Kilobot vs Opentrons Flex Robot
Side-by-side comparison of Kilobot (Harvard) and Opentrons Flex Robot (Opentrons) — 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
- KilobotSwitzerland
- Opentrons Flex RobotUnited States
Year First Available
- Kilobot2014
- Opentrons Flex Robot—
Verified Deployments
- Kilobot0 Deployments
- Opentrons Flex Robot0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- KilobotContact for quote
- Opentrons Flex Robot$24,500–$24,950 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Kilobot4 hrs
- Opentrons Flex Robot—
Availability Status
- KilobotACTIVE
- Opentrons Flex RobotACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Max Speed
- Kilobot0 m/s
- Opentrons Flex Robot—
Autonomy Level
- Kilobotfully autonomous
- Opentrons Flex Robot—
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Switzerland | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2014 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | Contact for quote | $24,500–$24,950 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 4 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0 m/s | — |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | fully autonomous | — |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Payload Capacity, Reach, IP Rating
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 | Kilobot | Opentrons Flex Robot |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | $24,725 |
| Payback period | — | 5.9 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | $225,275 |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | +911% |
Kilobot has no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
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 Kilobot and Opentrons Flex Robot?
Kilobot is made by Harvard, based in CH. Opentrons Flex Robot is made by Opentrons, based in US.
How do Kilobot and Opentrons Flex Robot compare on the Robo Index?
Kilobot grades AA on the Robo Index. Opentrons Flex Robot grades B. 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 Kilobot and Opentrons Flex Robot in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Research on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Research robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Research TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: The real cost of a research platform.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Kilobot and Opentrons Flex Robot?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
The real cost of a research platform
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The research-robot procurement RFP: questions and red flags
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A 90-day playbook to stand up a new platform in a lab
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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
Kilobot vs Opentrons Flex Robot compares two robots in the research 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.