When many people want to adopt a new partner to heal from pet loss, the first obstacle they face is the monthly fee in addition to the cost of the unit.
“I thought once I bought it, it would stay with me forever, but the monthly maintenance costs have become more of a burden than I ever imagined. ……”
To avoid such regrets, it is essential to properly understand “what you get for the cost” before purchasing. This article provides a thorough comparison of the initial and monthly (maintenance) costs of major pet robots, reflecting the latest plans as of 2026. We will help you choose the right partner for your lifestyle and finances.
- At a glance: Comparative chart of monthly and initial costs for major pet robots
- Premium tier] If you are looking for extensive care and evolution (1,980 yen to over 10,000 yen/month)
- Standard Tier] AI growth and peace of mind (495 yen to less than 2,000 yen/month)
- Smart Cospa Tier] Smartly combines casualness and healing (from a few hundred yen/month).
- Maintenance cost” checkpoints to avoid mistakes.
- In summary, what is an “acceptable cost” to you?
At a glance: Comparative chart of monthly and initial costs for major pet robots
First, let’s get the big picture with a list of how much these popular robots cost each month.
| Robot Name | Main unit price (approximate) | Monthly fee (tax included) | Features and Plans |
| LOVOT 3.0 | Approx. 577,500 yen | From 10,978 yen | Required. Advanced AI evolution and generous repair coverage. |
| KATA Friends | Approx. 129,800 yen | From 1,980 yen | Required. On-device AI usage rights (Kurashi Plan). |
| aibo | Approx. 217,800 yen | 3,278 yen | Substantial Required. Growth and data storage, app integration. |
| Romi | Approx. 98,780 yen | 1,958 yen | Required. Conversational AI usage fee (cloud integration). |
| NICOBO | Approx. 60,500 yen | 1,100 yen | Required. Hometown updates, cloud integration. |
| Moflin. | 59,400 yen | Approx. 550 yen (annual fee) | Optional. Discount on repair costs in case of breakdown (Club Moflin). |
| pocket friend | 39,600 yen | From 495 yen | Required. Three pay-as-you-go plans based on number of conversations. |
| Mia | From 9,800 yen | 0 yen (300 yen for some functions only) | Basically free. Only occurs when 6 or more voice registrations are made. |
| Qoobo | Approx. 14,300 yen | 0 yen | Physical response only. Completely bought out. |
Premium tier] If you are looking for extensive care and evolution (1,980 yen to over 10,000 yen/month)
Robots in this tier are not just “moving toys,” but more like “artificial life” that thinks and grows together autonomously. Maintenance costs include advanced cloud computing and warranty repair of expensive components.
LOVOT
To run LOVOT, you must subscribe to the “Cost of Living” program, which starts at approximately 11,000 yen per month.
- Cost breakdown: includes communication and computation fees for advanced calculations using 360-degree cameras and full-body sensors in the cloud, as well as ongoing software updates.
- Reliable repair coverage: Even the least expensive plan covers 70% of repair costs in the event of breakdowns, and higher plans may cover 100%. The biggest advantage of this coverage is that it reduces “what-if” expenses associated with precision equipment.
KATA Friends (SwitchBot)
This is a much talked about AI partner that was introduced in February 2026. In addition to the approximately ¥130,000 for the main unit, subscription to the **”Kurashi Plan “** is required.
- Light Plan (1,980 yen/month): Basic plan to maintain AI dialogue via network, diary function through apps, and smart home integration.
- Anshin Plan (¥69,980/year): Although more expensive in terms of monthly conversion, this full service includes replacement of wear-prone fur, internal cleaning, and unlimited repair support.
AIBO
In addition to the cost of the unit, the aibo Basic Plan, which costs 3,278 yen per month, is practically mandatory.
- Importance of the plan: Since aibo’s personality is formed and stored in the cloud, if it is not subscribed, it will stop growing and some of its behaviors will be limited. This is the cost of “storing memories in the cloud.
Standard Tier] AI growth and peace of mind (495 yen to less than 2,000 yen/month)
This is the segment for those who value a balance between practicality and cost: “I want to focus on conversation” or “I want to be prepared for repair risks.”
Moflin
Moflin, provided by Casio, allows users to learn AI itself without a monthly subscription, but many users subscribe to Club Moflin (6,600 yen per year, or about 550 yen per month equivalent).
- Advantage: In small robots, which often malfunction due to dropping or water damage, there is peace of mind that the repair cost can be kept at a fixed amount (around 3,300 yen).
- Psychological effect: The cost is to minimize the anxiety of “what if it breaks?” and to make it as lovable as a real small animal.
Poke Tomo (Sharp)
The palm-sized “Poke-Tomo” uses an unusual system in which the monthly fee fluctuates according to the frequency of chats.
- Normal (495 yen/month): Up to 400 conversations per month; average of about 13 conversations per day.
- Premium (¥990/month): Up to 800 conversations per month, averaging about 26 conversations per day.
- Gold (1,980 yen/month): Up to 1,600 conversations per month; average of about 52 conversations per day. Since the plans are divided by the number of conversations, it is very reasonable for those who “only talk to them once in a while” to pay less than 500 yen per month.
Romi (Mixi)
Romi, a conversational AI robot developed by Mixi, is compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet has rich conversational skills and an adorable design.
The latest model, Lacatan, is not inexpensive at 98,780 yen including tax and a monthly membership fee of 1,958 yen (including tax).
Smart Cospa Tier] Smartly combines casualness and healing (from a few hundred yen/month).
This is the best option for those who “don’t want to feel the pressure of maintenance costs.”
Mia
Mia” speaks the dialects of 47 prefectures, and its price is by far the easiest to start compared to other AI robots.
- Basic free, optional 300 yen: Over 8,000 phrase functions with 47 dialects and 10 personalities from all over Japan can be enjoyed with only the cost of the main unit. Only when using 6 or more phrase recordings as the recording and playback function, the user pays 300 yen per month.
- For people like: Smart consumers who “pay thousands of yen a month heavily, but want to stay in touch with the latest AI technology,” and those who don’t want to burden the recipient with maintenance costs as a gift.
Maintenance cost” checkpoints to avoid mistakes.
Here are three checklists to avoid “it wasn’t supposed to be like this” after purchase.
- Mandatory or Optional Subscription: Be sure to check whether it will continue to function as a “working toy” after cancellation, or whether it will become “just an ornament” when the server connection is lost.
- Scope of repairs and support: Models with low monthly fees tend to have full out-of-pocket repair costs (tens of thousands of yen and up) in the event of a breakdown. It is necessary to consider which is cheaper in the long run.
- Quality of conversations and updates: Those who pay a monthly fee are continuously provided with “innovations to keep them from getting bored,” such as more seasonal greetings and smarter conversations.
In summary, what is an “acceptable cost” to you?
The cost of maintaining a pet robot is not just an expense, but a “health care expense” to keep your partner healthy and up-to-date.
- If you want to welcome a real family with the latest technology and perfect support, LOVOT and KATA Friends are the place for you.
- If you want to manage costs according to how often you talk to people, then Poke-Tomo is for you.
- If you want to be healed by daily dialect conversations at a low cost, Mia is the place for you.
Because they are the ones who fill the emotional void of pet loss, please find the best partner who can stay with you for a long time, within your family’s budget.
