Robot leasing: renting a home robot like a car
Updated 12 November 2026
Most people will not buy their first home robot. They will rent it by the month, the way millions of us already drive a leased car. The first humanoid makers are pricing robots this way already. This guide tracks every monthly offer, explains how robot leasing works in plain English, and shows you what to ask before you sign anything.
Every home robot you can subscribe to or lease
| Robot | Monthly | To buy | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1X NEO | US$499 | US$20,000 | Pre-order, US only. Subscription ships after the buy option. Source |
| Weave Isaac 1 | US$449 | US$7,999 | Orders open. California deliveries planned from September 2026, rest of the US in 2027. Source |
| Figure 03 | US$600 | Not offered | Lease price floated by the CEO in May 2026. Not on sale. Source |
| Labrador Caddie | US$100 | US$1,500 | US, mainly through care providers. Upfront fee plus a monthly plan. Source |
US prices, before tax. No home humanoid can be leased in the UK yet. Checked 12 November 2026.
When did each offer appear, and has any price changed? See the dated changelog on our robot subscription tracker. Choosing between the two you can order today? Read Weave Isaac 1 vs 1X NEO. Tesla may be next: on 6 November 2026 Elon Musk said Tesla will "probably rent" its Optimus humanoid rather than sell it, though no price has been given. Wondering whether to rent a robot by the day instead? See robot rental vs robot subscription.
Buy or subscribe? Do the sums
Subscribing for that long costs
US$17,964
Subscribing costs the same as buying after
41 months
Prefilled with 1X NEO's US prices. It leaves out repairs, insurance and resale value, which usually favour subscribing for short stays and buying for long ones.
Car finance words, translated for robots
Every term in one place: see the robot leasing glossary.
| Option | How it works | The car version |
|---|---|---|
| Outright purchase | Pay the full price up front and own the robot. | Buying a car with cash. NEO costs US$20,000 this way. |
| Subscription | A monthly fee covers the robot, software updates and support. You never own it and can usually stop after a minimum term. | A car subscription, or a phone on a SIM plus handset plan. This is how 1X and Weave sell their robots today. |
| Lease (contract hire) | A fixed term, often 2 to 4 years, at a fixed monthly price. You hand it back at the end. | PCH, the personal car lease. Figure has floated about US$600 a month. |
| Finance to own (HP) | Monthly payments until you own the robot outright. | Hire purchase on a car. |
| Balloon or PCP style | Lower monthly payments, then a choice at the end: pay a final lump sum, hand it back or swap to a newer model. | PCP, how most new UK cars are bought. Likely to suit robots, which date fast. |
| Robot as a Service (RaaS) | A business pays per hour, per task or per month and the provider owns, runs and maintains the robot. | Fleet leasing. Already common in warehouses, cleaning and care homes. |
Running a business? Robots are already rented by the week in the UK, from about £84 a week plus VAT for a cleaning robot. See robot as a service in the UK for prices, providers and what to ask.
Arranging care for a parent or running a care home? Councils already pay about £120 a month to license home care robots. See care robots in the UK for every care robot you can rent, lease or subscribe to.
Why robots will be leased, not bought
- The price. At US$20,000 or more, a humanoid costs as much as a car. A monthly price turns an impossible one-off cost into something a household can plan for.
- They improve fast. A robot bought today will look dated within a couple of years. Leasing lets you swap to the newer model, just as people do with cars and phones.
- Repairs and software are built in. A subscription can include updates, insurance style cover and support, so you are not left with a broken robot and a big bill.
- Makers keep control. Leasing lets robot companies keep improving the robot remotely, collect it for refurbishment and resell it, which keeps monthly prices down.
Before you sign: seven questions to ask
- What happens when a newer model comes out? Robots will improve fast. Ask whether you can upgrade mid term, and at what cost.
- Who fixes it, and how fast? Check if repairs, parts and a replacement robot are included, and the promised response time.
- What does it do on its own, and what is done remotely? Some home robots use staff who guide them remotely for harder jobs. Ask when that happens and what they can see.
- What data leaves your home? Cameras and microphones in your home are a big deal. Ask what is stored, where, for how long, and who can view it.
- What is the minimum term and the exit fee? Like a car lease, ending early can cost you. Get the numbers in writing.
- Damage, pets and children Ask what counts as fair wear and tear and whether you need extra insurance.
- Is the provider authorised? In the UK, consumer finance and hire agreements are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Check the provider on the FCA register before you sign.
Which UK rules protect you, how to check a company is FCA authorised, and your rights to cancel or end early: see robot leasing rules in the UK.
Who insures a leased robot, and does home insurance cover one? See robot insurance in the UK.
Want a robot now?
- Hire one for a day. Humanoids, robot dogs and show robots like Titan the Robot are available for events across the UK. See our robot hire and rental guide for day rates, robot rental vs subscription for how day rates compare with monthly plans, or get hire quotes.
- Buy a small one. The cheapest humanoid on sale in the UK is the Unitree R1, and real robot dogs start under £2,400. See the UK Robot Price Index.
- Follow the home humanoids. Read about 1X NEO in the UK (including its buy vs subscribe sums), Weave Isaac 1 vs 1X NEO (the two home robots you can order by the month, side by side), Tesla Optimus and robot butlers.
Questions people ask
Can you lease a humanoid robot for your home?
Not in the UK yet. In the US, 1X sells its NEO home humanoid for US$20,000 or US$499 a month, and Weave offers Isaac at US$449 a month. Figure has said it plans to lease its Figure 03 to households for about US$600 a month. We track every offer as it appears.
How much does it cost to rent a home robot per month?
The first home humanoid subscriptions cost about US$450 to US$600 a month in the US, similar to a mid range car lease. Smaller home robots are cheaper, for example Labrador charges US$1,500 up front plus US$100 a month.
Is it better to buy or subscribe to a home robot?
At US$499 a month, NEO costs the same as buying it outright in month 41. Subscribing makes sense if you want to try one, upgrade often or avoid repair bills. Buying makes sense if you plan to keep it for years. Use the calculator on this page with your own numbers.
When will robot leasing come to the UK?
1X says markets outside the US come from 2027. No company has announced a UK price or date yet. Get our monthly email to hear the day one does.
Can I hire a robot for a day instead?
Yes. Humanoids, robot dogs and show robots can be hired with an operator for events, parties and launches across the UK today, with operator packages from about £650 a day for a robot dog and £1,750 for a humanoid. Our robot rental vs subscription guide compares day rates with monthly plans.
Independent. We do not sell or arrange finance and we are not financial advisers: always read the agreement and check the provider is FCA authorised. How we make money.