Social & companion robotShipping
Intuition Robotics ElliQ
The companion robot that actually shipped — and got Medicaid to pay for it.
We haven't tested this machine hands-on, so this profile carries no rating — every fact below traces to the sources at the end, and the judgments are clearly ours. Full methodology on the Robot Tracker.
At a glance
- Status
- ShippingReal units delivered to paying customers
- Can you buy it?
- Yes
- Price
- $249 one-time + $39–59/mo membership (lease model)
- Form factor
- Tabletop social robot
- AI brain
- Proprietary proactive-AI agent (LLM-backed)
- Maker
- Intuition Robotics (Israel / US)
- Backing
- Private (Intuition Robotics, founded 2016)
While humanoid makers demo backflips, ElliQ quietly became the most deployed companion robot in America. It isn't humanoid at all — a lamp-like tabletop device with an expressive animated 'head' — but it does the job this whole category promises: proactive daily check-ins, conversation, wellness nudges, and connection for older adults living alone. Thousands are deployed across the US, mostly through healthcare providers and aging agencies, at $249 up-front plus a $39–59/month membership.
The March 2026 milestone matters beyond ElliQ itself: Washington state approved it as a Medicaid-reimbursable 'Smart Care Device' — the first formal state reimbursement model for an AI companion, with case managers prescribing it into care plans. For a category dogged by hype, that's the strongest legitimacy signal any companion robot has earned.
What's real
- • Actually shipping at consumer prices for years — thousands deployed across the US
- • The category's first Medicaid reimbursement pathway (Washington state, 2026) — institutional validation no rival has
- • Proactive by design: it initiates conversations and wellness routines rather than waiting for commands
- • Lease model includes lifetime warranty, updates, and support — honest about being a service
Know before you watch (or buy)
- • It's a subscription forever: stop paying and the device goes back — you never own ElliQ
- • Purpose-built for older adults; if you want a general home assistant or chore robot, this isn't it
- • Stationary and screen-adjacent — closer to a very good proactive smart display than to the robots in sci-fi
The evidence
Thousands deployed across the US via healthcare providers and aging agencies; approved as a Washington state Medicaid 'Smart Care Device' (Mar 2026).
Sources: Intuition Robotics · The Robot Report
Bottom line
The least flashy robot on this site and arguably the most proven companion: real users, real deployments, and a government reimbursement precedent. For an older adult living alone, it's the one robot here we'd point a family toward today.
FAQ
How much does ElliQ cost?
A one-time $249 lease-initiation fee plus a membership: $59/month billed monthly, $49/month billed annually, or $39/month on a 24-month plan. The membership covers the device lease, shipping, setup support, updates, and an unlimited warranty. In Washington state, eligible Medicaid recipients can receive ElliQ fully covered as a Smart Care Device.
Does ElliQ actually help with loneliness?
It's designed for exactly that — proactive check-ins, conversation, cognitive engagement, and health routines for older adults — and it's deployed with thousands of users, largely through healthcare and aging agencies. Independent long-term efficacy research is still thin, as with all AI companions, but its state Medicaid approval followed real pilot programs.