Start by thinking about your floors and the tasks you want to avoid. A basic robot automates regular cleaning, while a docking station can reduce some of the work involved. Mopping is only worthwhile on compatible flooring. UFC-Que Choisir highlights that results vary depending on the floor, so check tests relevant to your home and keep a manual cleaning option for areas the robot can’t reach.
A robot is primarily designed to keep accessible floors clean on a regular basis. Your choice will then depend on your flooring and how much hands-on maintenance you’re happy to do.
If your floors are clear enough for a robot to move around, compare its results on your flooring, as well as along edges and in corners. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these areas separately as part of its testing protocol.
Look for tests involving rugs, fibres and pet hair rather than relying on the advertised suction power alone. Results on tiles won’t necessarily reflect how well a robot cleans your rugs.
Depending on the model, a self-emptying or washing station can take care of some tasks. Check what it actually does, how much space it needs and what maintenance you’ll still need to do.
Start with the surfaces you need to clean, then decide whether self-emptying and mopping make a more advanced station worthwhile in your home.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Results on different floors | Look for tests on your flooring — tiles, wood or rugs — and check performance along edges and in corners. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these surfaces separately as part of its testing protocol. | With rugs or pets at home, I want to know how well the robot picks up fibres and pet hair, not just its advertised suction power. |
| Emptying and docking station | Make sure you know the difference between a basic charging base and a self-emptying station. Check how much space it needs, whether it uses a tank or bag, and what tasks you’ll still need to do. | I’d rather empty the dustbin less often, but I’m happy to maintain the station. |
| Mopping hard floors | Check that your flooring is compatible and look for tests on stains similar to those you get at home. UFC-Que Choisir advises against using this function on solid wood floors. | If I want the robot to mop my tiled floors, I want to judge the cleaning results, not just the presence of mop pads or a station. |
| Scheduling and app | Check that the app works with your phone, find out how updates are handled and review the settings for connected features. The CNIL recommends choosing these features according to your actual needs. | To schedule cleaning, I need an app that works with my phone and privacy settings I’m comfortable with. |
| Maintenance and repair | Check how easy it is to access the brushes and tanks, what consumables are needed and whether spare parts are advertised as available. For the relevant vacuum cleaners in France, the repairability index can help you compare several aspects of repair. | I want to be able to maintain the appliance and check its repair options before choosing it. |
| Areas it can’t reach | Identify stairs, furniture and other places that will still need to be cleaned by hand. Don’t choose a robot as your only appliance without taking these areas into account. | At home, autonomous cleaning would reduce the amount of floor maintenance I need to do, but there would still be places to clean by hand. |
The stated suction power doesn’t tell you how well a robot picks up dirt on every surface. UFC-Que Choisir tests how well models collect dust, crumbs and fibres on different floors, as well as how they clean edges and corners.
Look for test results on the flooring you have most of. If you have rugs or pets, pay particular attention to how well the robot picks up fibres and pet hair.
The mopping mechanism alone doesn’t tell you how well the robot removes stains. Flooring matters too: UFC-Que Choisir advises against using the wet-cleaning function on solid wood floors.
First check that your floors are compatible, then look for mopping tests on relevant stains and flooring.
Depending on its design, a station may empty the robot or also handle water and mop pads. It takes up space and leaves you with tanks or consumables to manage.
Measure the space, check that there’s a nearby socket and find out whether the model needs a water connection. For example, Joybuy’s listing for the Narwal Flow describes a connection kit, so it’s worth checking this before installation.
Scheduling may depend on the model’s app, while brushes, tanks and other parts need regular attention. The CNIL recommends thinking about whether connected features are useful to you.
Check that the app works with your phone, find out what updates are planned and review the privacy settings. Also check the repairability index applicable in France and the information available about spare parts.
A brand can be a useful starting point when looking for models. Then compare the features and results that matter for your floors.
A robot vacuum brand whose models are worth comparing individually.
A brand with models in the robot vacuum and mop category.
A robot vacuum brand, with some models combining vacuuming and mopping.
A brand to consider when comparing robot vacuums.
The X40 Ultra Complete is included in Les Numériques’ selection of robot vacuums.
These models are designed to keep floors clean regularly with the help of a station; several also have a mopping function. If you’re looking for a basic robot or a complementary manual appliance instead, the criteria above are still important when making your decision.
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Worth considering if you want to combine vacuuming with mopping on compatible hard floors. Its name lists an Omni station, an OZMO Roller system and an advertised suction power of 16 600 Pa. This figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it picks up dirt on rugs. Check test results on your flooring and find out what’s involved in maintaining the tanks.
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This model combines vacuuming, mopping and an OMNI station for regular cleaning. Its name lists OZMO Turbo 2.0, mop pad washing at 75 °C and an advertised suction power of 25 000 Pa. To compare models, look at their results on your floors and check what station maintenance involves.
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Worth considering if reducing how often you empty the dustbin is a priority. Joybuy’s listing for the X40 Ultra Complete describes a station with automatic emptying and mop pad maintenance. You’ll still need to access the tanks and check what consumables are required. For mopping, make sure your floors are compatible and check relevant test results.
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This robot combines vacuuming and mopping for compatible floors. Its name lists 75 °C hot water cleaning, an anti-tangle function and an advertised suction power of 16 200 Pa. If you have rugs or pets, check the relevant test results rather than assuming these features guarantee good performance.
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Worth considering if you want a robot with a station so you don’t have to empty the dustbin as often. Its name lists a station, an anti-tangle function and an advertised suction power of 8 000 Pa. Before comparing maintenance with other models, check whether the station uses a dustbin or bag, and look at its results on your rugs and hard floors.
Not in every home. A robot can clean accessible floors regularly, but stairs and areas around furniture need another cleaning method. UFC-Que Choisir also points out that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the type of floor.
No. Before running a wet-cleaning cycle, check the instructions for both your flooring and the robot. UFC-Que Choisir advises against using this function on solid wood floors, in particular. On compatible flooring, tests on stains can help you decide whether mopping is worthwhile.
No. Depending on the model, it may empty the robot’s dustbin and handle some tasks involving water or mop pads, but you’ll still need to check the tanks and consumables, and carry out any scheduled maintenance.
Check that it works with your phone, find out how updates are handled and review the privacy settings. The CNIL recommends choosing connected features to suit your actual needs and checking whether you can switch off the ones you don’t use.
For a vacuum cleaner sold in France, check the repairability index that applies to the model and look for information about its parts. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition says that vacuum cleaners are among the product categories covered by the index, which takes factors such as ease of dismantling and spare-part availability into account.