Cleaning windows can be a challenging and sometimes dangerous (depending on where you live) chore. This is where a window cleaning robot can help you get this challenging job done.
Robotic window cleaners are still relatively new technology and have always been quite expensive to buy. However, as more companies begin making them, the market place gets more competitive, and due to this, it is now possible to find budget models.
Choosing a robot that is right for you and your family or business is crucial. You need to consider a few different factors that will help you choose the best window cleaning robot that fits your needs.
In this post, we will take a closer look at three popular budget robot window cleaners: The Gladwell Gecko, Alfawise 660, and Mamibot W120 to see if you can still expect a good quality machine at a great price. We also expand on the comparisons and finally give a verdict on which robot is the best at cleaning your windows.
Best Budget Robot Window Cleaner Quick Guide
Affiliate disclosure: The links to tours or accommodation in this post are affiliate links. This means if you purchase after following one of these links, I make a small commission at no cost to yourself. Think of it like a win-win.
Mamibot W120 vs. Alfawise 660 vs. Gladwell Gecko: Which One is Best?
Window attachment method
When it comes to choosing a window cleaner, there is two main way for it to attach to a window, suctions or magnets. Robot window cleaners that are magnetically held require the user to attach the robot to one side of the window and the magnetic cleaning piece on the other side of the window.
The other option is the ones that are held by suction. This is the option that is more popular because they can clean almost any glass surface regardless of its thickness. They create a strong suction through the use of a motor, and they are the most convenient to use. One factor to consider is that the suction may fail if they come across an uneven surface.
Mamibot W120
The Mamibot W120 is motor-powered with built-in UPS battery with a capacity of 650mAh just in case of power failure. The motor in this device is robust, reliable, quiet, and over five years of working time.
Alfawise 660
The Alfawise 660 window cleaner is motor-powered with a built-in UPS battery with a capacity of 600mAh.
Gladwell Gecko
The Gladwell Gecko window cleaning robot is motor-powered that has strong suction and a backup cable if the power is interrupted.
Read more: Full Gladwell Gecko robot window cleaner review
Shape of window cleaning robot
The market for robots that can clean your windows consists of two main forms, the square type, and the oval type. The oval-shaped window cleaning robots are best used for the non-traditionally designed windows, whereas the square-shaped cleaners can cover larger surfaces and get into the corners of larger windows.
So which one is the best choice will depend on your purposes.
Mamibot
The Mamibot is a square design of 9.8 inches. It is lighter and more flexible than most window cleaning robots on the market. It is excellent to use if you have large rectangular windows around the building.
Alfawise 660
The Alfawise 660 is the same size as the Mamibot robot but is slightly lighter. Being a square shape, it can reach the corners of the windows.
Gladwell Gecko
The Gladwell Gecko window cleaning robot is an affordable cleaning robot, but as it is oval shaped, it is not convenient for square-shaped windows.
Motor Performance
Almost all of the robots are powered through your mains power, they have a backup battery built-in that will save your robot from falling in the case of a power disruption. The longer the battery lasts, the more expensive the robot will be. Another factor to look at regarding the performance is the size of the motor, the more powerful it is, the faster it can clean your windows.
Mamibot
The Mamibot cleaner has a more substantial capacity battery than the other brands, and the motor in the robot allows for suction up to 3000 PA. It is the more powerful robot of the three being compared.
Alfawise 660
The Alfawise 660 has comparable power with the suction of 2800 PA, and a battery capacity of 600mAh. It can give the Mamibot a run for its money.
Gladwell Gecko
The Gladwell Gecko window cleaning robot does not give much information about the motor, but it does have a backup battery
Control system
Window cleaning robots most often come with remote control, which allows you to set the cleaning schedules and cleaning options from your couch while you take a break from your other chores. Some manufacturers even have created apps which will enable you to control your device from your tablet or smartphone.
Mamibot
The Mamibot has intelligent cleaning routes and can be controlled by both remote control and an App. It also has the ability to return to the starting point after one cleaning is completed, great for large windows.
Alfawise 660
The Alfawise 660 uses N and Z style routes with Automatic edge detection and can also be controlled by both remote control and an app on your smart device.
Gladwell Gecko
The Gladwell Gecko window cleaner uses AI-powered cleaning routes and can also be controlled both by either remote or App.
Included extras
Another factor to consider is what comes in the box with your robot. Most cleaning robots come with a power extension cord that is extra long to reach large windows. They also come with a safety cord in case of falls or breakages.
You should also consider if it comes with extra cleaning pads and other spare parts, otherwise, will you have to buy them separately which will bump the cost up.
Mamibot
The Mamibot comes with a safety rope and also anti-fall technology. It also has both wet and dry microfibre cloths.
Alfawise 660
The Alfawise 660 comes with a safety cable and four extra cleaning clothes.
Gladwell Gecko
The Gladwell Gecko offers the most though with seven sets of cleaning pads and a safety rope attachment.
Replacement Pad Costs
Another critical factor to consider is the replacement cost of the pads that are used with the window cleaning robot, as you will need to replace the pads regularly. If the replacement pads are expensive, it will keep costing you a lot of money for the lifetime of your robot.
Mamibot
This robots replacement pads can be purchased by Packs of 4 for $23.20.
Alfawise 660
The Alfawise 660 has washable cleaning pads, but if you need to buy a new set, you can buy a pack of 4 for $22.95.
Gladwell Gecko
When needed the cleaning pads can easily be replaced at $9.95 for a pack of 6 sets of cleaning pads.
Best user experience
When looking at the various reasons for buying a robotic window cleaner, performance and ease of use will clearly be a very important aspect. When buying a robotic window cleaner, you have to temper your expectations slightly and understand that it will never give the same level of cleaning performance as a human and will struggle with caked on dirt.
All three of these models have a very similar level of cleaning, excelling on dust and light dirt, but struggling on bird poop, so we looked trawled through online reviews to pull out some other common pros and cons for each model we are looking at for you to consider.
Mamibot W120
Pros: Easy to operate, can also be used as a mop, 5 year guarantee
Cons: Cloth dries quickly during cleaning, a little loud
Alfawise 660
Pros: Very strong suction, good on large windows, light weight
Cons: Can get stuck on window sealant, reports of issues with the remote control
Gladwell Gecko
Pros: Great on dusty windows, amazing value, good suction to windows, 1-year unlimited warranty
Cons: Have to keep pads moist or prone to smearing, Not great on corners
Final Thoughts
So it comes to the decision time based on many factors, when it comes to buying a window cleaning robot it comes down not just to the budget but also the types of windows in your building.
The two that I would recommend are the Alfawise 660 and the Gladwell Gecko.
The Gladwell Gecko is the best budget window cleaning robot which is an excellent choice for smaller homes, with fewer windows. Due to the limitation of the oval shape, you may need to finish the corners of your windows, but with all the extras it packs, it makes sense if it is for general residential use.
It is also the cheapest of the window cleaners in this post, so if you are looking for value, this is it right here.
However, if you have larger windows or want one that is more for commercial use, then I would go for the Alfawise 660 window cleaning robot. With its performance, different cleaning options and extra long cords and safety cables, it is perfect for large buildings.
See more robot window cleaners on our store page.
About the author
Matt is the founder of the Little Robot Shop, who has spent much of the last decade hacking home cleaning with various robots and devices to make keeping his home clean as easy as possible. Not an easy task with two young children.
When not working on the Little Robot Shop website or YouTube channel, he works as technical support and product specialist for a fast-growing digital company. He does his best to get his younglings to code, which will be an essential skill in the future.
