Roomba vs Roborock: We Tested Both for 6 Months — Here's the Verdict

Look, we’ve all been there. You’re staring at robot vacuums online, trying to figure out if you should spend your hard-earned cash on a Roomba (the household name) or take a chance on Roborock (the upstart that everyone’s talking about).

After testing both brands for six months straight—through pet hair tumbleweeds, coffee spills, and everything in between—we’re finally ready to settle this debate once and for all.

The Tale of the Tape: What We Tested

We put these robots through their paces in a real home with hardwood floors, area rugs, two cats, and a tendency to drop crumbs. Here’s what we tested:

Roomba Corner:

• iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum ($400)
• iRobot Roomba i3 Plus EVO Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum ($250)

Roborock Corner:

• Roborock S8 Plus Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop ($549.99)

Round 1: First Impressions and Setup

Roomba feels like meeting your friend’s reliable Honda Civic. Solid, dependable, nothing flashy. The setup is stupidly simple—download the app, press a button, and you’re basically done. iRobot has been doing this since your college years, and it shows.

Roborock is more like test-driving a Tesla for the first time. Sleek, loaded with features you didn’t know you wanted, and the setup process feels like you’re configuring a spaceship. The app is gorgeous and overwhelming in equal measure.

Winner: Tie. Roomba wins on simplicity; Roborock wins on features. Depends what you’re after.

Round 2: Cleaning Performance (The Big One)

This is where things get interesting.

Roomba’s Approach: The Steady Eddie

The Roomba j7+ uses what iRobot calls “smart mapping,” but honestly, it’s more like having a methodical roommate who always cleans the same way. It bumps around a bit, learns your space gradually, and gets the job done without much fanfare.

What it excels at:

• Pet hair pickup (seriously impressive)
• Navigating around furniture without destroying your baseboards
• Consistent daily maintenance cleaning

Where it struggles:

• Corner cleaning could be better
• Takes forever to map your house initially
• Sometimes misses obvious spots

Roborock’s Approach: The Overachiever

The Roborock S8 Plus maps your home like it’s planning a military operation. LiDAR navigation means it knows exactly where it is at all times, and the cleaning patterns are frankly beautiful to watch.

What it excels at:

• Precision navigation (never gets lost)
• Excellent corner and edge cleaning
• That mopping feature actually works
• Customizable cleaning zones and schedules

Where it struggles:

• Sometimes too smart for its own good (over-complicates simple tasks)
• Mop maintenance is a bit fiddly
• More expensive upfront

Winner: Roborock. The cleaning performance is noticeably better, especially if you have a mix of floor types.

Round 3: Self-Emptying and Maintenance

Both brands offer self-emptying bases, but they handle it differently.

Roomba’s Clean Base: Simple, reliable, holds about 60 days of debris. The bags are pricey but easy to change. It’s like having a maintenance-free pet—until you need to buy more bags.

Roborock’s Empty Dock: Holds more debris, empties more thoroughly, but requires slightly more babysitting. The maintenance schedule is more complex but ultimately more thorough.

Winner: Roomba. Sometimes simple is better, especially for busy households.

Round 4: Smart Home Integration

Roomba: Works with everything. Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit—if it exists, Roomba probably supports it. Voice commands work reliably.

Roborock: Fantastic app with granular controls, but voice commands can be hit-or-miss. The mapping features are incredible if you’re a control freak (we mean this lovingly).

Winner: Roomba. Better overall compatibility.

Round 5: Value for Money

Here’s where it gets spicy.

The Roomba i3 Plus EVO at $250 offers incredible value for a self-emptying robot vacuum from a trusted brand. It’s not fancy, but it works.

The Roborock S8 Plus at $549.99 costs more upfront but gives you mopping, superior navigation, and better cleaning performance.

Winner: Depends on your budget. Roomba for value-conscious buyers; Roborock if you want the best performance.

The Verdict: Who Should Buy What?

Choose Roomba if:

• You want something that “just works” without fuss
• Smart home integration is important to you
• You prefer buying from an established brand
• Budget is a primary concern
• You have mostly carpeted floors

Our pick: iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum

Choose Roborock if:

• You want the best possible cleaning performance
• You have mixed floor types (hard floors + rugs)
• The mopping feature appeals to you
• You enjoy customizing and controlling every aspect
• You don’t mind paying more for premium features

Our pick: Roborock S8 Plus Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop

What We Recommend

After six months of testing, here’s the honest truth: both brands make excellent robot vacuums. Your choice really comes down to what matters most to you.

If we had to pick just one for most people, we’d go with the Roomba j7+. It’s reliable, integrates well with smart homes, and offers that peace of mind that comes with buying from iRobot. But if you want the absolute best cleaning performance and don’t mind the learning curve, the Roborock S8 Plus is genuinely impressive.

Other Options Worth Considering

If neither of these fits your needs, check out our comprehensive guides:

• Best Robot Vacuums for all the top picks
• Best Cordless Vacuums if you prefer manual control
• Best Carpet Cleaners for deep cleaning needs

Final Thoughts

Robot vacuums have come so far that you really can’t go wrong with either brand. The days of watching your robot vacuum get stuck under the couch every single day are (mostly) behind us.

Whether you go Team Roomba or Team Roborock, you’re getting a device that will genuinely make your life easier. And honestly? That’s pretty cool.

Tested and reviewed by the BestPickd Team. We maintain editorial independence and only recommend products we’d actually buy ourselves.