Narwal Flow vs Narwal Freo 20
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Oct 31, 2026
As of Oct 31, 2026, the Narwal Flow costs $1,500 and the Narwal Freo 20 costs $1,100, so the Narwal Freo 20 is $400 cheaper. The Narwal Freo 20 has a published review score and ranks #29 in our robot vacuums ranking; the Narwal Flow is not scored yet. Pick the Narwal Flow for hard floor homes that mop often and have pets. Pick the Narwal Freo 20 for pet homes with mostly hard floors.
- Suction
- 22,000 Pa
- Navigation
- dToF LiDAR inside
- Mopping
- FlowWash track mop
- Runtime
- Up to 190 min
One of the best mopping robots tested, with strong measured suction, zero hair tangles and a dock that washes and dries the track mop. Testers at TechRadar and Tom's Guide found the software and navigation quirky. Skip it if you want a simple app, and compare it against the Flow 2 since the Narwal store showed the Flow out of stock.
Full Narwal Flow review →- Suction
- 31,000 Pa claimed
- Navigation
- LiDAR
- Mopping
- Single flat rolling
- Runtime
- 210 min
A strong pick if you want a roller mop that rinses itself while it cleans and a dock that does almost everything. Vacuum Wars measured top tier pet hair results with zero hair wrap. Skip it if your space is tight, since the dock is large, or if you want a plumbed in water option.
Full Narwal Freo 20 review →Side by side
| Narwal Flow | Narwal Freo 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,500 | $1,100 |
| 3 year cost | $1,500 | $1,100 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | 6.4/10 |
| Rank in Floors | #83 | #29 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | 1 year (Vacuum Wars spec table); Narwal store FAQs say 1 year in one place and 2 years in another |
| Suction | 22,000 Pa (Narwal); Vacuum Wars measured 1.88 kPa against a 0.96 kPa average | 31,000 Pa claimed (Narwal); Vacuum Wars measured 1.31 kPa sealed suction and 17 CFM airflow |
| Navigation | dToF LiDAR inside the body (Narwal); TechRadar saw it push a chair, skip a room and report cleaning 0.0 square meters | LiDAR plus dual 1080P RGB cameras with NarMind Pro (Narwal); Vacuum Wars navigation score 4.44 stars |
| Obstacle avoidance | Dual RGB cameras, AI chip and tri laser structured light, 200+ objects (Narwal); Vacuum Wars scored 18 of 24, and TechRadar saw it avoid a shoe, sock and USB cable | TwinAI Dodge, Narwal says it knows 300+ object types; Vacuum Wars obstacle score 3.52 stars; Presse-citron saw no bumps, cable snags or eaten socks |
| Mopping | FlowWash track mop with warm water at 113F, 7 to 12 N pressure and 12 mm lift (Narwal); Vacuum Wars combined mopping score 268 against a 184 average | Single flat rolling track mop with 140°F water, 16 nozzles and 12 N pressure (Narwal); Journal du Geek lists the roller as 266 x 55 mm |
| Self empty | Yes, 2.5 L dust bag rated for up to 120 days (Narwal US store) | Yes, 2.4 L dust bag, up to 120 days (Narwal) |
| Dock features | Auto empty, mop washing at 113 to 176F, warm air drying, self cleaning; optional auto refill and drain version (Narwal US store); no auto detergent dispenser (TechRadar) | Mop self cleaning up to 212°F, 140°F hot air drying, auto clean water refill into the robot (Narwal); no plumbed water option per Presse-citron |
| Runtime | Up to 190 min (Narwal); Vacuum Wars estimated 2,068 sq ft per charge | 210 min (spec listed by Vacuum Wars); Vacuum Wars estimated about 2,489 sq ft per charge |
| Dustbin | 2.5 L dock bag; Vacuum Wars describes a large robot bin with a removable section | 300 ml robot bin (Vacuum Wars spec table) plus 2.4 L dock bag |
| Height | 95 mm (3.7 in) per Narwal key features and Vacuum Wars; Narwal's spec table lists 107.7 mm | 3.7 in, 95 mm (Narwal) |
| Pet hair | Vacuum Wars measured 89% flattened pet hair pickup and 0% tangles in its 7 inch hair test | Vacuum Wars measured 87.5% flattened pet hair pickup and 0% hair wrap with 7 in hair; Narwal claims 0% tangling |
| App | Narwal app with up to 4 saved maps, schedules and voice assistant; works with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant (Narwal US store); TechRadar found it overwhelming with some mistranslations | Narwal app with no go zones, schedules, Pet Care Mode 2.0 remote video and "Hey Nawa" voice control (Narwal) |
| Threshold | 4 cm (1.57 in) (Narwal US store, TechRadar) | Up to 1.57 in, 40 mm (Narwal); Presse-citron said it could not climb a step of about 5 cm |
| Noise | TechRadar measured 58 dB in quiet mode to 76 dB at top suction; Tom's Guide measured 49 to 74 dB depending on floor | As low as 56.9 dB in Quiet Mode (Narwal); Presse-citron called vacuum mode quite loud |
| Best for | hard floor homes that mop often and have pets | pet homes with mostly hard floors |
| Skip if | you want a simple, glitch free app | you have little floor space for a big dock |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Narwal Flow
- Vacuum Wars (3.58 Vacuum Wars stars): Measured 1.88 kPa suction, 83% sand removal, 89% flattened pet hair pickup and 0% hair tangle. Combined mopping score was 268 against a 184 average, obstacle avoidance 18 of 24 and estimated coverage 2,068 sq ft per charge. Source
- TechRadar: Called the cleaning superb, especially on carpet, and hot water mopping excellent. Noise was 58 dB in quiet mode and 76 dB at top suction. It pushed a chair, failed to enter a room and once reported 0.0 square meters cleaned. Subscores: Value 4/5, Design 4.5/5, Performance 3.5/5, App 3.5/5. Source
- Tom's Guide: Pickup was 83% overall on tile and 77% on carpet, with 70% to 75% hair pickup. Noise ranged from 49 to 74 dB depending on floor and power. Faults were a tricky app, random cleaning incidents and so so edge vacuuming. Source
Narwal Freo 20
- Vacuum Wars (4.03 Vacuum Wars stars): Measured 1.31 kPa suction, 17 CFM airflow, 93 on carpet deep clean, 87.5% flattened pet hair pickup, 0% hair wrap, and about 2,489 sq ft per charge. Category scores: mopping 3.2, obstacle avoidance 3.52, navigation 4.44, pets 4.63. Source
- Journal du Geek (8.5/10): Liked the 266 x 55 mm self rinsing roller mop and found mopping left no missed areas. Called the 43.1 x 40.2 x 46.1 cm dock very large and said hair tangling is reduced but not eliminated. Source
- Presse-citron (8/10): Tested on a 50 m² mixed floor area. Very effective vacuuming and good stain removal, slightly less thorough than the Flow 2. Never hit objects or caught cables, but battery life is shorter than the Flow 2 and vacuum mode is loud. Source
Pros and cons
Narwal Flow
Pros
- Excellent mopping, 268 combined score at Vacuum Wars
- No hair tangles in Vacuum Wars test
- Strong measured suction
- Long runtime, about 2,068 sq ft per charge
- Climbs 4 cm thresholds
Cons
- Navigation bugs reported by TechRadar and Tom's Guide
- Complex app with mistranslations
- No auto detergent dispenser
- High price
- Out of stock at Narwal US store on 2026-10-30
Narwal Freo 20
Pros
- Zero hair wrap in Vacuum Wars testing
- Roller mop rinses itself during cleaning
- Very hot mop washing and hot air drying
- Long runtime, about 2,489 sq ft per charge (Vacuum Wars)
- Good obstacle avoidance in Presse-citron testing
Cons
- Large dock, 43.1 x 40.2 x 46.1 cm
- Out of stock on Narwal US store at check
- Measured suction far below the 31,000 Pa claim
- Vacuum mode is loud (Presse-citron)
- Mopping score only 3.2 stars at Vacuum Wars
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Narwal Flow or the Narwal Freo 20?
The Narwal Freo 20 has a published review score and ranks #29 in our robot vacuums ranking; the Narwal Flow is not scored yet. Pick the Narwal Flow for hard floor homes that mop often and have pets. Pick the Narwal Freo 20 for pet homes with mostly hard floors.
Which is cheaper?
The Narwal Freo 20 at $1,100, versus $1,500 for the Narwal Flow, checked Oct 31, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $1,500 vs $1,100.
What is the difference between the Flow and the Freo 20?
Suction: 22,000 Pa (Narwal); Vacuum Wars measured 1.88 kPa against a 0.96 kPa average on the Flow, 31,000 Pa claimed (Narwal); Vacuum Wars measured 1.31 kPa sealed suction and 17 CFM… on the Freo 20. Navigation: dToF LiDAR inside the body (Narwal); TechRadar saw it push a chair, skip a room and… on the Flow, LiDAR plus dual 1080P RGB cameras with NarMind Pro (Narwal); Vacuum Wars navigation… on the Freo 20. Obstacle avoidance: Dual RGB cameras, AI chip and tri laser structured light, 200+ objects (Narwal); Vacuum… on the Flow, TwinAI Dodge, Narwal says it knows 300+ object types; Vacuum Wars obstacle score 3.52… on the Freo 20.
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