Relay vs Serve Gen 3
Side-by-side comparison of Relay (Relay Robotics) and Serve Gen 3 (Serve Robotics Inc.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- RelayUnited States
- Serve Gen 3United States
Year First Available
- Relay2014
- Serve Gen 32021
Verified Deployments
- Relay0 Deployments
- Serve Gen 30 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Relay$26,000 USD
- Serve Gen 3$2,000–$2,500 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Relay16 hrs
- Serve Gen 3—
Availability Status
- RelayACTIVE
- Serve Gen 3ACTIVE
Physical
Payload
- Relay—
- Serve Gen 323 kg
Compartment Type
- Relayhybrid
- Serve Gen 3—
Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Relaylidar slam,vision
- Serve Gen 3—
Power
Battery Runtime
- Relay16 hrs
- Serve Gen 3—
Auto Docking
- RelayYes
- Serve Gen 3—
Integration
Elevator API
- RelayYes
- Serve Gen 3—
Floor Compatibility
- Relayhard floor,carpet
- Serve Gen 3—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Relay$26,000 USD
- Serve Gen 3$2,000–$2,500 USD
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2014 | 2021 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $26,000 USD | $2,000–$2,500 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 16 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 23 kg |
| Compartment Type (values differ) | hybrid | — |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | lidar slam,vision | — |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (values differ) | 16 hrs | — |
| Auto Docking (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Integration | ||
| Elevator API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Floor Compatibility (values differ) | hard floor,carpet | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $26,000 USD | $2,000–$2,500 USD |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Robot Weight, Dimensions, Tray Count, Tray Capacity, IP Rating, Max Speed, Min Passable Width, Obstacle Detection Range, Min Object Detection Height, Charge Time, Hot-Swap Battery, PMS / POS Integration, Fleet Management, Noise Level, Display Size, RaaS / Month, Warranty
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 | Relay | Serve Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $26,000 | $2,250 |
| Payback period | 6.2 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $224,000 | $247,750 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +862% | +11011% |
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 Relay and Serve Gen 3?
Relay is made by Relay Robotics, based in US. Serve Gen 3 is made by Serve Robotics Inc., based in US.
When were Relay and Serve Gen 3 launched?
Relay launched in 2014. Serve Gen 3 launched in 2021.
How do Relay and Serve Gen 3 compare on the Robo Index?
Relay grades AA on the Robo Index. Serve Gen 3 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 Relay and Serve Gen 3 in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Delivery on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Relay and Serve Gen 3?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Delivery Robot Vendor Selection: Insurance, Telemetry, and Fallback Procedures.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Delivery Robot Vendor Selection: Insurance, Telemetry, and Fallback Procedures
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Last-Mile Delivery Pilots: 90 Days to a Decision
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Indoor vs Outdoor Delivery: Why the Cost Gap Is Larger Than It Looks
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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
Relay vs Serve Gen 3 compares two robots in the delivery 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.