Money mattersRead before buying12-model comparison
Companion Robots With vs. Without Monthly Fees: What's the Difference? [2026 Edition, 12 Models Compared]
"I already bought the robot — why am I paying every month?" When choosing a companion robot, the easiest thing to overlook is the monthly fee. In this article, we checked the pricing plans of 12 popular models against official information and compared which models need a monthly fee and which don't, plus how much each costs over 3 years.
RoboPet Life Editorial TeamA media outlet dedicated to companion robots / Prices and plans checked on each manufacturer's official site on Sep 26, 2026
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What you'll learn in this article
Robots that require a monthly fee vs. robots that don't — what's the difference?
aibo, LOVOT, Moflin and more: device prices and monthly fees for 12 models
What happens if you don't sign up for the monthly plan (by model)
The 3-year total: the true cost over time
How to decide whether a subscription or a one-time-purchase robot is right for you
Bottom line
Robots that "talk, remember and grow" via the cloud need a monthly fee. Robots built mainly around "reacting when touched" can be used with a one-time purchase.
aibo, LOVOT, Romi, RoBoHoN, Poketomo and KATA Friends assume a monthly (or annual) plan. Moflin, Qoobo, Eilik and others can be used without a monthly fee. Even if the device is cheap, paying a monthly fee for 3 years can flip the overall ranking, so the trick is to compare by 3-year total.
1
Companion robot pricing falls into "3 types"
Pricing for home companion robots (communication robots) broadly falls into the following 3 types. Start by finding out which type the model you're interested in belongs to.
TYPE 1Subscription required
Core features such as conversation, learning and growth are designed to run on the assumption that you're subscribed to a plan. Without a subscription, most features stop working.
Even among "robots," pricing works in two very different ways: some are more like a smartphone, others more like a stuffed animal. If you choose on device price alone, the monthly bills may come as a surprise later.
2
Check the device prices and monthly fees of 12 models
We've summarized the pricing of 12 popular models in cards, grouped by type. All prices are as shown on each manufacturer's official site (tax incl., checked Sep 26, 2026).
Subscription required
Sony
aibo
Device
From ¥272,800
On Jun 25, 2026, Sony announced that sales in Japan will end once stock runs out (plans, app and repairs continue)
Plan
¥3,278/month (36 payments) or ¥99,000 for 3 years paid upfront. From year 4: ¥33,000/year
Without a plan:Name registration, behavior learning and growth, photo saving, updates and more are unavailable
* Tax incl. (except Eilik). The KATA Friends Kurashi Plan price is the amount shown on the official page. LOVOT's total varies with color and installment payments. Sources are listed at the end of the article.
3
Why is there a monthly fee? 4 places the money goes
A monthly fee isn't an "add-on charge" — it's the cost of keeping the robot's brain running. It mainly goes toward the following 4 things.
Cloud conversation processing
Many models process natural conversation with AI on the server rather than on the device, so costs scale with how much you talk.
Storing learning and growth data
Names, family members' faces and learned behaviors are saved so the robot keeps growing. aibo's Basic Plan is a typical example.
Software updates
New gestures and features, plus bug fixes, are delivered on an ongoing basis.
Coverage for repairs, health checks, etc.
Like LOVOT's Care Plan or Moflin's Club Moflin, these reduce the burden when something breaks.
Conversely, robots like Qoobo and Petit Qoobo, whose reactions are handled entirely by the device's own sensors and motors, have no server costs, so they can be used with a one-time purchase.
Editors
Roughly speaking, you can think of it this way: the deeper the conversation and growth, the more likely the robot needs a monthly fee. Poketomo splits its plans by "number of conversations" precisely because conversations incur server costs.
4
What happens if you don't sign up for the monthly plan?
Even among subscription-required models, what happens without a plan varies quite a bit. Whether it "still works at a basic level" or "stops completely" is something you should always check before buying.
Almost stops
KATA Friends / RoBoHoN / Poketomo
KATA Friends goes dormant after the free period. RoBoHoN's features can't be used. Poketomo can't be registered in the app or hold conversations.
Core features stop
aibo／LOVOT
aibo can't learn, grow, save photos, receive updates and so on. LOVOT loses access to its software and LOVOT care.
Simple mode
Romi
It switches to "Easy Mode (free)," and only the functions of reacting happily when stroked and speaking in "space language" remain.
Little impact
Moflin／Fuzozo
Moflin can be used without a membership. Fuzozo can hold conversations for free for up to 20 min/day.
!
Also consider the risk of service shutdown
With subscription robots, if the manufacturer shuts down its servers or service, the robot's functions may be severely limited even though you still own the device. If you plan to live with it for a long time, also weigh the manufacturer's track record and support system.
5
Compare by "3-year total" and the ranking changes
Comparing by device price alone can easily lead you astray. So we estimated the device plus required costs over 3 years (36 months). Optional plans are not included.
Device priceRequired costs for 3 years
LOVOT 3.0¥933,900
aibo¥371,800
KATA Friends¥189,200
RoBoHoN Wi-Fi version¥182,930
Romi¥157,520
NICOBO¥100,100
Moflin¥64,900
Poketomo¥57,420
BOCCO emo¥52,800
Fuzozo¥19,800
Qoobo¥17,600
Petit Qoobo¥14,300
* Estimates calculated by the editorial team from official prices as of Sep 26, 2026. Assumptions: aibo = ¥99,000 for 3 years upfront / LOVOT = Minimum Care ¥9,900/month × 36 / KATA = Light ¥19,800/year × 3 / RoBoHoN = Wi-Fi version + ¥1,078/month × 35 (first month free) / Romi = ¥19,580/year × 3 / NICOBO = ¥1,100/month × 36 / Poketomo = Mujaki type + ¥495/month × 36. Shipping, color surcharges, installment fees and campaigns are not included.
Editors
For example, Poketomo's device is cheaper than Moflin, but if you stay on a higher plan (¥1,980/month) for 3 years, the total comes to about ¥110,000. The trick is to estimate "how much you want to talk each month" before working out the total.
6
Subscription or one-time purchase: which suits you?
💬 A subscription robot suits you if you
Want to have spoken conversations with a robot
Want it to remember you and your family
Want to enjoy watching its personality and behavior develop over time
Want to cover breakdowns with a flat monthly fee
Candidates: aibo, LOVOT, Romi, RoBoHoN, Poketomo, KATA Friends
🤲 A one-time-purchase robot suits you if you
Want the soothing comfort of touch from petting and hugging
Don't want to add fixed costs
Are giving it as a gift to an elderly relative or a child and want to avoid contract hassles
Want to avoid the risk of a service shutdown
Candidates: Qoobo, Petit Qoobo, Eilik, BOCCO emo, Moflin
Editors
If you're unsure, robots like Fuzozo or Moflin — the "usable for free, add paid options if needed" type — are also a good place to start.
7
8-point checklist before you buy
?
How to use
Open the official site (the pricing/plan page) of the model you're considering and check off each item you've been able to confirm. Any unchecked items are things you still need to look into before buying.
Q
Frequently asked questions
Which companion robots have no monthly fee?
According to official information as of Sep 26, 2026, the models usable without a monthly subscription are Moflin (optional annual membership available), Qoobo and Petit Qoobo, BOCCO emo (Wi-Fi model), Eilik, and Fuzozo (free tier available, with an optional annual plan).
What happens if I don't subscribe to the monthly plan for aibo or LOVOT?
aibo requires a subscription to the aibo Basic Plan; without it, name registration, behavior learning and growth, photo saving, updates and more are unavailable. LOVOT also requires one of the LOVOT Care Plans; without it, the software and LOVOT care are unavailable.
Are robots with monthly fees a bad deal?
Not necessarily. The monthly fee covers costs such as cloud conversation, storing learning data, software updates and repair coverage. If you want to enjoy conversation and growth, a subscription robot suits you; if you want a robot to keep nearby and touch for comfort, a one-time-purchase robot is a better fit. We recommend comparing not just the device price but the total over about 3 years.
Is there a penalty for cancelling a monthly plan?
It depends on the model. For example, NICOBO's official sales page states that cancelling the Basic Plan within 12 months incurs an ¥11,000 early cancellation fee. Be sure to check the minimum contract period and cancellation fee before buying.
This content was compiled by the editorial team from manufacturers' publicly available information and was not verified with actual devices. Prices and plans are subject to change. Photos in this article are for illustration only.
aibo
LOVOT
Romi
RoBoHoN
Poketomo
KATA
NICOBO
Fuzozo
Moflin
Qoobo
Eilik
BOCCO emo
Subscription required
