5 Dyson Vacuum Alternatives That Cost Less And Are Just As Effective

When it comes to cleaning floors, countless 'best of' lists say that Dyson vacuums are worth every penny. For both whole home and spot cleaning, the suction power and bagless technology are hard to beat. Today, the company sells a wide range of vacuums: cordless, handheld, upright, and even robots that rival a Roomba. Cleantok can't get enough of the powerful models that make short work of thick pet hair and dirty carpets. Professional cleaners like the experts at Cleango say the motor warranty and reliable performance make Dyson vacuums a great choice that will last for years. But with most models ranging from $400 to $600, and a few costing nearly $1,200, a Dyson vacuum doesn't come cheap. Fortunately, brands like Eureka, Black + Decker, and Bissell offer Dyson vacuum alternatives that cost less and are just as effective.

Dyson vacuums are so expensive primarily because of the continuous suction technology, allergen and dust filtration, included accessories, and illumination features. We considered several of the brand's bestselling vacuums to determine which features our recommended alternatives needed to have in order to compete. Affordability was another important factor we considered. Because not everyone can or wants to invest in a Dyson, the vacuums below start under $100 and max out just under $400. Several are excellent options for getting super clean carpets if you're a pet owner. And each of the vacuums on our list has a 4 star rating or higher, with thousands of positive customer reviews.

The Shark Powerdetect Upright Vacuum Cleaner ($395 from Amazon) has the most powerful suction of any vacuum on the market today. Designed with two brush rolls and sensors that can detect dirt, debris, or pet hair on carpet and hard floors, this vacuum's advanced technology increases both brush speed and overall suction as needed. It does the same thing when the vacuum's edge sensors detect that you are vacuuming near a wall or baseboard. The dual brushes, that adapt depending on the direction of the vacuum, eliminate hair getting hopelessly wrapped and tangled around your vacuum brushes (a common complaint among Dyson users). Although it's designed as an upright, the dustbin and flexible brush roll head can be used alone as a handheld solution that both illuminates and easily reaches under furniture or beds. Like Dyson's upright vacuums, debris collects in a large cup that's easy to remove and empty, while an anti-allergen seal means 99% of dust is trapped inside. 

Nearly 10,000 reviewers give this Shark vacuum a 5 star rating on Amazon, praising everything from its versatility to its surprisingly quiet performance. Users say it provides excellent and fast cleaning power on both carpets and hardwood floors, including luxury vinyl tile planks. The longer cord and odor neutralizing cartridges also get high marks from customers. Some people found the overall weight of this upright vacuum too heavy, and a few weren't satisfied with the limited warranty when they experienced issues that required replacement parts.

At just $150, the Black + Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner for Pets is one of the least expensive options on our list. But according to the nearly 5,000 Amazon reviewers who gave it a 5 star rating, its lightweight and convertible design features make it an excellent value for the money. Powered by a 20 volt lithium ion battery that can be charged in or out of the vacuum with the included wall-mounted charger for 55 minutes of runtime, this stick vacuum works especially well on area rugs and carpet as a result of the rubber bristled brush bar that collects pet hair. Easily converted to a hand vacuum, it also comes with an angled crevice attachment that can be used to clean stairs or other hard to reach areas. 

Dyson's least expensive stick vacuum not only costs more. It's also heavier. And, its battery-powered run time is only 40 minutes. Although some newer Dyson stick vacuum models offer a similar run time, they are also more than four times the price. Users love that the Black + Decker stick vacuum is not just easy to securely snap together but is also simple to disassemble when swapping out attachments or cleaning it. The included filter is washable, although some people suggest purchasing an extra filter and battery, especially if you have a large home you want to vacuum without stopping to recharge. The suction also gets high marks.

Convenience is one of the key factors to consider when buying a cordless vacuum, and it's one of the many reasons users love the Bissell AirRam ($270 from Amazon). Comparable to the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, it features an LED light that can help you see dust and debris and a low-profile design that easily fits under furniture. Although the Bissell model weighs a little more and offers a slightly shorter runtime, the battery charging times are similar, and its dust bin has almost double the capacity of the Dyson equivalent. The price savings are also significant, with the Bissell AirRam retailing for over $130 less than the Dyson V12.

The cordless vacuum has over 2,600 5 star ratings from satisfied customers. Reviewers say the powerful performance cuts cleaning time in half, whether you have a house full of carpet or hard floors that are covered in kitty litter or kitchen crumbs. The maneuverability and the vacuum's ability to lay almost flat for getting into tricky spots also gets high praise. One downside is the lack of attachments, and a few people felt the vacuum didn't perform very well against baseboards or edges. But overall, users say the touch-free dust disposal, powerful suction, and ability to move seamlessly from high-pile carpets to grooved tile floors make the Bissell AirRam a good value for the money.

The Dyson V15 is considered by many to be one of the best vacuums in the company's lineup. But at prices ranging from $500 to $750, it's a serious investment that doesn't fit into every budget. At a fraction of the price, the Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner ($150 from Amazon) can't be expected to outperform the Dyson in every area. It's around the same weight, has good but not identical maneuverability, and the suction isn't as strong. But when put to the test by Vacuum Nerds, from trapping smoke and dust inside the sealed canister to picking up 100% of debris off hardwood floors, it performed surprisingly well. Like Dyson vacuums, an anti-tangle design keeps pet hair from clogging up the motor bar. The Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner even stands upright when not in use, which isn't something the top-heavy Dyson is capable of doing.

Its overall performance explains why the Levoit consistently ranks among the best budget cordless stick vacuums and has more than twice the number of 5 star ratings on Amazon as the Dyson V15 from customers who appreciate the compact size, included crevice tools, and easy-to-empty dust bin. Pet owners like the cordless vacuum's performance against fur on both floors and furniture and appreciate the LED light that helps illuminate missed spots. They're not as bright as the Dyson lights, but users say the headlight is still extremely helpful. The washable filters also get positive feedback for being simple to remove and clean.

With 15,000 5 star ratings and a price tag under $100, the Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum may be the best overall value on our list of Dyson alternatives. A true upright and corded vacuum, it's an alternative to the Dyson Ball Animal models that cost around $400. Although a cordless vacuum may offer unparalleled convenience, there are times when it's necessary to lug out a larger upright vacuum. On those occasions, users will appreciate that the Eureka PowerSpeed weighs 7 pounds less than the Dyson Animal while providing close to an extra liter of space in its easily-emptied dust bin. Although its 25 foot cord is shorter than the Dyson's 45 foot length, reviewers say it's adequate for cleaning an entire room. Like the Dyson, the Eureka is designed to clean all types of floors, from thick carpet to slick hardwoods. 

Although Dyson Animal models have a self-adjusting cleaner head feature, some customers find them difficult to push on carpet. This is largely avoided with the Eureka's five height settings that can be manually adjusted. The user-friendly filter system also gets positive feedback from customers who appreciate that the entire assembly is easily removed and cleaned under running water. The filter itself is also washable. Although the suction power isn't quite as strong as the Dyson Animal models, according to hundreds of reviewers, you may find yourself shocked at the amount of dirt and pet hair that gets pulled out of your carpet the first few times you use this vacuum.