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Smart Home · head to head

Particle vs Roomba

Particle logo

Particle

Smart Home

Edge-to-cloud IoT platform for connected devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roomba logo

Roomba

Smart Home

iRobot's intelligent robot vacuum series

From
$399.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Particle has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Particle paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200; Roomba limited promotional pricing detail (savings of $100 mentioned but exact promo terms not specified)
  • They diverge on capability: Particle covers Device OS, Roomba covers Smart Mapping.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Particle and Roomba actually diverge.

Attributes where Particle and Roomba differ
AttributeParticleRoomba
Starting priceFree$399.99/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsParticle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile appsIOS, Android, Web
Founded20131990

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Smart Home).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Particle

  • Device OS
  • Cloud Platform
  • Device Management
  • OTA Updates
  • REST API
  • WebHooks
  • Integration marketplace
  • 3rd party services

Only in Roomba

  • Smart Mapping
  • Auto-Empty Base
  • Multi-Room Navigation
  • Dirt Detect
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • IFTTT
  • Smart schedules

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Particle

  • Connecting cellular and wifi IoT devices to a managed cloud platformnot Roomba
  • Deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scalenot Roomba

Roomba

  • Automated vacuuming and mopping of home floorsnot Particle
  • Scheduled cleaning managed through a connected appnot Particle

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Particle

  • Paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
  • The Basic block is $299 a month and the Plus block $599 a month
  • The free tier allows 100 devices and 100,000 data operations a month
  • Data operations are the billing unit, so chatty firmware costs more than the device count suggests
  • No overage rates are published at any tier, so exceeding an allowance has no stated cost

Roomba

  • Limited promotional pricing detail (savings of $100 mentioned but exact promo terms not specified)
  • Financing through Affirm with variable APR up to 36% available

Pricing, plan by plan

Particle

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 5 free devices
    • Cloud access
    • Basic features
  • Production$100/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced analytics
    • Enterprise support

Roomba

$399.99/one-time
  • Roomba Electro Plus$399.99/one-time
    • Disinfecting floor cleaner
  • Roomba Plus 415 Combo$499.99/one-time
    • Vacuum and mop combo
    • Reduced from $599.99
  • Roomba Plus 515 Combo$599.99/one-time
    • Vacuum and mop combo
    • Reduced from $699.99
  • Roomba Plus 575 Combo$699.99/one-time
    • Vacuum and mop combo
    • Reduced from $799.99

Which should you pick?

Choose Particle if

  • You need device os.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
  • You also want cloud platform.
Particle review

Choose Roomba if

  • You need smart mapping.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want auto-empty base.
Roomba review

Questions people ask

Is Particle or Roomba better?
Neither clearly leads. Particle starts at Free and Roomba at $399.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Particle or Roomba?
Particle has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Particle and $399.99/one-time for Roomba.
Does Particle or Roomba run on more platforms?
Particle runs on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps. Roomba runs on IOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Particle for free?
Yes. Particle has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Roomba starts at $399.99/one-time.
What is Particle best used for?
Particle is most often used for connecting cellular and wifi iot devices to a managed cloud platform, deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scale. Of those, connecting cellular and wifi iot devices to a managed cloud platform and deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scale are not what Roomba is typically brought in for.
What can Particle do that Roomba cannot?
Particle covers Device OS, Cloud Platform, Device Management, OTA Updates. Roomba covers Smart Mapping, Auto-Empty Base, Multi-Room Navigation, Dirt Detect.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Particle: What are the Particle pricing tiers and their costs?

Particle offers Free ($0, 100 devices, 100K Data Operations/month), Basic ($299/month per block), Plus ($599/month per block), Professional (custom pricing), and Enterprise (custom pricing). Each block supports 100 devices.

Source
Roomba: How much do Roomba robots cost?

Combo models range from $499.99 to $999.99. Roomba Max 715 vacuum is $699.99. Roomba Electro Plus disinfecting cleaner is $399.99. Current promotions save up to $100 on select combo models.

Source
Particle: What is a Data Operation and how is it charged?

A Data Operation is Particle's billing unit for user-controlled activities. One operation is charged per device-to-cloud message, cloud-to-device message, Location Fusion call, Ledger sync, or Logic function run. Network transmission and management tasks are included at no additional cost.

Source
Roomba: Are there financing options available?

Yes, Affirm financing is available with APR rates between 0-36%. Example: $700 purchase at 15% APR = $63.24 per month for 12 months.

Source
Particle: What location data retention does each tier provide?

Location data retention ranges from 3 days in the Free tier up to 6+ months in Professional and Enterprise tiers.

Source
Roomba: What trade-in and discount programs does iRobot offer?

Trade-in program credits up to $195 for eligible used robots. New customers save 10% on first purchase with email signup. Free shipping on orders over $39.99. Price matching available on identical competitor models.

Source
Particle: Are there additional costs for support or single sign-on?

Premium support and SSO are available as optional add-ons to all Particle plans. The pricing page does not specify the cost of these add-ons.

Source
Particle: Is there a minimum contract length or can I cancel anytime?

The Particle pricing page does not specify a minimum contract length, suggesting monthly billing without long-term lock-in.

Source
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