Do robot mowers need a subscription? 4G and data plans by brand
No robot mower needs a subscription to mow. What the 4G connection is for, what Husqvarna, Mammotion, Navimow and Worx charge after the free period, and when to pay.
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Check with GPS trackingWhich of these fit your lawn?
Robot mowers don't need a subscription to cut grass. Every model we track mows, follows its map and keeps to its schedule without one. The costs that come later are for mobile data. 64 of the 87 wire-free models on sale in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia have a built-in 4G connection, and that connection is free for a period and then, with some brands, becomes a paid plan.
So the real question is what you lose when the free data runs out, and whether you care. For most people it comes down to one feature: GPS tracking in case the mower is stolen.
What the data connection is for
At home the mower talks to your phone over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and that costs nothing. Mobile data covers three other jobs. It reports the mower's position if it leaves the lawn, which is the theft protection most brands advertise. It lets you control the mower from your phone when you are away from home. And on many satellite models it carries the correction signal that keeps the mower accurate to a few centimetres, known as network RTK. 43 of the models we track can use that instead of an antenna in the yard.
If your Wi-Fi reaches the whole lawn and the mower sits behind a fence, you may never miss the mobile connection. On an open front lawn, or a large lot where Wi-Fi drops out halfway down, it matters more.
What each brand charges after the free period
These are the terms on the makers' own sites in October 2026. Data plans change more often than mower prices, so check them before you buy.
| Brand | What you get | After the free period |
|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna | Automower Connect with a built-in SIM, meant to last 10 years while the mobile network supports it | Free, according to Husqvarna |
| Mammotion | Three years of 4G data with its 2026 models | US plans of $19.90 for three months or $49.90 a year |
| Segway Navimow | Access+ 4G module for the cheaper models, $119.99 in the US, with a year of data | $32.90 a year in the US and Canada, A$49.90 in Australia |
| Worx | Find My Landroid add-on for the Landroid Vision, with a year of service | $29.99 a year |
For the other brands we found no published plan prices. Where a model has 4G built in, ask the seller how long the data is included and what it costs after.
Which models have a data connection, by brand
| Brand | Models | 4G built in | Tracking via add-on | Network RTK | Own antenna |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segway Navimow | 15 | 13 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| Mammotion | 13 | 10 | 3 | 7 | – |
| Husqvarna | 8 | 7 | – | 8 | – |
| Roborock | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Dreame | 6 | 5 | 1 | – | – |
| Ecovacs | 6 | – | – | – | 2 |
| Mova | 5 | 3 | 2 | – | – |
| Hookii | 4 | 4 | – | – | – |
| Worx | 4 | 1 | – | 2 | – |
| Airseekers | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | – |
| Anthbot | 3 | 2 | – | – | 3 |
| Eufy | 3 | 3 | – | – | – |
| Sunseeker | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | – |
| GOKO | 2 | 2 | – | 2 | – |
| Lymow | 2 | 2 | – | – | 2 |
| Greenworks | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| RoboUP | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Yarbo | 1 | – | – | 1 | – |
Number of models per brand on sale in at least one of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, from the makers' specs. A model can appear in more than one column.
17 models have neither 4G nor network RTK. They work entirely on your home network, which keeps running costs at zero but means no tracking once the mower is off your property.
Is it worth paying for?
A year of data costs a few percent of what the mower cost. If the mower is visible from the street, that is cheap insurance, because tracking is the only feature that helps you get a stolen mower back. Our theft guide compares the anti-theft features by brand. If the mower lives in a fenced backyard and your Wi-Fi reaches it, letting the plan lapse is a reasonable choice. Add it to the running costs either way, next to blades and a battery every few years.
Common questions
Do robot mowers require a subscription?
No robot mower we track needs a subscription to mow. Mowing and scheduling work without one. What can cost money is the mobile data connection, which you need for GPS tracking when the mower is out of Wi-Fi range and, with some brands, for remote control from your phone away from home.
What happens when the free data period ends?
The mower keeps mowing. Features that use mobile data stop, mainly GPS tracking and app control when you are away from your home Wi-Fi. Mammotion includes three years of 4G data with its 2026 models; Navimow includes a year with its Access+ module. After that you can renew, or carry on without.
Is network RTK a subscription?
Network RTK means the mower gets its satellite corrections over the internet instead of from an antenna in your yard. It runs on the mower's data connection. Check with the maker whether that connection is included for the life of the mower or only for a set period, because the answer differs by brand.
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