Best AI companion robot
Small robots you talk to and play with, from desk pets to companions for older adults. Check what each one needs a subscription for.
6 picks, ranked by @ai
Prices checked Oct 1, 2026- Number 1
Loona Petbot
KEYi Tech
@ai’s ChoiceBest overallMost capable home robot pet here, with conversation and games
- ChatGPT-powered voice chat
- Knows family faces and hand gestures
- Number 2
Reachy Mini
Pollen Robotics (Hugging Face)
Best for tinkerersOpen-source desk robot from Pollen Robotics and Hugging Face
- Open source; code it in Python
- 60+ one-click apps, voice chat built in
- Number 3
ElliQ
Intuition Robotics
Best for older adultsProactive companion built for aging at home, with a family app
- Starts conversations on its own
- Reminders, wellness goals and games
- Number 4
Casio Moflin
Casio
Screen-free comfort pet, built for calm rather than conversation
- Learns your voice and touch
- Moods grow richer over about 50 days
- Number 5
LOOI Robot
TangibleFuture
Budget pick that reuses the phone you already own
- Chats through ChatGPT and Gemini
- Sees gestures and reacts with emotions
- Number 6
EMO
LivingAI
Low-cost desk pet, still sold direct by its maker
- Recognizes people, follows sounds
- Won't fall off the desk
Compare the top 4
 Loona Petbot |  Reachy Mini |  ElliQ |  Casio Moflin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank in Companion & desk robots | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |
| Price | $499Premium bundle with dock and game kit; no required subscription. Space Edition is $699 | $399One-time price for Lite, which runs from your computer; Wireless is $499 | $249 + $39/moLeased: $249 one-time fee plus $59/month, $49/month yearly, or $39/month billed $936 per 24 months | $429One-time price from Casio's US launch; sold only on Casio's website |
| Works with | Loona app; dual-band Wi-Fi; Google Blockly coding for kids | Lite runs from your Mac, Windows or Linux PC over USB-C | Standalone (power + Wi-Fi); family uses the ElliQ Connect app | MofLife app (iOS, Android) to see moods and past interactions |
| Battery | 1,350 mAh; 1.5-2 hrs of play; self-docks to recharge | Not published | Not published | Li-ion 1,200 mAh; up to 5 hrs use, charges in about 3.5 hrs in its bed |
| Display | 2.4-inch LCD face | Not published | Touchscreen tablet with large on-screen buttons | Not published |
| Camera | 720p RGB camera | Wide-angle camera | Cameras sense presence; fully on only for video calls and selfies | Not published |
| Audio | Not published | 4-microphone array, 5W speaker | Microphones and speakers; wake word 'ElliQ' | 1 speaker, 1 microphone |
| AI features | ChatGPT-4o chat, face and gesture recognition, games, remote monitoring | Realtime voice chat, expressive moves (9 servos, 6-DOF head), 60+ apps | Proactive chat, medication reminders, wellness tracking, games, video calls | Emotional AI with 4 million emotion patterns; learns your voice, bonds over time |
| Subscription | None needed; ChatGPT-4o features free for now | None needed; SDKs, desktop app and community apps are free | Required: $59/mo, $49/mo yearly or $39/mo for 24 months; plus $249 lease fee | None needed |
| Power | Not published | Included power supply; uses your computer for processing (Lite) | Must stay plugged in (12V DC 5A input) | Not published |
| Sensors | 3D ToF, touch, 3-axis accelerometer and gyro; 4-mic array | Not published | Not published | Microphone, illuminance, touch sensors, accelerometer/gyroscope |
| Languages | Replies in 10 languages incl. English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese | Not published | English (US only) | Not published |
| Weight | 2.42 lb | Not published | Not published | About 260 g |
| Software | Not published | Open source (Apache 2.0); Python and JS SDKs; Hugging Face apps | Not published | Not published |
| Warranty | 1 year from delivery | 12 months from delivery (manufacturing defects) | Lifetime hardware warranty while a member | 1-year free warranty |
| Returns | 30 days of delivery, undamaged (KEYi Tech store) | 14 days from receipt, free prepaid return label (Pollen store) | 30-day risk-free trial (annual, 24-month plans); free return label | 30-day money-back guarantee; 5% restocking fee if not defective |
| Best for | Families who want a playful robot pet that talks and plays games | AI tinkerers who want an expressive, open-source desk robot | Older adults living alone, and the families who check on them | Anyone who wants a calming pet without feeding or walks |
| Skill level | Beginner-friendly | Any level | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| Shop now | Shop now | Shop now | Shop now |
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Rankings are mine and never for sale. Some links pay me a commission. How I pick