Work management, which forms part of Monday’s Work OS platform designed to cater to all of the departments within a business, focuses specifically on enabling companies and their managers and execs to collaborate at scale, at a higher level.

With an emphasis on processes streamlining, goal and strategy setting, and project navigation, you can expect some powerful and handy automations, together with integrations, to help speed up a lot of the time-consuming admin work.

Monday Work Management: Plans and pricing

Because Monday wants you to use its Work OS for all aspects of your business management regardless of size, there’s a free tier that is great for small businesses and fresh startups, but limitations like the number of team members (two) and storage (500MB) are present. 

A trio of paid plans introduces higher limits and more features, like templates, mobile apps, timeline and Gantt views, automations, and integrations, costing $10, $12, and $20 per seat per month for Basic, Standard, and Pro, respectively. There’s an 18% discount available if you choose to pay annually rather than monthly, and an additional Enterprise plan can be tailor-made to your company.

It’s worth noting that while pricing is measured on a per-seat basis, you’ll need to buy a package with a set number of seats. The minimum is three, and beyond 50 Monday advises customers to contact sales, indicating that larger discounts could be available as well as a more personalized onboarding and setup experience.

Monday Work Management: Features

Rather than offering a guided package and telling you what to do, Monday Work Management presents users will most of the tools they’ll need to get started and allows them to set themselves up as they see fit, making the platform incredibly customizable. That said, it can be a bit overwhelming at first, especially for SMBs who are yet to have used a project management app. This is where the pre-built templates come in handy to get you off on the right foot.

Work Management serves as a tool to manage entire processes within companies rather than individual projects, where you can expect to handle teams, workloads, processes, and OKRs more broadly.

Just like the rest of Monday’s offerings, you can expect everything to be broken down as far as it can be. This includes handling tasks and to-do lists, projects, clients and third parties, and resources, right down to granular levels.

Real-time dashboarding aims to save users time, which is made more powerful with integrations with numerous popular third-party apps. On that, integrations are aplenty, and range from video conferencing software like Teams and Zoom; marketing tools like Mailchimp and SurveyMonkey; project management apps like Asana and Trello; and CRM services like Salesforce and Zendesk.

Monday Work Management: Interface and in use

If you’re already using Monday’s project management software, which is what it’s best known for, then Work Management will be a natural progression and you should need little to no further training. The same can be said if you use some of Monday’s other offerings, like Monday Dev.

The software combines ease of use and simplicity with enough detail to make it powerful enough for the average user, and options for further depth and granularity should you need it.

For new users unfamiliar with this sort of solution, it may appear daunting at first. The best thing to do is to set up an account using templates for demo purposes, to follow help guides on Monday’s website, and take part in the company’s numerous webinars and setup videos. There are plenty of other tutorials posted to online video platforms like YouTube, too, given Monday’s immense popularity.

Monday Work Management: Support

Work Management is just one part of Monday’s entire catalog of products. With something to appeal to every type of worker, the company’s reach is far and wide, and as such, you can expect it to have decent support beyond the library of self-help articles.

Non-customers can use an online form to get in touch, which isn’t renowned for being the quickest way to contact the company, but things get better for paying customers, who all get access to 24/7 support and daily live webinars to get the most out of the software and uncover unknown features. Members of the free plan don’t benefit from this additional support, and on the other end of the scale, Enterprise customers get their own dedicated point of contact.

Monday Work Management: Security

A company representative told us that “Monday Work Management aligns to the most stringent security standards, keeping your work and data safe.” Ultimately, any company that openly discloses its security measures is a good one in our eyes, and Monday delivers on this. We know, for example, that data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and that the company has a contract with AWS for storage.

Monday Work Management: The competition

Monday’s biggest competition probably comes from Asana, which is another familiar name in project and work management. Favored by respectably large companies like Spotify and Deloitte, Asana has a pair of plans costing $13.49 and $30.49 per month respectively, as well as a free tier. What it offers is very similar, so check the small print to see which one offers you the most features for the best price on the basis of which features you’ll actually use versus surplus features.

Trello is another big name in the sector, and it also has its own solutions to project management and developer workflow tools, just like Monday. Pricing may be marginally more favorable, so again, check whether it has everything you need including support for integrations before making a decision.

Monday Work Management: Final Verdict

While Monday Work Management is an incredible powerful and versatile tool for a company’s higher-level management, and companies may favor it if they’re already using other Monday software, not a lot differentiates it from its rivals. Ultimately, the decision will come down to preference and cost more than anything, but regardless, Work Management is very far from a poor option.

We've listed the best free project management software.

You’ll pay for it though, because it’s a touch more expensive than most of its rivals (though not excessively), but you get access to some other Monday software and tons of integrations and automations. Beware of restrictions on lower plans, though.

Monday Dev: Plans and pricing

Pricing for Monday Dev works on a group basis where a company must pay for a predetermined number of seats, regardless of whether they fill them.

Expect to pay $12, $14.50, or $25 per seat per month for Basic, Standard, and Pro respectively. Companies with more than three workers (the minimum for any plan) can pick from plans covering 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 seats. More seats are available, but you’ll need to get in touch for pricing.

There’s also an Enterprise plan with a lot more customization available. Paying annually, rather than monthly, will unlock an 18% discount on paid plans.

Monday Dev: Features

While there’s no free plan available (besides trials), even the most basic plan has most of the necessities, including support for an unlimited amount of items from tasks and projects to customers. However, dashboarding only extends to one board so don’t expect detailed reports for your entire account.

Standard might prove more popular for more users with added timeline and Gantt views, sprint management, and dashboarding for up to five boards. Automations and integrations are allowed up to a limit of 250 actions per month, and this is the minimum tier you’ll need if you want GitHub and GitLab integration to link your repository to feed into handy automations, for example.

Monday claims that its Pro plan is its most popular, but at more than double the amount of the Basic plan, make sure that you’re going to use the time tracking, cross-team roadmapping, and other features it comes with. The 25,000 integration and automation actions allowed each month are unlikely to be exceeded by most.

Note that each plan has a different storage limit (5GB, 20GB, and 100GB), activity log timeframes (one week, six months, and one year), and other restrictions imposed on it.

Monday Dev: Interface and in use

Monday is best known for its project management software which is favored by companies across the world for its clean and simple design packed with easy-to-find powerful tools and impressive reporting abilities. Monday Dev is no different, and anybody already familiar with Monday’s other products will be able to jump straight in without a problem - or make use of the onboarding tools if required.

Getting started is easy, and there are plenty of templates to pick from if this is your first time using product development software. Choosing a view should be easy because the software separates the different tiers of development, from roadmaps to show epics down to sprints and individual tasks - it can get even more granular if you need it. You can also select from views like Gantt and Kanban, though note that some styles are reserved for higher-end plans.

Initially, and especially if you’ve come from using less powerful tools, you’ll find yourself filling in a lot of the blanks yourself, however making use of the built-in automations is where the best value for money comes from. Expect them to be able to handle things like the population of people and dates, or create your own tailored automations to suit your specific goals.

Reporting via dashboards can be customized to show precisely the right data you need to feed back to the relevant teams and leaders, and as you would expect there are filters to fine-tune the reports if you need to discuss a specific person’s work, or one task individually.

When it comes to collaborating, Monday’s built-in messaging tools are designed to eliminate the need for you to turn to third-party platforms like Slack or Teams (though there are integrations for both, and lots more). For the most part, it works, because each conversation relates to a specific task so there’s no need to spend valuable time explaining the background in a Slack message, but you won’t get the more powerful tools on offer from purpose-built apps, like video conferencing. It can also be challenging to look back in time for certain messages because remembering which chain to look for can be a challenge.

We also like the Bugs Queue tool, which allows developers to create unique reporting links whereby reports are fed straight into Monday Dev. Here, they can be assigned to a developer who can track things like status and time spent on a resolution.

Monday Dev: Support

Because Monday Dev forms part of a much broader company with various offerings, support is great. Naturally, there’s an entire library of self-help articles, but for when the going gets tough you should be able to get through to the support team fairly easily.

An online form is available for non-customers, but all paying customers including the cheapest plan get access to 24/7 support. Customers will also be able to benefit from live webinars which can be especially handy for getting the most out of the product.

Monday Dev: Security

A company that openly discusses its security measures is a good sign - Monday is one of these. It has an entire ‘Trust Center’ to highlight its various compliances. As a general overview, data is encrypted at rest and in transit, and the company openly tells us that it uses AWS.

Monday Dev: The competition

Monday Dev is arguably one of the better tools out there and more broadly, the company is really experienced in offering all sorts of management software. However, if you’re already a Zoho customer then Zoho Sprints may appeal, which is equally as powerful but slightly less appealingly designed - though it is a cheaper option. Favro is another suite that offers a very similar approach to Monday and at a similar price point, though it’s less of a household name and some companies may prefer to go with a trusted brand or one that they use for other solutions already.

Monday Dev: Final Verdict

Overall, Monday Dev could be one of the best, most well-rounded product development tools out there that’s both easy to use and packed with powerful features. The only reason it doesn’t get a full five-star rating from us is its price, which is less favorable than some competition.

We've listed the best free project management software.

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: two-minute review

The Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress sits on the lower end of the mid-range bracket, consistently priced at $799 for a queen during regular sales with free bedding and sheets included. It graces our best mattress guide as a suitable option for hot sleepers who don't want to spend a lot for a specialty cooling mattress, but how does it fare in other areas, like pressure relief and edge support? 

I slept on a twin Cocoon Chill mattress for three weeks and asked five additional participants to share their experiences, as well. Here's what you need to know...

My fellow testers and I unanimously agree that the Cocoon by Sealy Chill is a firm mattress, collectively rating it an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. We found it most comfortable for back sleeping, as we felt well-aligned and supported in that position. (As the only stomach sleeper of the bunch, I didn't feel my hips sink, either.) The side sleepers of the group appreciated the Chill's responsive top foam layer that gently contoured our joints; however, it'll turn off those who like a softer, more cushioned feel.

With a top knit cover made from phase-changing materials, I was anticipating a cooling sensation as soon as I sat on the mattress, but to my dismay it wasn't noticeable at all. Despite this, the Cocoon Chill effectively kept me comfortable and dry during both a sudden spring heatwave and a nighttime fever. Given its status as an affordable all-foam mattress, this aspect of the Cocoon by Sealy Chill stood out as the most impressive feature for me.

As expected, the Chill mattress does a very good job of absorbing motion, which is a plus for couples. Edge support is surprisingly robust for a foam-only bed (though as a firm mattress, I suppose it makes sense.) My biggest quibble is with the setup process, particularly all of the plastic I had to wade through after unpacking it. The Chill mattress was also quite heavy to set up solo, and there was a lingering off-gassing odor that eventually faded upon cracking a window.

Head below for more details on how the Cocoon by Sealy Chill performed in key areas according to TechRadar's mattress testing methodology – along with general considerations regarding cost and value, ease of setup, and top competitors.

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: price

• A lower mid-range name-brand cooling mattress
• Queen costs $799 after an evergreen 35% discount
• Comes with free bedding and pillows 

The Cocoon by Sealy Chill is among the least expensive name-brand mattresses out there – not to mention one of the cheapest cooling mattresses you can buy. Thanks to an evergreen Cocoon by Sealy mattress sale, the Chill mattress is always available at a 35% discount; bear in mind though that there may be a better deal in teh upcoming Memorial Day mattress sales.

Here's the 2023 pricing for the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress:

• Twin: $769 (normally on sale for $499)
• Twin XL: $869 (normally on sale for $559)
• Full: $969 (normally on sale for $629)
• Queen: $1,239 (normally on sale for $799)
• King: $1,539 (normally on sale for $999)
• Cal King: $1,539 (normally on sale for $999)

The Cocoon Chill mattress comes bundled with a free sheet set plus two pillows (up to a $199 value). Better yet, we regularly see Cocoon by Sealy promo codes that knock an extra $25 off, dropping the sale price of a queen Chill mattress to $774. Since the Chill is exclusively sold at Sealy, there's no need to browse third-party mattress sales for lower prices elsewhere.

Nectar is the closest competitor when it comes to value. A queen Nectar Mattress is typically on sale for under $700 during Nectar mattress sales, with free bedding and pillows occasionally bundled in. Nectar also offers a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, which beat Sealy's 100-night trial and 10-year warranty. But, as our Nectar Mattress review says, it's not a dedicated cooling model so it may sleep too warm for some.

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: specs

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: materials & design

• A 10-inch foam mattress with four layers
• Hybrid and Extra-Chill Foam upgrades available
• Phase-changing cooling cover is spot-clean only

The 10-inch Cocoon Chill is a 4-layer mattress with a six-inch polyfoam support base, motion-absorbing comfort foam, contouring memory foam, and a stretch-knit cover woven with Phase Change Materials (PCM) to draw away body heat. The cover is advertised as 'cool-to-touch' but that wasn't my experience, as I'll elaborate on later.

For an extra $199, you can upgrade to the Extra-Chill Foam model, which infuses phase-changing materials into the comfort foam and adds an enhanced cooling cover. Meanwhile, if you'd prefer a bouncier and slightly cooler bed, the Cocoon by Sealy Chill Hybrid mattress adds a layer of coils and starts at $739 for a twin. 

The cooling cover is not removable for washing, but you can spot-clean stains. That's all the more reason to invest in one of the best mattress protectors to safeguard it from spills, bed bugs, and allergens.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: comfort

• Rated firm – 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale
• Most comfortable for back sleeping
• Not for those who like a plusher mattress

I slept on a twin Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress for three weeks. Since comfort is subjective – and I can only speak for myself as a 5-foot-4, 145lb side/stomach sleeper – I asked five people to nap on it for at least 15 minutes, after which they'd share their impressions. My group included men and women of varying ages, builds, and sleep needs.

We found the Chill mattress slightly firmer than Sealy's self-assessment of medium-firm, giving it a collective score of 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This consensus was consistent among our testers, with the lowest individual firmness rating (7.5) coming from the largest participant, a 6-foot-3, 250lb side/back sleeper.

For most of our back sleepers, the Cocoon Chill provided plenty of lumbar support and even weight distribution. The side sleepers among us liked the Chill's subtle contouring and pressure point relief along the shoulders, hips, and knees. As the occasional stomach sleeper of the group, I liked that my hips didn't sink below the rest of my body.

Petite to average-sized sleepers found the Chill mattress comfortable, despite its firmness. However, one tester (6ft, 190 lbs) felt it might not provide enough support for larger individuals, although our heaviest participant was satisfied with it. Those who prefer a softer mattress may find the Chill too firm. A heavier back sleeper in the group who's accustomed to a soft foam mattress at home says he aggravated his lower back injury after trying the Chill mattress.

To further test the Cocoon Chill's pressure relief, I placed a 50lb kettlebell in the center of the mattress. It compressed about 1.5 inches, then quickly snapped back into place upon removing the weight. That's not a deep drop, but it did translate to the ideal amount of pressure relief for my fellow testers with joint and back pain.

Sleepers who want to sink into their mattress should take a look at our Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress review instead – or if you're exclusively a side sleeper, the Helix Midnight mattress is made especially for you. While the larger sleepers of the testing panel felt supported by the Chill overall, a hybrid like the DreamCloud mattress may hold up better for bigger bodies over time.

Comfort score: 4 out of 5

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: temperature regulation

• Impressive temperature regulation
• However, cover isn't cool-to-touch
• No specialty bedding required

The Cocoon by Sealy Chill's temperature regulation truly impressed me, an occasional hot sleeper who enjoys being swaddled. Between a sudden springtime heatwave and a brief illness, the Chill mattress kept me dry and comfortable throughout it all.

Initially, I was disappointed when I didn't feel the cooling sensation from the top cover as Sealy claims – but that didn't matter. The cover's phase-changing fibers worked in tandem with the breathable comfort foam layer to dissipate heat and wick away moisture. When I came down with a fever towards the end of the testing period, I didn't wake up with soaked pajamas and sheets. (I was just slightly sweaty.)

Keep in mind that Sealy recommends maintaining a room temperature between 68 and 72 degrees F for the PCM to be its most effective. There were a couple of nights when my bedroom was slightly north of the max at 75 degrees F, but I still didn't overheat. 

Meanwhile, there aren't any obvious requirements regarding the type of bedding you should use. I alternated between the free cotton sheet set Sealy included with the mattress and a set of cotton sheets I already owned. I also slept with a midweight polyester comforter during all three weeks of testing.

Upgrading to the Chill Hybrid or adding Sealy's specialized cooling foam may yield even better results here, but the entry-level Cocoon by Sealy Chill is an outstanding cooling mattress in its own right. 

Temperature regulation score: 4.5 out of 5

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: Motion isolation

• Above-average motion isolation
• A popular choice for couples

As a firmer memory foam mattress, the Cocoon Chill should absorb virtually any moment. Although I witnessed more movement than I had anticipated during testing, it still performed above average in this category.

I sleep in a twin bed so it's impossible to comfortably accommodate more than one person. To test the Chill's motion isolation, I suspended a 10lb kettlebell from six inches high and dropped it next to an empty wine glass at various distances away to simulate a partner's movements.

When I dropped the weight four inches away from the empty glass, there was an obvious wobble. The movement wasn't as pronounced from 12 and 25 inches away, but the glass was briefly unsteady before returning to position. Notably, the glass did not topple over during either drop test.

These results suggest that you might feel your partner shift positions or get in and out of bed, but not enough to totally disrupt your slumber. It's also worth noting that couples who've reviewed the Cocoon by Sealy Chill unanimously commend its motion isolation, even if they weren't fond of the mattress otherwise. 

Motion isolation score: 4 out of 5

Cocoon Chill mattress review: edge support

• Good edge support for an all-foam bed
• Supportive with minimal sinkage

Edge support is crucial, regardless of mattress size. Strong edges prevent sagging, aid sleepers with mobility issues who need to sit before entering or exiting the bed, and reduce the risk of accidentally rolling overboard while sleeping. 

Memory foam mattresses aren't known for their edge support, but my fellow testers and I thought the Cocoon by Sealy Chill performed well in this area. Sitting along the middle perimeter and corners revealed some sinkage, but not uncomfortably so. Plus, I never felt in danger of falling out of bed while sleeping on it.

I also tested the Chill's edge support by placing a 50lb kettlebell along the middle perimeter. It compressed by an inch, with no bunching in the top layer. (As an aside, it appears my Chill mattress tops off at nine inches – an inch shorter than advertised.)

For an all-foam mattress, the Cocoon by Sealy Chill's edge support is better than average. Still, if top-notch edge support is a must for you, consider a hybrid with reinforced springs instead. 

Edge support score: 4 out of 5

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: setup

• Free sheets and pillows are packed with the mattress
• Plastic is easy to unravel, but there's a lot of it
• Anticipate some off-gassing 

The last two mattresses I reviewed arrived flat and included in-room delivery and setup, so admittedly, I was a tiny bit disappointed to revert back to a standard bed-in-a-box that I had to set up myself. (It's the same reason why people recommend you never fly first class, I suppose.)

Inside the box was my twin Chill mattress plus the free sheets and pillows bundle, all vacuum-sealed. I managed to maneuver the 40-pound twin mattress by myself, but if you opt for a queen (64 pounds) or a king (83 pounds), you'll want to ask a friend or family member to help, especially since white glove delivery is not an option.

Unlike most mattresses I've unpacked, I didn't need to use a plastic cutter since the plastic was perforated. This made the process easier, although that was canceled out by the massive amount of plastic I had to wade through when all was said and done. Once unfurled, the mattress began to inflate with a loud hiss for a couple of minutes.

Sealy says its Cocoon Chill mattress takes up to 48 hours to fully expand, but I was able to sleep on it 12 hours after unboxing with no issue. I did get a whiff of some off-gassing during setup, but the smell didn't linger. (Opening a window helped.) Sealy uses CertiPUR-US foam low in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions for minimal off-gassing odors and a healthier indoor sleep environment.

Setup score: 3.5 out of 5

Cocoon Chill mattress review: customer reviews

• Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars from almost 8,000 reviews
• Top marks for motion isolation and pressure relief 
• Some say it's too firm and prone to sleeping hot

In addition to my experience and feedback from my 5-person testing panel, I analyzed hundreds of user reviews on Sealy's website to provide a broader picture of the Cocoon Chill's performance. As of April 2023, it has a 4.7-star rating (out of 5) from almost 8,000 reviews.

The most common themes among the 5-star reviews are immediate back and hip pain relief, excellent motion isolation, and a cooler night's sleep. On the flip side, those who don't like the Chill mattress say it's too firm and prone to sagging over time – and several shoppers say it sleeps warm, despite the cooling materials. 

If you're keen to know how the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress performs in certain areas, you can filter reviews by keywords and sort by star rating.

Should you buy the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress?

The Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress was a hit among my testing panel, with most of them proclaiming that they'd consider buying one for themselves, or at least recommend it to a friend. So who is the Chill mattress best suited for?

Based on my assessment, I recommend the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress for back and stomach sleepers since it's the right level of firmness for adequate support, alignment, and pressure relief in those positions. The side sleepers in my group felt contoured in all the right places, but it could be too firm for those who like to feel 'hugged' by their mattress. (Check out our guide to the best mattresses for side sleepers for our favorite plush models for side sleeping.)

I also recommend the Cocoon Chill for individuals seeking a mattress for back pain. Participants with back and joint aches enjoyed almost-immediate relief thanks to the gentle contouring of the top comfort foam layer. Couples should find this mattress suitable, as well, since it absorbs most movement, reducing the risk of your partner waking you up in the middle of the night.

Now, would I recommend the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress for hot sleepers? Absolutely. It's not the coolest bed I've slept on, but it still did an excellent job of keeping me comfortably dry during a sudden heatwave and my brief bout with a fever. Also consider the overall value – a queen regularly sells for $799 and comes with free bedding and pillows. You'll be hard pressed to find a cheaper cooling mattress that performs as well as the Cocoon by Sealy Chill. 

Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress review: also consider

How I tested the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress

I slept on a twin Cocoon by Sealy Chill memory foam mattress for three weeks between March and April 2023. I alternated between the cotton sheets Sealy included with my purchase and a set of cotton sheets I already owned, and used a mid-weight polyester comforter throughout the entire duration. Outside of a surprise springtime heatwave, I maintained a room temperature of 70 degrees F.

To supplement my own perspective, I assembled a 5-person panel to sleep on the Chill mattress for at least 15 minutes in their preferred positions and sit along the edges. Participants varied in height and weight, with our smallest tester being 5ft and 111lbs, and our biggest tester being 6ft3in and 250lbs. Several participants, (myself included) experience regular joint and back pain; one participant recently recovered from a knee replacement.

In addition to the above, I gauged the Chill's features beyond my preferences and potential biases by performing a series of standardized tests to evaluate firmness, edge support, and motion isolation. Outside reviews from verified Sealy shoppers were also taken into consideration.

First reviewed: April 2023

Two-minute review

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra offers a wealth of features, from vacuuming and mopping to auto-emptying, self-cleaning, and 3D obstacle avoidance. All that functionality comes at a high price, which brings expectations of  near perfection. So does it succeed in that regard? No – but it remains a solid option that will leave your floors cleaner than ever. 

Roborock deals exclusively in vacuums, with its main focus on those of the robot variety, so you know it’s throwing most of its efforts into furthering this technology. The top-of-the-line S8 Pro Ultra is the part of the brand’s S8 lineup of vacuums, and the most recent release. A less expensive model from Roborock, such as the Q5+, lacks the mopping and self-cleaning ability but still comes with an auto-emptying base for less than a third of the price. 

When it came time to get cleaning, setting up the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and sending it out was simple and painless, thanks to the easy-to-use companion app. The app created a highly accurate map of my home, allowing me to pick rooms and zones to clean based on preferences. You can also set up schedules, create routines, and change the vacuum settings, among many other things. The app will even send you alerts when cleaning is complete, or if there are issues during the cleaning. 

Other than the occasional need to free the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra from the clutches of an evil rug or cord, it had no problem traversing my two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment. The robot vacuum managed to avoid most obstacles, picking up the majority of the debris or crumbs in its path. However, it didn’t fare as well with larger, so you may have to do more manual cleanup in those cases. 

Of course, it also mops simultaneously or separately, depending on the settings you choose. Water automatically fills from the docking station, so that all you truly need to do is start a clean via the app. The vibrating mop head pulses against your floor, cleaning smaller smudges and dust with ease, and the head intelligently lifts on carpets and rugs. However, similar to the vacuuming feature, you won’t want to use this robot vac for larger spills, since it will just spread that mess around. 

However, the real star of the show is the docking station referred to as the RockDock Ultra. It delivers on all its claims, and leaves you with little to worry about in terms of robot vacuum maintenance. The self-cleaning and hot-air drying has kept the mop pad looking almost new and virtually dirt-free, even following two weeks of use. The auto-emptying feature means you never need to worry about emptying the dustbin yourself.  Simply discard the dirty water, refill the clean water tank, and replace the dust bag every few months. 

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is expensive, but if you want one of the best robot vacuums, which allows you to clean while being as hands-off as possible, this is it.  Your floors will be left sparkling, and you can eliminate two chores from your to-do list with the literal push of a button. That might be reason enough to splurge. 

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review: Price and availability

•  List price: $1,599.99 US/$2,699.00 AU 
•  No plans to launch in the UK 

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is available in the US and Australia, with plans to release it in countries such as Germany and France soon. However, there are no plans to launch it in the UK for now.

You can purchase the robot vacuum directly from the US and Australian Roborock websites. When buying in Australia, a current promotion includes a $149.90 AU accessory kit with additional brushes and mopping pad replacements.  The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is also available on Amazon in the US. 

Now, $1,599.99 US/$2,699 AU may seem shocking to some; however, when you consider the highly intelligent vacuuming, limited maintenance, and self-cleaning/self-emptying dock on Roborock’s top-of-the-line model, it’s easier to digest. The Dreametech L10s Ultra offers a similar feature set for not much less, coming in at $1,299.99 in the US and £1,099.99 in the UK. A model such as the Ecovacs Deebot T9+ costs $799.99 in the US, £899 in the UK and $1,299 in Australia. It offers similar functionality, although you lose out on the self-cleaning and auto-refilling mop. 

Of course, there are upkeep costs to consider. Most components should last months, if not years, depending on use. However, dust bags and mopping cloths may need to be replaced more frequently.  A set of two replacement mopping cloths will set you back $25.99 in the US, so these accessories don’t come cheap.

Value score: 4/5

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review: Specs

The  Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with a robot vacuum and base station.

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review: Design

•  350ml dustbin/ 200ml water tank on vacuum 
•  Large docking station 
•  Liftable main brush/mopping component  

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra arrives in a massive, extremely heavy box. Living on the second floor of my apartment building with no elevator, I was happy the delivery person brought the box up the stairs, as I struggled just to get it inside my apartment. Once you open it up, you’ll find a big sheet of instructions, the robot vacuum fully assembled, and the massive base station – the Rockdock Ultra.

The robot vacuum itself isn’t petite by any means, either, weighing 10lbs while measuring 13.8 inches in diameter and 3.8 inches tall. Some of that height is a result of the LiDAR sensor that rests on top for navigation and obstacle avoidance. You don’t get the security cameras seen in some other high-end robot vacuums, including Roborock’s S7 MaxV Ultra, which means you can’t send out the vacuum to check on your pets, but the extra privacy is nice.

Despite the size, the S8 Pro Ultra still looks sleek and comes in two colors: either a clean white or bold black, with a matching RockDock Ultra. The vacuum’s suction options are selected on the app, and you can choose from Quiet, Balanced, Turbo, Max, and Max+(only available when just vacuuming). The sound level definitely increased with each move up the settings. Similar to vacuuming, the VibraRise mopping feature offers scrubbing intensity levels from mild to intense, and it isn’t possible to change the water flow levels. Honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference visibly or in the performance of the different vibration levels.

Taking a closer look at the top side of the robot vacuum, you’ll find three buttons: a power button that’s also used to resume cleaning; a mop-only button that doubles as a child lock; and a home button to send the vacuum back to the dock. Lifting the hinged lid reveals the Wi-Fi indicator and removable 350ml dust bin. But since this vacuum is self-emptying, you’ll rarely have to worry about taking it out – except for the occasional filter washing. There’s also a 200ml water tank here, although you can’t access that.

Flip over the vacuum and you’ll find the wheels, mop and brushes. Unfortunately, the VibraRise mop component isn’t removable, although it intelligently lifts itself over rugs and carpets. If you’re exclusively cleaning a space covered in more plush carpeting, you may want to grab a different vacuum.

The dual main brushes are also very different from your typical vacuum. There are no long bristles here; instead you’ll find a dual rubber roller brush similar to that found in many iRobot vacuums. I’ve found these prevent hair and other debris from becoming tangled, making them much easier to maintain. The dual brushes also lift up and out of the way, depending on the floor and the cleaning mode you’re using. A single side brush takes care of edge cleaning. 

The docking station, the RockDock Ultra, makes the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra extra special; but it’s also huge, measuring 16.7 x 20.2 x 17.7 inches. Therefore, if you don’t have a big space to position it, you may find it a bit of an eyesore. You’ll also need to leave 2.3ft/0 .7m in front of it for the vacuum to dock, as well as 1.6ft/.05m above to refill and empty water tanks. 

At least the setup is simple enough; a 2.5-liter dust bag is pre-installed, so you just need to fill the clean water tank with water and mopping solution(optional). Both the dirty and clean water tanks come with handles to make filling and emptying a breeze, and you’ll be vocally informed by the vacuum and alerted on the app when that needs to happen.

However, those aren’t the only abilities of the dock; it lets the vacuum be relatively autonomous with a self-cleaning feature. When your vacuum returns to the dock after or during a clean, it will wash the mop. Then it will turn itself around to empty the dust bin and charge. While the robot vacuum is charging, it will dry the mop with hot air to prevent smells and mold. All this capability helps to explain why the dock is so big.

The price of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra means that I would have liked to see it come with some replacement accessories or maybe a mopping solution. Of course, Roborock recommends you only use its mopping solution – at an additional $18.99. But the only extra you’ll find in the box is a dust bag replacement. Luckily, many components don’t need to be replaced often, and the app should inform you when it’s time to do so.

Design score: 4.5/ 5

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review: Performance

•  Excellent auto-emptying and self-cleaning 
•  Mediocre clean up of larger messes/spills, best for light debris 
•  Easily detects different floor types 

Getting started with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is easy enough. Having read the instruction sheet, I removed the fully assembled robot vac and docking station, and filled the clean water reservoir with water. I let the vacuum charge while I downloaded the app and connected the device to Wi-Fi. All in all, it took less than 10 minutes of my time to get it ready for the first clean.

After charging the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra to 100% battery, I sent it out on its first clean on all the standard settings, which meant that both vacuuming and mopping are enabled. You don’t need to create a map or anything beforehand, so a simple tap of the “full cleaning” button on my app sent it out on its merry way.

The device traversed my two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment with relative ease. It hugged the walls and wrapped around tables and chairs. Looser tassel rugs proved more challenging, since it got stuck several times. You could see that my laminate floors were left slightly damp and crumb-free as manoeuvred by. And each time the vacuum hit a rug, the VibraRise mop would lift, and you could hear suctioning power increase. Every 40 minutes, it would go back to the RockDock Ultra to clean the mop and head back out.

When it had covered my entire home, the robot vacuum vocally informed me of the fact and went back to the dock. The mop was cleaned first, and then the vacuum spun itself around to empty the dust bin and begin charging. It was actually pretty impressive to watch. An accurate map of my home was created; but for some reason, it didn’t save, so I sent it out using a quick mapping feature. This time an accurate map was saved, and each clean added to the intelligence of the map. 

Speaking of the map, while it would make notes of obstacles, it did nothing to deter the device from going back to those spaces to clean. There was a clear note on my map about cables, but the vacuum still went to that area and managed to suck up my phone's charging cable on several occasions. It did this with other obstacles – rugs, for example – as well. Luckily, it’s very simple to disassemble the two main brushes and put them back together. But, the number of times I received app notifications, as well as the robot alerting me vocally about being trapped or the main brushes being jammed, was a little disheartening – especially  given the price and the obstacle avoidance features that Roborock advertises. 

More obvious obstacles such as clothes thrown about my bedroom floor, or me physically standing in its way, were a different story. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra would just skirt right around such obstructions, occasionally lightly tapping them to see if they move. I guess the moral of the story is to pick up your cables and rag rugs before sending the vacuum out to clean. 

Jumping into the vacuuming ability of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, it did a solid job of picking up light debris and dust. It failed to clean up crumbs right up against the wall in my kitchen, due to the vacuum’s height hindering it from fitting under my cabinets.  

I did further testing using flour and oats. Starting on my hard laminate floors with the normal, vacuum-only setting activated, the S8 Pro Ultra did a good job at picking up most of the oats; but it left the flour smeared across the floor. Using the highest suction level yielded similar results, although adding the mopping setting led to more flour being picked up. As for the testing on my rug, it performed similarly to the hard floor, only with even more flour left behind. In fact, after several more cleans, the flour is still embedded in my rug.  So, for larger, concentrated messes, this robot vacuum isn’t a great option. 

Of course, this robot vacuum also mops – and you have to do very little to start mopping. The docking station fills the water tank in the vacuum from a clean water reservoir, and then off it goes. So, the only part you’re involved in is refilling the water reservoir, which for me was about every two or three full cleans of my home.

Upon inspection of my floors after a whole home clean, my dirty footprints and random drink spills were gone. No complaints there. However, I did some tests with yogurt and honey with some less-than-stellar results. Even on the highest vibration level of the mop and using a special route setting, all it did was smear everything across my floor. And every time it completed a cleaning task that maybe lasted 5 minutes, it would always go back to clean the mop in the docking station, which seemed to be a bit of overkill.

There’s very little robot vacuum maintenance, thanks to the RockDock Ultra. Although a bit clunky, it has worked flawlessly since I began testing. Every time the robot vacuum completes a mop, it trundles back to the dock to get cleaned. Using brushes attached to the dock and clean water, you can hear the mop getting washed. Inspecting the mop pad thereafter revealed that most of the stains were gone. Then, as the robot vacuum is charging, you can hear a very quiet hum, which is hot air drying the mop to prevent smells and mold. After two weeks of use, the mop pad remains free of odor and looks almost good as new.

The RockDock Ultra also automatically empties the robot vacuum’s dust bin. Even the most caked-together dirt and debris seemed to be out of the bin having been auto-emptied. The only time you’ll need to worry about doing anything is changing the dust bag on the dock every few months.

Of course, brushes, filters and mop pads will require replacing eventually. Luckily, this shouldn’t be too often, and the app will give you an approximate indication of when that needs to happen. Just keep an eye on the brushes and remove hair or other debris that could be hindering the vacuum's performance.

As for sound, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is on the same level as other robot vacuums. When on the normal mop/vacuum settings, you’ll hear a hum that’s slightly louder than a window air conditioner, hitting about 61dB. It’s noticeable, but not overly distracting. The suction power increases on rugs, with noise levels of 69dB, which may be a bit harder to ignore. However, when the RockDock Ultra empties the robot vacuum dust bin, the 77dB sound may startle those who aren’t prepared.

Performance score: 4/5

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review: App

•  Simple to install and use 
•  Easily adjusts cleaning settings 
•  Intelligent map 
•  Difficult to get smart assistants/voice control to work  

The Roborock app offers a painless install. You just scan the QR code provided on the packaging, create a profile with an email and password, and then a step-by-step process lets you connect the robot vacuum to Wi-Fi. From there, you’ll get to the fairly simple Homepage that displays battery life, provides access to notifications, lets you start cleaning or turns off the device, and allows you to swap to the shopping or profile pages. But the button you’ll be pressing most frequently is “Enter”. 

This brings you to the map and vacuum settings. There’s an option to send the robot around to do a quick map of your home; I found an accurate map of my two-bed, two-bath apartment was created in about 8 minutes. You can also have the vacuum map your space during the first clean, but it failed to successfully save when I did that. However, on the second clean, more specifics were added to the map, with notes of obstacles and loose rugs. But, weirdly, this didn’t deter the vacuum from going to those spaces in later cleanings.

Once a map has been created, you can rename rooms, set up boundaries, and even add furniture to the map. It’s also possible to note different floor types, but the robot vac seemed to distinguish my rugs and laminate floor on its own. You aren’t limited to a 2D map, either; there’s a 3D option for those who prefer that view. A matrix map is also available, although it just made my space into an indistinguishable blob. 

Similar to other robot vacs, you can select certain rooms or zones to clean. From the bottom corner of the map, you can adjust the suction power of the vacuum and scrubbing intensity of the mop. Admittedly, I had a hard time finding this button at first – and, unfortunately,  you can’t adjust the water flow level of the mop. 

If you’re looking to change other settings to both the vacuum and the dock, this is done by selecting the three dots in the top corner of the map page. You’ll also be able to set schedules from there and check on component maintenance. One unique feature you’ll find is a remote control, letting you move the robot vacuum as you would an RC car. It takes a minute to get used to the button or “joystick” control, but once you do, it’s great for cleaning up smaller areas or spots that may have been missed in the initial cleaning.

As for smart assistants and voice control, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra supports Google Home, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri. Instructions on how to add this functionality are found in the profile section of the app. However, this is easier said than done, and you’ll have to jump through several hoops, including downloading an additional app called Mi Home, to get any of these smart assistants to work with this vacuum. A far cry from the Ecovacs Deebot T9+ I tested a few weeks ago, which connected with ease.

App score: 4/ 5

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review: Battery life

•  130-minute runtime at normal settings, 180 minutes in quiet mode 
•  Automatically returns to base at 20% battery level to charge 
•  3-hour recharge from 20% battery level 

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has a 5,200mAh lithium-ion battery. When leaving it on its normal settings, with both vacuuming and mopping enabled, it lasted around 130 minutes. Right when the battery level hit 20%, it would head back to clean the mop and charge.  That somehow managed to be just enough time for it to clean my entire apartment once over. Roborock claims the battery lasts 180 minutes on the quietest setting, so just over 2 hours of use in standard mode is on par with similar robot vacuums. Given the price point, it would have been nice if it lasted a bit longer. 

However, I did test it using the “vac followed by mop” setting, and it lasted significantly longer, clocking in at just under 3 hours before it hit 20% and had to recharge. So, battery life is truly dependent on the settings enabled. 

Recharging the battery is simple: the vacuum just docks itself right into the RockDock Ultra and begins charging. If it didn’t complete a cleaning task, it will go back out to finish the job once it has enough juice. Through my testing period, recharging to 100% from 20% took about 3 hours. The manufacturer claims it takes approximately 4 hours, so if the battery had depleted down to 0%, that’d be right on the money.  

Battery life score: 4 / 5 

Should you buy the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

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How I tested Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

•  Tested at home for two weeks 
•  Used on hard flooring and rugs 

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has been set up in the main living space of my home for the past two weeks. This central location provided easy access to my two-bedroom, two-bathroom home. As for flooring, my entire home has the same hard laminate throughout, with a few rugs scattered about. Unfortunately, I don’t have any carpets to test on. 

When testing the robot vacuum, I made sure most of the floor space was clear of clothes and other possible obstructions, just as I would when vacuuming with a normal upright cleaner. I picked up rag rugs and cables as well, since the S8 Pro Ultra didn’t do well with them in its path. In total, I may have spent one minute doing this before each clean, but that tiny bit of effort was worth it for optimal results.  

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2023