Schedule regular cleaning cycles so the vacuum can maintain a consistent level of cleanliness.
  3. Regularly clean the dustbin, filters, and brushes to ensure optimal suction and performance.
  4. Use the vacuum’s mapping and smart navigation features to ensure thorough coverage of your home.
  5. Take advantage of any app or voice control features for added convenience and customisation.
  6. Be patient and allow the vacuum to learn your home’s layout for more efficient cleaning over time.
  7. Contact the store or brand if you have issues and discuss your rights under Australian consumer law (there are consumer guarantees that businesses have to meet).
How do cheaper robot vacuums compare to more expensive models in terms of features and performance?

More expensive robot vacuums typically boast more advanced features and higher-end components while budget-friendly models have more basic features. But the continued development and release of new models means that cheaper ones are closing the gap in terms of performance and capabilities. Many affordable options now offer impressive suction power, intelligent navigation and mapping, and even mopping capabilities – features once reserved for premium models.
The key differences often lie in the level of customisation, app integration and specialised cleaning modes. But for most households, budget robot vacuums can provide an excellent balance of performance and value, making it easier to keep your home clean or (at the very least) stretch out the time between hands-on deep cleans.

How we select the best cheap robot vacuums on this list

The Better Homes & Gardens team has collectively assessed and tried a wide selection of robot vacuums to develop a clear set of criteria for our top picks. We regularly review the range of robot vacuums on the market in Australia, then narrow it down to ones available with our partners and consider the following criteria:

  • A price under $500, including models on sale for less than this
  • Performance and performance-related features
  • Suction power and efficiency, including Pascals (Pa), Air Watts (AW) and filtration
  • Design and collection capacity
  • Warranty coverage and maintenance
  • Reviews, including our own hands-on experiences when possible
  • Other notable features or elements, such as new technology or innovations
    We also consider availability of stock in Australia to help ensure you can get a robot vacuum that suits you.

Related articles:

Advertisement

Related stories


Advertisement
Advertisement