5 Best Dog Feeders, Tested by Our Fur Babies
Serve your pet regular meals and consistent portions, even when your schedule gets crazy, with one of these feeders.
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There are many reasons to put your dog's meals on autopilot. “Automatic feeders can be a good option for dog owners with irregular schedules or for dogs that require portion control to manage their weight," says Lisa Lippman, D.V.M., Director of Virtual Medicine at Bond Vet. "They ensure that your dog gets the right amount of food at consistent times, even when you’re not home."
My friend with two energetic dogs uses automatic feeders so that they don't beg or jump up at her at mealtime. Instead, the dogs associate meals with the feeders, and hover near them twice a day to listen for kibble to hit the dish.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Petlibro Automatic Feeder with Camera
- Best Value: Petory Timed Feeder
- Best Battery-Operated: PetSafe Automatic Dog Feeder
- Best for Large Dogs: PetSafe Smart Feed
A cheap gravity-controlled feeder just keeps serving, and that doesn't often work for pups. "Some dogs might overeat if given too much access to food," Dr. Lippmann says. Our choices let you schedule and portion meals or snacks according to your dog's needs. All can also be used with cats.
Best Deal
Pros
- Camera captures video
- Interactive—talk to your pet in real time
- Record a personalized message for when food is served
- Works on 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi, unlike many others
- Takes backup batteries in case of a power outage
Cons
- Best for small- or medium-sized breeds
Best for: Owners of small to medium dogs who want video proof that their pet got their meal
What to know: Automatic and interactive, Petlibro's top-of-the-line feeder has an HD camera so you can see your dog enjoy a meal or snack. It's like a doorbell camera built into a pet feeder, using similar technology. A motion detector senses a pet approaching and should start the camera any time they are in front of the feeder.
If you want videos to be saved, you either buy a microSD card (up to 256GB) or a paid cloud subscription (via the app). The camera has night vision, helpful when the room is dark. Two-way audio lets you talk to your dog in real time to say, "Good boy!"
Tester notes: Use the app to set up mealtimes and amounts. The app will log your dog's visits, separately from the video, so you can see how many times a day your dog appears in front of the feeder.
You can record a 10-second personalized message to play each time food comes down, like "treat time, Rocky!" (It's a little crackly with static, but your dog won't care.)
This feeder works on any Wi-Fi network, be it 2.4GHz or 5GHz, unlike many others. Though it plugs in, you can install batteries as a backup, in case the power goes out. The compact size makes it best for small- or medium-sized breeds.
| Capacity | 5 L (about 21 cups) |
| Portion options | 1/12 cup to about 4 cups |
| Max number of feedings in 24 hours | 10 |
| App-enabled | Yes |
| Power | Plug-in with battery backup |
Pros
- Under $50
- Works with a digital timer, no app required
- Can play a voice message when food drops
- Plugs in with a battery backup
Cons
- Audio quality isn't great, but your dog won't mind
Best for: Affordable automatic feedings that work with a digital clock, not an app
What to know: If you prefer a feeder that works on a digital timer and without an app, this is a nice looking choice under $50, available in green, white, or pink.
Tester notes: Set a schedule using the touch screen. Testers did find it a little confusing to learn the buttons, which can require long or short pressing. Stopping and starting the YouTube instructions as you go helps.
The hopper can fit larger kibble, as long as it's less than 7/10 of an inch in diameter, and can send out very small portions, making it a good choice for a small dog who doesn't need to eat huge meals.
There's a microphone on this that lets you record a 10-second message that can play for your dog when the food drops. (The audio quality isn't great, but the feature is amusing.) This plugs in and you add three D-size batteries as a power backup.
| Capacity | About 4 L (nearly 17 cups) |
| Portion size | 10 grams (just a few teaspoons) to 1/4 cup |
| Max number of feedings in 24 hours: | 6 |
| App-enabled | No |
| Power | Plug-in with battery backup |
Pros
- Set feedings using a digital clock
- No app or Wi-Fi needed
- No plug, so you can sit it anywhere or travel with it
- Highly rated
Cons
- You won't get any reports
Best for: Families who want an analog, no-app option for easy feedings
What to know: Set your dog's mealtimes on a digital clock on this feeder. It's nice to not have to worry about Wi-Fi connectivity or signing up for yet another app. On the downside, you don't get any report from the device while you're away or reassurance that it's working.
Tester notes: The digital directions on this feeder are easy and intuitive. If the fact that there's no camera attached bothers you, you can always set this near a pet camera and monitor the feeder that way.
It only runs on batteries. You can set it anywhere you want to or need to, no outlet required, and you can easily travel with it.
Probably because of the price and ease of use, and despite its lack of bells and whistles, this is one of the best-rated automatic dog feeders on Amazon. It can only deliver five feedings per day, which is less than others on the list, but that's enough for many households.
| Capacity | 40 oz (about 5 cups) |
| Portion size: | 1 cup or less |
| Max number of feedings in 24 hours | 5 |
| App-enabled | No |
| Power | Batteries |
Pros
- Wider stainless steel bowl than most
- Slow Feed setting for dogs who eat too fast
- Backup batteries in case power goes out
- Alexa-compatible
Cons
- Only connects to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, not a 5 GHz frequency
Best for: Dogs who benefit from a slow-feed option
What to know: The stainless steel bowl is wider than most, good for medium-sized dogs. But the food hopper does best with kibble that's the same size or only slightly larger than cat food, up to 1/2-inch in diameter.
Tester notes: I like the "Slow Feed" option that dispenses food over a 15-minute period if your dog tries to eat too fast. Feedings must be scheduled through the app. The feeder can only connect to a 2.4GHz frequency, not 5GHz—something to be mindful of while setting up.
This plugs in but also takes batteries. That means a storm can't knock the power out and prevent your pup from getting a meal. It syncs to the My PetSafe app (iOS, Android) and can sync to Alexa so you can ask Alexa to give your dog a snack.
| Capacity | 6L (about 24 cups) |
| Portion size | 1/8 cup to 4 cups |
| Max number of feedings in 24 hours | 12 |
| App-enabled | Yes |
| Power | Plug-in with battery backup |
Pros
- Anti-jam technology helps get food down every time
- Set up in the app or on the interface
- Option to get one with a backup battery
- Buy directly from the brand for the warranty
Cons
- Pricey considering there's no camera
Best for: Plenty of options for how to dispense your pet's food automatically
What to know: Though cat owners more often know about this brand thanks to its Litter Robot, the Feeder-Robot is also for dog owners. The brand says most dog kibble (anything less than 5/8" diameter) fits. Anti-jam technology helps ensure that kibble doesn't get stuck inside the hopper.
Tester notes: Though the app is excellent, there's also the option to schedule feedings using buttons on the device for anyone who prefer a less tech-y setup. This plugs in but I'd recommend spending the extra $40 on the version with a backup battery. Then even if your power goes out, this will continue feedings.
This can only connect to a 2.4GHz network, not a 5GHz network, so be mindful of that during setup. If you buy from the brand directly there's a one-year limited warranty.
You can buy a glass bowl for the Feeder-Robot if you prefer that to the stainless steel.
| Capacity | 7.5 L (32 cups) |
| Portion size: | 1/8 of a cup to 1 cup |
| Max number of feedings in 24 hours | 8 |
| App-enabled | Yes, but you can also schedule manually |
| Power | Plug-in, buy battery backup for $40 more |
How I chose the best automatic dog feeders
I live in a household with cats and one dog, and the dog tried several of these automatic dog feeders as I reviewed more than 10 brands to find which work best. Friends and family provided me with reviews of other brands. Everything was home-tested rather than Lab-tested.
Many feeders are pet feeders that work for dogs or cats. When making a list of the best automatic dog feeders, I was sure to include some models that fit larger kibble and/or that have larger bowls.
This final list of favorites include a range of choices from smart feeders that are app-enabled to feeders that work with a simple touchscreen. As a final step I read online reviews to be sure the feeders work well in many households over a long period of time.
What to look for in the best automatic dog feeders
You'll want to consider:
✔️ Whether your dog eats kibble: Automatic feeders are for small- to medium-size dry or semi-moist kibble, and work for any small animal: dog, cat, or bunny. Electric, automatic feeders are not for fresh food or for large dogs who eat large-size kibble.
✔️ How much information you want: A camera is great for catching glimpses of your dog while you're away and gives you photo evidence that he was not starving, no matter what his sad eyes might tell you when you walk in the door. An app logs the number of feedings. Extras like the ability to use Alexa with your feeder are great too.
But there's a lot to be said for an analog feeder. You don't have to download yet another app, come up with a name and password, and fuss to connect it to Wi-Fi. Unconnected feeders are less expensive, too.
✔️ Power source: If the feeder has a lot of functionality it may have to be plugged in, so you need to place it near an available outlet. Automatic feeders that run on batteries give you more flexibility.
✔️ Placement: Almost every feeder is for indoor use and is not built to be outside in the elements. An exception is the heavy-duty Chow Hound Pet Lodge which can go outside, but it works via gravity so your dog will have unlimited access to what's stored inside.
Why isn't my automatic dog feeder working?
Many homes now have 5GHz Wi-Fi, while most automatic feeders that run with apps only work on a 2.4GHz network. An exception is our best overall choice, so I asked York Wu, Petlibro's founder and CEO, about it. He surmised that designing feeders for the lower 2.4GHz frequency keeps the cost down, and since most of them are fairly simple devices, they don't need more power than that. Feeders generally only need 5 GHz if they have a camera.
After testing feeders and scouring reviews I've come to suspect that many online complaints about feeders not working has to do with consumers trying to connect their machine to a fast network. In my home, the "guest" version of our Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz, so I have to connect feeders to that. In other homes, 2.4 GHz might be rolled in with 5GHz and connection might happen more automatically.
Either way, a strong and consistent Wi-Fi signal is necessary for the app-enabled feeders to work, so if your network goes down frequently, you might want an option that runs on batteries or that has battery backup.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn covers pet and parenting products for the Good Housekeeping Institute. A mom of two young adults and a senior cat, Hartshorn leans on dog-owning friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors for help testing dog products, and fortunately shares a split home with her dog-owning cousin.
Jessica (she/her) is a contributor with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home, pet, and parenting products for families. A mom of two young adults and a cat, she was previously the Entertainment Editor at Parents and the Senior Lifestyle Editor at American Baby. When not testing toys, subtly starting at people's strollers, or taking meetings to learn about new car seats, she likes to travel. In 2026, she's made it to every continent except Antarctica.
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