Nao vs TUG
Side-by-side comparison of Nao (SoftBank Robotics) and TUG (Aethon) — specs, pricing, Robolist Product Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- NaoUnited States
- TUGUnited States
Year First Available
- Nao2008
- TUG2022
Verified Deployments
- Nao0 Deployments
- TUG0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- Nao$32,990
- TUG$107,500
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Nao1.5 hrs
- TUG10 hrs
Availability Status
- NaoACTIVE
- TUGACTIVE
Cross-Category Comparison
Showing shared foundation fields. Select robots from the same category for full spec comparison.
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2008 | 2022 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | $32,990 | $107,500 |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 1.5 hrs | 10 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
Cross-Category Comparison Showing shared foundation fields. Select robots from the same category for full spec comparison. | ||
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Reach, IP Rating
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Nao and TUG?
Nao is made by SoftBank Robotics, based in US. TUG is made by Aethon, based in US.
When were Nao and TUG launched?
Nao launched in 2008. TUG launched in 2022.
How much does Nao cost compared to TUG?
Nao is listed at $32,990. TUG is listed at $107,500.
How do Nao and TUG compare on the Robolist Product Score?
Nao scores 48/100. TUG scores 39/100. The Product Score blends specs, pricing transparency, verified deployments, and independent media coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
What is the payload difference between Nao and TUG?
Nao carries up to 0.5 kg. TUG carries up to 635 kg.
Are Nao and TUG comparable?
Nao is categorized as Humanoid; TUG as Hospitality Service. The Product Score is calculated per category, so the absolute scores reflect their respective category tiers.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Humanoid And Hospitality Service robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Humanoid And Hospitality Service TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Humanoid TCO: Hardware, Cloud Subscriptions, and the Cost of Teleop Time.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Nao and TUG?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Vendor Selection for Humanoids: The 10 Questions You Must Ask.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Humanoid TCO: Hardware, Cloud Subscriptions, and the Cost of Teleop Time
8 min readHumanoid Robots
Vendor Selection for Humanoids: The 10 Questions You Must Ask
10 min readHumanoid Robots
Running a Humanoid Pilot: Scope, Success Criteria, and Exit Options
9 min readHumanoid Robots
Service Robot TCO Across Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, and Senior Care
9 min readService Robots
Service Robot SLAs and Contract Red Flags
10 min readService Robots
About this comparison
Nao vs TUG compares two robots in the humanoid and hospitality-service categories. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robolist Product Score is calculated.