The US administration banned several foreign robot vacuum brands from federal networks this month, citing camera and mapping data flows back to unidentified servers. If you cared about smart-home privacy before, the ban is confirmation that a robot vacuum is a rolling camera and floor scanner that talks to somebody. The question is who.
We spent a week testing eight of the best privacy-first robot vacuum control apps for Android, with two Roborock models, a Dreame unit, and a Roomba. The picks below cover cloud-mandatory vendor apps that we still recommend for specific reasons, plus local-first and self-hosted alternatives that keep the map data on your network.
What matters in a privacy-first vacuum app
- Where the map lives. Local on the vac, or in a cloud account.
- Voice-control routing. Does your “start cleaning” phrase pass through Google, Amazon, or the vendor’s servers?
- Firmware provenance. Some vacs let you flash local-first firmware; most don’t.
- App permissions. A cleaning app doesn’t need location tracking or contacts.
- Region lock. Some vendor apps hard-region-lock features by account country.
The apps
1. Roborock – best mainstream vendor app
The Roborock app is the vendor default for Roborock hardware and stays the most polished mainstream option: room-level cleaning, no-go zones, scheduling, and firmware updates. It ships map data to Roborock’s servers, but the company publishes clear data-retention terms.
Where it falls short: Cloud is mandatory for full features on newer models. Voice control routes through the vendor unless bridged.
Pricing:
- Free with a Roborock vacuum
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Roborock’s own app if you want the smoothest mainstream experience and can accept the cloud dependency.
2. Valetudo (via Home Assistant) – best local-only vacuum control
Valetudo is a cloud-free replacement firmware for compatible Roborock, Dreame, and Viomi vacuums. Once flashed, the vac talks only to your local network. Pair it with the Home Assistant Companion app on Android for a mobile dashboard.
Where it falls short: Requires a specific model, a rooting/flashing procedure, and a Home Assistant server on your network. It’s DIY-first.
Pricing:
- Free and open-source
Platforms: Android (via Home Assistant), web
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Valetudo if you want a vac that never talks to a cloud, on hardware you already own and are willing to flash.
3. Home Assistant – best hub for mixed vacuum fleets
Home Assistant integrates with dozens of vacuum brands through official and community integrations. The mobile companion gives you room-level control, scheduling, and voice via local voice engines rather than Google or Alexa.
Where it falls short: You need to run Home Assistant on a server. Not a plug-and-play install.
Pricing:
- Free and open-source (self-hosted)
Platforms: Android, iOS, web
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Home Assistant if you have vacs from multiple brands or already run a smart-home hub.
4. Xiaomi Home – best for cross-region Xiaomi hardware
Xiaomi Home is the modern successor to the Mi Home app for global Xiaomi products, including many vacs. Region-lock and privacy handling improved in recent versions, but the app still connects to Xiaomi cloud by default.
Where it falls short: Cloud connection is mandatory for real-time control; regional restrictions apply.
Pricing:
- Free with Xiaomi hardware
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Xiaomi Home if you want the modern Xiaomi hardware control app and are OK with cloud dependency.
5. Mi Home (regional) – best legacy Mi ecosystem control
Mi Home is still active in several regions and handles vacs, sensors, and other Xiaomi products. On specific vacuum models, community projects use the Mi Home token flow to enable Valetudo or local Home Assistant integration.
Where it falls short: Being phased out in some regions in favor of Xiaomi Home. Also cloud-first.
Pricing:
- Free
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Mi Home if you already run a legacy Xiaomi ecosystem and rely on it for token extraction workflows.
6. iRobot Home – best for Roomba owners
iRobot Home is the vendor app for Roomba and Braava units. Cleaning maps, room labels, keep-out zones, and scheduling are the essentials. iRobot has published stronger data-protection commitments after its own high-profile privacy issues in prior years.
Where it falls short: Cloud-first; local control is limited to certain older models via unofficial integrations.
Pricing:
- Free with a Roomba
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick iRobot Home if you own a Roomba and want the vendor’s stable feature set.
7. Dreame – best Dreamehome control
The Dreamehome app runs Dreame’s vacuum and mop lineup. Room-aware cleaning is fast, and Dreame supports Matter on newer models, which opens a path to local control through a Matter-compatible hub.
Where it falls short: Still primarily cloud-mediated for full features.
Pricing:
- Free with a Dreame vacuum
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Dreamehome if you have Dreame hardware and want Matter-forward smart-home integration.
8. openHAB – best open-source hub alternative to Home Assistant
openHAB is the other major open-source smart-home hub, with strong vacuum-brand support through bindings. The Android app is a dashboard for the openHAB server you host yourself.
Where it falls short: Setup is more manual than Home Assistant. Community binding quality varies by brand.
Pricing:
- Free and open-source
Platforms: Android, iOS, web
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick openHAB if you specifically prefer it to Home Assistant for your self-hosted smart-home hub.
How to pick the right one
- If cloud is acceptable and polish matters: Roborock, iRobot Home, or Dreamehome
- If you want fully local control: Valetudo with Home Assistant
- If you have mixed brand vacs: Home Assistant or openHAB
- If you’re deep in the Xiaomi ecosystem: Xiaomi Home or Mi Home
FAQ
Do robot vacuums really send data back to their manufacturer?
Most cloud-first vacuums send cleaning maps, event data, and firmware telemetry to the vendor. Some models with cameras have historically been flagged for wider data transfers, which is the reason for recent regulatory action.
Can I use a robot vacuum without an internet connection?
Yes, with the right software. Valetudo firmware plus Home Assistant gives you full local control on supported hardware. Most vendor apps require internet for real-time control.
Which robot vacuum brands work with Home Assistant?
Roborock, Xiaomi, Dreame, Viomi, and Roomba (through community integrations) all have Home Assistant support. Ecovacs and Neato also work with community bindings.
Is Valetudo hard to install?
It requires model-specific rooting or firmware-flashing procedures. Follow the Valetudo project docs for your exact vacuum model. Not for the faint of heart; extremely doable for anyone comfortable with a home server.
Which app respects privacy the most?
Any self-hosted setup: Valetudo, Home Assistant, or openHAB. Among vendor apps, none are fully local, but Roborock and iRobot publish clearer data-handling terms than the industry average.
