# Valetudo Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/valetudo/ 27 people recommended Valetudo in Hacker News comments, 6 had mixed feelings and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 12 months, in 11 threads. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Free firmware that replaces robot vacuum cloud software, keeping most features with local control and no telemetry. Caveats: installation is hard, it works only on supported models, and OEM updates may block it. Summary written by Claude from 43 comments. ## Why people recommend it - Local control, no cloud (8 comments in the sample): "This firmware replacement blocks telemetry and allows for near complete feature parity with the original firmware" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45828513)) "Keeps a lot of the smart features, for use over lan instead of a cloud connection." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46272402)) "It's super useful without having to send data to the cloud." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45829868)) - Easy to install on some models (3 comments in the sample): "it's as easy as it is described. Fully functioning robot vacuum free from the cloud." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48759922)) "there's quite a few models where it can be installed easily" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45830211)) "the one in the vacuum makes it easy to install valetudo" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48759176)) - Works with Home Assistant and zones (2 comments in the sample): "It's excellent and works flawlessly with home assistant. Cannot recommend enough." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46278019)) "the ability to set up cleaning zones in valetudo has been really nice" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46286470)) - Keeps most original features (1 comment in the sample): "Valetudo is for privacy. That being said, they still support most of the features and honestly I don't miss anything." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46272211)) ## What people warn about - Installation is hard, needs skill (4 comments in the sample): "Actively telling people they must learn to solder and making the only support channel on telegram are two big turn-offs for a lot of people." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46275341)) "installing Valetudo can be a nerve wracking task even for the tech savvy" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46271862)) "It’s not exactly easy but it is do-able if you have a compliant vacuum" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46497388)) - OEM updates may block it (2 comments in the sample): "It's an alternative way to run your vacuum, with yes potentially less features if the OEM makes a lot of future updates" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46275270)) "valetudo is just a hack, not a firmware replacement, and could be blocked by a firmware update from the OEM" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46272908)) - Developer and community attitude criticized (2 comments in the sample): "the toxic culture that is the Valetudo creator and community" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48756122)) "Valetudo does not serve this mission." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47112300)) - Fewer features than stock firmware (1 comment in the sample): "resulting in a system that has worse features and takes more work than the base software" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47121604)) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Valetudo", https://hackerapproved.com/p/valetudo/ (27 recommend, 6 mixed, 6 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.