Franka Emika Panda vs Nova 5
Side-by-side comparison of Franka Emika Panda (Franka Robotics GmbH) and Nova 5 (Dobot) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, 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
- Franka Emika PandaGermany
- Nova 5China
Year First Available
- Franka Emika Panda2017
- Nova 52019
Verified Deployments
- Franka Emika Panda0 Deployments
- Nova 50 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- Nova 5$9,525–$13,790 USD
Availability Status
- Franka Emika PandaACTIVE
- Nova 5ACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Reach
- Franka Emika Panda1,260 mm
- Nova 5850 mm
Repeatability
- Franka Emika Panda±0.1 mm
- Nova 5±0.05 mm
Payload
- Franka Emika Panda3 kg
- Nova 55 kg
IP Rating
- Franka Emika PandaIP54
- Nova 5IP54
Degrees of Freedom
- Franka Emika Panda—
- Nova 56
Max TCP Speed
- Franka Emika Panda—
- Nova 52 m/s
Robot Weight
- Franka Emika Panda11 kg
- Nova 514 kg
Mounting Options
- Franka Emika Pandafloor, ceiling, wall
- Nova 5任意角度
Safety
Safety Rating
- Franka Emika PandaISO/TS 15066
- Nova 5IP54
Force/Torque Sensing
- Franka Emika Pandaintegrated wrist ft
- Nova 5none
Ease of Use
No-Code Capable
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- Nova 5Yes
Offline Programming
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- Nova 5No
Programming Interface
- Franka Emika PandaFranka Emika API
- Nova 5drag_and_drop
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Franka Emika PandaISO 9409-1-A50
- Nova 5—
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- Franka Emika PandaYes
- Nova 5—
Fieldbus Protocols
- Franka Emika PandaEtherCAT
- Nova 5TCP/IP, Modbus TCP
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Franka Emika Panda$30,000 USD
- Nova 5$9,525–$13,790 USD
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Germany | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2017 | 2019 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $9,525–$13,790 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Reach (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 1,260 mm | 850 mm |
| Repeatability (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | ±0.1 mm | ±0.05 mm |
| Payload (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 3 kg | 5 kg |
| IP Rating (priority for Manufacturing buyers) | IP54 | IP54 |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Max TCP Speed (values differ) | — | 2 m/s |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 11 kg | 14 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | floor, ceiling, wall | 任意角度 |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | ISO/TS 15066 | IP54 |
| 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 | drag_and_drop |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | ISO 9409-1-A50 | — |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | EtherCAT | TCP/IP, Modbus TCP |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $30,000 USD | $9,525–$13,790 USD |
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, 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 | Franka Emika Panda | Nova 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $30,000 | $11,658 |
| Payback period | 7.2 mo | 2.8 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $220,000 | $238,343 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +733% | +2045% |
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 Nova 5?
Franka Emika Panda is made by Franka Robotics GmbH, based in DE. Nova 5 is made by Dobot, based in CN.
When were Franka Emika Panda and Nova 5 launched?
Franka Emika Panda launched in 2017. Nova 5 launched in 2019.
How do Franka Emika Panda and Nova 5 compare on the Robo Score?
Franka Emika Panda scores 69.8 on the Robo Score. Nova 5 scores 66.4. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Franka Emika Panda and Nova 5 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 Nova 5?
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 Nova 5 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 Score is calculated.