Independent home automation guide

Let the robots
handle the boring stuff.

Honest reviews of robot vacuums, smart home gear, and automation tools — ranked for people who want results, not projects.

Browse picksFor renters →

Vacuums

The best robot vacuums tested and reviewed. From budget picks to premium flagships, we find the ones worth buying.

Security

Cameras, sensors, and smart locks that actually keep your home safe — without monthly fees.

Smart Home

Hubs, controllers, and the glue that ties your smart home together. Platform-agnostic picks.

Lawn Care

Let a robot mow your lawn. We read the testing on the latest autonomous mowers so you don't have to.

Renting? We've got you.

Smart home automation that works in rentals. No drilling, no permanent installs, no landlord drama. Everything we recommend is removable.

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Editor's Picks

Best Vacuum

iRobot Roomba j7+Best Value
4.3 (15,200)

$449

Make it easy: It vacuums your floors daily and uses a camera to steer around shoes, cords, and pet accidents instead of plowing through them. When it's done, it empties itself into the Clean Base. You swap the bag about every two months and otherwise forget it exists. No subscription required for any feature.
No subscription requiredRenter-safe
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Best Camera

Eufy SoloCam S340Best Overall
4.4 (4,200)

$120

Make it easy: Mount it outside where it gets decent sun and the built-in solar panel keeps it charged indefinitely. Two lenses give you a 3K wide-angle view plus 2K telephoto with 8x zoom for faces and plates. It pans 360 degrees to follow people and records everything to local storage. No monthly fees, no batteries to swap.
No subscription requiredRenter-safe
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Best Smart Lock

SwitchBot Lock ProBest Overall
4.4 (2,800)

$119

Make it easy: Stick it over your existing deadbolt with adhesive, no drilling or landlord conversations needed. It unlocks automatically when your phone is nearby and locks when you leave. Add the Hub Mini for remote access and voice control through Alexa, Google, or Apple Watch. When you move out, peel it off and your door is back to normal.
No subscription requiredRenter-safe
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