A window cleaning robot is one of the few home robots that does a real chore today. It sticks to the glass, drives a path and wipes. It also has limits that the promo videos skip: it cannot do your outside windows without a tether, it struggles with textured or curved glass, and it will not wipe a dirty frame. If you are tired of hype, this is the category where the hype is mostly earned, with caveats.
ECOVACS WINBOT W2S Omni
Ecovacs lists a 110-minute runtime, about 65 m² in Fast Mode and about 26 m² in Deep Mode, with 8,000 Pa maximum suction and a portable station that holds the robot on the glass at over 800 N. It works on framed and frameless glass at least 3 mm thick and tilted up to 45 degrees. The trade-off is weight: the robot is 1.95 kg, so it is heavier than the little mini, and you still have to clip its tether every time.
Check price on Amazon →This guide compares the best window cleaning robot options sold on Amazon, using manufacturer spec pages. It is a researched buying guide built from specs and owner-reported issues, built on paper, not in our own windows. We cover coverage per charge, tether safety, glass limits and what each one cannot do.
Our pick: ECOVACS WINBOT W2S Omni. It runs about 110 minutes cordless from its station, covers up to about 65 m² per charge in Fast Mode, and works on framed and frameless glass at least 3 mm thick. For the biggest or hardest windows: the WINBOT W3 Omni. If you want the cheapest corded option: HOBOT-2S, a plug-in robot with a 20-minute backup battery. Whatever you buy, always clip the safety tether and read the glass limits first.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key detail | Price class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick ECOVACS WINBOT W2S Omni | Most homes: mixed framed and frameless windows, wants no cord to manage | Robot 1.95 kg, up to 8,000 Pa, 110 min runtime, framed and frameless, 3 mm glass minimum | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
| ECOVACS WINBOT W3 Omni | Large homes and floor-to-ceiling glass, buyers who want the newest Ecovacs navigation | Up to 130 min per charge, 3 mm glass minimum, station 10 kg, three-layer safety cable rated to 100 kg | $$$ · Premium | Check price |
| ECOVACS WINBOT W2S | Buyers who only want a plug-in robot at a lower price | Corded; battery only covers short power interruptions; no Omni station | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
| HOBOT-2S | Budget buyers with a nearby outlet and simple flat windows | Corded, 5 m cord, 4.5 m tether, 20-minute backup battery, about 2.4 min per m² | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
| ECOVACS WINBOT mini | Small panes, bathroom and door glass (sold on the Ecovacs US store; Amazon lists the newer Mini 2) | 1.3 kg, 215 mm square, 22 x 25 cm minimum window, 3.3 m tether | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
| HOBOT S7 Pro | Large indoor glass; check live stock because US availability looks inconsistent | 4,800 Pa, 4 m cord extendable to 8 m, 4.5 m tether rated 230 kgf | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
Our picks, one by one
ECOVACS WINBOT W2S OmniOur Pick
The robot measures 270 x 270 x 76 mm and weighs 1.95 kg, with a 5.2 kg station that doubles as the charging and control hub. Ecovacs lists 3,000 Pa suction while moving, 8,000 Pa maximum, and a backup rope at the station base on top of the main cable, which carries a stated tensile strength of up to 100 kg. A 110-minute runtime (plus or minus 10 percent) means you can wash the whole front of a house without recharging. Compared with the plain W2S below, the station is what lets it run cordless, which matters when you are leaning out of a second-story window.
Check price on Amazon →ECOVACS WINBOT W3 OmniBest for Big Glass
Ecovacs lists up to 130 minutes of continuous cleaning per charge, 3,300 Pa suction while moving and a 10 kg station. The cable is three-layer composite, rated to 100 kg, with an extra 1 m safety rope on the station base. Ecovacs's product line page says the W3 generation edge-cleans to within 1.1 mm of the frame and can handle windows up to 8 m wide by 2.5 m high. The spec table also lists frame-distance detection. Choose it over the W2S Omni only if you have a lot of glass, because the extra runtime is the real upgrade.
Check price on Amazon →ECOVACS WINBOT W2SBest Plug-In Ecovacs
The W2S is the plain version of the W2S Omni, without the portable station. It shares Ecovacs's 3 mm glass minimum and its warning against curved, textured or oily glass. Ecovacs's US site prices it almost the same as the Omni, so the Omni is the better value unless you find the W2S on sale. Choose it only if you have a short, repeatable route from one outlet.
Check price on Amazon →HOBOT-2SBest Budget Plug-In
Hobot's own page lists a 5 m power cord, a 4.5 m safety rope rated for 200 kg of pulling force, and a 20-minute backup battery that sounds an alert if power fails. It travels at 12 cm per second and cleans 1 m² in about 2.4 minutes. An edge-leakage sensor detects air leaks at the edge of frameless glass. Versus the Winbot W2S, it is the cheaper robot and lists the sensor, but it has no station, and its backup battery is far shorter than the 110-minute Ecovacs runtime.
Check price on Amazon →How We Chose
This is desk research, not a lab. We started with the manufacturer spec pages for Ecovacs and Hobot, then checked that each robot has a live Amazon.com listing. We scored each on six criteria:
- Runtime and coverage: minutes per charge and area per charge as the maker states them.
- Safety: tether length and rated strength, plus what happens in a power cut.
- Glass limits: minimum thickness, frame type, tilt and window size.
- Weight: a lighter robot is easier to carry up a ladder.
- Cord: whether it can run without a plug.
- Owner-reported problems: missed edges and cord trouble from owner reviews.
Where Hobot publishes no weight or suction number on its page, we left it blank rather than copy a retailer figure that conflicts with another.
How Fast Each Robot Cleans: Our Math
Window robots are rated in square meters, which is hard to picture. We converted the maker's cleaning speed into minutes for a whole house. We assume 12 windows at 1.8 m² each (about 1.2 m x 1.5 m, or 4 ft x 5 ft), so 21.6 m² total.
| Robot | Stated speed | Minutes per m² | m² per hour | Minutes for 21.6 m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINBOT W2S Omni (Fast) | about 65 m² per charge in 110 min | 1.7 | 35 | 37 |
| WINBOT W2S Omni (Deep) | about 26 m² per charge in 110 min | 4.2 | 14 | 91 |
| HOBOT-2S | 1 m² in 2.4 min | 2.4 | 25 | 52 |
| WINBOT mini (Fast) | 1 m² in 3 min | 3.0 | 20 | 65 |
Formula: minutes per m² = 60 / (m² per hour); minutes for the house = 21.6 m² x minutes per m². Ecovacs's runtime-based figures come from its W2S Omni page; the Hobot and mini figures come from their own pages. Real time rises with obstacles and re-passes.
Takeaway: Deep Mode on the W2S Omni takes about 91 minutes for 12 windows, which is nearly the battery limit. Plan one session per floor, not one per house.
What a Window Robot Cannot Do
A window cleaning robot is a good glass wiper and a poor window washer. It will not remove baked-on bird droppings, paint overspray or hard water scale. It cannot clean the frame, the sill or the screen. Ecovacs states the glass should be smooth and free of condensation or oil, with obstacles under 4 mm and frames under 2 mm. If your windows have raised grilles, true divided lites or heavy frames, expect gaps.
- Textured, patterned or curved glass: Ecovacs warns against it, and Amazon's Hobot listing warns against rounded frames.
- Glass under 3 mm: Ecovacs lists 3 mm as the minimum thickness.
- Cold or wet days: Ecovacs says to avoid extreme temperatures and condensation.
- Screens and storm windows: take them off first, or skip the window.
Robot, Squeegee or Pro: Which One Fits Your Windows
Use this decision rule. If you have fewer than six accessible windows, a squeegee and a bucket cost less and take about the same time. If you have 10 or more large, flat panes (sliders, picture windows, a sunroom), a robot pays back in time. If the glass is above the first floor and you cannot reach it safely from inside, a pro with the right equipment is the answer. A robot is a time-saver for glass you can already reach, not a way to avoid ladders for dangerous jobs.
Think about how often you clean. A robot makes a monthly wipe of the glass you actually look through realistic, and that is where the value is: a light monthly wipe means less grime to fight each time.
Also check your windows for screens. Many US double-hung windows have exterior screens or storm windows that sit over the glass. A robot cleans the glass it can reach, so if the outside surface is behind a screen you cannot remove, it will only do the inside.
Safety: Tether, Glass and Falls
Clip the safety tether to a solid anchor every time, even if the robot has a backup battery. Ecovacs lists a rope rated to 100 kg on the Winbot cable and a 1 m backup rope on the station. Hobot lists a 4.5 m rope. Those ratings hold up the robot, not you.
Rules that decide whether a robot is safe for your house:
- Keep the robot's weight in mind. At 1.3 to 1.95 kg, a falling robot is a hazard to anyone below, so rope off the area.
- Do not use any window robot on a window you cannot reach to retrieve it. If the battery dies, the backup holds it on the glass for about 20 to 30 minutes, according to Hobot and Ecovacs.
- Follow the manufacturer's frame and glass limits. If a window rattles, has a cracked pane or sits in a sash that moves, do not use a robot.
- Never lean out of an upper-floor window to place a robot. For second-story exterior glass, call a pro.
Running Costs, Pads and Setup Time
The purchase price is not the whole cost. Ecovacs sells washable mopping pads (a 2-pack is listed as compatible with the W2 generation) and a window cleaning solution, and its Amazon listing for the solution says one bottle lasts about 3 months. Budget for a spare pad set and a refill bottle each year, and wash the pads after every session so grit does not scratch the glass.
- Setup: wipe the outer edge of the glass by hand first. A robot needs a clean rim to seal against, and both makers warn about oil and condensation.
- Placement: start the robot in the middle of the pane, not at the edge. Edge starts are the usual reason for a robot that refuses to run.
- Tether: clip it before you let go of the robot, every time.
- Water: Ecovacs lists a Fast Mode spray area of about 25 m² per tank on the mini and about 50 m² per tank on the W3 Omni, so check the tank before a large job.
Prep is the part the promo videos leave out, so count it as part of the chore.
Who Should NOT Buy a Window Robot
Skip it if most of your glass is small divided panes, textured privacy glass or sliding doors with a deep track. You will spend longer positioning the robot than wiping with a squeegee. Skip it too if your windows are two stories up and you have no safe access. Hire a window-cleaning pro for that, and for any cracked, loose or leaded glass.
Also skip it if you want clean frames and sills. The robot only does the glass.
Corded or Cordless: Which Decision Rule Works
Count your outlets. If every window you want done is within about 5 m of an outlet (the Hobot-2S cord is 5 m), a plug-in robot is fine. If you want exterior glass, bay windows or anything with a long run, buy a station model such as the W2S Omni, which Ecovacs rates for 110 minutes cordless. Decide by the worst window, not the average one.
Our #1 pick: ECOVACS WINBOT W2S Omni
If you only read one line of this guide: this is the one we would buy.
Check price on Amazon →Frequently asked questions
Do window cleaning robots really work?
Yes on flat, smooth glass. Ecovacs and Hobot both publish cleaning speeds of roughly 2 to 3 minutes per square meter. They do not replace hand cleaning for tough grime, frames or textured glass.
Can a window cleaning robot clean outside windows?
Yes, if the glass fits the maker's limits and you clip the safety tether to a solid anchor. For upper-floor windows that you cannot safely reach, hire a professional instead.
Do window cleaning robots work on frameless glass?
Ecovacs lists the W2S Omni as working on framed and frameless windows. Hobot lists an edge-leakage sensor that detects air leaks at frameless edges. Check your glass thickness against the 3 mm minimum Ecovacs lists.
What happens if the power goes out?
Both brands include a backup battery. Hobot lists 20 minutes and Ecovacs says the robot stays attached for over 30 minutes on a full charge. The tether is your second line of defense.
Winbot or Hobot: which is better?
For most homes, Winbot, because the Omni models run cordless. Hobot is the lower-cost corded choice. See our head-to-head for the full comparison.
Price classes are a rough guide; check the current price on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.