Valetudo
Hacker ApprovedVacuum firmware replacement in Networking & smart home
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.
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.
39 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 33
- criticize it
- 6
- approval share
- 85%
Recommended in 6 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 33 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 5.5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 6 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Local control, no cloud
“This firmware replacement blocks telemetry and allows for near complete feature parity with the original firmware”
Comment from 5 Nov 2025 in “Vacuum bricked after user blocks data collection – user mods it to run anyway” “Keeps a lot of the smart features, for use over lan instead of a cloud connection.”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “It's super useful without having to send data to the cloud.”
Comment from 6 Nov 2025 in “Vacuum bricked after user blocks data collection – user mods it to run anyway” - Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges”
- Comment from 9 Mar 2026 in “Workers report watching Ray-Ban Meta-shot footage of people using the bathroom”
- Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges”
- Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges”
- Comment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Weave Robotics launches Isaac 1, a $7,999 home robot with fall 2026 deliveries”
Keeps most original features
“Valetudo is for privacy. That being said, they still support most of the features and honestly I don't miss anything.”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “This firmware replacement blocks telemetry and allows for near complete feature parity with the original firmware”
Comment from 5 Nov 2025 in “Vacuum bricked after user blocks data collection – user mods it to run anyway” “Keeps a lot of the smart features, for use over lan instead of a cloud connection.”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” Easy to install on some models
“it's as easy as it is described. Fully functioning robot vacuum free from the cloud.”
Comment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Building an Open-Source Robot Vacuum – Meet Oomwoo” “there's quite a few models where it can be installed easily”
Comment from 6 Nov 2025 in “Vacuum bricked after user blocks data collection – user mods it to run anyway” “the one in the vacuum makes it easy to install valetudo”
Comment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Building an Open-Source Robot Vacuum – Meet Oomwoo” Works with Home Assistant and zones
“It's excellent and works flawlessly with home assistant. Cannot recommend enough.”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “the ability to set up cleaning zones in valetudo has been really nice”
Comment from 16 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Installation is hard, needs skill
“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.”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “installing Valetudo can be a nerve wracking task even for the tech savvy”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “It’s not exactly easy but it is do-able if you have a compliant vacuum”
Comment from 5 Jan 2026 in “Revisiting the original Roomba and its simple architecture” - Comment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Building an Open-Source Robot Vacuum – Meet Oomwoo”
OEM updates may block it
“It's an alternative way to run your vacuum, with yes potentially less features if the OEM makes a lot of future updates”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “valetudo is just a hack, not a firmware replacement, and could be blocked by a firmware update from the OEM”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” Fewer features than stock firmware
“It's an alternative way to run your vacuum, with yes potentially less features if the OEM makes a lot of future updates”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “resulting in a system that has worse features and takes more work than the base software”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Man accidentally gains control of 7k robot vacuums” Developer and community attitude criticized
“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.”
Comment from 15 Dec 2025 in “Roomba maker goes bankrupt, Chinese owner emerges” “the toxic culture that is the Valetudo creator and community”
Comment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Building an Open-Source Robot Vacuum – Meet Oomwoo” “Valetudo does not serve this mission.”
Comment from 22 Feb 2026 in “Man accidentally gains control of 7k robot vacuums”
What people said
40 of the 49 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“it's as easy as it is described. Fully functioning robot vacuum free from the cloud.”
“the one in the vacuum makes it easy to install valetudo”
“a completely local control interface”
“None are particularly easy to flash, and the dev seems to have no interest in making it more accessible.”
“supports a number of models from different brands”
“the toxic culture that is the Valetudo creator and community”
“Replace the robovac firmware so it doesn't do cloud.”
“resulting in a system that has worse features and takes more work than the base software”
“The main value proposition is privacy and security.”
“It's nice to a see a project encourage their userbase to be realistic about what it is”
“Valetudo does not serve this mission.”
“replacing the default software as soon as possible”
“Anything valetudo supports is a good choice.”
“It’s not exactly easy but it is do-able if you have a compliant vacuum”
“didn't take me quite as long as I had time to walk through it.”
“the ability to set up cleaning zones in valetudo has been really nice”
“so fully disconnected from the cloud”
“It's excellent and works flawlessly with home assistant. Cannot recommend enough.”
“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.”
“It's an alternative way to run your vacuum, with yes potentially less features if the OEM makes a lot of future updates”
“which is using Valetudo, so not phoning home to China”
“valetudo is just a hack, not a firmware replacement, and could be blocked by a firmware update from the OEM”
“Valetudo is otherwise good”
“Keeps a lot of the smart features, for use over lan instead of a cloud connection.”
“Your best bet would be to check which models are supported by Valetudo, which is a local-only firmware replacement”
“Valetudo is for privacy. That being said, they still support most of the features and honestly I don't miss anything.”
“you have local, cloud-free, GREAT product.”
“installing Valetudo can be a nerve wracking task even for the tech savvy”
“Find a vacuum that supports valetudo”
“It has its issues but it works.”
“You may want to check if your robot is supported by Valetudo”
“he became his own savior, with Valetudo included”
“the privately-owned public garden model of the Valetudo project is the sanest way for FOSS maintainers to look at their projects”
“I am super happy with Valetudo.”
“I have it on two of my Roborocks and it rocks.”
“get one that can run Valetudo”
“there's quite a few models where it can be installed easily”
“It's super useful without having to send data to the cloud.”
“You might be interested in this project”
“This firmware replacement blocks telemetry and allows for near complete feature parity with the original firmware”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.