What a smart feeder does

A smart feeder automatically dispenses food at the times you programme. You can control it from your phone, adjust portions, see when your pet has eaten and, in some models, watch a video of each meal. Especially useful if you work outside the home or travel occasionally.

Types of smart feeders

TypeBest forPrice
Basic programmableFixed schedules without appโ‚ฌ20โ€“50
WiFi with appRemote control from phoneโ‚ฌ50โ€“120
With integrated cameraWatch your pet eatโ‚ฌ80โ€“180
Multi-pet feederMicrochip/face recognitionโ‚ฌ150โ€“300
Wet food feederFresh wet food portionsโ‚ฌ40โ€“100

Options by need

No app

Basic programmable

โ‚ฌ20โ€“50

  • Up to 5 meals per day
  • Portion control
  • Physical screen and buttons
  • No WiFi needed
  • Great for beginners
โญ RecommendedWith app

WiFi + remote control

โ‚ฌ60โ€“120

  • Control from anywhere
  • Up to 6 scheduled meals/day
  • Eating notifications
  • Feeding history
  • Integrated camera (some models)
Multi-pet

Auto recognition

โ‚ฌ150โ€“300

  • Recognises each pet by chip or face
  • Different portions per pet
  • Prevents one eating the other's food
  • Ideal for multi-pet homes

Recommended models

๐Ÿฝ๏ธ

PETLIBRO Granary WiFi

4L WiFi feeder, up to 6 meals/day, integrated camera, app control. Best value for money. From โ‚ฌ80.

See price โ†’
๐Ÿ“ฑ

SureFeed Microchip Feeder

Reads your pet's microchip and only opens for them. Ideal for multi-pet homes or dieting pets. No app but very reliable. From โ‚ฌ150.

See price โ†’
๐Ÿฑ

Xiaomi Smart Pet Food Feeder

Affordable, WiFi, up to 10 meals/day, Mi Home app compatible. Good choice if you already have Xiaomi devices. From โ‚ฌ50.

See price โ†’
๐Ÿ’ง

PETLIBRO Dockstream Fountain

Smart water fountain with filter and water level sensor. Perfect complement to a smart feeder. From โ‚ฌ50.

See price โ†’

Frequently asked questions

Good smart feeders have backup battery (AA batteries or rechargeable) to work even without power. Scheduled meals still dispense even if WiFi is down. Remote control from the app does require WiFi.
Most feeders are designed for dry kibble. For wet or mixed food, you need a feeder specifically designed for wet food with refrigerated or airtight compartments to keep food fresh. Check compatibility before buying.
For an adult cat or small dog, a 1โ€“2 litre feeder is enough for 3โ€“7 days of kibble. For medium or large dogs, look for 3โ€“6 litre models. Keep in mind kibble can lose freshness if it takes more than a week to be consumed.