NAO vs Pepper
Last reviewed: 2026-09-01
In short: choose NAO if you want a compact education and programming platform — it's a 58 cm bipedal humanoid robot with 25 degrees of freedom, 4 bidirectional microphones, 2 2D cameras, 7 touch sensors and full programming via Choregraphe; ideal for schools, universities, labs and STEM projects. Choose Pepper if you want presence and public interaction — it's a 120 cm social humanoid robot with a chest tablet, expressive movements, that speaks 20 languages and detects the speaker's language; ideal for reception, retail, events and brand image. Both are humanoid robots from Aldebaran/SoftBank Robotics — NAO = learning, programming and development, Pepper = engagement and human presence.
Who each is for
NAO
- ✓STEM education, programming and robotics (schools, universities)
- ✓Research and hands-on projects — 25 degrees of freedom
- ✓Voice interaction in 20 languages, 4 microphones, 2 2D cameras
- ✓Full programming via Choregraphe and code
Pepper
- ✓Reception, retail, events and brand activations
- ✓120 cm humanoid presence with a chest tablet
- ✓20 languages and speaker-language detection
- ✓Expressive movements, presence and touch sensors
The differences that matter
| NAO | Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Programmable humanoid robot (education & research) | Social humanoid robot (reception & interaction) |
| Height | 58 cm | 120 cm |
| Weight | — | ≈ 28 kg |
| Screen / tablet | No | Yes (on chest) |
| Drive base | Bipedal (walks on legs) | Wheeled base (omnidirectional) |
Compared specifications
Form & build
| NAO | Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Programmable humanoid robot (education & research) | Social humanoid robot (reception & interaction) |
| Height | 58 cm | 120 cm |
| Weight | — | ≈ 28 kg |
| Screen / tablet | No | Yes (on chest) |
| Manufacturer | Aldebaran / SoftBank Robotics | Aldebaran / SoftBank Robotics |
Motion & sensors
| NAO | Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive base | Bipedal (walks on legs) | Wheeled base (omnidirectional) |
| Expressive arms & gestures | Yes | Yes |
| Touch & presence sensors | Yes (7 touch sensors) | Yes |
Interaction & programming
| NAO | Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Conversation languages | 20 | 20 |
| Voice recognition | Yes | Yes (detects the speaker's language) |
| Programmable platform (SDK) | Yes (Choregraphe) | Yes |
Both are humanoid robots from Aldebaran/SoftBank Robotics, with voice interaction in 20 languages, expressive arms and gestures and touch sensors — the main difference is that NAO is a compact education and programming platform (58 cm, bipedal), while Pepper is a 120 cm social robot with a tablet, for reception and engagement.
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between NAO and Pepper?
NAO is a compact humanoid robot (58 cm), bipedal, designed for education, programming and research — with 25 degrees of freedom, 4 microphones, 2 cameras and programming via Choregraphe. Pepper is a 120 cm social robot with a chest tablet and expressive movements, designed for reception, retail and public interaction. Both are from Aldebaran/SoftBank Robotics.
Which robot for a school or a lab?
NAO. It's the right platform for STEM education and robotics: pupils and students learn programming (Choregraphe and code), while the 25 degrees of freedom and the sensors enable hands-on research projects.
Which robot for reception or retail?
Pepper. Its 120 cm height, chest tablet, expressive movements and 20 languages make it suitable for greeting visitors, presentations and brand engagement.
Does NAO have a screen / tablet?
No. NAO has no screen; it interacts through voice, LEDs, movement and sensors. Pepper has a chest tablet that displays text, maps or content.
Do they have a public price?
No — both are quote-based. IRIS Robotics is the official distributor for NAO and Pepper (Aldebaran/SoftBank Robotics) in Romania and provides pricing, configuration, software applications, training and support.
Sources
Not sure which robot fits you?
Tell us where you'll use it (education, research, reception, events) and we'll recommend the right robot, with software applications and training.
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