This is the final chapter in our "Best Vacuum Under" series, following our recent reviews of the Best Vacuums Under $300 and the Best Vacuums Under $200. If budget is your main decision driver in purchasing a vacuum cleaner then these articles are sure to help you find something suitable. We'll refresh these articles periodically so that the site stays up to date and reflects our view of the best vacuums in the market.
Everyone wants a clean home, but not many can afford a premium-brand vacuum cleaner. Sometimes the need to be economical can impact the quality of your options. If this sounds familiar to you, take a look at some of the best budget-friendly vacuums that still perform to standard.
Before you commit to a product, narrow your options down to a vacuum that fits your needs. As a general rule of thumb, upright vacuums are better for carpeted areas and canister vacuums are designed for bare surfaces like hardwood. For our best under $100 vacuums, we've chosen one of each plus a corded stick vacuum so there's a good option here for most homes.
The Shark Rocket Powerhead
The Shark Rocket Powerhead comes from a brand that is well-known in the market without a premium price tag.
People who already own this model have very little negative feedback on it. Weighing in at just 9 pounds, it is extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver. It was not designed to be self-propelled, yet it seems to run on its own with little effort required by the homeowner.
BEST FEATURES
Let’s take a more in-depth look at what this vacuum brings to the table:
Easy maintenance
This Shark is not only easy to use, it is also a breeze to clean. The brushrolls on the vacuum are removable so you can rinse them off if they start collecting debris. There is also a pop-up dust cup that can be released by using a foot petal. You won’t have to search for a button or worry about a broken latch when it’s time to empty the vacuum out. Additionally, the Powerhead has a clear instruction label on how to remove your brushrolls and maintain them.
Multi-surface cleaning
The Shark Rocket Powerhead was designed for both hardwood and carpets. It is upright in design, and is equipped with powerful suction to tackle thicker surfaces. There is a hard floor brushroll included at the time of purchase, letting you tailor this vacuum to meet your specific needs.
Power at your fingertips
You can easily switch between low and high power on this vacuum because it has fingertip controls right on the handle. Since the all-surface brushroll can manage multiple surfaces, this is a great feature for someone who wants to maintain their home on a regular basis. You can simply switch into low-gear when you’re moving onto a bare surface like laminate or tile.
Corded but flexible
Although this is a corded stick vacuum, the cord doesn't make it difficult to maneuver. Since it is equipped with a swivel head, you can move around in the space you are in with minimal resistance. It won’t reach under some of the tighter spaces in your home, like beneath your kitchen appliances, but it does a great job of getting along edges and underneath of most furniture.
The Shark Rocket Powerhead has four different models with varying cord lengths:
- AH400: 25 feet
- AH401: 25 feet
- AH452: 30 feet
- AH452W: 30 feet
Good for pet owners
This vacuum does an impressive job picking up pet hair despite its low cost. Most pet owners have to pay a premium if they want to ensure all the dandruff and hair in their home will be removed – not anymore. This is also an important consideration for allergy sufferers who don’t a lot to spend on a new vacuum.
Final feedback
Unfortunately, there are no attachments for the Powerhead (although you can purchase some separate that will be compatible with your unit). Some users claimed that this vacuum stopped working after just a few months of use. However, over 90% of customers are happy with their purchase.
Shark Navigator Deluxe
The Shark Navigator Deluxe NV42 is another great Shark product that doesn’t come with a hefty price tag. It comes with an upholstery tool, dusting brush, and crevice tool, giving you all the attachments you need to clean the out-of-sight spaces in your home.
This is an upright, corded vacuum that is recommended mostly for carpeted areas. It comes with a pet hair cleaning attachment to remove excess shedding from tough surfaces. It is a little bit heavier than the Shark Rocket Powerhead, but still comes in under-average and won’t strain your back.
PROS
Cons
Cordless vacuums are great for mobility, but even some of the more expensive models have trouble holding power. This option is great for someone who doesn’t have a lot of clutter in their home and can manage running a cord in-between rooms because it won’t lose suction.
There is an upgraded version of this model that comes with added bonuses if you’re willing to spend a little extra. The Shark Navigator DLX - NV70/80 includes swivel steering, a 16" extension tube, and Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology to reduce exposure to debris.
The majority of people who have purchased this vacuum are highly impressed with its durability considering it is a cheaper Shark model.
Bissell Zing Rewind
The Bissell Zing Rewind Bagless Canister Vacuum Review is a solid alternative to the two upright Shark models that we've featured in this review. It is also the cheapest option on this list, costing around $50 in most retail stores.
This vacuum is nice and compact, so it is ideal for a college dorm, studio, or smaller rooms in a home like a bathroom. It will store easily because it doesn’t take up a lot of space. It also has the convenience of being bagless, which will save you money and time in between cleans. It also includes:
This vacuum is not the best match for large homes. Although it has great suction power, the dust cups are relatively small and will fill up quickly in a big space.
Where does the name come from?
One of the major perks of this Bissell is that the cord (15-foot) is retractable. When you’re finished cleaning around the house, you simply push on a button to “rewind” the cord back into the vacuum. The cord length is relatively short, so you may have to switch outlets if you are cleaning multiple rooms at once.
On the downside, this model is not ideal for carpets since it is a canister vacuum (better for hardwood). There is an attachment for multi-surface cleaning, but current users have said it is somewhat fragile. The tools that come with it are fairly small which limits their capacity. If your home is covered in carpet, you should probably look into one of the two upright models discussed above.
