Relay vs Starship
Side-by-side comparison of Relay (Relay Robotics) and Starship (Starship Technologies) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- RelayUnited States
- StarshipUnited States
Year First Available
- Relay2014
- Starship2015
Verified Deployments
- Relay0 Deployments
- Starship0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Relay$26,000 USD
- Starship$5,500 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Relay16 hrs
- Starship18 hrs
Availability Status
- RelayACTIVE
- StarshipACTIVE
Physical
Payload
- Relay—
- Starship10 kg
Robot Weight
- Relay—
- Starship23 kg
Dimensions
- Relay—
- Starship569x678x554
Compartment Type
- Relayhybrid
- Starshipenclosed locked
Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Relaylidar slam,vision
- Starshiplidar slam,vision,hybrid
Max Speed
- Relay—
- Starship1.7 m/s
Min Passable Width
- Relay—
- Starship56.9 cm
Obstacle Detection Range
- Relay—
- Starship61 m
Power
Battery Runtime
- Relay16 hrs
- Starship18 hrs
Auto Docking
- RelayYes
- StarshipYes
Integration
Elevator API
- RelayYes
- Starship—
Fleet Management
- Relay—
- Starshipcentralized cloud
Floor Compatibility
- Relayhard floor,carpet
- Starshiphard floor
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Relay$26,000 USD
- Starship$5,500 USD
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2014 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $26,000 USD | $5,500 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 16 hrs | 18 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Payload (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | — | 10 kg |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | — | 23 kg |
| Dimensions (values differ) | — | 569x678x554 |
| Compartment Type (values differ) | hybrid | enclosed locked |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | lidar slam,vision | lidar slam,vision,hybrid |
| Max Speed (values differ) | — | 1.7 m/s |
| Min Passable Width (values differ) | — | 56.9 cm |
| Obstacle Detection Range (values differ) | — | 61 m |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (values differ) | 16 hrs | 18 hrs |
| Auto Docking | Yes | Yes |
| Integration | ||
| Elevator API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Fleet Management (values differ) | — | centralized cloud |
| Floor Compatibility (values differ) | hard floor,carpet | hard floor |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $26,000 USD | $5,500 USD |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Tray Count, Tray Capacity, IP Rating, Min Object Detection Height, Charge Time, Hot-Swap Battery, PMS / POS Integration, Noise Level, Display Size, RaaS / Month, Warranty
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
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 | Starship |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $26,000 | $5,500 |
| Payback period | 6.2 mo | 1.3 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $224,000 | $244,500 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +862% | +4445% |
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 Starship?
Relay is made by Relay Robotics, based in US. Starship is made by Starship Technologies, based in US.
When were Relay and Starship launched?
Relay launched in 2014. Starship launched in 2015.
How much does Relay cost compared to Starship?
Relay is listed at $26,000. Starship is listed at $5,500.
How do Relay and Starship compare on the Robo Index?
Relay grades A on the Robo Index. Starship grades A. 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 Starship 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 Starship?
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
7 min readDelivery Robots
Indoor vs Outdoor Delivery: Why the Cost Gap Is Larger Than It Looks
7 min readDelivery 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
Relay vs Starship 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.