Looking for love on campus? Here are the best dating apps for college students.

We love a good party as much as anyone. But the logistics of trying to get to know someone in a packed basement over blaring trap music while someone does body shots in the corner are a bit challenging. It’s not exactly the ideal environment for romance. (Although maybe you’re not looking for romance? Party on, friend.)

Dating apps are the saving grace of college students everywhere. Whether you’re serious about finding someone or just looking for a quick hookup, you may not need to look further than the right app. After all, everyone’s doing it.

At this point there are dating apps for every niche you can think of; whether you’re into gaming, geek culture, getting high, or focusing on your career, there are people seeking the same things you are. As a college student, you have specific needs and probably don’t want to wade through all the older people trying to get married ASAP. You need dating apps that are specifically suited for other college-aged people.

Online dating 101

It probably seems obvious, but the first rule of online dating is to just be yourself. It’s all too easy to pretend to be someone you’re not online, but that kind of catfishing game won’t result in a true connection. By being yourself and presenting who you are accurately and honestly, you open yourself up to the possibility of a great relationship with someone who likes you just the way you are. And isn’t that the whole point of dating?

Don’t be afraid to make the first move. Forget all those outdated rules that say a man is supposed to make the first move or that a woman can’t pay on the first date. Instead, focus on finding an equal partner who helps support your goals, wants to see you succeed, and has dreams of their own.

Get a bit more creative with your messaging than the standard “Hey.” If you’re looking to connect with someone on campus, then open up the conversation with a question about them and a little bit about yourself. Messaging someone is more discussion group than lecture hall — it’s about passing the conversation back and forth. 

Once you decide to meet up — which is the entire point, after all — stay open. We often come up with an idea for how someone will be after meeting them online, and it’s rare that our expectations sync up with reality. Allow yourself to really get to know this person for who they are rather than who you thought they would be before you make up your mind.

That said, it’s crucial that you’re honest. If you really don’t feel a connection, then do the right thing and tell them. A good line to use is something like, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you but I think there are probably better people out there for both of us.” Not only will they appreciate your candor, but it will alleviate that post-date awkwardness of wondering where you stand. Ghosting sucks for everyone. Just be upfront and save the both of you a lot of discomfort and uncertainty.

On the other hand, what if you really do like them after finally meeting in person? Then what? Set up your next date while you’re still hanging out. That old rule about waiting three days to call? It’s dead. RIP outdated dating “rules.” Make plans to do something low-key, and for the first few dates make sure the plans are to meet in a public place. (A retro arcade or the student union could be a good, low-stakes meeting place. Bowling is always a good choice, too.) The benefits of making a date to do an activity cannot be overstated. It provides you with ample conversation starters and gives you the opportunity to get a little competitive and joke around. Some playful teasing goes a long way. And remember: It’s all about having fun.

SEE ALSO:

Best dating sites for introverts, wallflowers, and anyone hesitant to try online dating

So what are the best dating apps for college students?

Our best picks for college students are the following: We like OkCupid for its inclusivity, ease of use, and fun algorithms. Tinder also gets our stamp of approval, as the swipe-happy, low-touch app makes finding people nearby a breeze. Friendsy deserves a shoutout as well for how it keeps the dating pool limited to other college students.

Read on to discover which other dating apps for college students made the cut. We’ve narrowed down the list to the 10 best online dating apps for whatever kind of college experience you want — here they are:

The best online dating sites for geeks, nerds, sci-fi buffs, and more

Mashable’s readers (and writers) are known for being OBSESSIVE about the things we love. You may say we kind of geek out about things. Okay, fine, we *are* geeks. Whatever. Geeks are awesome.

But sometimes, awesome can use a bit of assistance in the dating department. Not because there aren’t enough geeks out there — how do you think Avengers: Endgame became the highest-grossing film of all time? (Thanks to geeks, that’s how.) Dating as a geek requires combing through normies and too much dating through the same group of locals. For women, it can involve a lot of creepy guys who want their manic pixie dream girl. For men, it can involve a lot of simply trying to not be that guy. If you’re in the majority of geeks who are a little bit introverted, dating can be hella intimidating.

News flash: Loving sci-fi and being *in love* are not mutually exclusive.

SEE ALSO: Which dating app should you use? This guide can help you figure it out.

We compared the internet’s top full-on dating sites, trendy swiping apps, and geek-specific sites to find the ones where geeks can express themselves and find that twin flame. Hidden in millions and millions of users, you could find that person who you can chat with for hours about how bad the Game of Thrones ending was or someone who dreams of the perfect couples cosplay. Maybe you’re a geek in the streets and a freak in the sheets — there are plenty of apps where geeks can just find a hookup, too.

What should I consider when choosing a dating site?

What are you interested in finding?: Are you looking for like-minded friends, casual hookups, or do you want to find a serious relationship? Whatever it is that you’re looking for — there’s a site for it, but settling on your expectations is key.

Site popularity: Niche dating sites are great for narrowing down your potential matches — but if there are barely any users, trying to find quality matches can become tedious. Look for a happy medium between your personal interests and site popularity to ensure you have plenty of options.

Security: Dating apps and websites are great — but like everything else online, you have to be careful. If you want to avoid potential catfishing or other scams, look for features like social media integration, photo verification, and the ability to block any unsavory members.

Budget: Do you want to stick to free websites and apps or do you have the budget (and interest) to pay for some extra bells and whistles? You can absolutely get away with opting for free services but a couple of dollars per month to speed up the process might be worth considering.

So what are the best dating sites for geeks?

Our top picks include OkCupid, which prides itself on being extremely gender-inclusive and a space safe for everyone, and match, which has a tried-and-true algorithm and a huge user base. Geek-specific dating sites that aren’t totally outdated and crappy are few and far between, but we were impressed by Gamer Dating.

Read on to discover what else made it into our list, and be sure to hit the gray arrow in the bottom of each card to expand the text and read all of what we had to say. Happy dating, nerds.

The best dating apps for lesbians and gay women

Online dating as a lesbian, for the most part, still involves having your space invaded by straight people.

The heteronormative weirdness got so alienating that lesbians began turning to TikTok as a means of meeting other single lesbians — turns out, it’s a damn good matchmaker.

But it’s unrealistic to expect a social media app to work like a dating app for everyone. (It’s hard for some of us to comprehend, but not everyone spends every free minute on TikTok.) Lesbians who have exhausted their local romantic options are still going to want to see who else is out there.

For much of current history, some people have acted as though lesbians didn’t exist outside of porn and Ellen DeGeneres, while jokes swirled about how girls only turned to dating women if they had a bad experience with a man. (Yikes.)

Even in 2021, these tone-deaf assumptions still find a way to rain on the lesbian online dating experience. If it’s not a man appearing in your feed when you specifically marked that you’re searching for women, it’s matching with a woman just to be hit with the classic “My boyfriend and I are looking for a threesome.”

SEE ALSO:

How to navigate dating apps when you’re bisexual

There’s one big problem: The apps targeted toward the straights are still where most of the queer users are, too. Though women-only apps like HER are gaining traction fast, they can still be a bit of a ghost town… or a scammer’s paradise. You just have to decide whether you’d rather deal with the quirks of Tinder and have more options to swipe through, or be fine with coming across the same profile three times as long as it’s not a man.

A note on what didn’t make the list

A decent number of dating sites and apps specifically for lesbians do exist, but most are plagued with the same issues: Either their sole purpose is to sexualize lesbians and aren’t really meant for genuine connection at all, or their lax security protocols make it way too easy for ill-intentioned men to sign up pretending to be women. (Creeps are drawn to porn-y names like Pink Flirt.) If you’re wondering why we left most of those so-called female-only apps out, that’s why.

It’s the beginning of the end for YouTube Originals

YouTube is reducing its original programming division following the departure of Global Head of Originals Susanne Daniels.

Launched in 2016, YouTube Originals began life as a subscription service streaming ad-free series and films. However, faced with an already-crowded video-on-demand field, the Google-owned video platform soon changed tack.

In 2019, YouTube all but wiped its $12-per-month Premium slate clean, offering up several projects to other outlets; Cobra Kai landed on Netflix, On Becoming a God In Central Florida was acquired by Showtime, and Step Up aired on Starz. Instead, the company pivoted to original—free—unscripted content like music, celebrity and creator-focused originals, and educational programming.

Even those are ending soon, though, according to YouTube’s Robert Kyncl. In a Tuesday tweet, the chief business officer announced the end of YouTube Originals and its “award-winning” slate—save for a handful of in-progress programs. “YTO played an integral role in growing the YouTube creator economy,” he wrote, adding that more than $30 billion has been paid to creators, artists, and media companies over the last three years.

“However, with rapid growth comes new opportunities and now our investments can make a greater impact on even more creators when applied towards other initiatives,” Kyncl explained. Daniels’ exit also contributed to the decision to reduce YT Originals.

“What an exciting and tremendous experience I’ve had working to create meaningful programming for global users of all ages and backgrounds,” Daniels said in a statement published by Variety. “I’m so proud that our YTO content could contribute to the ongoing growth and success of this remarkable platform, and I look forward to new adventures ahead.”

YouTube plans to honor its commitment to already-contracted shows in progress, but, moving forward, will only pursue programs that are part of its Black Voices and YouTube Kids funds.

BeReal is what ‘casual Instagram’ wants to be

BeReal takes casual posting to the next level. 

Founded in 2020 by French entrepreneur Alexis Barreyat, BeReal was made in response to the current social media landscape. It’s not like Instagram, where users can curate their feeds and edit their images. BeReal doesn’t allow you to curate. There are no filters. It simply gives users a random two-minute window each day to post one photo. When you post, the app uses both your front and rear-facing camera, giving your friends a full picture of what you’re doing in the moment — not unlike the now-defunct Frontback app. With BeReal, there is no way to lie about where you are or what you’re doing. You can’t project a picture-perfect image.

Screenshot of the BeReal notification you get once a day.

Once you receive the notification, you only have two minutes to post a photo on the app.
Credit: Screenshot: BeReal

“BeReal won’t make you famous,” reads the description of BeReal in the App Store, “if you want to become an influencer you can stay on TikTok and Instagram.”

Instagram’s shift towards monetization and the accompanying changes to its algorithm have left its users wanting a feed filled with photos of their friends, rather than one riddled with ads, paid influencer content, and recommended posts. To combat inauthenticity on the app, there’s been a move to “make Instagram casual” by posting photo dumps, or slice-of-life pics. But posting casually doesn’t solve the problem either. Some say “casual Instagram” is an even greater performance. Is anything really candid on Instagram? Rather than posing for a cute photo at a party, you have to pretend like you’re not posing for one at all to make your entire life fit a “vibe” or an aesthetic. 

SEE ALSO:

Instagram is in its flop era

This is where BeReal comes in. 

I only have a handful of close friends on the app, and they’re all people who might follow my finsta or my close friends story on Instagram. A scroll through my BeReal feed today shows me sitting at my laptop at work, three other friends in front of their laptops, another thrift shopping, and a former classmate drinking coconut water. The appeal of BeReal is in its immediacy. When you get the alert on your phone, you only have two minutes to capture an image, and you never know when it will drop. 

One of my BeReal posts.

An example of one of my posts on BeReal, featuring some freshly baked bread.
Credit: Elena Cavender

When BeReal occurs out of work hours, my feed is only slightly more interesting. You might instead catch me on my evening walk or reading The Custom of the Country. The appeal of the BeReal feed isn’t the content — it’s that you like your friends and care about what they’re doing. 

SEE ALSO:

How to use BeReal, an app asking you to stop curating your social media

“It’s cute to see what your friends are up to,” Juliette Decugis, a 21-year-old UC Berkeley student from Paris, tells Mashable. According to Decugis, the app is “huge in France,” where it launched. She started using it in July, and like me, only shares her content with close friends. “I don’t add people I’m not close with,” Decugis says. 

Isabel, a 22-year-old analyst in Boston, agrees. “I like BeReal because there’s no need to add acquaintances or friends of friends. I only add the people I am fully comfortable with sharing random, unfiltered moments with. Because it’s such a small community there’s always a ton of good banter on the daily posts,” she explains. 

And investors are listening.  By June 2021, the social media app had raised $30 million in Series A funding. From March to July the app grew from 10,000 to over 400,000 daily users. In November. The Hoya, Georgetown’s student newspaper, reported “BeReal is the newest social media craze to take hold of Georgetown.” 

While BeReal is still in its infancy (as of July 2021, its numbers don’t compare to its rivals), everyone I spoke to who uses the app loves it. “I only have four or five hometown friends on there,” Kelly Young, a 22 year-old senior at Drexel University, tells Mashable. “[They] all live far away from me. BeReal is a really fun way for us to keep in touch, and it’s the most realistic insight into what our lives are like now.” 

If you miss the notification, you are allowed to post late, but you are unable to see your friends’ images until you post your own. By doing so, the app avoids the issue of lurking as well. You are forced to post content in order to see content. Additionally, the app has a more involved version of liking. You cannot just double tap to like a photo, in order to respond to a friends’ content, you must take a reaction selfie or comment. 

The posting-once-a-day model also means you only have to check the app once per day, and there’s no anxiety over missing content because everyone you follow is only posting once a day, too. Therefore, it isn’t a time suck the way that Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok currently are. 

Not only does BeReal build upon the photo sharing feed of Instagram, but it also incorporates the ephemeral nature of Snapchat by resetting your feed daily. Like Snapchat, the app holds your previous posts in “Memories” that only you have access to.


[It’s] a really fun way for us to keep in touch, and it’s the most realistic insight into what our lives are like now.

The app does pose some privacy concerns. It automatically posts your location with your photo unless you disable the feature in your settings, and it has its own version of Snapmaps. By having you post every day, the app can accumulate data that paints a picture of your habits, not unlike its competitors. The app promises not to sell your data to third parties, but it’s raised some concerns among its user base. 

“It’s strange because it shares your exact location, like your coordinates,” Alisha Pandya, a 21-year-old UC Berkeley student, tells Mashable. “It’s not just your city or general location, but it’s your house on the map. So the app is kind of suspect.” 

But it hasn’t stopped college students from downloading it. BeReal is already a hit in France, where it currently ranks in the top 10 of most-downloaded social networking apps in the App Store; in the U.S., it’s steadily rising through the ranks of the top 100. Last week, it was the 80th most-downloaded social networking app, and now it’s ranked 61st. It’s gained traction through savvy marketing and word of mouth, enlisting TikTok and college ambassadors to help popularize the app. 

Perhaps the appeal of an entirely new social media platform is that it hasn’t been overrun with nosy friends of friends, old coworkers, and celebrities. Your feed still feels intimate, and in today’s social media landscape that seems radical. Because as soon as you start seeing unfiltered selfies from people you barely know, an app loses all of its charm and potential.

Build-A-Bear wants to help you get laid

We knew those Build-A-Bear people had to be freaks.

The mall and children’s birthday party mainstay has launched a new product line with a description that frankly just sounds kind of dirty. “HeartBox” is a series of gift boxes that contain tchotchkes and, duh, a bear, that aren’t meant for Build-A-Bear’s usual customers — which, please God, are usually kids. Instead, Build-A-Bear describes the line as an “adult gifting brand.”

Sorry, it can’t just be us. “Adult gifting” makes it sound like Build-A-Bear is launching a weird line of bear-themed sex products, right? RIGHT? We know, we know, it’s probably only differentiating that these boxes are for “adults” because, again, those usual customers are (HOPEFULLY) children. 

But c’mon, they gotta know what “adult entertainment” means! When you’re in the business of making bears (and not, ya know, bears), it’s on you to watch the innuendo, Build-A-Bear.

HeartBoxes are launching with four different themed boxes. And indeed, one of them is the “Romantic at Heart” box, with marketing copy that invites you to “Set the Mood.” Hello Build-A-Bear! Maybe all that wink adult gifting wink wasn’t in our heads. The box comes with “well-coordinated items such as gummy bears, tumblers, and candles.” Throw a plush bear in there and hot damn do you have the makings of a night to remember.

Build-A-Bear actually already has a bunch of bears meant for adults that live on a portion of the company’s website called The Bear Cave. You have to acknowledge that you’re 18 or older to enter the site, which really got me excited that I was maybe gonna see some like, bears with dicks. 

A pop-up on Build-A-Bear's website requires visitors to confirm they are over the age of 18.

The fact that this bear cave has a digital red velvet curtain? Promising.
Credit: Screenshot: Build-A-Bear

Alas, the Bear Cave seems to be where collectible-level bears live, which is why they’re for grown ups, duh. But don’t worry! There are also sassy bears seemingly made for exhausted moms (there are sloths wearing t-shirts that say “nap queen”), or for partners in the dog house/bear cave who want to deliver the message of “I’m Sorry” on the t-shirt of a toy. Other bears in the Bear Cave are, in fact, ready to have a good-ass time, though. Some come bearing bottles of bubbly and wine, and one of them is just… Satan. Am I into bears now??

Two toys on the Build-A-Bear website: A lion carrying a bottle of champagne, and a bear carrying a bottle of wine.

Bears: They’re here to party.
Credit: Screenshot: Build-A-Bear

Two toys on the Build-A-Bear website: A bunny carrying a bottle of wine, and a bear dressed up as Satan.

Mr. Bear, have I been bad?
Credit: Build-A-Bear

If one thing is clear, it’s that these bears fuck. And maybe, with their help, you can too.

Opera’s new ‘crypto browser’ makes wasting money on NFTs surprisingly easy

Opera just installed guard rails on the NFT on-ramp.

The company behind the little-used Chromium-based browser released the beta version of its “crypto browser” Wednesday, and the all-in-one web browser, cryptocurrency wallet, and portal to fiat-to-ethereum exchange makes buying, selling, and holding non-fungible tokens surprisingly easy. In its announcement, Opera (likely correctly) implies that the current state of web3 affairs is too complicated for the average consumer, and that the crypto browser is Opera’s answer to that perceived problem.

“Too few of the web browsing experiences offered today have been built with the intention of putting Web3 centerstage and making blockchain technologies understandable and easy to use,” reads the blog post written by Susie Batt, Opera’s crypto ecosystem lead. “Our belief is that the world of blockchain needs a fully dedicated browsing experience.”

Enter the Crypto Browser Project, a one-stop shop for people who’ve heard the term “web3” somewhere and want to invest their hard-earned cash in the Next Big Thing, but are a little unsure as to how to do so, exactly.

And credit where credit is due: Opera’s crypto browser delivers a fairly intuitive experience. It takes minutes to download the browser, set up a non-custodial wallet (meaning no third party controls it), and buy ethereum via Ramp using only a Visa or Mastercard credit card. Thus equipped, one can stroll on over to NFT marketplaces like OpenSea or Rarible and start shopping.

Screenshot of the Opera crypto browser.

Get those JPEGs.
Credit: Screenshot: Opera

What’s more, Opera seems to have taken into account common — and costly — points of failure when designing its crypto browser. For example, because the browser already contains a native wallet, users don’t need to add potentially malware-ridden extensions to their normal web browser in order to interact with dApps.

The browser also comes with a “secure clipboard that allows you to safely copy and paste.” Which, perhaps, sounds like silly overkill — until one realizes that secretly altering cryptocurrency wallet addresses (which are long strings of numbers and letters) by manipulating the clipboard is a common way criminals steal victims’ cryptocurrency.

“The Wide World of Web3 is now at your fingertips,” writes Opera’s Batt in a promise the Crypto Browser Project appears to deliver on.

Whether or not that’s a good thing for all the people soon to be diving into web3 and NFTs remains to be seen.

Is Bumble Premium worth it? I tried it for two months to find out.

You may balk at the concept of paying for a dating app, but others certainly don’t: Daters spent $3 billion on apps in 2020, up 15 percent from the previous year. These days, singles aren’t afraid to fork up cash for additional features on these apps, which were the most common way couples met each other for years before COVID.

The dating app Bumble, in particular, is one of the most popular with 42 million monthly active users in 2020, according to a spokesperson. Bumble is famous for only allowing women to message men first in the case of heterosexual matches. Here’s how it works: Once a couple matches, the woman has 24 hours to message first. Then, the man has another 24 hours to message back. If one or both of these messages isn’t sent, the match “expires,” or disappears.

Both Bumble and Tinder (which, by comparison, had 75 million monthly active users in 2020) utilize “hot or not”-esque swiping, but only Bumble has this restriction on who gets to message first — as well as more filters to choose from, like your astrological sign and whether you drink. The app’s subscription, Premium, offers additional tools, like being able to undo a swipe and seeing who’s already liked you.

But with so many dating app options out there, is Bumble Premium worth it? The app gave me a two-month trial to see. I found that Premium wasn’t worth it for me due to its cost, but its features — like the ones above — could tip the scales for you.

What is Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium?

While not advertised as such, Boost is like a lower pay tier to Premium. Here are the price breakdowns for both according to in-app numbers:

Bumble Boost:

  • 1 week at $8.99

  • 1 month at $16.99

  • 3 months at 33.99

  • 6 months at $54.99

Bumble Premium:

  • 1 week at $19.99

  • 1 month at $39.99

  • 3 months at $76.99

  • Lifetime for $229.99

With Bumble Boost, users can reverse a left swipe with Backtrack and extend time on matches for another day. Boost members also receive unlimited swipes; one Spotlight per week (which puts your profile at the top of the swiping “stack”); and five SuperSwipes a week (lets another user know beforehand that you want to match).

Premium members have all those features, plus unlimited Advanced Filters (whereas other users can only use two at a time); the ability to rematch with expired matches; Travel Mode (swipe anywhere you want to); the Beeline to see everyone who’s already liked you; and Incognito Mode, which hides your profile and only appears for those you swiped right on. As of publication, Incognito Mode is only available on the Bumble app, not the browser version.

Bumble Premium is pricier than other dating app subscriptions. For comparison, a week’s worth of Bumble Premium, $19.99, is worth a month of Tinder Platinum. Hinge, meanwhile, is in the middle at $29.99 per month.

Is Bumble Premium worth it?

This question depends on how much you like and use Bumble — and how much you plan on using its paid-only features.

As I mentioned in my Tinder Platinum review, the ability to reverse swipes (called Backtrack on Bumble) is a game changer. Sometimes — especially if you’re a longtime app user, like I was — you swipe with abandon and may end up saying “no” to someone too fast. Backtrack eliminates left-swipe regrets; it’s probably the premium feature I used most often.

Premium also gives some leeway to the rigid 24-hour rule, which is one reason why Bumble wasn’t my favorite app in the first place. Some days I was busy and just didn’t open it, and I’m sure that’s true for some of my matches as well. The ability to extend a match was pretty useful, but keep in mind you only get an additional 24 hours.

Another valuable feature was Incognito Mode. As I live in New York City, there’s an abundance of users on the app, and many aren’t my type. Going incognito allowed me to be seen by only my hopeful matches. I enjoyed this increase in privacy.

These three additions (Backtrack, time extension, and Incognito Mode) are the best of the bunch, in my opinion. If you see yourself taking advantage of them, Bumble Premium may be for you.

I was ambivalent, however, about some of the other features, including Advanced Filters. Here are some filters Bumble offers:

Advanced Filters on Bumble.

Advanced Filters on Bumble.
Credit: screenshot: bumble

In some cases, filters make sense. If you only want to date someone who shares your faith, for example, a religion filter makes searching for a partner easier.

In other cases, though, I question whether filters are helpful — like Zodiac sign. Are you really not going to date someone because they’re a Gemini? Even an astrologer told Vice filtering out people by sign is a bad idea.

Further, when using a filter you’re also cycling out people who didn’t fill out that certain trait. When I filtered by whether someone smokes, for instance, that eliminated everyone who didn’t share their preference. That could leave out people who are similar to you, but didn’t write-in their choice because they wanted to keep it private, or they just didn’t think to put it on their profile.

I didn’t use Travel Mode at all, given the Omicron variant curbing any travel plans. If you’re a frequent flier, though, I’m sure it’ll be helpful.

SEE ALSO:

How Tinder and other dating apps use algorithms to find your match — Horny on Main

Finally, the Beeline piqued my interest as I could see who already liked me, but after a couple weeks of not finding many matches there, I stopped checking it.

Should I buy Bumble Premium?

If you’re already an active Bumble user and enjoy the app’s unique features — such as women messaging first — and it’s within your means, then try Premium out. It is pricier than other apps, though, so if you lean towards Tinder or Hinge, you may want to check out their paid subscriptions first.

Keep in mind that Bumble Boost is an option, and it does come with Backtrack and match extensions. Should you want Incognito Mode or other features exclusive to Premium, however, you’re going to have to pay up.

Like Tinder Platinum, I didn’t experience much of a difference in quality or quantity of matches with Bumble Premium. While match extension is a boon, there were still days where I didn’t check my phone as much or simply wasn’t active on the app, and as a result matches disappeared. If you’re not diligent, that’ll happen even with Premium.

These are the best robot vacuums for keeping small spaces sparkling clean

BEST DEALS ON ROBOT VACUUMS (updated Jan. 19, 2022):

  • iRobot Roomba j7+$599 $849.99 (save $20.99)

  • Eufy 15C Max$179.99 $279.99 (save $100)

  • Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+$699.99 $799.99 (save $100)

  • Shark IQ Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base — $416.56 $599.99 (save $183.43)

  • Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum$219.99 $299.99 (save $80)

I live in a studio apartment that’s about 20 x 9 feet, plus a bathroom, and honestly, I’ve always thought my place was too small to house a robot vacuum. I mean, one arm of my sofa practically touches my bed while the other side of the couch is mere inches away from the fridge. Gotta love that zero-bedroom life.

I rely on my Swiffer and Shark Rocket stick vacuum that I can shove into my coat closet to clean the floors in my small apartment. But, it turns out you actually can have a robot vacuum in small spaces. Robot vacuum bases do need ample room around them so the vacuum sensors can find their way home, but this just means you might have to get creative about placement. Or hey, maybe you have that one awkwardly empty area that’s the perfect size for a robot vacuum base. Now you know what to put there.

SEE ALSO:

Here’s where all the best Black Friday 2021 deals will be

Some robot vacuums are clearly better for small homes and apartments — the iRobot Roomba i7+ with its self-emptying behemoth of a base is probably not the best choice when you’re trying to be economical with your space.

Other, smaller robot vacuums actually do a sufficient job with little room to work. And it’s not just crappy little robot vacuums from random brands you’ve never heard of on Amazon. iRobot and Shark make robot vacuum models that work for any sized home.

When to shop for a deal on robot vacuums

Robot vacuums receive more front-page attention in Black Friday ads each year, but even more deals are exclusively scattered across the internet. We’re tracking them from October all the way to Cyber Monday and beyond, including early Black Friday robot vacuum deals that are already live. Keeping your options open is the best way to guarantee a vac that has the features (automatic emptying, mopping, specific room targeting) at the budget you’re comfy with (whether that’s under $300 or over $1,000 if it’s really nice).

Do robot vacuums work in small spaces?

If your home is jam-packed with furniture and you don’t have much exposed floor space, you’re probably better off not getting a robot vacuum. They need sufficient space to be able to maneuver around and find their way back to their charging stations. But if you have some floor space to work with, a robot vacuum can actually do a good job cleaning.

And the nice thing about cleaning a smaller space is you don’t have to worry about the vacuum’s run time or battery life. It likely won’t take long to sweep the entire floor, and your robot vacuum can probably do the whole route without using a full battery charge. That also means you won’t have to empty the dustbin as often as you would if you lived in a big house. Modest living has its perks!

To make the most out of your space, put the robot vacuum base underneath side tables or other furniture with ample room below it. Just make sure the vacuum can return for charging without issues.

Most robot vacuums have scheduling features, so you can set your robot vacuum to run while you’re out of the house or a time when you won’t be walking around in your home if you want to avoid the robot vacuum nipping at your feet. And to get the best results, make sure you don’t have any loose items lying around on the floor.

What to look for in a robot vacuum for small spaces

When looking for a robot vacuum for small areas, you have to think about the layout of your space. If almost every inch of floor space is covered with furniture, you’re going to need a robot vacuum with a short profile that can actually maneuver under and around furniture without bumping into stuff or getting stuck underneath the bed or couch.

Robot vacuums sweep in either a random pattern or in neat rows, but with a small home, you probably don’t need to shell out the extra cash for neat rows because depending on your setup, you won’t have a ton of open space that would require meticulous, row-by-row cleaning.

Some of the cheaper, smaller robot vacuums aren’t great for carpet, but leave hardwood floors so clean you’ll actually want to walk barefoot on them. If you have carpet in your home, look for a robot with powerful suction and a deep-cleaning brush roll. For hardwood floors, there are some robot vacuums that also have mopping functionality. This is awesome for saving space because you get two appliances in one.

Are robot vacuums worth it?

I don’t mind vacuuming as a chore, and in my tiny home it doesn’t take more than 10 minutes, so I’ll stick with my upright vacuum for now. But the appeal of a robot vacuum is absolutely there.

Deciding whether a robot vacuum is worth it is really a personal preference. They definitely add some convenience to your life by taking over the manpower of vacuuming your floors. And with app control and remote scheduling, you can clean your floors without even being at home. But robot vacuums can get quite pricey and you don’t have full control over where and how they clean.

Make sure to get one that is powerful enough to suck up your messes and low-profile enough that it’s not the focal point of your home to really make a robot vacuum worthwhile.

What is the best robot vacuum for small spaces?

Our top pick for the best robot vacuum for small spaces is the Shark ION AV753 because of its ultra-slim profile. It can easily work its way under furniture to get every exposed bit of floor you have in your home. Plus, it’s just a downright powerful and impressive robot vacuum that truly gives you the most bang for your buck.

It’s not the only robot vacuum that impressed us, though. Check out all of our picks for the best robot vacuums for small spaces.