More and more manufacturers offer their robots not only for purchase but also by subscription. With the Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, companies pay a monthly fee that includes maintenance, software updates and often replacement units.
Examples from the market
- 1X offers the NEO household humanoid in the US for $20,000 or $499 per month.
- Agility Robotics quotes a purchase price of around $200,000 for Digit 5, or a rental fee of around $8,500 per month.
- Robot waiters and service robots are often rented out to restaurants for a few hundred euros per month.
Buying
- Pros: full control, no ongoing fees, depreciation possible.
- Cons: high upfront investment, technology risk, maintenance at your own expense.
Leasing
- Pros: predictable payments, liquidity is preserved.
- Cons: higher total cost, contract term commitment.
Renting / RaaS
- Pros: low risk, updates and service included, quickly scalable.
- Cons: often more expensive in the long run, dependence on the provider and its cloud.
Rule of thumb
For pilot projects and fast-aging technology such as humanoids, RaaS is usually the better choice. For mature technology with a long service life – such as cobots or robotic lawn mowers – buying pays off.