Relay vs Zipline Delivery Drone
Side-by-side comparison of Relay (Relay Robotics) and Zipline Delivery Drone (Zipline) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Last-Mile Delivery buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- RelayUnited States
- Zipline Delivery DroneUnited States
Year First Available
- Relay2014
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Verified Deployments
- Relay0 Deployments
- Zipline Delivery Drone0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Relay$26,000 USD
- Zipline Delivery DroneContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Relay16 hrs
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Availability Status
- RelayACTIVE
- Zipline Delivery DroneACTIVE
Physical
Payload
- Relay—
- Zipline Delivery Drone1.8 kg
Robot Weight
- Relay—
- Zipline Delivery Drone6.4 kg
Compartment Type
- Relayhybrid
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Relaylidar slam,vision
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Max Speed
- Relay—
- Zipline Delivery Drone27.8 m/s
Power
Battery Runtime
- Relay16 hrs
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Auto Docking
- RelayYes
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Integration
Elevator API
- RelayYes
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Floor Compatibility
- Relayhard floor,carpet
- Zipline Delivery Drone—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Relay$26,000 USD
- Zipline Delivery DroneContact for quote
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2014 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $26,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 16 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Payload (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | — | 1.8 kg |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | — | 6.4 kg |
| Compartment Type (values differ) | hybrid | — |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | lidar slam,vision | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | — | 27.8 m/s |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (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 | Contact for quote |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Dimensions, Tray Count, Tray Capacity, IP Rating, 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 | Zipline Delivery Drone |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $26,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 6.2 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $224,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +862% | — |
Zipline Delivery Drone 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 Relay and Zipline Delivery Drone?
Relay is made by Relay Robotics, based in US. Zipline Delivery Drone is made by Zipline, based in US.
How do Relay and Zipline Delivery Drone compare on the Robo Index?
Relay grades AA on the Robo Index. Zipline Delivery Drone 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 Zipline Delivery Drone 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 Zipline Delivery Drone?
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
9 min readDelivery Robots
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 Zipline Delivery Drone 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.