Is the STIHL iMOW or Husqvarna Automower better?

It depends on whether you want to keep a boundary wire. The STIHL iMOW EVO range is dealer-installed and still uses a buried perimeter wire with GPS-assist, starting at about $3,799.99 for the iMOW 6 EVO (up to 3,000 m²). Husqvarna's current iQ series has gone wire-free, using EPOS satellite navigation instead — the comparable 420 iQ (0.5-1 acre) costs $3,499.99. At similar prices, the Husqvarna skips the trench; pick the STIHL iMOW only if you specifically want STIHL's dealer network or already have a wire-friendly yard.

Does the STIHL iMOW or Husqvarna Automower need a boundary wire?

The STIHL iMOW always does — every EVO model, from the 5 to the 7, uses a buried boundary wire with GPS only assisting navigation inside it, per STIHL. Husqvarna's current US lineup has moved the other way: the iQ series (410/420/440 iQ) and the 435X AWD are wire-free by default using EPOS satellite positioning, and only the 435X AWD in boundary-wire trim still needs one. So if wire-free is the deciding factor, Husqvarna's current lineup wins outright, while every STIHL iMOW still requires a wire.

Which is cheaper, the STIHL iMOW or Husqvarna Automower?

Husqvarna, for comparable coverage. The Husqvarna 420 iQ (0.5-1 acre) lists at $3,499.99, while the similarly-sized STIHL iMOW 6 EVO (up to 3,000 m², about 0.74 acre) starts at about $3,799.99 before STIHL's dealer installation fee, which the Husqvarna price doesn't need since it's DIY wire-free setup. Step down to Husqvarna's 410 iQ at $2,999.99 and the gap widens further, since there's no STIHL EVO model priced that low. STIHL's premium mainly buys the dealer install, not extra hardware.

Which climbs steeper slopes, the iMOW or Automower?

The Husqvarna Automower, if you pick the right model. STIHL rates the iMOW EVO range to 45% (55% with the optional Upgrade Kit 10). Husqvarna's iQ series matches that at 45% flat, but the all-wheel-drive Husqvarna 435X AWD climbs to roughly 70-80%, per Husqvarna — well beyond what any iMOW EVO reaches even with its upgrade kit. For a standard yard the two brands tie; for genuinely steep terrain, only Husqvarna's AWD model gets you there.

Which covers a bigger yard, the iMOW or Automower?

The STIHL iMOW, at the very top end. The iMOW 7 EVO covers up to 5,000 m² (about 1.25 acres), while Husqvarna's largest wire-free iQ model, the 440 iQ, tops out at 2 acres (about 8,100 m²) — so Husqvarna's flagship iQ actually covers more ground than STIHL's flagship iMOW. Where STIHL pulls ahead is model granularity: the 5/6/7 EVO tiers let you match lawn size more precisely, while Husqvarna jumps in bigger steps between the 410, 420, and 440 iQ.

Can you buy a STIHL iMOW or Husqvarna Automower on Amazon?

Neither is sold factory-direct on Amazon in the way a Segway Navimow or Worx Landroid is. STIHL sells the iMOW exclusively through authorized dealers, who also handle installation. Husqvarna Automowers are primarily sold and serviced through Husqvarna dealers too, though accessories, blades, and some bundles do show up on Amazon. If you want a robot mower you can order online today with no dealer visit, a wire-free Segway Navimow or Mammotion Luba is the more direct buy.

STIHL iMOW vs Husqvarna Automower 2026: Dealer-Installed Wire vs Wire-Free EPOS

Quick Answer: The STIHL iMOW EVO range is dealer-installed and still relies on a buried boundary wire, starting at about $3,799.99 for the iMOW 6 EVO (up to 3,000 m²/0.74 acre), per STIHL. Husqvarna’s current Automower iQ series has gone the opposite direction — it’s wire-free by default using EPOS satellite navigation, with the comparably-sized 420 iQ priced at $3,499.99 (0.5-1 acre). At near-identical prices, Husqvarna skips the trench and the dealer-install requirement entirely; the STIHL iMOW is worth the extra step mainly if you specifically want STIHL’s dealer network and in-person service.

Both brands built their reputation on premium outdoor power equipment and back their robot mowers with real dealer service — but they’ve taken opposite paths on navigation. STIHL still trusts a physical wire with GPS assisting inside it; Husqvarna has moved its whole current lineup to wire-free EPOS. Below we compare setup, slopes, coverage, and price, then pick a winner for each kind of yard.

STIHL iMOW vs Husqvarna Automower at a glance

Factor	STIHL iMOW EVO	Husqvarna Automower iQ
Current models	iMOW 4/5/6/7 EVO	410 iQ, 420 iQ, 440 iQ, 435 iQ AWD, 435X AWD
Navigation	Buried boundary wire + GPS-assist	Wire-free EPOS satellite navigation
Boundary wire needed	Yes, on every model	No (wire-free by default on the iQ series)
Max slope	45% (55% w/ Upgrade Kit 10)	45% (iQ series) · ~70-80% (435X AWD)
Coverage range	~1,500 m² (5 EVO) to 5,000 m² (7 EVO)	0.5 acre (410 iQ) to 2 acres (440 iQ)
Entry price (comparable tier)	~$3,799.99 (6 EVO, ~0.74 acre)	$3,499.99 (420 iQ, 0.5-1 acre)
Warranty	Dealer-backed, varies by dealer	4-year unit + 3-year battery
Sold on Amazon	No — dealer-only	No direct sales; accessories only

STIHL iMOW: best if you want a dealer to handle installation

STIHL iMOW 5 / 6 / 7 EVO

Boundary wire + GPS-assist · $3,799.99–$4,999.99+

STIHL dealers typically lay the boundary wire and program the mower as part of installation, so there's no DIY trenching — the trade-off is you're still committed to a wire.
The iMOW 6 EVO (up to 3,000 m²) starts at about $3,799.99; the iMOW 7 EVO (up to 5,000 m²) starts at about $4,999.99, per STIHL and US dealers.
Three free-swinging, tool-free blades and mobile-network connectivity (EVO trim) for remote control via the MY iMOW app.
Rated to 45% slope, 55% with the optional Upgrade Kit 10.

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If you’d rather not order a robot mower sight-unseen, boot up an audiobook while you wait for the dealer install day — start a free Audible trial — since STIHL’s setup, unlike a wire-free mower, is scheduled around your dealer’s calendar rather than done same-day.

STIHL’s whole pitch is hands-off setup: a dealer buries the wire, sites the dock, and programs the schedule, so the trickiest part of robot-mower ownership is someone else’s job. Read our full STIHL iMOW review for the complete lineup and 2026 pricing.

Husqvarna Automower: best for wire-free setup at a similar price

Husqvarna Automower 410 / 420 / 440 iQ

Wire-free EPOS · $2,999.99–$4,299.99

All three iQ models use EPOS satellite navigation instead of a boundary wire — you map the lawn in the app, no trenching.
410 iQ covers ~0.5 acre for $2,999.99; 420 iQ covers 0.5-1 acre for $3,499.99; 440 iQ covers up to 2 acres for $4,299.99.
62 dB(A) operating noise and radar object detection across the range, per Husqvarna's published specs.
4-year unit warranty plus a separate 3-year battery warranty — longer than most wire-free rivals publish.

Check Husqvarna Automower price on Amazon →

Husqvarna made the same move STIHL hasn’t yet: it retired its own boundary-wire X-line (415X/430X/450X are discontinued in the US) in favor of wire-free EPOS across the current iQ series, keeping only the all-wheel-drive 435X AWD available in wire trim for buyers who want it. Read our full Husqvarna Automower 420 iQ review for the model-by-model breakdown, or see how it stacks up against another wire-free rival in our Navimow vs Husqvarna comparison.

Head-to-head: who wins each category

Setup: Husqvarna. EPOS is wire-free out of the box; the iMOW always needs a buried boundary wire, dealer-laid or not.
Comparable-tier price: Husqvarna, narrowly. The 420 iQ’s $3,499.99 undercuts the similarly-sized iMOW 6 EVO’s ~$3,799.99, and Husqvarna also has a genuinely cheaper 410 iQ at $2,999.99 with no STIHL equivalent that low.
Slopes at the flagship tier: Husqvarna. The 435X AWD’s ~70-80% rating beats even the iMOW’s Upgrade-Kit-boosted 55% by a wide margin; at the standard iQ/EVO tier, both rate 45% and tie.
Top-end coverage: STIHL, barely. The iMOW 7 EVO’s 5,000 m² edges out the 440 iQ’s 2-acre (~8,100 m²) ceiling on paper size-for-size in metric terms, though Husqvarna’s 2-acre iQ flagship still covers more usable acreage.
Dealer support quality: Tie. Both brands built their name on professional-grade outdoor equipment and maintain real service networks — STIHL leans on it for installation itself, Husqvarna for warranty and parts.
Buying online today: Neither, directly — both require a dealer relationship for the mower itself; wire-free brands like Segway Navimow or Worx Landroid are the ones you can order straight from Amazon.

STIHL iMOW vs Husqvarna Automower by the numbers

$3,799.99 vs $3,499.99: At comparable ~0.75-1 acre coverage, the Husqvarna 420 iQ’s $3,499.99 undercuts the STIHL iMOW 6 EVO’s ~$3,799.99 by about $300, per each brand’s 2026 US pricing — and the Husqvarna price doesn’t require a separate dealer installation fee on top.
45% vs ~70-80% slope: Both brands’ standard tiers cap at 45%, but Husqvarna’s all-wheel-drive 435X AWD climbs to roughly 70-80%, nearly double what any iMOW EVO reaches even with its Upgrade Kit 10 (55%).
4-year vs dealer-set warranty: Husqvarna publishes a flat 4-year unit warranty plus 3-year battery warranty across the iQ series; STIHL’s coverage runs through the individual dealer, so terms can vary by location.
5,000 m² vs 2 acres: The iMOW 7 EVO’s flagship coverage (5,000 m², ~1.25 acres) is STIHL’s ceiling, while Husqvarna’s 440 iQ reaches a full 2 acres (~8,100 m²) — Husqvarna’s top wire-free model actually covers substantially more ground.

The bottom line

For most half-acre to one-acre suburban lawns, buy the Husqvarna Automower 420 iQ — it undercuts the comparably-sized STIHL iMOW on price, skips the boundary wire entirely, and still comes with a 4-year warranty. Our Husqvarna Automower 420 iQ review breaks down the full iQ lineup. If you specifically want STIHL’s dealer-installed setup and don’t mind the wire, the STIHL iMOW is a legitimate premium pick — see our full review for 2026 pricing across the EVO range. Still comparing options? Check our Husqvarna Automower vs Worx Landroid breakdown for a budget-vs-premium angle, or start from our best robot lawn mower pillar guide.