Reviewing the best alternatives to Dyson cordless vacuums in the UK

Dyson alternatives

Last updated: 26.12.2023 Reading time: 11 Min.

Want a cordless vacuum with all the best features?

But don’t want to shell out an arm and a leg on an expensive Dyson model? 💵

We’ve reviewed tons of cordless vacuum cleaners and tried to find out which cordless vacuum cleaner is better than Dyson.

And the short answer? None!

However… there are some cordless vacuums out there that are definitely comparable with Dyson. 💃

Read on to find out how our tests went and which are the best Dyson cordless alternatives.

Dyson cordless hoover alternatives: A Dyson vs. several models from other brands.
  • Our favourite
    Shark
    Stratos Flexology Powerfins Plus
    Price from £ 419.01 £ (499.99 )
    This cordless vacuum performed exceptionally well in our tests and impressed us across the board.
    Shark
    Stratos Flexology Powerfins Plus
    This cordless vacuum performed exceptionally well in our tests and impressed us across the board.

Most important points at a glance

  • There are alternatives to the market leader Dyson
  • Alternatives are particularly common in the premium sector
  • Cheap alternatives are rather rare and you have to do without some features
  • Smart Home Fox has tested many alternatives

The Best Dyson Alternative Vacuum Cleaners in Comparison

  • Our favourite
    Stratos Flexology Powerfins Plus
    Price from £ 419.01 £ (499.99 )
    This cordless vacuum performed exceptionally well in our tests and impressed us across the board.
    Stratos Flexology Powerfins Plus
    This cordless vacuum performed exceptionally well in our tests and impressed us across the board.
    Price from £ 419.01 (£ 499.99 )
  • Good Value 💰
    Pure One S15 Pro
    Price from £ 399
    The new flagship cordless vacuum cleaner from Tineco stands out with its superior suction power and array of impressive new features.
    Pure One S15 Pro
    The new flagship cordless vacuum cleaner from Tineco stands out with its superior suction power and array of impressive new features.
    Price from £ 399
  • Bestseller on Amazon
    Ultimate ProPower Series 8
    Price from £ 399 £ (499.99 )
    It’s the VW Passat among the 2-in-1 cordless vacuums and the BOSCH 8 series cordless vacuums flagship. Its special attachments are super handy for cleaning the car.
    Ultimate ProPower Series 8
    It’s the VW Passat among the 2-in-1 cordless vacuums and the BOSCH 8 series cordless vacuums flagship. Its special attachments are super handy for cleaning the car.
    Price from £ 399 (£ 499.99 )
  • Best value for money
    S12 PureOne
    Price from £ 564.01
    Smart, smarter, Tineco. A popular cordless hoover on Amazon UK with outstanding cleaning performance. The first battery hoover with its own app.
    S12 PureOne
    Smart, smarter, Tineco. A popular cordless hoover on Amazon UK with outstanding cleaning performance. The first battery hoover with its own app.
    Price from £ 564.01

Find out more about our favorites now

Our favourite

Shark Stratos Flexology Powerfins Plus

This cordless vacuum performed exceptionally well in our tests and impressed us across the board.

Powerful suction, top cleaning performance, high quality design - just a few words that perfectly describe this Shark cordless vacuum.

A favourite among fans of cordless vacuums in the UK, Shark now ups its game with the Stratos range. Read on to find out what makes these models so special! 👇 

Outstanding cleaning performance

Whether corners, edges, carpets or hard floors...

The Shark Stratos left our floors spotless in our test! 💪

Cleaning performance on hard floors.
Cleaning performance on hard floors.

Not many vacuums can achieve this, which makes the Shark Stratos a real hot tip. 🔐

DuoClean Anti Hair Wrap Plus floorhead - perfect for all floor types

A real highlight of the Stratos cordless vacuums is the dual floorhead - two motorised brush rolls working together to tackle both hard floors and carpets.

The Anti-Hair Wrap Plus roll at the back draws out embedded dirt in carpets and deals with hair pick-up, while the front roll gets to work on hard floor dirt.

Anti-Hair Wrap Plus brush roll of the Shark Stratos.

This really works flawlessly. And the highlight:

This means you don’t have to change the brush! 💃 

Anti-Odour Technology

The Stratos range features anti-odour technology to deal with any nasty odours produced by pet dander and other dirt and dust. Just pop a cartridge into the dust bin and any unwanted smells are masked with a clean, fresh scent. 

Perfect for those of us with more sensitive noses! 👃

Automatic suction level adjustment - Clean Sense IQ

Yes, you heard right:

The Stratos automatically adjusts its suction power according to the dirt and the floor type.

This saves battery and increases cleanliness. 💪 

Speaking of saving battery power:

Despite very good runtimes, the Stratos IZ420UKT model also features an extra removable battery pack and thanks to a clever charger, you can charge two batteries at the same time.

Conclusion: Should you buy it?

So do we recommend buying a Shark Stratos cordless vacuum cleaner?

Yes, definitely! 

In addition to the advantages mentioned above, Shark offers many other clever solutions.

The device will be a real help in your everyday work.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Powerful cleaning performance

Strong suction power

High quality

Smart, unique floorhead (DuoClean)

Practical storage function

Long battery life

Stick and handheld vacuum in one

Disadvantages

Not the quietest

Expensive

No HEPA filter

Heavier weight

Good Value 💰

Tineco Pure One S15 Pro

The new flagship cordless vacuum cleaner from Tineco stands out with its superior suction power and array of impressive new features.

The Tineco Pure One S15 Pro excels in cleaning and offers a smart display.

Tineco has revamped their Pure One line with the S15 Pro, a cordless vacuum that has impressed in our tests. 

Cleaning Test

The Tineco Pure One S15 Pro excels in its cleaning capabilities. 

In our tests, it left hardly anything behind on both carpets and hard floors. 

Tineco Pure One S15 Pro cleaning test
Cleaning test with different types of dirt. © Smart Home Fox

Its iLoop technology, which automatically adjusts the suction level based on the type of dirt, enhances its efficiency.

Display

A standout feature is the high-resolution LCD display. 📺

Display on the Tineco Pure One S15 Pro

This provides real-time status updates, maintenance tips, and error messages. 

Device status on the Tineco Pure One S15 Pro

It even plays animated videos, adding a unique touch to the vacuuming experience.

Storage

The S15 Pro comes with a convenient ground station for storage. 

This allows the device to be stored and charged upright without the need for drilling holes for a wall mount.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Excellent cleaning performance

Informative LCD screen

Smart suction power adaptation

Versatile usage, including as a handheld vacuum

Superior build quality

Disadvantages

Plastic packaging used

No soft roller included for hard floors

Bestseller on Amazon

Bosch Ultimate ProPower Series 8

It’s the VW Passat among the 2-in-1 cordless vacuums and the BOSCH 8 series cordless vacuums flagship. Its special attachments are super handy for cleaning the car.

The device showed off with super powerful suction and lots of accessories in our test. You can also easily convert it into a cordless hand vacuum to clean your car with it. 

The Bosch Ultimate ProPower Series 8 is a modern cordless vacuum cleaner that stood out in our tests with its strong cleaning results.

A key feature contributing to its effectiveness is the outstanding suction power, which proved to be highly efficient across various cleaning tasks.

Bosch ProPower's suction power
Image © Smart Home Fox

This vacuum cleaner also includes innovative accessories, such as a flexible crevice nozzle, enhancing its versatility.

This particular accessory made it a good cordless cleaner for cleaning cars in our tests.

Crevice nozzle on the Bosch ProPower
Crevice nozzle of the Bosch Ultimate ProPower Series 8. Image © Smart Home Fox

Additionally, it scores a sustainability bonus for using the same battery system as other Bosch devices, enhancing its eco-friendliness and user convenience.

Overall, the Bosch Unlimited is a solid investment, combining effective cleaning capabilities with sustainable design features.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Powerful suction

2-in-1 (super versatile)

Battery can be used in various BOSCH products

Bagless

Bendable crevice tool

Disadvantages

Small dirt container

Battery life (depending on which battery is used)

Long charging time

Best value for money

Tineco S12 PureOne

Smart, smarter, Tineco. A popular cordless hoover on Amazon UK with outstanding cleaning performance. The first battery hoover with its own app.

With the PureOne S12, Tineco has brought the first truly smart cordless hoover onto the premium market. When cleaning your Smart Home, the cordless vacuum cleaner is supported by a smartphone app.

The TOPs of the Tineco S12

The cleaning performance

The S12 performed outstandingly in our cleaning test. No matter what we put in front of it...

cleaning performance Tineco S12

...it sucked it up.

Perfect in the fight against pet hair?

The mini electric brush removes all kinds of hair from your upholstery.

The mini electric brush

Innovation

The Tineco S12 brings real innovation to the table. And we're not just talking about the fact that it's the first cordless hoover with an app...

The filter cleaning tool
Image © Smart Home Fox

...the filter cleaning system of the cordless vacuum cleaner is also really practical and well-thought-out.

The display

The display provides you with useful information and practical tips.

The display

The wall mount/charging station

You think: A wall mount is old hat...

...not so with the Tineco S12: The wall holder charges the battery in the device and the spare battery via an additional compartment at the same time.

You can buy the Tineco PureOne S12 in two different versions:

the Pure One S12 and the Pure One S12 ProEx

The difference is that the ProEx comes with a few more accessories.

The Tineco Pure One S12 gets a clear buy recommendation from us!

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Excellent cleaning performance

Automatic filter cleaning tool

Spare pre-filter

Automatic suction mode

Replaceable battery included

Stylish design

Display

"Touchbar" for infinitely variable suction power control

Charging station/wall holder very well-thought-out

LEDs on the brush

App

Disadvantages

Sometimes necessary to change soft roller and standard brush (depending on floor)

Packaging also contains plastic and polystyrene

Brush roller occasionally lifts off

Which cordless vacuums can compete with Dyson? Our premium alternatives

If you’re reading this, the question that’s probably on your mind is:

Which cordless hoovers are comparable to Dyson, and how good are Dyson alternatives anyway? 🤔

The fact is:

The cordless vacuum cleaner market is huge, and every self-respecting household appliance manufacturer has at least one cordless vacuum cleaner model in its range.

But can they keep up with the market leading brand: Dyson? Are these cordless vacuums even comparable? 🤔

So many questions, let’s take them one at a time:

Which brands produce cordless vacuums?

Dyson is not only a master of marketing, but their products are also incredibly high quality.

Nevertheless, the case may be that:

  • Dyson is too expensive for you 💰
  • you don't like the design 😕
  • or maybe you've even had a bad experience with Dyson 🤔

Whatever the reason, the good news is:

Dyson isn’t the only option. 💃

However, only a few brands can keep up with Dyson

Well-known brands of cordless vacuum cleaners.
Some well-known cordless vacuum cleaners brands

Other well-known Dyson competitors in the UK are Shark, Samsung, Bosch and Miele. These brands are also premium manufacturers of cordless vacuums.

Premium meaning:

Quality is the focus and the prices are around £500 upwards. 🚀

This means that these are very high-quality alternatives, but they are by no means cheap. 😬

Of course, you could always find special offers or sales where you can save some of your hard-earned money.

But there are also many Asian companies now throwing their hats in the ring who want to conquer the UK market. The big players from the Far East are Tineco, Dreame and Roborock, to name a few.

At Smart Home Fox, we are constantly testing and reviewing the best cordless vacuum cleaners. Our extensive experience means we can know exactly which premium cordless hoovers are the best alternatives to Dyson vacuums. These are our premium picks. 👇

What’s the best cheap alternative to Dyson cordless vacuums?

When browsing online vacuum retailers, you will find an almost endless range of cordless hoovers: expensive, cheap, 2-in-1 cordless vacuums, cordless upright hoovers, stick vacuums, with bag, bagless and much more... 😱

Checking out independent review portals is definitely worth doing.

Most devices don't come close to Dyson's standards and you'll probably be sorely disappointed if you're not careful when buying.

But which affordable cordless hoovers are comparable to Dyson?

Strictly speaking, budget cordless vacuums don’t compare to the latest Dyson models.

Our tests have shown that: They are usually worlds apart. 🌎

But don't worry, a few devices we have reviewed have given us hope.

Even with the best budget cordless vacuum cleaners, you will still have to make some sacrifices and forgo top quality.

But depending on your needs, that might not be a problem either!

Here are our cheap Dyson vacuum alternatives in the UK. 👇

Which? Best Buys: Which cordless vacuum cleaner is as good as a Dyson?

Which? also tests the latest cordless vacuum cleaners available in the UK and rates them out of 100%.

Many models made by Dyson competitors are featured, for example, the Miele HX1 scored 80% in their review - on par with the Dyson V12 Detect Absolute.

They even rated the Tineco PureOne S12 82%, beating out the Dyson V10 models.

We have also tested these devices. These tests have shown that they can definitely keep up with Dyson in certain areas.

Here you will find the top alternatives for Dyson that also performed well in the latest Which? reviews. 👇

What should you look for when buying a cordless vacuum?

A cordless hoover has to meet certain criteria to be good, regardless of whether it's a Dyson or otherwise.

If a cordless vacuum cleaner meets these criteria, then it is comparable to Dysons...

… because Dyson vacuums usually score highly in all of these categories. 🤩

Cleaning performance

Cleaning performance is the most important factor, and suction power plays a massive role here.

Dyson has so far been the undisputed winner in terms of Airwatts.

The best Dyson cordless vacuums we’ve reviewed cracked the 200 Airwatt mark! 🚀

What is an Airwatt?

An airwatt is a unit for measuring the suction power of a vacuum. This unit was specially developed by Dyson as no suitable unit for this existed before.

But does a vacuum cleaner need that many airwatts?

It depends, because powerful suction isn’t everything. Of course, good suction power is important, but so are fine-tuning and the interaction of the individual elements (brush head, dirt pick-up etc.).

And this is where other brands can make up for the lack of performance.

Versatility: What can I use the device for?

An important question, because this is where opinions differ.

2-in-1 devices tcan be used as a floor hoover as well as a handheld vacuum. Then there are upright vacuum cleaners that can only be used for hoovering floors.

Some cordless vacuum cleaners can only clean hardwood floors properly, and others are also good for carpet cleaning.

Dysons are suitable for all surfaces, and that should also be the benchmark for a Dyson vacuum dupe.

We test cordless hoovers on a variety of floor types to see how they stack up.

You can find the results here:

→ The best cordless hoovers on carpets

→ The best cordless hoovers on hard floors

How can I tell how versatile a vacuum cleaner is?

The only thing that helps is reading reviews (for example, on Smart Home Fox 🦊) or trying it out yourself.

We recommend the former to save you time and money, and are happy to support you as much as we can. 😉

How decisive are the package contents?

The accessories that are included in your order also play an important role. The various attachments usually make your hoover much more versatile.

Package contents of the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute.
Dyson V15 detect accessories.
The accessories of the Tineco S12.
Tineco PureOne S12 accessories.

Here are two examples of all the accessories that come with the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute and the Tineco Pure One s12 Pro Ex.

While the current standard for included accessories tends to be:

  • the floorhead (motorised brush bar),
  • a vacuum wand, of course 😀,
  • a crevice tool for the cracks and corners,
  • a multi-surface dusting brush,
  • and a wall mount / charger.

The imagination of manufacturers seems to have no limit when it comes to the possible attachments. There are, for example:

  • Cleaner heads especially for hard floors
  • Brush rolls especially for carpets
  • Attachments for mattresses
  • Hinged attachments for easily cleaning under sofas and around corners
  • Flexible joint nozzles
  • Motorised tools
  • Filter cleaning attachments and
  • much more 🚂

With the right accessories, your hoover can enter handheld mode in a flash.

As you can see, it's worth taking a closer look. 👀

Battery performance, removable battery, charging time...

These factors are also important to consider when testing cordless vacuum cleaners. And when it comes to the batteries, the wheat is often separated from the chaff.

Normally, the devices are equipped with a lithium-ion battery.

But here too:

Not all batteries are created equal. 💁

Cordless vacuums with good battery life have a runtime starting from 45 minutes up to 90 minutes. The 90-minute runtime, however, tends to be recorded in eco-mode. And, of course, surface, suction power and how it’s used will always have an impact.


A replaceable battery lies next to a vacuum cleaner.

For example, vacuum cleaners run out of power more quickly when you vacuum a thick carpet or use a high power mode, like turbo. On laminate, on the other hand, devices have a longer battery life...

...either way, you'll probably end up having to recharge. 😇

So having sufficiently long battery life, short charging times and, ideally, a battery that can be changed are all extremely practical features to look out for when choosing your Dyson alternative.

Filters for cordless vacuums

The best cordless vacuums available today use HEPA filters.

A Dyson HEPA filter.

HEPA filters ensure that the air that is sucked in comes out clean. HEPA filters vary in performance, and the best ones filter up to 99.9 percent of tiny dust particles and allergens (0.3 microns).


HEPA filter classification.

This filtration is a real benefit, especially for allergy sufferers. 🚂

By the way, we’ve also tested the best cordless hoovers for allergy sufferers.

Manoeuvrability and ease of use

Handling should be as simple and self-explanatory as possible. The top brands do this very well.

The quality has to be right, the joints and connections must work smoothly, and the device should be well thought-out.

Most cordless hoovers do not need a dust bag, which saves time, protects the environment and your wallet.

Emptying the dust bin.

The dust canister is simply emptied directly above the bin, and dirt should not make its way back into your home while doing so.

So bagless is the way to go! 💃

But that doesn't mean there aren't good alternatives with bags. Vorwerk, for example, has a cordless vacuum cleaner with a bag. The Vorwerk Kobold VB100 is interesting in this regard.

Which Dyson alternative vacuums are good for pet hair?

Pet hair acts as a test of endurance for cordless vacuums.

Pet owners are well aware that their little angels often make hard-to-clean messes. Just think of how the fine animal hairs get stuck on upholstery and in carpets.

Yes, there’s no bluffing through this one. Either the devices are good enough or they aren’t.

Many vacuums also come with a pet tool especially for tackling these issues.

Dyson regularly performs well here in our tests.

But in our test of the best cordless hoovers for tackling pet hair, a few other devices also stood out.

Shark Anti-Hair Wrap cordless models even feature anti-hair wrap technology to avoid hair getting tangled up in the vacuum bristles.

Which Dyson dupes can also mop?

The topic of cordless vacuum-mop combos has become increasingly popular in recent years!

A modern cordless hoover with mopping ability.
The Philips SpeedPro Max Aqua vacuum-mop

And for good reason - after all, you can cut out an extra chore with one device.

But which cordless vacs have this ability?

Clearly, Dyson's can't do this yet. But there are some good alternatives, for example from Tineco and Philips.

We’ve tested the best cordless hoovers with mopping ability in detail. 🧐

Mop attachments for Dyson cordless vacuums are only produced by third-party sellers. You have to be very careful if you decide to buy a Dyson mop attachment. Unfortunately, there is a lot of rubbish doing the rounds...

Another option you may find interesting:

A modern cordless floor cleaner from Tineco.
The cordless Tineco Floor One S5 wet-dry vacuum

A modern cordless floor cleaner! It can vacuum and mop at the same time, but it’s geared more towards mopping. It has water tanks for clean and dirty water and you can even vacuum up liquids.

Conclusion: Is it worth buying a Dyson alternative?

To answer the question of whether there are any good alternatives to Dyson cordless vacuums, we can confidently say:

Yes, there are a few cordless hoovers that are similar or come close to Dyson.

Many high-end options are available in the premium sector, but they also have a similar price range to Dyson.

If you don't want to invest so much, then you might have to live without some features.

A Dyson alternative is a worthwhile purchase for you if...

💰 … you want to save money and accept sacrifices.

🏆 ... you don't necessarily need the best vacuum cleaner.

We definitely recommend going with a Dyson dupe if...

🤔… you’ve had continued bad experiences with the brand.

💃… you want a cordless hoover with mopping capabilities (Dyson vacuums don’t yet offer this function).

🎨… you don't like the extravagant design.

Joe

I have always been excited about smart home products. User-friendliness is one of the most important criteria for new products for me and my reviews should also be user-friendly. This way, you can find the product that suits you best and I hope that our test reports offer you real added value in this way.

Why trust us?

> 150 products tested

3,528 hours of research

6 Smart Home Experts

Smart Home Fox is represented throughout Europe

> 1 million written words

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