Aura vs Franka SPARK
Side-by-side comparison of Aura (Comau) and Franka SPARK (Franka Robotics GmbH) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AuraItaly
- Franka SPARKGermany
Year First Available
- Aura2016
- Franka SPARK2016
Verified Deployments
- Aura0 Deployments
- Franka SPARK0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Aura$80,000 USD
- Franka SPARK$18,500 USD
Availability Status
- AuraACTIVE
- Franka SPARKACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Reach
- Aura2,800 mm
- Franka SPARK855 mm
Repeatability
- Aura—
- Franka SPARK±0.1 mm
Payload
- Aura170 kg
- Franka SPARK3 kg
Degrees of Freedom
- Aura6
- Franka SPARK7
Mounting Options
- Auraupside down
- Franka SPARK—
Safety
Safety Rating
- AuraISO/TS 15066
- Franka SPARKISO/TS 15066
Force/Torque Sensing
- AuraYes
- Franka SPARKintegrated wrist ft
Ease of Use
No-Code Capable
- Aura—
- Franka SPARKYes
Offline Programming
- Aura—
- Franka SPARKNo
Programming Interface
- Aurano_code_gui
- Franka SPARKFranka Control Interface (FCI), Desk, RIDE
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- Aura—
- Franka SPARKYes
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Aura$80,000 USD
- Franka SPARK$18,500 USD
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Italy | Germany |
| Year First Available | 2016 | 2016 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $18,500 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Reach (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 2,800 mm | 855 mm |
| Repeatability (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | — | ±0.1 mm |
| Payload (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 170 kg | 3 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 6 | 7 |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | upside down | — |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating | ISO/TS 15066 | ISO/TS 15066 |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | Yes | integrated wrist ft |
| Ease of Use | ||
| No-Code Capable (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | — | No |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | no_code_gui | Franka Control Interface (FCI), Desk, RIDE |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $80,000 USD | $18,500 USD |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, Max TCP Speed, Robot Weight, IP Rating, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Duty Cycle, Setup Time, Time to Redeploy, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, Fieldbus Protocols, Digital Twin Support, MTBF, Path Accuracy, CaaS / Month, Warranty, Lead Time
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | Aura | Franka SPARK |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $80,000 | $18,500 |
| Payback period | 19.2 mo | 4.4 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $170,000 | $231,500 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +213% | +1251% |
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Aura and Franka SPARK?
Aura is made by Comau, based in IT. Franka SPARK is made by Franka Robotics GmbH, based in DE.
When were Aura and Franka SPARK launched?
Aura launched in 2016. Franka SPARK launched in 2016.
How much does Aura cost compared to Franka SPARK?
Aura is listed at $80,000. Franka SPARK is listed at $18,500.
How do Aura and Franka SPARK compare on the Robo Index?
Aura grades AAA on the Robo Index. Franka SPARK grades A. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
How does the reach of Aura compare to Franka SPARK?
Aura has a reach of 2800 mm. Franka SPARK has a reach of 855 mm.
Are Aura and Franka SPARK in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Cobot on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Cobot robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Cobot TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Aura and Franka SPARK?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings
6 min readCollaborative Robots
Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Running a Cobot Pilot in a Manual Production Line
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
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About this comparison
Aura vs Franka SPARK compares two robots in the cobot category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Index is calculated.