🤝 BFF Take
BOTZ Is More Concentrated — ROBO Is More Diversified but Pricier
BOTZ (Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF) and ROBO (ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF) are the two main pure-play robotics and AI ETFs. BOTZ holds roughly 40 companies with a modified market-cap tilt — Nvidia, Keyence, Fanuc, and Intuitive Surgical dominate. ROBO equally weights 80+ companies globally — giving industrial automation companies in Japan and Europe equal weight alongside US tech. BOTZ costs 0.68%; ROBO costs 0.95%. BOTZ's Nvidia overweight has been a significant performance driver in recent years. ROBO's broader diversification and equal weighting give more exposure to smaller industrial automation companies. Both are thematic ETFs with high fees — investors who believe in AI/robotics can access much of this theme through QQQ or broad tech ETFs at a fraction of the cost.
📋 Quick Takeaways
🤖BOTZ concentrates in ~40 robotics/AI names; Nvidia is often a top holding — heavy large-cap tech tilt
🏭ROBO equally weights 80+ global companies — more industrial automation exposure including Japanese robotics firms
💰BOTZ costs 0.68% vs ROBO's 0.95% — both expensive; QQQ captures AI/tech tailwinds at 0.20%
📊 Data-Based Take: BOTZ has the lower fee
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
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Reviewed by a CFA® Charterholder · Data updated Jun 2026 · Educational only, not financial advice
BOTZ
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF
ROBO
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF
📋 BOTZ vs ROBO — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric |
BOTZ |
ROBO |
| Fund Name |
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF |
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF |
| Issuer |
Global X |
Exchange Traded Concepts |
| Tracks Index |
Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence |
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index |
| Expense Ratio |
0.68% ✓ |
0.95% |
| Cost per $10K/yr |
$68.00 |
$95.00 |
| AUM |
$2B |
$1B |
| Holdings |
42 |
83 |
| Inception |
2016 |
2013 |
| 1-Year Return |
+18.40% |
+14.20% |
| 3-Year Return |
+2.60% |
+0.40% |
| 5-Year Return |
+8.80% |
+6.20% |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread |
0.03% |
0.05% |
Data from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 BOTZ vs ROBO — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Should You Buy BOTZ or ROBO?
Choose if...
BOTZ
- You want the lowest fees — saves ~$27/yr per $10K vs ROBO
- You want geographic diversification beyond US stocks
Choose if...
ROBO
- You want broader diversification (83 holdings vs 42)
- You want geographic diversification beyond US stocks
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❓ BOTZ vs ROBO — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between BOTZ and ROBO?
BOTZ (Global X) holds ~40 companies with market-cap weighting — Nvidia, Keyence, Fanuc, and Intuitive Surgical dominate. ROBO equally weights 80+ global companies — including many industrial automation and healthcare robotics companies smaller than BOTZ's top holdings. BOTZ has been influenced heavily by Nvidia's AI-driven performance. ROBO is more diversified into traditional robotics companies globally.
Are AI and robotics ETFs worth buying?
Thematic ETFs like BOTZ and ROBO have compelling themes but often underperform broad tech ETFs over full cycles. Investors pay 0.68-0.95% in fees for concentrated bets on a theme that broad indices like QQQ (0.20%) or VGT (0.10%) capture significantly. The specific companies in BOTZ and ROBO outperform their fees only if pure-play robotics stocks outperform the broader tech sector — which has not consistently happened. The theme is real; whether these ETFs are the best vehicle for it is debatable.
What companies are in BOTZ?
BOTZ top holdings typically include Nvidia (AI chips), Keyence (industrial sensors), Intuitive Surgical (surgical robotics), Fanuc (industrial robots), ABB (automation), and similar pure-play companies in robotics hardware and AI infrastructure. The portfolio tilts heavily toward companies Nvidia in periods when AI semiconductors dominate market narratives.
Does ROBO include non-US companies?
Yes — ROBO is notably global, with significant exposure to Japanese robotics companies (Keyence, Fanuc, Yaskawa), European automation firms (Kuka, ABB, Siemens), and US healthcare robotics (Intuitive Surgical). Japanese and European companies often make up 40-50% of ROBO, compared to BOTZ which is more US and Taiwan-tilted.
Is there a cheaper AI ETF than BOTZ or ROBO?
IRBO (iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF, 0.47%) is cheaper than both. QTUM (Defiance Quantum ETF, 0.40%) and ARKQ (ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF, 0.75%) are alternatives with different approaches. However, for most investors, the AI and robotics theme is well-represented in QQQ (0.20%) and SCHG (0.04%) through Nvidia and other mega-cap AI stocks at much lower fees.
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📄 BOTZ & ROBO Fact Sheets
ℹ️ Data shown is for educational purposes and may not reflect the most current figures. Returns are trailing price-based and exclude dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. ETF BFF is not a licensed financial advisor — this is not personalized financial advice.