The Worst Vacuums We Tested & What to Buy Instead for Maximum Efficiency
by Michelle Kemp
Owner of Kemp Co.
Updated on July 27, 2026
First, let’s discuss cordless vs. corded.
CORDLESS PRO’S:
Great for quick messes.
Usually gets in tighter spaces easier.
You’re not dragging a cord around.
CORDLESS CON’S:
One charge typically can’t get an entire house cleaned.
They’re top-heavy.
Many times can create blisters around thumb area.
CORDED PRO’S:
Great for cleaning the entire house in one session.
Powerful suction.
Never runs out of battery.
CORDED CON’S:
You’re dragging around a cord and have to switch to different outlets.
Not top-heavy.
Better swivel control.
We’ve rated the vacuums in this article using the star rating system; we all know how it works. One star is not good and five stars is the best of the best! I’ve mixed in corded and cordless into this article and will give details on pro’s and con’s of each vacuum.
I’ve also included links and pricing for each vacuum so you can look into them yourself.
*Prices displayed are based off linked seller’s pricing as of July 27, 2026.
Let’s get right into it.
Bissell Power Force Rewind Pet $149.99
You’re not going to get a decent vacuum for under $100, everyone knows that. But in our opinion, you’re also not going to get a decent vacuum, let alone a good one, for under $200.
This Bissell ranks the lowest because it is so cheaply made, the hose is a pain to get out of it’s little holster at the bottom, the attachments aren’t anything to brag about, and the suction is very poor. The suction ability on this vacuum is absolutely the worst I’ve ever used.
Will it work for someone on a budget? I don’t think so, because our two-star rating vacuum is actually cheaper than this one and the suction is superior.
Hoover MAXlife Bagless Upright $128.00
This is the first Hoover we are going to mention, and in our opinion, it definitely ranks lower. Now, while the suction is actually impressive, it’s also not made with the highest quality materials. After one month of use, it broke. When we got a second one, it never quite worked right.
The attachments are good, the hose is more convenient, and it holds a lot of dirt, but because of the poor quality, it gets two stars.
Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum $389.99
Coming in at the most expensive, this Dyson cordless is only getting three stars from us. The main issue, as a home services company, is that the battery life just isn’t there. It can barely take care of a 2,000 sq. ft. home at minimum roller speed.
It’s extremely top-heavy, gives your thumbs blisters, and needs constant emptying. It also has a thicker roller, which means it does not get underneath your average sized dresser, bed frame, or night stand.
It is, however, great for quick messes for the average home-owner. But if you have a housekeeper, be sure to get them our five-star rated vacuum so they can clean properly and have enough vacuum-time to do so!
Shark Rocket Pet $199.99
It may be slim and it may be a bit top-heavy, but this corded Shark a beast! It has a larger collection container, it swivels like a dream, it fits under the tiniest spaces, and you can lay it down completely flat to reach under larger furniture that it’s cordless rival can’t reach. It’s also one of the longest, which makes tall people very happy (ask my 6’ 3” husband, Mike Kemp)!
Our only gripe is that in order to remove the roller head you need to bend down to hit the release button, but with the amount pro’s this thing has, it’s extremely tolerable.
I will say that if your home is larger than 3,000 sq. ft., it’s going to take a while to get it all vacuumed since the roller is on the smaller side (to get under those night stands). This point leads us into our five-star vacuum!
Hoover Max Life Pro Pet Swivel $224.00
I know what you’re thinking… we already looked at this vacuum and it had two stars. But that was this vacuum’s little cousin.
This Hoover is made with higher quality, more durable materials, and has the best functions every vacuum owner needs in their life! Let me nerd out for a second…
For starters, it’s fantastic on both hard floors, carpet, and rugs because *drum roll* you can turn the roller on and off even when the vacuum is on. There’s a button on the top left, so you can easily and quickly switch from hard wood (no roller) to carpet (roller) instantly!
The hose is so simple to remove (also at the top of the vacuum) and has great length (13-foot reach) for reaching the wall corners, upper window sills, and door frames. The attachments for the hose are really awesome too: there’s a small brush attachments (great for crumbs), a skinny hose attachment (get those corner cobwebs!), and a hair removal attachment (great for the couch).
It’s also designed to eliminate pet hair and allergens, and it’s filter is designed to last 3x longer than standard filters.
All in all, this Hoover is exceptional in every feature home-owners look at when needing a new vacuum.
Disclaimer: Kemp Co. Home Services, LLC is not sponsored by any of these companies, nor did they pay us to uplift or diminish other companies mentioned in this article.