Robotics Center vs RobotShop: How to Choose Where to Buy Robots

Buying Guide · 2026

RobotShop and Robotics Center both sell robot hardware online, and both can supply some of the same platforms. They grew up serving different kinds of customers, though, so the better choice depends on what you are buying and how much help you want around the purchase. This guide describes each store fairly and ends with a simple way to decide.

Disclosure: this page is published by Robotics Center, one of the two stores compared. Facts about RobotShop come from its own press releases and are linked in the Sources section.

The two stores at a glance

RobotShop was founded in 2003 and is based in Mirabel, Quebec.¹ It describes its range as personal, domestic and professional robots, development platforms, kits and specialized robotic parts, and says it sells in more than 200 countries.¹ In 2020 it opened its site to third-party sellers as a robotics marketplace.¹ In April 2026 it became AGIBOT's value-added distribution partner for the United States and Canada, offering humanoid and legged robots with help on solution scoping, integration planning, onboarding and deployment.² RobotShop now describes its range as running from DIY kits to humanoids.²

Robotics Center is a robotics hardware store and lab at 90 Welsh St in San Francisco. We focus on research and enterprise platforms such as humanoids, dexterous hands, research arms and data-collection gloves, for example the Unitree G1$21,500.00, the Wuji HandFrom $13,000.00 and the AgileX PiPER$3,500.00. Alongside the store we offer leasing by quote, data collection services and a data platform for teleoperation and robot-learning projects.

Side by side

Factor	RobotShop	Robotics Center
Founded / based	2003, Mirabel, Quebec¹	San Francisco, California
Range	Personal, domestic and professional robots, development platforms, kits and parts; DIY kits to humanoids¹²	Research and enterprise hardware: humanoids, quadrupeds, arms, dexterous hands, gloves, sensors
Small parts and components	Kits and specialized robotic parts¹	Selected accessories for the platforms we sell
Third-party sellers	Marketplace for manufacturers and suppliers¹	Curated catalog
Project help	Scoping, integration planning, onboarding and deployment support for AGIBOT systems²	Configuration advice, setup help and integration for research platforms
Leasing	Ask RobotShop	Leasing by quote
Data collection and training	Ask RobotShop	Data collection services and a data platform
Reach	Sells in 200+ countries¹	Ships from the US; see each product page

What RobotShop does well

Breadth. A wide range that spans kits, parts, development platforms and full robots, so one order can cover a whole classroom or a prototype bill of materials.¹
Marketplace selection. Third-party sellers add products beyond what a single retailer would stock.¹
International reach. Sales into more than 200 countries.¹
Supported humanoid deployments in North America. As AGIBOT's value-added partner, RobotShop helps US and Canadian customers scope, integrate and deploy AGIBOT systems.²

What Robotics Center does well

Research-grade focus. The catalog centers on platforms used in manipulation, teleoperation and embodied-AI research, from entry-level arms such as the The Robot Studio SO Arm 101$500.00 to full humanoids.
Evaluation before purchase. Leasing by quote lets a team try expensive hardware before committing.
Data work around the hardware. Data collection services and our platform cover teleoperation, recording and dataset delivery.
Our own products. The RC G1 Tactile Glove$3,625.00, a tactile glove for hand-data collection, is our own product.
A lab you can visit. Our San Francisco lab is at 90 Welsh St; contact us to arrange a visit.

How to choose

If you need components, kits or parts for teaching or prototyping, RobotShop's breadth is the better fit.
If you want an AGIBOT system with deployment support in the US or Canada, RobotShop is AGIBOT's value-added partner there.²
If you are equipping a manipulation or robot-learning lab and want help choosing a configuration, Robotics Center focuses on that.
If you want to lease before buying, or need data collection alongside the hardware, Robotics Center offers both.
If a platform is sold by both, compare the current price, lead time and support terms on each product page.

Frequently asked questions

Does RobotShop sell humanoid robots?

Yes. Since April 2026 RobotShop has been AGIBOT's value-added distribution partner for the United States and Canada, offering AGIBOT humanoid and legged robots.²

Can I lease robots from Robotics Center?

Yes. We lease research robots by quote; see leasing or contact us.

Which store is better for a university robotics lab?

It depends on the course or project. For introductory courses built on kits and parts, RobotShop's range is broad.¹ For graduate manipulation, teleoperation and embodied-AI research, Robotics Center focuses on that hardware and the data work around it.