Is it still safe to buy a Roomba after iRobot's sale?
Oct 24, 2026 · 5 sourcesiRobot, the company that made the Roomba famous, filed for bankruptcy and was sold to its main manufacturer, Picea, in January 2026. If you own a Roomba or are thinking of buying one, two questions matter: will the app keep working, and who now holds the map of your home? Here's what iRobot's own announcements and app pages show, and what they don't.
What happened
On January 23, 2026, iRobot announced that Picea, its main contract manufacturer and lender, now owns all of the company, ending its Chapter 11 case. iRobot is private now and stays headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Consumer Reports noted at the time that iRobot said app and support would continue.
Sources: [1] iRobot, [2] Consumer Reports
Does the app still work?
So far, yes. After the sale, iRobot kept updating the classic iRobot HOME app that runs older models like the j7+: version 7.17.6 on January 28 and 7.18.0 on June 16, 2026.
Newer Roombas sold after March 2025 use a separate Roomba Home app; older models, such as the j7+, stay on the classic app. Updates show the service is maintained, but iRobot hasn't published how long it will support either app.
Who controls your data now?
In its sale announcement, iRobot says it created iRobot Safe, a separate US subsidiary responsible for protecting US consumer data. It is governed by an independent board of US citizens and has its own US-based Data Security Officer, meant to keep iRobot's non-US ownership separate from customer data.
That's a company commitment. We haven't found an independent audit of how it works in practice.
Sources: [1] iRobot
Should you buy one?
If you already own a Roomba, nothing in iRobot's announcements says you need to act. If you're buying, weigh the open question of long-term app support against what the robot does well. Consumer Reports lists the Roomba Max 705 among its top picks for pet hair, and iRobot still promises to replace a j7+ that runs over solid pet waste in its first year in the US.
Sources: [2] Consumer Reports, [5] iRobot
Keep going
Our full guide: Which robot vacuum actually avoids dog poop?
- Does a Roomba still work now that iRobot was sold?
- Who controls your Roomba's data after iRobot's sale?
- Can a robot vacuum avoid pet poop?
Status pages: iRobot Roomba j7+
How we know (5 sources)
iRobot press release (read Oct 24, 2026): Picea, its main contract manufacturer and lender, now owns all of iRobot, which ends the pre-packaged Chapter 11 case. iRobot is now private and stays headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. The release talks about continuity for customers but says nothing specific about the app, cloud service or warranties. It also sets up a separate US subsidiary, iRobot Safe, for US consumer data.
Read the sourceLab test of robot vacuums on pet hair (1 g of cat fur embedded in carpet). Some robots drag hair around or tangle it in the brush; the best pick up almost all of it. Top picks: Dreame L40 Ultra, Dyson 360 Vis Nav, Eufy C10, Eureka NERE10SW, iRobot Roomba Max 705, Samsung Jet Bot. Many vacuum-mop combos struggled with dried stains. Notes iRobot filed for bankruptcy the previous December and said app and support would continue.
Read the sourceiRobot's release notes for the classic iRobot HOME app (read Oct 24, 2026). After the sale to Picea it lists version 7.17.6 on Jan 28, 2026 (including an Android connectivity fix) and version 7.18.0 on Jun 16, 2026 (bug fixes and stability). Older entries mention j7 and Combo j7+ features.
Read the sourceApp Store listing for iRobot's newer Roomba Home app (read Oct 24, 2026): it supports the 100, 200, 400, 500, 700, 800 and Mini series sold after March 2025; other models, such as the j7+, are told to use the iRobot Home (Classic) app.
Read the sourceiRobot's Pet Owner Official Promise: if a Roomba j7+ runs over solid dog or cat waste in its first year, iRobot replaces the robot. US offer.
Read the source