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Head-to-head · Best Carpet Cleaners

Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288 vs Shark CarpetXpert EX201

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288 and Shark CarpetXpert EX201 score essentially the same (4.0 vs 4.0). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288
Ranked #3 in Best Carpet Cleaners
Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288
3 sourcesall derived$459.99as of Aug 1

The Big Green Pet Pro 3288 is the heavy-duty end of BISSELL's home line, built around an 8-row DirtLifter PowerBrush and dual 1.75-gallon tanks so a large area can be cleaned without stopping to refill. A 9-foot hose and pet-specific tools reach stairs and upholstery, and it ships with the brand's urine eliminator formula. The catch is mass: at 44 lbs it is difficult to move, awkward to empty and hard to carry between floors, and it wants warm tap water to work at its best. It suits households with multiple pets and a lot of carpet, and nobody else.

Strengths
  • — Features 8-Row DirtLifter PowerBrush for powerful stain and odor removal
  • — Includes long-reach hose (9') and specialized pet tools for hard-to-access areas
  • — Dual large tank capacity (1.75 gallons each) reduces refilling frequency
Watch-outs
  • — Heavy weight (44 lbs) may be difficult for some users to maneuver
  • — Requires warm tap water for optimal cleaning performance
$459.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Shark CarpetXpert EX201
Ranked #4 in Best Carpet Cleaners
Shark CarpetXpert EX201
1 sourceall derived$249as of Aug 1

The Shark CarpetXpert EX201 has strong suction and covers a lot of ground, doing especially well on moisture extraction and spot cleaning with its StainStriker handheld unit. Reviewers noted below-average stain removal on most stains during upright cleaning tests, peanut butter in particular. Its compact design and easy maintenance suit pet owners and households that need both full-area and targeted cleaning, though the small water tank limits coverage between refills. That makes it a solid choice for targeted cleaning and a weaker one for large areas without frequent refills.

Strengths
  • — Excellent suction power at the nozzle, well above average for moisture extraction
  • — Easy maintenance with accessible brushroll and detachable dirty water tank
  • — Versatile design allowing easy transition from upright to spot cleaning
Watch-outs
  • — Below average performance on most stains in upright cleaning test, particularly peanut butter
  • — Small water tanks with below average capacity requiring frequent refills
$249 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288

While the Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288 excels in heavy-duty cleaning with its 8-Row DirtLifter PowerBrush and dual tank system, it's significantly heavier than the Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet Pro Plus 3588F and lacks the latter's specialized pet tools. Compared to the Shark CarpetXpert EX201, it has better overall stain removal but is less versatile in spot cleaning.

Shark CarpetXpert EX201

The Shark CarpetXpert EX201 surpasses the Bissell TurboClean Pet XL 3746 in suction power and offers better versatility with its StainStriker handheld unit, but it underperforms in upright stain tests compared to the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam 4120, which uses steam for better results. It also has smaller tanks than the Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288.

Specs side-by-side

SpecBissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288Shark CarpetXpert EX201
Weight44 lbs18 lbs
Cord Length25'20 ft
Hose Length9'5.1 ft
Tank Capacity1.75 Gal0.53 gal
Cleaning Path Width10.5 in10 in
Suctionpowerful suctionmost powerful suction among carpet cleaners we’ve seen
Dimensions21"D x 11"W x 108"H1"L x 1"W x 1"H
Coverage—122 Sq. Ft. Per Clean Tank
Material—Foam
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