Starship vs Zip
Side-by-side comparison of Starship (Starship Technologies) and Zip (Zipline) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- StarshipUnited States
- ZipUnited States
Year First Available
- Starship2015
- Zip2023
Verified Deployments
- Starship0 Deployments
- Zip0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Starship$5,500 USD
- ZipContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Starship18 hrs
- Zip—
Availability Status
- StarshipACTIVE
- ZipACTIVE
Physical
Payload
- Starship10 kg
- Zip158.8 kg
Robot Weight
- Starship23 kg
- Zip—
Dimensions
- Starship569x678x554
- Zip—
Compartment Type
- Starshipenclosed locked
- Zip—
Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Starshiplidar slam,vision,hybrid
- Zipgps,hybrid
Max Speed
- Starship1.7 m/s
- Zip26.8 m/s
Min Passable Width
- Starship56.9 cm
- Zip—
Obstacle Detection Range
- Starship61 m
- Zip—
Power
Battery Runtime
- Starship18 hrs
- Zip—
Auto Docking
- StarshipYes
- ZipYes
Integration
Fleet Management
- Starshipcentralized cloud
- Zipcentralized cloud
Floor Compatibility
- Starshiphard floor
- Zip—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Starship$5,500 USD
- ZipContact for quote
Warranty
- Starship—
- Zip10 yrs
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2015 | 2023 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $5,500 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 18 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Payload (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 10 kg | 158.8 kg |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 23 kg | — |
| Dimensions (values differ) | 569x678x554 | — |
| Compartment Type (values differ) | enclosed locked | — |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | lidar slam,vision,hybrid | gps,hybrid |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 1.7 m/s | 26.8 m/s |
| Min Passable Width (values differ) | 56.9 cm | — |
| Obstacle Detection Range (values differ) | 61 m | — |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (values differ) | 18 hrs | — |
| Auto Docking | Yes | Yes |
| Integration | ||
| Fleet Management | centralized cloud | centralized cloud |
| Floor Compatibility (values differ) | hard floor | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $5,500 USD | Contact for quote |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 10 yrs |
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, Elevator API, PMS / POS Integration, Noise Level, Display Size, RaaS / Month
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 | Starship | Zip |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $5,500 | No price |
| Payback period | 1.3 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $244,500 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +4445% | — |
Zip 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 Starship and Zip?
Starship is made by Starship Technologies, based in US. Zip is made by Zipline, based in US.
When were Starship and Zip launched?
Starship launched in 2015. Zip launched in 2023.
How do Starship and Zip compare on the Robo Index?
Starship grades AA on the Robo Index. Zip 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.
What is the payload difference between Starship and Zip?
Starship carries up to 10 kg. Zip carries up to 158.76 kg.
Are Starship and Zip 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 Starship and Zip?
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
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
Starship vs Zip 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.