Sophia, Pepper and NAO are the three robots most people picture when they hear “humanoid robot”, and all three are still searched for by price. The short version: Sophia is not for sale and is booked for events, Pepper is listed at USD 39,995 in the US and NAO at USD 19,999. Below is what each price includes, why two of these robots are hard to buy new, and which newer robots do the same jobs.
Store prices are RobotsUSA list prices checked on 19 October 2026.
Contents
Sophia, Pepper and NAO prices at a glance
| Robot | Maker | Price (US) | Can you buy one? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia | Hanson Robotics | No retail price; event bookings reported at USD 100,000 to 125,000 | No, quote and bookings only |
| Little Sophia | Hanson Robotics | USD 99 to 149 (crowdfunding, 2019) | No longer on sale |
| Pepper | SoftBank Robotics | USD 39,995 | Limited availability |
| NAO V6 | Aldebaran (formerly SoftBank Robotics) | USD 19,999 | Limited availability |
Store links are affiliate links; Dijipedya may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
How much does Sophia the robot cost?
Hanson Robotics has never published a retail price for the full-size Sophia, and she is not sold to consumers. Sophia works as a media and research platform: companies, conferences and universities book her for appearances. Booking agencies have listed speaking fees of about USD 100,000 to 125,000 per event, depending on travel and format. Estimates of USD 100,000 or more for building a comparable robot circulate online, but none comes from Hanson.
Little Sophia, a 14-inch educational robot for children, was offered on crowdfunding in early 2019 for USD 99 as an early-bird pledge and USD 149 afterwards. It is not available as a current product.
If you want a lifelike humanoid for events or reception, RobotsUSA lists a Sophia page for quote requests, while ready-to-order options are covered below.
How much does Pepper cost?
Pepper is a 1.2 m wheeled humanoid with a chest tablet, designed to greet customers and answer questions in shops, banks and offices. In Japan it launched in 2015 at a low upfront price combined with a monthly data and insurance plan, which is why some old articles quote a figure under USD 2,000. That price never applied to business buyers outside Japan. SoftBank paused Pepper production in 2021, so remaining units are sold through resellers: RobotsUSA lists Pepper at USD 39,995 with limited availability.
Before buying a robot that is no longer in production, ask about software updates, spare parts and battery replacement. Our robot warranty and support checklist lists the questions to ask.
How much does NAO cost?
NAO is a 58 cm programmable humanoid that has been used in classrooms, autism therapy research and robot football for more than 15 years. The current NAO V6 lists at USD 19,999 on RobotsUSA. Schools usually budget for a teaching software licence, a spare battery and an extended warranty on top. Older NAO prices of USD 8,000 to 10,000 you may see online refer to earlier versions and promotions.
Store links are affiliate links; Dijipedya may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Newer robots for the same jobs
1Instead of NAO: Unitree R1 or Go2 EDU
For teaching programming and AI, the Unitree R1 Air (USD 6,870) is a full walking humanoid at a third of NAO’s price, and R1 EDU versions add full SDK access. Our education and research robots guide compares classroom options.
2Instead of Pepper: UBTECH Cruzr or OrionStar GreetingBot
For greeting customers, the UBTECH Cruzr 1S lists at USD 15,999.99 and the OrionStar GreetingBot Nova at USD 16,999, both still in production. See our reception robots guide.
3Instead of Sophia: AiMOGA Mornine or AgiBot A3
For events and exhibitions, the multilingual AiMOGA Mornine M1 costs USD 59,950 and the AgiBot A3 USD 64,999. They will not match Sophia’s media profile, but you own them for less than the reported cost of two Sophia bookings.
Store links are affiliate links; Dijipedya may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Sophia the robot cost?
Sophia has no retail price and is not sold to consumers. Hanson Robotics works with clients on a quote basis, and event booking fees have been listed at about USD 100,000 to 125,000.
How much does Pepper the robot cost?
RobotsUSA lists Pepper at USD 39,995 (October 2026). SoftBank paused Pepper production in 2021, so remaining units are sold through resellers.
How much is the NAO robot?
NAO V6 lists at USD 19,999 on RobotsUSA (October 2026), before teaching software and extended warranty.
Can I buy Little Sophia?
Not currently. Little Sophia was offered on crowdfunding in 2019 for USD 99 to 149 and is not sold as a current product.
What is a cheaper alternative to NAO?
The Unitree R1 Air humanoid lists at USD 6,870 and R1 EDU versions add programming access, making them a lower-cost option for schools.
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Sources: RobotsUSA product pages and prices (19 October 2026); New Atlas on Little Sophia (31 January 2019); Reuters reporting on Pepper production pause (June 2021); booking agency listings for Sophia appearances as summarised in August 2026.
