What is the best automatic pet feeder?

Best automatic pet feeder overall

For most people, I’d pick the PETLIBRO Granary Wi-Fi Automatic Feeder. It’s currently one of the strongest all-around choices: large 5L capacity, scheduled portion-controlled meals, app control, low-food/blockage alerts, and battery backup. Multiple 2026 comparisons also put the Granary near the top for overall value and reliability.

• PETLIBRO Granary 5L Smart Automatic Feeder - $89.99 (Walmart.com)

My picks by situation

• 🏆 Best overall: PETLIBRO Granary 5L Wi-Fi — best combination of capacity, scheduling, portion control, and smart features. Around $90 currently.
• 💰 Best budget: PETLIBRO Air — simpler, compact, rechargeable, and currently around $50–$70 depending on version.
• 📷 Best with camera: PETLIBRO Granary 2 Vision — adds an HD camera and more advanced meal/pet monitoring.
• 🐱 Multiple pets with different diets: PETLIBRO One RFID — identifies the individual pet so the wrong animal can't eat the meal.
• 🥩 Wet food: PETLIBRO Polar — refrigerated rather than simply dispensing food from a room-temperature hopper; WIRED named it its best automatic wet-food feeder.
• 🐕 Large dog / lots of food: I'd favor a 5–6L feeder such as the Granary or WOPET rather than a small compact unit.

One important caveat: if you're feeding a pet that needs very precise portions for medical or weight-management reasons, I'd prioritize portion accuracy and reliability over cameras or other smart features.

If you tell me cat or dog, number of pets, dry vs. wet food, and your budget (e.g. under $50/$100/$150), I can narrow it down to the single best model for you.

The "best" automatic pet feeder depends entirely on your pet's needs, your budget, and whether you are feeding dry kibble, wet food, or managing multiple pets with different diets.

Top-rated automatic pet feeders are categorized below by their standout strengths:

Add to listBest Overall & Portion Accuracy:

• Why it's great: It features an integrated scale under the stainless steel bowl that tracks precise portion weights, monitors how fast your pet eats, and even dynamically adjusts future portions based on whether they left food behind.

Add to listBest Smart/Camera Feeder:

• Why it's great: Ideal for anxious owners who want to check in while away. It includes a 1080p HD wide-angle camera with night vision, two-way audio, and a reliable multi-sealed hopper to keep kibble fresh.

Add to listBest for Multi-Pet Households (Diet Control):

• Why it's great: If you have one pet who steals another's food or requires prescription/special diet food, this lid only opens when it scans a specific pet's microchip or RFID collar tag.

Add to listBest Classic/Budget Dry Feeder:

• Why it's great: A sturdy, reliable Wi-Fi-connected dispenser with anti-jam conveyor technology, flexible scheduling via app or Alexa, and a slow-feed option for fast gobblers.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• What kind of pet(s) do you have (cat or dog , and size)?
• Do you feed them dry kibble, wet food, or a mix?
• Do you need remote app control/cameras , or a simple programmable timer?

If you want one automatic feeder that’s best for most cats and small-to-medium dogs, I’d pick the PETLIBRO Granary Wi-Fi.

• PETLIBRO Granary 5L Smart Automatic Feeder - $89.99 (Walmart.com)

Why it’s my top pick

• 5-liter capacity — enough food for several days for many pets.
• Up to 10 scheduled meals per day, with adjustable portions.
• Wi-Fi/app control lets you feed your pet remotely and monitor schedules.
• Stainless-steel bowl is preferable to a plastic food-contact surface.
• It has a freshness seal and low-food/feeding alerts.
• Current testing and reviews consistently put the Granary among the best overall automatic feeders in 2026. WIRED specifically praised its reliable scheduling, customizable app, and camera-equipped version.

But the "best" depends on your pet

• PETLIBRO Granary 5L Wi-Fi - $89.99 (Walmart.com)

• PETLIBRO Air Wi-Fi Feeder - $69.99 (Chewy)

• PetSafe Smart Feed - $121.99 (Wayfair)

• PETLIBRO Polar Wet Food Feeder - $169.99 (Walmart - PETLIBRO)

• Whisker Feeder-Robot - $299.00 (Chewy)

• Best overall: PETLIBRO Granary — dry food, smart scheduling, good balance of price/features.

• Best simple/cheaper option: PETLIBRO Air — smaller 2L capacity and fewer bells and whistles, but rechargeable and app-controlled.

• Best for reliability without needing fancy features: PetSafe Smart Feed — a good choice if you care more about straightforward feeding than cameras/apps.

• Best for wet food: PETLIBRO Polar — refrigerated rather than simply relying on ice packs; WIRED's top wet-food feeder.

• Best premium option: Whisker Feeder-Robot — excellent smart features, but at around $299 it's hard to justify for most people.

One important caveat: if you have multiple pets that steal each other's food, I'd choose a microchip/RFID feeder instead of a normal automatic feeder. And if you tell me cat or dog, number of pets, dry or wet food, and your budget, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 choices for your situation.

The Whisker Feeder-Robot Go to product viewer dialog for this item. is the best overall smart automatic pet feeder due to its advanced anti-jam technology, large 32-cup dry food capacity, and reliable app integration.

The right choice depends on your specific budget, whether you feed wet or dry food, and if you have multiple pets stealing each other's meals.

Top Automatic Pet Feeders by Category

• Whisker Feeder-Robot Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: Best for high-end reliability. It features a backup battery, sleek design, and app controls that let you portion meals or track food levels closely.
• PETKIT Yumshare Dual-Hopper : Best for keeping an eye on your pets while away. It includes a wide-angle camera, two-way audio, and dual compartments for mixing different foods.
• Petlibro RFID Smart Feeder : Best for households where one greedy pet steals another's food. It uses an RFID collar tag to open only for the designated pet.
• Cat Mate C500 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Best for wet food diets. Unlike gravity or impeller-based hopper feeders that only handle dry kibble, this tray-style feeder uses ice packs to keep wet food fresh across multiple timed intervals.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• Do you feed your pet wet food, dry food, or both?
• Do you have one pet or multiple pets?

The "best" automatic pet feeder depends entirely on your budget, whether your pet eats dry or wet food, and if you need tech features like a camera or Wi-Fi . Top-performing automatic pet feeders stand out across specific categories:

• Best Overall Smart/Dry Feeder: [Petlibro Granary Smart Camera Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-automatic-feeder-for-cats-and-small-dogs/) (~$90–$110)
  • Why it’s great: Highly reliable anti-clog mechanism, airtight lid with desiccant to keep kibble fresh, a clear view window, and an optional 1080p HD camera with night vision and two-way audio. It hits the sweet spot of price, performance, and smartphone control.
• Best Premium/High-End Dry Feeder: Whisker Feeder-Robot Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$299)
  • Why it’s great: Created by the makers of the Litter-Robot, this is the gold standard for smart dry-food dispensing. It features a massive 32-cup capacity, advanced anti-jam technology, chew-resistant cords, and an exceptionally polished app that tracks your pet's eating habits.
• Best for Wet Food: Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$130-$150)
  • Why it’s great: Wet food is notoriously hard to automate, but the Polar uses built-in semiconductor cooling (like a mini-fridge) to keep canned or fresh food safe for up to three days without needing messy ice packs.
• Best Budget/Simple Option: PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$60)
  • Why it’s great: If you don't care about Wi-Fi or smartphone apps, this classic rotating-tray model lets you pre-portion up to five meals. It works for both dry and short-term wet food, runs on D-batteries for up to a year, and is notoriously durable.
• Best for Multi-Pet / Food Stealing: SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$180-$190)
  • Why it’s great: Perfect if you have one pet on a special diet or a greedy dog/cat that tries to steal food. It opens only when it scans a specific microchip or RFID collar tag.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• Is your pet eating dry kibble or wet/fresh food?
• Do you need Wi-Fi and a camera to check on them while away?

I researched current 2026 options, and the best automatic pet feeder for most people is the PETLIBRO Granary—especially if you want reliable scheduling plus app control. Multiple 2026 comparisons put it at or near the top, citing its 5L capacity, portion control, Wi-Fi, and reliable dispensing.

PETLIBRO Granary Smart Feeder

$89.99

My picks

PETLIBRO Granary Smart Camera Feeder

$149.99

PetSafe Smart Feed 2nd Generation

$134.99

PetSafe FlexFeed Automatic Pet Feeder

$59.99

PETKIT YumShare Solo 2

$149.99

One caveat: if your pet is on a strict calorie-controlled diet, I'd choose a weight-based feeder over the Granary. And if you feed wet food, you'll want a refrigerated/wet-food-specific model rather than a standard kibble dispenser.

If you tell me cat or dog, number of pets, dry or wet food, and your budget, I can narrow it down to the one I'd buy for your situation.

Choosing the "best" automatic pet feeder depends entirely on whether you are feeding dry kibble or wet food, how many pets you have, and whether you need high-tech monitoring or a simple timer.

Top-rated automatic pet feeders are categorized below by use case:

• Best Overall for Most Homes: PetLibro Granary Smart Camera Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / PetLibro Air WiFi Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  Widely praised by outlets like The New York Times Wirecutter and tech reviewers, PetLibro Go to product viewer dialog for this item. strikes the best balance of reliable anti-jam dispensing, airtight freshness sealing with desiccant bags, stainless steel bowls, and a clean app interface . The camera/WiFi iterations let you watch your pet eat and verify portions while away.
• Best Premium / Tech-Forward Pick: Whisker Feeder-Robot Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  If budget is no constraint and you want the most seamless app tracking, gorgeous design, and robust anti-tip/anti-clog engineering, the Feeder-Robot Go to product viewer dialog for this item. is a top-tier choice . It offers deeply customizable scheduling and brilliant reliability, though it commands a much higher price tag.
• Best for Precise Intake & Health Tracking: Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  This model features a built-in smart scale right under its stainless steel bowl, giving it extraordinary portion accuracy. It tracks exactly how much your pet eats, alerts you to sudden drops in appetite, and can dynamically adjust portions.
• Best for Wet Food: Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (or Cat Mate C500 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.)
  Standard gravity or rotating screw feeders will ruin wet food. The Petlibro Polar Go to product viewer dialog for this item. uses active semiconductor cooling to keep canned or fresh wet food safe for up to three days without messy melting ice packs.
• Best for Multi-Pet / Food Stealers: SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  If you have one cat on a prescription diet or a greedy dog/cat who steals everyone else's food, this unit reads your pet's microchip or RFID collar tag to open only for the designated animal.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:

• Is your pet eating dry kibble or wet food?
• Do you have a single pet or a multi-pet household?
• Are you looking for smartphone/camera monitoring or a simple local timer?

If you want one automatic feeder that’s best for most cats and small/medium dogs, I’d pick the PETLIBRO Granary Smart Camera Feeder.

PETLIBRO Granary Smart Camera Feeder

$149.99

Why it’s my top pick

• Wi-Fi + app control — schedule meals and feed remotely.
• Built-in 1080p camera with night vision, so you can check whether your pet actually showed up for dinner.
• 5L capacity for dry food.
• Portion scheduling and feeding notifications.
• Stainless-steel bowl option.
• It’s substantially cheaper than the premium Whisker while still offering the features most people actually want. WIRED also currently lists the Granary as its pick for best connected app.

One important caveat: Petlibro had a significant service outage just days ago that caused some smart feeders to stop following schedules. The company says service has been restored, but I'd still make sure the feeder has its backup batteries installed and test it for several days before trusting it while you're away.

If your priority is different

The Whisker Feeder-Robot is the one I'd buy if your biggest concern is "I absolutely cannot have this thing jam." It's $299 and has a very large 32-cup capacity, making it particularly attractive for multiple pets or longer periods between refills.

Whisker Feeder-Robot

$299.00

For wet food, I'd skip conventional gravity/auger feeders entirely and get the refrigerated PETLIBRO Polar. WIRED currently rates it its best automatic wet-food feeder.

PETLIBRO Polar Smart Wet Food Feeder

$129.99

If you tell me cat or dog, number of pets, dry vs. wet food, and your budget, I can narrow it down to the single best model for your situation.

If you want one automatic feeder that’s best for most people, I’d pick the Whisker Feeder-Robot.

Whisker Feeder-Robot

$299.00

🥇 Best overall: Whisker Feeder-Robot

• $299 currently.
• Large 32-cup capacity, so you don't have to refill constantly.
• Wi-Fi/app control, scheduled portions, feeding history and refill notifications.
• Designed to resist jams and is particularly good if reliability matters.
• Works for cats and dogs.
• Downside: expensive and fairly bulky.

💰 Best value: PETLIBRO Air

PETLIBRO Air Automatic Feeder

$49.99

At around $50, this is the one I'd buy if you don't need all the bells and whistles. It handles up to six pre-portioned meals per day and has excellent customer-review volume.

📷 Best if you want a camera: PETKIT YumShare Solo

PETKIT YumShare Solo with Camera

$119.00

Around $119, with a camera and remote interaction. WIRED also rates PETKIT's camera-equipped feeders highly.

🐱 Best for multiple pets with different diets

A microchip/RFID feeder is better than a normal automatic feeder because it can prevent one pet from eating another's food. The PETLIBRO One RFID is one option.

One important 2026 caveat: PETLIBRO is experiencing a significant service outage today, with reports of some smart feeders failing to perform scheduled functions. Because of that, I'd currently favor the Whisker Feeder-Robot if you're going to depend on the feeder while traveling.

If you tell me cat or dog, dry or wet food, number of pets, and your budget, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 choices for your situation.

The "best" automatic pet feeder depends entirely on whether you feed your pet dry kibble or wet food , and if you need features like a camera or multi-pet microchip access.

Top-rated automatic pet feeders are categorized by their specific strengths:

• Best Overall Smart Dry Feeder: PetLibro Granary Smart Camera Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ($120–$140)
  • Why it’s great: Highly reliable anti-jam technology, a sealed food hopper with desiccant bags to keep kibble crunchy, an optional 1080p HD camera with night vision and two-way audio, and a very user-friendly app.
• Best Premium / High-End Option: Whisker Feeder-Robot Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$299)
  • Why it’s great: Made by the creators of Litter-Robot, this smart feeder features an enormous 32-cup capacity, advanced anti-jam clearing mechanisms, tamper-resistant design, and a phenomenal app that tracks your pet's exact eating habits.
• Best for Wet Food: PetLibro Polar Smart Wet Food Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$170)
  • Why it’s great: Unlike traditional wet-food feeders that rely on melting ice packs, the Polar uses built-in active semiconductor cooling to keep canned or fresh wet food safe and fresh for up to 3 days without spoiling.
• Best for Multi-Pet / Food Stealing: SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$150–$180)
  • Why it’s great: If one pet steals another's food or is on a prescription diet, this lid opens only when it scans a specific microchip or RFID collar tag, keeping the food secure from sneaky siblings.
• Best Budget / Simple Option: PetSafe 5-Meal Pet Feeder Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$60)
  • Why it’s great: No Wi-Fi, no apps, and no complicated mechanics to jam. It uses a reliable rotating tray design partitioned for five pre-measured meals, making it great for straightforward portion control.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, tell me:

• Are you feeding a cat or a dog (and what size)?
• Do they eat dry kibble, wet food, or a mix?
• Do you need smart/Wi-Fi features or a camera?