The 5 best Figure AI alternatives for practical business automation in 2025

Stevia Putri
Written by

Stevia Putri

Amogh Sarda
Reviewed by

Amogh Sarda

Last edited October 5, 2025

Expert Verified

It’s impossible to miss the buzz around Figure AI. You’ve probably seen the videos of its humanoid robot making coffee, backed by a massive $2.6 billion valuation. The promise is a future free from physical labor shortages, which sounds great. But it also brings up a huge question for most businesses: is a sci-fi robot really the answer to the problems you have right now?

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If you’ve scrolled through discussions on Reddit or other forums, you know you’re not the only one asking.

A lot of people are trying to figure out if the hype is real and whether a different, more down-to-earth approach might deliver results a lot faster.

That’s what this article is about. We’re going to explore the top Figure AI alternatives for 2025, and we’re looking beyond just other robot companies. We’ll cover direct competitors, but also a smarter, software-first option that can give you a return on your investment in minutes, not years.

What is Figure AI and the humanoid robot craze?

Simply put, Figure AI is building general-purpose humanoid robots. The main idea is that a robot shaped like a person, with two arms and two legs, can fit right into places designed for humans, like warehouses, factories, and stores. The thinking is that this form allows the robot to use our tools and get around our spaces without needing a complete renovation of the building.

The excitement is fueled by big-name partnerships with companies like BMW and OpenAI, hinting that these robots will have powerful bodies and seriously smart brains.

But for a business looking for a solution today, all this cutting-edge tech comes with some serious question marks. The likely sky-high cost, the unproven ROI in the real world, and the long road to actually getting one up and running make it more of a futuristic bet than a practical fix. This is why so many are looking for more immediate Figure AI alternatives.

How we picked the best Figure AI alternatives

Our list isn’t just a roundup of the coolest tech demos. We focused on things that deliver real value to a business. Here’s what we looked for in each alternative:

  1. Does it solve a real problem? Is the solution trying to do a million things at once, or is it designed to do one valuable thing exceptionally well?

  2. Is it ready for the real world? Is the product actually available and working for customers, or is it still mostly a cool project in a lab?

  3. How long until it pays for itself? How quickly can you see a return on your investment? Is the pricing straightforward, or is it buried behind a series of sales calls?

  4. Is it hardware or software? Does it rely on expensive, custom-built machines, or does it use software to automate digital work for a faster and more scalable impact?

Figure AI alternatives comparison table

AlternativePrimary Use CaseAutomation TypePricing ModelKey Advantage
eesel AICustomer/IT Support & Internal Q&ASoftware (AI Agents)Transparent SaaS plansGo live in minutes; immediate ROI
Agility RoboticsLogistics & Warehousing (Material Handling)Hardware (Bipedal Robot)RaaS (Robotics-as-a-Service)Already deployed in customer sites
ApptronikLogistics & ManufacturingHardware (Humanoid Robot)Not PublicDesigned for human-centric tasks
Boston DynamicsIndustrial Inspection & LogisticsHardware (Quadruped/Wheeled)Purchase/LeaseProven, robust, and versatile hardware
1XSecurity & Home AssistanceHardware (Wheeled/Humanoid)Not PublicFocus on safety and consumer use

The top 5 Figure AI alternatives in 2025

Here’s our breakdown of the best alternatives to Figure AI you should be looking at for your business in 2025.

1. eesel AI

Instead of automating physical tasks with a robot, eesel AI takes a different route by solving the repetitive work that happens on a computer. Think of it as an AI agent for customer service for your digital workforce. Many of the "labor shortages" businesses feel are actually just people getting buried in repetitive digital tasks, like answering the same customer questions, sorting IT tickets, or hunting down information in different apps.

eesel AI connects to the tools you already use, like help desks (Zendesk, Freshdesk) and knowledge bases (Confluence, Google Docs), to automate customer service, IT support, and internal Q&A. Before you think about spending millions on a robot to move boxes, you can get an immediate win by automating these digital chores. You can get started in a few minutes.

A workflow showing how eesel AI automates support tasks, a top software choice among Figure AI alternatives.
A workflow showing how eesel AI automates support tasks, a top software choice among Figure AI alternatives.

What’s great about it:

  • Completely self-serve: You can sign up, set up your AI agent, and see it working in minutes, all without having to sit through a mandatory sales demo.

  • Clear pricing: No hidden fees or confusing "per-resolution" charges. You know exactly what you’re paying with straightforward SaaS plans.

  • Test before you trust: You can run the AI on thousands of your past support tickets to see exactly how well it will perform before you turn it on for your live customers.

  • Plays well with your existing tools: You don’t have to change your current setup. eesel AI fits right into the workflow you already have.

What to consider:

  • It’s designed for digital and knowledge work, not for moving physical objects.

  • It’s not a humanoid robot (which, for most businesses, is actually its biggest strength).

Pricing:

You can find eesel AI’s pricing right on their website. Plans start at $239/month for the Team plan, and a 7-day free trial is available so you can see it in action.

2. Agility Robotics

Agility Robotics is a direct competitor to Figure AI, but they have a much tighter focus: logistics and warehouses. Their bipedal robot, Digit, is built specifically to handle materials, like moving totes and unloading trucks.

This makes them a great alternative because they seem to be further along in actually getting their robots into the wild. They have major partnerships with companies like Amazon and are already testing Digit in live warehouses. This focus on a single, high-value problem makes their solution feel less like a science project and more like a targeted tool.

What’s great about it:

  • They are already deployed and being tested in real-world situations.

  • They’re focused on solving a clear, expensive problem in the supply chain.

  • They have strong backing and partnerships with industry giants.

What to consider:

  • It’s less of a general-purpose robot than what Figure is aiming for.

  • It’s still a huge investment in brand-new hardware.

  • Pricing isn’t public, so you’ll have to go through an enterprise sales process.

Pricing:

Agility Robotics doesn’t list public pricing. Their solutions are sold through enterprise and partnership agreements.

3. Apptronik

Coming out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, Apptronik is building Apollo, another general-purpose humanoid robot. Much like Figure, Apollo is designed to work next to people in places like factories, handling jobs from stacking boxes to tending machines.

What makes Apptronik an interesting alternative is its deep roots in academic research, with a heavy emphasis on making sure robots and humans can work together safely. They’ve designed Apollo to be modular, hoping to make it adaptable for a wide range of tasks down the line.

What’s great about it:

  • There’s a strong focus on safety and human-robot collaboration.

  • They’re backed by some big names, including NASA.

  • Its modular design could make it more versatile in the future.

What to consider:

  • They’re still in the early days of commercial deployment.

  • They don’t have the same high-profile commercial partnerships that Figure has announced.

  • There’s no public info on their pricing or business model.

Pricing:

Pricing for Apptronik’s Apollo is not public. You’ll have to get in touch with their sales team.

4. Boston Dynamics

You can’t talk about robots without mentioning Boston Dynamics. While their famous humanoid robot, Atlas, is still a research project, their other robots are already out in the world getting work done. Their dog-like robot, Spot, and their warehouse robot, Stretch, are proof that they can deliver practical solutions.

Boston Dynamics is a fantastic alternative because they offer robots that are proven and useful today. Spot is a workhorse for industrial inspections, and Stretch is purpose-built for unloading trucks. Their success really drives home a key point: sometimes the best tool for the job doesn’t look like a person.

What’s great about it:

  • They have commercially proven products with a long track record of success.

  • The hardware is known for being incredibly robust and reliable.

  • They take a practical approach, using the best robot shape for the job at hand.

What to consider:

  • Their available robots are specialized, not general-purpose humanoids.

  • Spot isn’t designed to manipulate objects the way a humanoid robot is.

  • The upfront cost to buy the hardware can be steep.

Pricing:

Boston Dynamics doesn’t publish pricing for its robots. They are available through direct sales and leasing, which requires a chat with their sales team.

5. 1X

Backed by OpenAI, 1X (which used to be Halodi Robotics) is developing androids for both businesses and consumers. Their main android, EVE, uses wheels instead of legs, which is a major design difference from Figure’s approach.

1X is an interesting alternative because their design directly questions whether a humanoid robot really needs legs. A wheeled base is more stable, uses less energy, and is more practical for many indoor spaces. It’s a pragmatic choice that puts function over a purely human-like form.

What’s great about it:

  • Smart design choices, like using a wheeled base for better efficiency.

  • Strong backing from OpenAI gives them access to top-tier AI.

  • They have a clear focus on both business and eventual consumer uses.

What to consider:

  • They are still in the relatively early stages of rolling out their robots at scale.

  • The wheels limit mobility in places with stairs or very uneven ground.

  • Pricing is not publicly available.

Pricing:

Pricing for 1X androids is not public.

The big choice with Figure AI alternatives: Physical robots or smart software?

While humanoid robots are undeniably cool, they represent a huge, long-term investment with an unproven payoff for most companies. The choice between automating with hardware versus software is a strategic one. You have to ask yourself: what is the most painful, repetitive work I need to solve right now?

The Hardware Path (Humanoid Robots):

  • Best for: Very specific, physical jobs in controlled environments like manufacturing or logistics.

  • Challenges: High costs, long setup times, tricky safety issues, and limited flexibility if your business processes change.

The Software Path (AI Agents like eesel AI):

  • Best for: Digital and knowledge-based work, like customer service, IT support, sales questions, and answering internal employee queries.

  • Benefits: Low startup cost, you can be up and running in minutes, the ROI is immediate and easy to measure, and you don’t have to worry about physical safety.

Pro Tip
Start with software. Automating your digital work with a tool like eesel AI frees up your team and your budget almost instantly. It delivers savings and efficiency that can help fund future experiments with hardware once the tech is more mature and the business case makes sense.

Start with the practical, then aim for the futuristic

The world of humanoid robotics is moving quickly, and there are several exciting Figure AI alternatives on the horizon.

But for most businesses in 2025, the smartest, most cost-effective, and fastest path to automation is through software, not a physical robot. Solving the digital bottlenecks in your support and internal operations with AI agent examples is a proven strategy that delivers value from day one.

By getting your software automation right today, you’ll build a more efficient company. And when the time comes to bring a physical robot onto the team, you’ll be in a much stronger position to make it a success.

Ready to solve your repetitive work problem in minutes, not years? Sign up for a free eesel AI trial and see just how quickly you can automate your support.

Frequently asked questions

Many software-first Figure AI alternatives, like eesel AI, can be set up and delivering value in minutes to hours. Hardware-based Figure AI alternatives, while closer to deployment than Figure AI, still require significant planning, integration, and testing time, potentially taking months or longer.

Software-based Figure AI alternatives typically have transparent SaaS pricing starting from hundreds of dollars per month. Hardware-based Figure AI alternatives, in contrast, involve substantial upfront capital investment or high Robotics-as-a-Service fees, often reaching hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, with pricing usually unlisted and requiring direct consultation.

No, not all Figure AI alternatives target general-purpose capabilities. While Apptronik aims for a humanoid form factor for diverse tasks, others like Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics offer specialized robots for specific physical tasks. eesel AI, a software alternative, focuses on digital knowledge work automation.

eesel AI is highlighted as software-first because it automates digital tasks and knowledge work, not physical labor. This approach offers immediate ROI, lower cost, and faster deployment compared to the significant hardware investment and integration challenges associated with humanoid robots.

For software Figure AI alternatives, ROI is often measurable in minutes by quantifying saved employee time and reduced operational costs from automated digital tasks. For hardware Figure AI alternatives, ROI is a longer-term calculation involving significant capital expenditure, deployment costs, and the specific labor savings or efficiency gains in physical operations.

Software-based Figure AI alternatives like eesel AI are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing digital tools and platforms. Hardware-based Figure AI alternatives, however, may require more substantial modifications to your physical infrastructure, safety protocols, and operational workflows.

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Stevia Putri

Stevia Putri is a marketing generalist at eesel AI, where she helps turn powerful AI tools into stories that resonate. She’s driven by curiosity, clarity, and the human side of technology.