Franka Emika Panda vs MiniCobo
Side-by-side comparison of Franka Emika Panda (Franka Robotics GmbH) and MiniCobo (Jaka) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Home & Household buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Franka Emika PandaGermany
- MiniCoboChina
Year First Available
- Franka Emika Panda2017
- MiniCobo2014
Verified Deployments
- Franka Emika Panda0 Deployments
- MiniCobo0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- MiniCobo$13,313 USD
Availability Status
- Franka Emika PandaACTIVE
- MiniCoboACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Robot Weight
- Franka Emika Panda11 kg
- MiniCobo9.4 kg
Max TCP Speed
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MiniCobo1.5 m/s
Payload
- Franka Emika Panda3 kg
- MiniCobo1 kg
Reach
- Franka Emika Panda1,260 mm
- MiniCobo580 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MiniCobo6
Repeatability
- Franka Emika Panda±0.1 mm
- MiniCobo±0.1 mm
Mounting Options
- Franka Emika Pandafloor, ceiling, wall
- MiniCobofloor, ceiling, wall
IP Rating
- Franka Emika PandaIP54
- MiniCoboIP54
Safety
Safety Rating
- Franka Emika PandaISO/TS 15066
- MiniCoboISO/TS 15066
Force/Torque Sensing
- Franka Emika Pandaintegrated wrist ft
- MiniCobonone
Ease of Use
No-Code Capable
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- MiniCoboYes
Offline Programming
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- MiniCoboNo
Programming Interface
- Franka Emika PandaFranka Emika API
- MiniCoboGraphic Programming
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Franka Emika PandaISO 9409-1-A50
- MiniCoboISO 9409-1-A50
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- MiniCobo—
Fieldbus Protocols
- Franka Emika PandaEtherCAT
- MiniCoboEtherCAT, Profinet
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- MiniCobo$13,313 USD
Warranty
- Franka Emika Panda—
- MiniCobo2 yrs
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Germany | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2017 | 2014 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $13,313 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Robot Weight (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 11 kg | 9.4 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | — | 1.5 m/s |
| Payload (values differ) | 3 kg | 1 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 1,260 mm | 580 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Repeatability | ±0.1 mm | ±0.1 mm |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | floor, ceiling, wall | floor, ceiling, wall |
| IP Rating | IP54 | IP54 |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating | ISO/TS 15066 | ISO/TS 15066 |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | integrated wrist ft | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| No-Code Capable | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | Franka Emika API | Graphic Programming |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard | ISO 9409-1-A50 | ISO 9409-1-A50 |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | EtherCAT | EtherCAT, Profinet |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $13,313 USD |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 2 yrs |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Duty Cycle, Setup Time, Time to Redeploy, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, Digital Twin Support, MTBF, Path Accuracy, CaaS / Month, 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 | Franka Emika Panda | MiniCobo |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $30,000 | $13,313 |
| Payback period | 7.2 mo | 3.2 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $220,000 | $236,688 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +733% | +1778% |
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 Franka Emika Panda and MiniCobo?
Franka Emika Panda is made by Franka Robotics GmbH, based in DE. MiniCobo is made by Jaka, based in CN.
When were Franka Emika Panda and MiniCobo launched?
Franka Emika Panda launched in 2017. MiniCobo launched in 2014.
How much does Franka Emika Panda cost compared to MiniCobo?
Franka Emika Panda is listed at $30,000. MiniCobo is listed at $13,313.
How do Franka Emika Panda and MiniCobo compare on the Robo Index?
Franka Emika Panda grades AA on the Robo Index. MiniCobo grades AA. 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.
Are Franka Emika Panda and MiniCobo 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 Franka Emika Panda and MiniCobo?
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
Franka Emika Panda vs MiniCobo 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.