I swapped my pricier Shark vacuum for this budget-friendly alternative – and I loved it way more than I thought I would

It's no secret that Shark has earned a strong reputation in the world of floorcare appliances, and having tested my fair share, I can see why. So, when I got the chance to review the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum, I had high hopes.

I used it in place of my regular vacuum for two weeks in my three-bedroom family home, putting it to the test multiple times a day. While it's not without its drawbacks, it impressed me where it counts, and I'd happily rate it among the best cordless vacuum cleaners. Here's everything you need to know.

In a nutshell

The striking rose-gold finish on the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum is (IMO) what sets it apart from most models, and it caught my attention straight away. But it doesn't just look nice - I was equally impressed with its performance. It handled everyday mess in my busy family home with ease, and it was incredibly lightweight and easy to use.

I was especially impressed with how well it handled the debris test; it picked up porridge oats, flour, and Weetabix in a single pass on both carpets and hard floors. In fact, it generally performed well on different types of floors, and the dustbin capacity is surprisingly generous for such a lightweight machine. Emptying it and keeping on top of maintenance is just as straightforward, too.

With just two modes, it doesn't have the bells and whistles of some of the best Shark vacuum cleaners out there, and I did miss having additional attachments for cleaning furniture, stairs and hard-to-reach corners. The 12-minute run time in carpet mode is also shorter than many rival models.

A few compromises aside, I think the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum is a really appealing option. I've found myself reaching for it more than I thought, and while it might not replace my regular, more versatile vacuum, it's perfect for keeping on top of everyday mess in busy homes. It's also a really affordable option, particularly if you can snap it up while it's heavily discounted.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.94kg
• Dimensions: 26.11 cm L x 25.1 cm W x 114 cm H
• Bin volume: 0.66 litres
• Run time: Up to 20 minutes in bare floor mode, up to 12 minutes in carpet mode
• Charge time: 3 hours
• Modes: 2
• In the box: Shark Freestyle Pro Cordless Upright Vacuum, charging base, charger, quick-start guide
• RRP: £159.99

How I tested

Rebecca Lawton

I'm Rebecca. I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother.

I've tested a range of floor care appliances for Ideal Home, and I tested the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum in my three-bedroom family home for two weeks. I have used it every day (at least twice daily), putting it through our rigorous testing process.

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum was packaged much like other Shark products I've tested. It arrived in a slim, rectangular cardboard package and was lighter than I expected, so it was easy to carry inside.

It came double-boxed, with a plain, outer box concealing a second, branded box, featuring the product name and logo. Shark always receives top marks from me for its eco-friendly packaging - there wasn't a single piece of plastic in sight, and everything was wrapped individually in recyclable, white paper bags.

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I appreciate a straightforward unboxing experience, and this was no exception. Within a couple of minutes, I'd taken everything out of the box. The contents included the vacuum, floorhead, and handle (which needed to be assembled), a charging base, charger, and a quick-start guide. The guide has a QR code that links to more detailed instructions.

Thankfully, assembling it was a doddle. I simply aligned the connector on the bottom of the main unit with the floor nozzle until it clicked into place, and then inserted the handle on top.

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The first thing I feel compelled to mention is the rather striking rose-gold and silver finish. I can't say I've ever seen a pink vacuum cleaner, and it stands out from your average model. If pink isn't your thing, it also comes in metallic gold or blue.

Day to day, I use the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum, and by comparison, the Freestyle Max Cordless felt more compact and noticeably lighter. But after looking at the dimensions, I was surprised to see there's not much difference in overall size or bin capacity, despite the Freestyle Max weighing over 1kg less. Overall, my first impressions were positive.

I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I liked its overall design. It felt sleek but robust, and had that premium-feel that I've come to associate with Shark products.

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Like most cordless vacuums, I needed to charge it before I could put it to the test. The charging base was compact - smaller than I was expecting - but as someone who doesn't have bags of storage space, that wasn't a bad thing.

The vacuum drops onto the unit, and once it's connected to power, an indicator light next to the On/Off button on the nozzle flashes green to show it's charging.

After three hours, a blue light appeared next to the green light, indicating it was fully charged and ready to use.

Using the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum

With three children, I use my vacuum constantly, usually several times a day. I normally rely on my Shark Stratos and my Samsung Jet Bot Robot Vacuum Cleaner, but during the testing period, I switched to using the Freestyle Max Cordless.

You operate the vacuum with your foot, as the power button sits on top of the floor nozzle. To activate, I stepped on the nozzle to pull the handle back into position before switching it on.

The first press activates bare floor mode and lasts up to 20 minutes, while a second press switches to carpet mode, reducing battery life to up to 12 minutes because it uses more suction. Two settings are useful if, like me, you have a mix of carpet and hard flooring throughout your home. As there's no digital display, the two modes are represented by coloured lights (blue: bare floor and green: carpet), so it's just a case of getting used to each one.

I started by giving my living room carpets a once-over, and I've got to say, I was immediately struck by how lightweight and smooth it felt to manoeuvre. I didn't have to apply any pressure, and I was just as impressed with the results - my carpets looked noticeably cleaner afterwards.

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While I would have appreciated more versatility to clean furniture and stairs, I did find the edge cleaning effective, letting me reach close to the corners and edges of furniture.

As part of how we test vacuums at Ideal Home, I put the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum through a series of tests. The 'debris test' involves throwing various sizes of debris on the floor to see how quickly and effectively the vacuum picks it up.

I started in the kitchen, scattering flour, porridge oats and crushed Weetabix across my laminate flooring. Using bare floor mode, I passed the vacuum over the debris, and I was immediately impressed. It had no trouble picking up everything in its path in the first pass.

I expected slightly different results on carpets, but the Freestyle Max performed just as well. Switching to carpet mode, I vacuumed the same mix of debris and, to my surprise, it picked everything up in a single pass.

My only criticism would be that the floor head felt slightly smaller than the one on my usual vacuum, so I needed to cover the area with a couple of passes. That said, it still only took a matter of seconds.

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Cleaning and maintenance

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying cleaning my vacuum isn't at the top of my priorities. So I was pleased to find that the Freestyle Max Cordless doesn't require much maintenance.

It was several uses before I needed to empty the dust cup, which was reassuring given its relatively compact design. It came away incredibly easily by pressing the button at the top of the dust cup, and there's a release button on the opposite side to empty the contents.

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One thing I did notice was that the brush roll picked up a lot of hair, which I could see through the floor nozzle. Thankfully, removing it was straightforward enough.

The user manual instructs you to detach the pod from the floor nozzle before turning it over and using the brush release latch to slide the roller out. I expected it to be a little fiddly, but it wasn't, and I cut the hair from the brush with scissors. Re-inserting the brush roll is pretty self-explanatory too, and it clicks back into place easily.

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Inside, there's a debris screen you can remove for cleaning. The user guide doesn't specify how often it needs to be done, but generally Shark vacuum filters need cleaning roughly once a month. It's straightforward enough, too, and can be rinsed and left to dry before replacing it.

There's also a foam filter at the base of the unit, which can also be rinsed under warm water. It's worth noting that the filter inserts need to be left for 24 hours until they're completely dry before being put back, but this is fairly standard for most vacuums.

How does it compare to similar models?

The Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum sits in a slightly different category from many of the brand's cordless vacuums as it prioritises lightweight, straightforward floor cleaning over smart technology and additional attachments.

As I've already mentioned, I use the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum day-to-day, which is also Ideal Home’s top-rated cordless vacuum. Both are designed to handle carpets and hard floors without needing to swap floorheads, but the Stratos is a more versatile stick vacuum, with a flexible wand and the ability to convert into a handheld vacuum. The Freestyle Max is much simpler, but it's noticeably lighter and comes with a more affordable price tag.

The Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean is another Ideal Home favourite, but the proposition is very different. It's pricier, but better suited if you're looking for a more all-rounder, with a flexible wand, extra attachments and a longer run time than the Freestyle Max. It even has an auto-empty dock so you don't have to manually empty it after every use.

I've also tested the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum, which really impressed me during testing. It's more versatile than the Freestyle Max as it has a flexible wand and a range of attachments, but the dustbin capacity is considerably smaller, so it needs to be emptied regularly.

How does it rate online?

There was no shortage of customer reviews when I searched online, and the feedback generally reflected my own experience.

On Shark's website, the Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum has an average rating of 4.3 stars, from a total of 436 reviews. Customers praised how lightweight and easy to use it is, as well as having good suction power. The main gripe seemed to be the lack of tools and attachments to make it more versatile.

Similarly, on Amazon it holds a 4.2-star rating from 413 reviews. Reviews paint a similar picture, with reviewers finding the vacuum cleaner performs well on floors and carpets, is incredibly light, and is easy to use, with great suction and good value for money. The battery life receives mixed feedback, and several reviews noted that it broke within three months.

It's also sold on Currys website, with an overall 4.4-star rating from 466 reviews. I found a couple of reviews which said they'd bought the vacuum to help with mobility struggles, and found it very lightweight and easy to use. Some reviewers did note that while the performance was impressive, it works better as a second vacuum because of its size and lack of attachments.

Verdict: Should you buy the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum?

The Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Vacuum lives up to the brand's reputation and delivers exceptional cleaning performance. If you need a vacuum that's reliable, easy to use, and needs little maintenance, you won't be disappointed.

However, it lacks additional attachments and can't convert to a handheld, limiting its use to hard floors and carpets. The run time on carpets is also shorter than many rivals. So, if you'll be cleaning stairs, furniture or awkward spaces, a more versatile model, like the Shark Stratos or Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean, would suit you better.

But as a lightweight option for keeping on top of everyday mess, particularly in a smaller home or as a second vacuum, it's hard to fault. The price is a big selling point, and especially if you can grab it while it's discounted, it offers great value for money.