Robot Price Tracker 2026
This is a living reference of every commercially available robot with confirmed or reliably estimated pricing as of August 2026. Unlike our humanoid-only price tracker, this guide covers the full spectrum: robot arms (from $100 open-source builds to $60,000 industrial cobots), quadruped robots, and humanoids.
Prices listed here are based on manufacturer websites, authorized distributor listings, and verified press announcements. Where exact pricing requires a quote, we provide the most reliable range available from public sources.
Robot arms: budget tier (under $5,000)
These arms are designed for education, research prototyping, and hobbyist projects. They lack the precision and payload for industrial use but offer excellent value for learning and data collection.
| Robot | Manufacturer | DOF | Payload | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO-101 | Hugging Face / LeRobot community | 6 | ~250g | ~$110 (BOM) | AI research data collection |
| SO-100 | Hugging Face / LeRobot community | 6 | ~200g | ~$100 (BOM) | Teleoperation training data |
| Koch v1.1 | Open source (Stanford) | 6 | ~300g | ~$250 (BOM) | Manipulation learning research |
| ALOHA 2 | Open source (Stanford/Google) | 2x 6-DOF | ~500g per arm | ~$20,000 (full bimanual setup) | Bimanual manipulation research |
| myCobot 280 | Elephant Robotics | 6 | 250g | $599 to $1,099 | Education, light demos |
| UFactory Lite 6 | UFACTORY | 6 | 1 kg | ~$2,500 | Light research, education |
| Trossen PincherX 150 | Trossen Robotics | 5 | 150g | $450 | Education, simple pick-and-place |
| Trossen WidowX 250 | Trossen Robotics | 6 | 250g | $2,500 | Research manipulation |
Notes on budget arms
The SO-100 and SO-101 have become the standard for AI manipulation research since their release as part of the LeRobot project. The bill-of-materials cost is under $150, but you need a 3D printer and basic assembly skills. Pre-assembled units are available from community sellers at $200 to $400.
The ALOHA 2 bimanual setup is more expensive ($20,000 for the full system) but remains far cheaper than any industrial bimanual solution. It is the de facto platform for academic imitation learning research.
Robot arms: mid tier ($5,000 to $30,000)
These arms bridge research and light industrial use. They offer better precision, higher payloads, and more robust construction than budget options.
| Robot | Manufacturer | DOF | Payload | Reach | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xArm 5 Lite | UFACTORY | 5 | 3 kg | 700mm | ~$5,500 | Light manufacturing, research |
| xArm 6 | UFACTORY | 6 | 5 kg | 700mm | ~$8,500 | Research labs, light industry |
| xArm 7 | UFACTORY | 7 | 3.5 kg | 700mm | ~$11,000 | AI research (most popular) |
| Kinova Gen3 | Kinova | 7 | 4 kg | 902mm | ~$25,000 | Research, assistive technology |
| Kinova Gen3 Lite | Kinova | 6 | 0.5 kg | 760mm | ~$15,000 | Education, lightweight tasks |
| Rizon 4 | Flexiv | 7 | 4 kg | 900mm | ~$30,000 | Force-controlled manipulation |
Notes on mid-tier arms
The xArm 7 from UFACTORY dominates in AI research labs that need a step up from budget hardware. At $11,000, it offers 7-DOF redundancy, torque sensing, and a mature Python/ROS 2 SDK. It sits in the sweet spot between hobby-grade and industrial-grade.
Kinova Gen3 is popular in assistive technology research and mobile manipulation (mounted on mobile bases). Their 7-DOF arm is lightweight and backdriveble, making it safe for human environments.
Robot arms: industrial tier ($30,000+)
Production-ready collaborative and industrial robot arms for manufacturing environments.
| Robot | Manufacturer | DOF | Payload | Reach | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franka Research 3 | Franka Robotics | 7 | 3 kg | 855mm | ~$35,000 to $50,000 | Premium research, torque control |
| UR5e | Universal Robots | 6 | 5 kg | 850mm | ~$35,000 | Manufacturing (general) |
| UR10e | Universal Robots | 6 | 12.5 kg | 1300mm | ~$45,000 | Heavy-duty cobot tasks |
| UR20 | Universal Robots | 6 | 20 kg | 1750mm | ~$55,000 | Palletizing, heavy assembly |
| UR30 | Universal Robots | 6 | 30 kg | 1300mm | ~$60,000 | Machine tending, heavy lifting |
| Rizon 10 | Flexiv | 7 | 10 kg | 1300mm | ~$50,000 to $70,000 | Force-adaptive industrial |
| Dobot CR10 | Dobot | 6 | 10 kg | 1300mm | ~$20,000 to $30,000 | Budget industrial cobot |
Notes on industrial arms
Universal Robots remains the market leader in collaborative arms. Their UR20 (launched 2023) and UR30 (2024) expanded their payload range significantly. Pricing requires distributor quotes but falls in well-known ranges.
Franka Research 3 is technically a research platform, but its torque-controlled joints and sub-millimeter repeatability make it suitable for precision assembly applications. It is the most expensive arm in its payload class, justified by its control capabilities.
Quadruped robots
Four-legged robots for inspection, research, security, and outdoor operations.
| Robot | Manufacturer | Weight | Speed | Runtime | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitree Go2 (Air) | Unitree | 8.5 kg | 3.5 m/s | ~1-2 hours | ~$1,600 | Hobbyist, education |
| Unitree Go2 (Pro) | Unitree | 8.5 kg | 3.5 m/s | ~1-2 hours | ~$2,800 | Research, development |
| Unitree Go2 (EDU) | Unitree | 8.5 kg | 3.5 m/s | ~1-2 hours | ~$3,500 | Full SDK access, research |
| Unitree B2 | Unitree | 60 kg | 6 m/s | ~4 hours | ~$40,000 to $60,000 | Industrial inspection, outdoor |
| Unitree B2-W | Unitree | 70 kg | 6 m/s (wheels) | ~4 hours | ~$50,000 to $70,000 | Wheeled-leg hybrid operations |
| Boston Dynamics Spot | Boston Dynamics | 32 kg | 1.6 m/s | ~90 min | ~$75,000 (base) | Industrial inspection, construction |
| Boston Dynamics Spot + Arm | Boston Dynamics | 32 kg | 1.6 m/s | ~90 min | ~$100,000+ | Mobile manipulation |
| Xiaomi CyberDog 2 | Xiaomi | 8.9 kg | 3.5 m/s | ~2 hours | ~$3,000 | Consumer, developer |
| Deep Robotics Lite3 | Deep Robotics | 12 kg | 3.5 m/s | ~2 hours | ~$5,000 to $10,000 | Research, education |
| ANYmal D | ANYbotics | 50 kg | 1.5 m/s | ~2 hours | ~$150,000+ | Industrial inspection, mining |
Notes on quadrupeds
Unitree dominates the price-accessible quadruped market. Their Go2 (starting at $1,600) made four-legged robots affordable for individual developers and small labs for the first time. The B2 targets industrial customers who need Spot-class capability at lower cost.
Boston Dynamics Spot remains the gold standard for industrial quadrupeds, with a mature inspection software platform, long track record, and enterprise support. Pricing starts around $75,000 for the base robot and climbs significantly with the arm attachment and inspection software packages.
ANYmal from ANYbotics targets heavy industry (power plants, offshore platforms, mining) where explosive atmosphere certification and extreme environment durability justify the premium pricing above $150,000.
Humanoid robots
Full or partial humanoid-form robots available for purchase or commercial lease.
| Robot | Manufacturer | Height | DOF | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitree G1 (base) | Unitree | 1.32m | 23 | $13,500, excluding tax and shipping | Available to order; no secondary development |
| Unitree G1 EDU | Unitree | 1.32m | 23-43 | Contact sales | Programmable research configurations |
| Unitree H1 | Unitree | 1.80m | 19 | ~$90,000 | Available to order |
| Fourier GR-2 | Fourier Intelligence | 1.75m | 53 | ~$100,000 to $150,000 (est.) | Available for order |
| UBTech Walker S | UBTech | 1.70m | 42 | Quote only (est. $100,000+) | Pilot sales |
| NAO 6 | SoftBank/Aldebaran | 0.58m | 25 | ~$9,000 | Available (educational) |
| Pepper | SoftBank | 1.20m | 20 | ~$20,000 (discontinued new sales) | Used market only |
Notes on humanoids
The humanoid market splits between “available today” (Unitree, Fourier) and “coming soon via pilot programs” (Figure, Tesla, Agility, Apptronik). Only Unitree offers direct online purchase with transparent pricing.
The Unitree G1 base model at $13,500, excluding tax and shipping, is a landmark price point, but it does not support secondary development. The 1.32m G1 EDU requires a sales quote and is the relevant configuration for research and development.
NAO remains available as an educational and research platform but is not designed for practical physical tasks. It serves as a programming teaching tool rather than a functional worker.
Price trends: 2023 to 2026
Several clear trends emerge from tracking robot prices over the past three years:
Robot arms are getting cheaper. The xArm series has dropped roughly 15% in price since 2023. Open-source arms (SO-100, SO-101) created an entirely new sub-$200 category that did not exist before 2024.
Quadrupeds have bifurcated. Consumer/research quadrupeds (Go2, CyberDog) fell below $2,000, while industrial quadrupeds (Spot, ANYmal) maintained or increased pricing as they added software capabilities.
Humanoids are emerging at multiple price points. Two years ago, no humanoid robot was available for under $100,000. Today, the Unitree G1 base model starts at $13,500, excluding tax and shipping, and several options exist under $100,000.
Industrial cobots are stable. Universal Robots pricing has remained relatively flat, reflecting their market dominance and the maturity of the product category.
What to consider before buying
- Total cost of ownership. The purchase price is just the start. Budget for end effectors, sensors, mounting, integration, training, and maintenance.
- Software ecosystem. A cheaper arm with poor SDK support costs more in engineering time. Check for ROS 2 integration, Python SDKs, and community support.
- Payload vs precision tradeoff. Higher payload usually means lower precision at the same price point. Match to your application.
- Support and warranty. Chinese manufacturers offer lower prices but support may have timezone and language barriers. Factor this into your decision.
- Upgrade path. Can you add sensors, swap end effectors, or upgrade firmware? Closed ecosystems may limit future capability.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest robot arm I can buy in 2026? The SO-101 open-source arm has a bill-of-materials cost around $110. If you want a pre-built commercial product, the Elephant Robotics myCobot 280 starts at $599.
How much does Boston Dynamics Spot cost? The base Spot robot costs approximately $75,000. Adding the arm brings it to $100,000+. With inspection software packages and support contracts, total cost can reach $150,000 to $200,000.
What is the cheapest quadruped robot? The Unitree Go2 Air at approximately $1,600 is the cheapest capable quadruped. The Xiaomi CyberDog 2 at around $3,000 is another option with a consumer focus.
Can I buy a humanoid robot today? Yes. Unitree sells the G1 base model for $13,500, excluding tax and shipping; G1 EDU requires a sales quote. The H1 has previous quoted pricing around $90,000 but currently requires contact with sales. Fourier GR-2 is also available through sales channels. Most other humanoids are only available through pilot programs.
What robot arm do AI research labs use? Stanford, MIT, CMU, and Google DeepMind primarily use Franka Research 3 ($35,000 to $50,000). Budget-conscious labs use xArm 7 ($11,000) or SO-101 ($110). For bimanual research, ALOHA 2 ($20,000) is the standard.
How much does a Universal Robots cobot cost? UR pricing ranges from $35,000 (UR5e) to $60,000 (UR30). These prices are for the arm only and do not include end effectors, mounting, or integration.
Are Chinese robot prices significantly lower? Yes, typically 30% to 60% lower than Western equivalents. Unitree, UFACTORY, Dobot, and Elephant Robotics all undercut Western pricing while offering competitive specs. The tradeoff is usually in support quality and software ecosystem maturity.
What is the best value robot for learning robotics? For software and AI learning: SO-101 ($110). For physical robotics with a real SDK: Unitree Go2 EDU ($3,500) or xArm 5 Lite ($5,500). For industrial skills: Dobot CR series ($20,000 to $30,000).
Sources
- Unitree G1 – official shop — $13,500 USD confirmed pricing
- Unitree Robotics – full product lineup — Go2, B2, G1, H1 specifications
- SO-101 – Hugging Face LeRobot documentation — BOM and build guide
- Koch v1.1 Low-Cost Robot – GitHub — ~$250 follower, ~$180 leader pricing
- UFACTORY xArm product page — xArm 5/6/7 specifications and pricing
- Universal Robots UR20 product page — 20 kg payload, 1750 mm reach
- Universal Robots UR30 product page — 30 kg payload cobot
- Boston Dynamics Spot – official page — quadruped robot platform
- Trossen Robotics ALOHA Kits — ALOHA 2 Stationary pricing
- Franka Robotics – FR3 — research-grade torque-controlled arm
- ANYbotics ANYmal – official site — industrial quadruped for inspection