11 Best Home Robots in 2024, According to Tech Experts and Engineers

Want a dog but can't handle all that fur or a rigorous walking schedule? Enter aibo, the robotic pup that doesn't shed and certainly doesn't need to go out for walks (but you can still train it to do tricks, go potty and eat virtual food)! Though it's not a replacement for a real pet, aibo has a wide range of sensors built in to help respond and react accordingly to humans, though it does require a cloud plan to store data, grow and evolve. "Its expressions were impressively life-like. Though aibo doesn't look like a real pet by any means, we were impressed with the detail and natural movements," says Rothman.

Though Astro isn't available to the general public quite yet, this robot is worth mentioning for its home monitoring and assistant capabilities, and you can request an invitation to purchase one now. Able to check on specific rooms while you're away and send activity alerts, Astro keeps an eye on everything. It can also play music, podcasts and shows, bring snacks and help you make calls or set reminders with Alexa. Don't want to hunt down your kids to tell them dinner is on the table? Leave it to Astro! It also can be integrated with a Ring Protect Pro plan for enhanced home security when you're out of town.

Concerned this Alexa on wheels will hear everything? Turning off the mics, cameras and motion is simple with a physical button, and you can program out-of-bound zones like a bedroom or bathroom.

If you have a pool in your backyard but find it a hassle to clean the floors and walls (we can't blame you), this robot from Dolphin is suitable for pools with a length up to 50 feet. According to the manufacturer, this robot filters out dirt and debris and leaves your pool clean in two hours. Though the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab hasn't tested it out yet, our pros think this is a useful tool for regular pool maintenance and upkeep.

We all know cleaning the windows can be a daunting task, but this home robot helps you reach all the hard-to-reach corners of your windows. Though our engineers haven't tested this tool out yet in the Lab, suction technology is used to stick the robot to your windows and you can then manually control it through an app to get even the hardest to reach corners. The microfiber pads, which scrub the windows gently, are washable for future use.

Ranked as one of the Good Housekeeping Institute's best robot vacuums and winner of the 2021 Good Housekeeping Cleaning Awards, this 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop can handle all sorts of floors, from bare hardwood to carpets. Our Cleaning Lab experts found the setup easy and the app a breeze, and they praised the robot's high-end features such as using sound waves to scrub and the ability to create custom cleaning schedules for individual rooms.

Home robots aren't just for helping out with household chores — they can also be a great source of education for young ones! Voted one of the Good Housekeeping Institute's best STEM toys for kids, Dash is a robotic toy that not only responds to voice commands but comes with five free apps that introduce coding and critical thinking skills through fun projects and puzzles. Able to also sing, draw and move around, there's no doubt that Dash will keep kids engaged. Rothman loves that it introduces robotics and coding to kids in an engaging, kid-friendly way and can level up with them as they acclimate to the basic functions.

This 840-piece mega set is made for LEGO lovers and children between the ages of 7 to 12 who want a taste of coding and robotics. All you have to do is download the free LEGO Boost app and you can bring to life five different robots, ranging from a rover to a guitar or cat! In addition to building robots, kids can participate in more than 60 activities found in the app and complete challenges that improve coding skills. Rothman loves that it makes coding approachable with a simple drag-and-drop interface, teaching kids all about loops and variables while simultaneously strengthening problem-solving, creativity and imaginative play skills.

Once your child grows out of this toolbox, you can upgrade to the more complex LEGO Mindstorms Robot Inventor for more unique, stimulating designs to build.

Vector 2.0 is the robot sidekick whose company you won't mind. Able to take photos, answer questions, set reminders and avoid obstacles as it navigates your home, this little robot is both delightful and entertaining and can assist you with day-to-day tasks. Vector can even react to touch and give you a fist bump if you ask and it recognizes faces and may even greet you by name, though it does require a membership subscription.

ElliQ is a home robot companion best suited for elderly folks or loved ones who are looking for a little extra support than you'd get with Alexa or Google Assistant. This voice-activated robot provides companionship, health and wellness support, entertainment and more. For instance, ElliQ is able to initiate conversations and remember context to inform future follow-up conversations, like asking how your day was. Able to build relationships, this home robot offers more than basic functions and features, though it does require a subscription.