In this guide
Compare the payment, not just the monthly equivalent
These U.S. dollar totals exclude tax, discounts, home internet, and separate services. The monthly total assumes twelve uninterrupted payments at unchanged rates.
| Plan | Payment and cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $308 initially ($59 + $249). Twelve payments plus the initiation fee total $957 at unchanged rates. |
| Annual | $837 upfront ($588 + $249) for twelve months. Confirm renewal details below. |
| 24 months | $1,185 upfront ($936 + $249) for twenty-four months. The advertised $39/month membership equivalent is billed for both years upfront. |
What the membership includes
ElliQ's FAQ describes a leased device with software, updates, support, and warranty coverage. An active membership is required for it to work. The initiation payment does not transfer ownership, and the device must be returned when membership ends. Shipping and support are currently offered within the United States.
For a gift, separate the recipient's experience from the payer's commitment. Decide who receives bills, handles support, and arranges a return. Put those details somewhere both people can find them. Keeping the packaging and order confirmation makes an eventual change of plan easier.
The FAQ says membership starts at activation, or automatically seven days after delivery if the device has not been activated. Arrange the introduction around that timing rather than ordering far ahead of a visit and assuming billing waits for you.
Clarify the trial and return terms before paying
The membership page includes a 30-day trial with the annual and two-year plans, but excludes the monthly plan. Its free-returns wording and the FAQ's full-refund wording differ from section 4.1 of the Terms of Use, dated January 1, 2026, which specifies a $49.99 return deduction. Get written confirmation of the refund for your selected offer.
The return deadline also differs: the FAQ says 45 days after cancellation; section 4.3 specifies the later of 30 days after receiving the return label or 30 days after the paid period expires. Both describe a $1,500 charge for failing to return the device. Ask support to give you the exact deadline and instructions for your order.
When testing a device, leave time to decide before the trial expires. Let your parent try ordinary requests, including stopping a conversation and reaching family. Record what felt useful and what needed your intervention. A successful demonstration by someone else is not the same as a comfortable routine at home.
- Confirm when the trial starts and the last day to request a return.
- Ask whether the initiation fee and prepaid membership are refunded, and what is deducted.
- Keep the return authorization, tracking number, and delivery confirmation.
Check what happens after the first term
The shop describes annual and two-year plans renewing for the same term. Section 4.2 of the Terms of Use instead describes renewal to monthly billing. We cannot resolve that inconsistency from the published pages, so this guide does not project a guaranteed second-year price.
The terms generally exclude refunds for an unused subscription period outside stated exceptions. Stopping renewal should not be treated as an automatic refund of a prepaid balance. Ask which rule applies if your parent's circumstances change, and save the answer with your order.
Set a reminder ahead of the confirmed renewal date. If several relatives contribute, decide who can authorize renewal and who will notice a changed price. That avoids leaving the person using the device to untangle a payment decision they did not make.
Check funded programs before buying privately
ElliQ's partner-program page offers a no-cost route for eligible participants. Applicants are routed to a partner that confirms eligibility; places may be full and a waiting list may apply. Approved participants do not provide billing information for the funded program. This is a separate route from buying a consumer membership, not an automatic discount everyone receives.
Check eligibility for the address where the device will live. Ask the program about availability, any participation requirements, and what happens if your parent moves or wants to leave. Do not assume another family's approval applies to yours. The official program page is the place to start; a retail price comparison alone may miss this option.
Compare alternatives around your parent's first request
Sam's current official page lists $149.99 for a device and says there is no subscription for current buyers. Its advertised functions include conversation, reminders, and family calls and messages. The page also shows a restock sign-up, so confirm availability before planning around it. A lower advertised price does not establish that it performs every task available on a different product.
We make Rhem, a tabletop companion described around conversation, family connection, and help using websites and making phone calls. Rhem offers rental and outright purchase options and is currently a preorder, not a device ready to ship today. Check its current checkout for the selected payment schedule and delivery estimate. This guide compares published information; it is not a hands-on review of ElliQ or Sam.
Choose one request your parent wants to make, then ask each provider to demonstrate it from beginning to end. Compare the voice, required family setup, privacy controls, support, total payment, and exit terms. Include your parent's willingness to use it: a cheaper device left untouched is not necessarily the better choice.
Sources
References checked October 19, 2026.
