To schedule floor cleaning while you’re away, first choose a robot vacuum that can navigate your home. Measure thresholds and the clearance beneath furniture, then note any rugs and areas to exclude. Mapping makes it easier to target specific rooms if the model offers the right settings. A station can reduce how often you need to empty the robot, but it doesn’t eliminate maintenance, while mopping is mainly suited to hard floors. Before you buy, also check the app’s terms of use.
If your robot needs to move between several rooms, navigate around furniture or avoid certain areas, check the mapping and no-go zone features offered by the model. Measure thresholds and the clearance beneath furniture separately: a map doesn’t guarantee the robot can get over or under them.
If you schedule cleaning cycles while you’re away, a self-emptying station can reduce how often you need to empty the robot’s bin. You’ll still need to maintain the station and replace the consumables specified for the model.
If you’d also like to mop hard floors, check how the robot avoids getting rugs wet and which settings are available in its app. Rug protection and app compatibility depend on the model you choose.
For scheduled cleaning, start by checking the routes your robot will need to take, then think about how much hands-on maintenance you’re happy to do between cycles. Navigation, the station, mopping and the app each meet different needs: having one feature won’t solve the other challenges.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation and access | Measure thresholds and the clearance beneath furniture; check the exact model’s climbing limit and no-go zone features. | In a home with several rooms or lots of clutter, I want the robot to reach the areas I’ve planned without getting stuck. This would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers concerned. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Find out what type of station it has, what maintenance is required and whether compatible bags, filters and brushes are available. | If I often run cycles while I’m away, I’d rather empty the bin less frequently, while knowing that the station still needs maintenance. Around 27% of consumers concerned would make reducing hands-on tasks their priority. |
| Mopping and rugs | Check which areas can be set to mop-free and, if the model offers it, how its mops can be lifted or removed. | With hard floors and rugs in the same rooms, I want to schedule mopping without getting the rugs wet. For around 20% of consumers concerned, managing these different floor coverings would be the main criterion. |
| App and data | Confirm that your phone is compatible, check the network and account requirements, and review the information provided about data and updates. | To schedule the robot remotely, I need an app that works with my equipment and a clear understanding of the connected service’s terms. This would be a priority for around 20% of consumers concerned. |
Random navigation may be suitable in an open space if you don’t need to target specific rooms or set no-go zones. In a home with separate rooms, look instead at the mapping features actually offered by the model and its app. Either way, prepare the floor before starting a cycle while you’re out.
A figure in Pa won’t tell you whether the robot can fit under your furniture, get over your thresholds or avoid objects on the floor. Que Choisir also assesses results on different floor coverings rather than drawing conclusions from a single figure.
Measure the clearances and compare them with the specifications for the exact model. Also check which navigation settings will be useful in your rooms.
A self-emptying station transfers dust into a bag or container, but parts that come into contact with dirt still need attention.
Check the manual to find out what maintenance is required and which consumables are compatible.
Depending on the model, you may also need to replace bags, filters or brushes. For a mopping system, you’ll also need to maintain the mops and manage the water.
Whether the mops can be lifted or removed depends on the model; the height and material of your rugs also matter. Detecting a floor covering doesn’t, by itself, guarantee that it will be protected.
Check the stated method of protection and whether you can exclude rugs from mopping cycles.
Maps, schedules and some object-recognition features may depend on having a compatible phone, Wi‑Fi and an account. For a connected device, you should also review the information about data.
Before choosing, check that the exact model is compatible, read its privacy policy and review the manufacturer’s guidance on updates. The CNIL recommends using a strong password to protect access to your account.
These ranges offer useful points of comparison for mapping, stations and apps. Check the features of the exact model you’re interested in: they aren’t automatically available on every robot from a brand.
The range includes mapped robots and models with self-emptying stations. These are worth considering if you want to schedule cleaning by area and empty the bin less often.
The DEEBOT range includes robots with mapping, no-go zones and different types of station.
Depending on the model, Roomba ranges combine an app and mapping with emptying or mopping bases.
The X-PLORER range includes mapped models, versions with self-emptying stations and models with mopping features.
The Jet Bot ranges include connected models with stations and features for managing obstacles or rugs.
These models combine scheduled vacuuming with mapping, mopping or a self-emptying station, depending on the product. Compare their features with the access points and floor coverings in your home, then check the app requirements and maintenance needs for each model.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule vacuuming with a station that collects dust. The description lists 8,000 Pa suction, 180 minutes of operating time, mopping and a bagless station.
The stated 10 mm mop lift doesn’t confirm compatibility with every rug. Compare this height with your floor coverings and check the thresholds the robot needs to cross.
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Consider this model if you want to schedule vacuuming and mopping with a multi-function station. The product name lists 16,600 Pa suction and the OZMO Roller, ZeroTangle 3.0 and TruEdge 2.0 features. It also mentions hot-water mop washing and hot-air mop drying.
You’ll need to manage the water and maintain the station’s components. Check thresholds and rugs, as well as the account and network requirements for using the app.
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For scheduled vacuuming and mopping, this model comes with an OMNI station. The product name lists 25,000 Pa suction and mop washing at 75 °C. These figures describe the product, not the results you’ll get on every floor.
Allow for filling the clean-water tank, emptying the dirty water and maintaining the brushes and filters. Check the robot’s climbing limits and rug-handling features against your home.
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Worth considering if you want to set cleaning zones and empty the bin less often. The product is listed with LiDAR navigation, app control, a mopping function, an automatic emptying station and 8,000 Pa suction.
The station uses a bag, so check which consumables are compatible. Also measure your thresholds and check the rug settings before scheduling a cycle while you’re away.
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Consider this model if you want to schedule vacuuming by room and reduce manual emptying. The product name lists LiDAR navigation, mopping, a self-emptying station and 8,000 Pa suction.
The product details specify a 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi network for the app, so check that it’s suitable for your set-up. Also check the thresholds in your home and how the robot handles rugs.
No. How easily it moves around depends on the layout of your home and the limits of the model. Measure thresholds and the clearance beneath furniture, then check the stated height and climbing capability for the model you’re considering. Que Choisir also reports different vacuuming results for different floor coverings.
No. It can reduce how often you need to empty the bin by transferring dust to a bag or container, but it doesn’t eliminate maintenance. Check the manual for guidance on cleaning the brushes and filters and, for a mopping station, managing the water and mops.
Treat it as a complement to regular cleaning, not as a guarantee that it will tackle every stain. Que Choisir highlights potential limitations of robot mops. Before using the robot unattended, check its mopping settings and how it protects rugs.
Check that it supports the exact generation of robot and your phone, then review the Wi‑Fi and account requirements, available features, privacy policy and update information. iRobot notes, for example, that its new app is only compatible with certain series sold after March 2025.
Yes. ADEME lists robot vacuums among the appliances covered by this index in France. Check the index shown for the model you’re considering, and separately check the availability of its parts and consumables. The index doesn’t measure cleaning performance.