4 Robot Mops for Spotless Floors and a Hassle-Free Life (2024)

When it comes to basic robot mops, meaning models that can't vacuum, the Bissell ReadyClean A3 is the standout. The main reason is the little home (technically called a docking station) that comes with it. When the ReadyClean A3 is done with its chores, it navigates back to its station, switches out its dry or wet pad, and charges itself until the next use. The docking station is eminently practical, but it also gives the mop a nice little place to be stored.

As for actual performance, the Bissell also excels. It can dry sweep, and it can wet mop. The squared-off design of the front makes it better than most at getting into corners and up along baseboards. It's got incredible battery life, often going at it for several hours before heading back to its station. Plus, its cleaning was always thorough, never leaving missed spots around the apartment.

There are two downsides, however, and both are inherent to this style of robot mop. First, because of the way the pads are loaded in the front, it doesn't handle floor thresholds very well. We have only one in our apartment, so it wasn't a huge pain, but your situation may be different. Second, without a vacuum function, you still need to do half the work yourself, whether sweeping or vacuuming, before it runs. The ReadyClean A3 can "sweep" with dry pads, but truthfully, that's more like dusting before a proper mopping.

For a budget robot mop, iRobot's Braava Jet M6 is the way to go. It's very similar to the Bissell and has good battery life, a great smart mapping system, and useful app controls. It can dry sweep and wet mop and is incredibly effective at both. And it automatically returns to its charging dock. This thing is a terrific little robot mop.

So what makes it worse than the Bissell? Mainly it's two things. First, it doesn't get into corners quite as well as the Bissell does. It's a bit bulkier up front. Instead of moving flush with your baseboard, it presses up against it a few times until it feels it's gotten everything it needs. Second is that it doesn't change out its own cleaning pads. This isn't a huge inconvenience since it takes all of 15 seconds to do it yourself, but it's something to note.

Okay, now that we've shown you two mop options, let's be real: Robot vacuum/mop combos are really where you should spend your money. Robot mops can "sweep," but it's more like dusting. Before every mopping, you still need to sweep or vacuum manually; otherwise, your little guy is just going to spread the dirt and dust all around your home. A hybrid vacuum/mop gets rid of that issue.

Among vacuum/mop combos, this Roborock Q Revo is our favorite at the moment. It's so clearly our favorite that we even included it in our most recent Esquire Home Awards.

What makes it special is that it does everything it needs to do to the highest degree. It's smart—it has accurate mapping, voice-assistant controls, an easy-to-use app for setting cleaning schedules, and floor detection. It's a sensational mop. It vacuums pretty well, and it has separate emptying chambers for each in its docking station. But maybe best of all, it uses hot air to dry its mop portion, so you don't get a mildewy smell around the station.

The list of downsides is small. First, you've got the price tag—steep, yes, but considering that this takes all of your floor cleaning out of your hands, it's worth it. Second, while it's a good vacuum, it's not the best. If you're interested in a robot vacuum, Dyson's new model is the cream of the crop.

If the price tag on that Roborock makes your eyes water, this Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+ can get you most of the way there. It's a good vacuum with great smart capabilities. It's one of the best available for smart mapping, allowing you to set invisible walls and schedule cleanings to fully optimize your floor maintenance. Plus, it's excellent at recognizing transitions from carpet to hardwood.

The downside is that it's not as good a mop as the Roborock or any of the dedicated mops on this list. It's more of a vacuum capable of mopping. It doesn't use disposable or washable pads, and it doesn't have the Roborock's self-drying function. You'll need to keep vigilant about preventing mildew.

Don't just trust our picks; see what we looked for.

Smart mapping: All of these models have great smart technology, and most smart mops are more advanced than smart vacuums. But generally, we were looking for a device that could mop room by room and be controlled with virtual walls.

Self-emptying: This is partially dependent on the mopping mechanism. Some don't need emptying; for example, the Ecovacs uses more of a brush-style mopping technique. The two mop-only options use pads similar to those in a Swiffer. The Roborock, which takes first place here for the heated dry mode, uses spinning mop pads. Generally, we like a model that cleans itself or uses disposable pads.

Surfaces: Honestly, if you have a lot of rugs in your home, we recommend a robot vacuum that doubles as a mop. It's easier than having two machines, a robot mop and a handheld vacuum.

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