Home / Home & cleaning / Carpet cleaners / Compare
Bissell Revolution HydroSteam vs Hoover SmartWash
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam comes out ahead for most homes.
The verdict in 10 seconds
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam suits you if
- You have pets or little kids and deal with accidents and spills
- Your home has lots of carpet, stairs, or upholstery to deep clean
- You have old, set-in stains you've given up on
Skip it if
- You need something light to carry between floors
- You're short on storage space
- You want carpets dry and walkable right away every time
The Hoover SmartWash suits you if
- You have pets and deal with regular carpet stains and odors
- You want an automatic clean-and-dry machine that's simple to run
- You'd like built-in tools for stairs, furniture and spot cleaning
Skip it if
- You need a machine you can count on to last for years
- You want something light and easy to carry around the house
- You'd be frustrated by leaks or suction that fades over time
So, which one?
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam is the stronger all-rounder of the two. The Hoover SmartWash is still the better fit if you have pets and deal with regular carpet stains and odors.
We researched 8 expert reviews, analyzed 410 owner ratings and comments across 10 sources for the two, and cross-checked them into one verdict, so you don't have to.
Show me the receipts
The scoreboardProduct Review score 72 vs 44 · reliability 74 vs 0
| Bissell Revolution HydroSteam | Hoover SmartWash | |
|---|---|---|
| Product Review score | 72 | 44 |
| Experts | 86 | 72 |
| Owners | 57 | 37 |
| Reliability | 74 | 0 |
| Report problems | 10% | 44% |
| Evidence | 5 reviews · 103 comments | 3 reviews · 307 comments |
| Typical price | $330–$400 | $250 |
● marks the better number on each row.
Experts vs ownersExperts 86 vs 72 · Owners 57 vs 37
Bissell Revolution HydroSteam
Hoover SmartWash
How we reached each verdictThe numbers behind each model's score
Bissell Revolution HydroSteam
Four of the five expert sources we analyzed tested the HydroSteam hands-on, and two of them, Good Housekeeping and CNET, named it the best overall carpet cleaner, giving it a strong expert score of 86. Owners are cooler at 57: among 103 owner comments, 23% praise its cleaning, but 13% say it leaves carpets wet, 13% report weak suction and 8% say it broke or died. Drying time is the clearest split, with two testers seeing touch-dry carpets in about 30 minutes while another cited up to 8 hours for deep cleaning. The evidence is moderate rather than deep: only 58 owner accounts were first-hand, no outlet published a numeric score, and one expert source was promotional with no testing.
Hoover SmartWash
Our research found a sharp split between hands-on expert results and long-term owner experience: the 3 hands-on evaluations score it 72, while owners score it 37. Across 307 owner comments (249 first-hand), 30% report the machine breaking or dying, 22% cite weak suction and 7% report leaks, against only 10% praising its cleaning. Experts praised its pet-stain removal, water extraction and automatic cycles, but one (Wired) withheld full judgment pending long-term durability testing. Evidence is limited to 3 expert sources with no published scores, so expert praise reflects mainly short-term performance.
Where each one falls shortThe most common complaints
Bissell Revolution HydroSteam
- Carpets can stay wet for a long time
- Heavy and loud
- Some owners report weak suction or the machine breaking
Hoover SmartWash
- Breaks down or shorts out within months
- Weak or fading suction
- Leaks, plus a bulky, heavy build
Questions people actually ask
Which is better, the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam or the Hoover SmartWash?
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam, for most homes. The Hoover SmartWash is the better fit if you have pets and deal with regular carpet stains and odors.
Based on: Product Review score 72 vs 44.Which is more reliable?
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam. It's the least likely of the two to give you trouble.
Based on: Reliability 74 vs 0; problems mentioned by 10% vs 44% of owners.Which is easier to live with day to day?
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam. It's the one people are happiest with once it's home.
Based on: Owners score 57 vs 37, from ratings and comments.Which is cheaper?
The Hoover SmartWash usually costs less.
Based on: Typical prices: Bissell Revolution HydroSteam $330–$400; Hoover SmartWash $250.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes a score.