ConsFirst / Automatic pet feeders

Pawsync

Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder with Scale (3.6 L): the downsides first

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#4 of 8
$$Wi-Fi feederScore 3.4/5
17%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: 359 ratings.

Wirecutter's top pick for dry food: a scale under the steel bowl made it the most accurate feeder tested, and it can trim the next meal if food is left over. But the app isn't intuitive, it drops Wi-Fi and stops logging on battery power, and owners report units failing after a few months.

Top complaints

  • Stops working or loses power

    Wirecutter notes owner complaints that the machine disconnects from power for no apparent reason or stops working after a few months. Amazon's summary calls reliability mixed, with some owners reporting functionality issues.

    Source: Wirecutter, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Silent during power outages

    On its three D-cell backup batteries it disconnects from Wi-Fi by design. In Wirecutter's test it kept feeding, but didn't log the meals or send any alert.

    Source: Wirecutter
  • App less intuitive; weak for multi-pet homes

    Wirecutter found scheduling less intuitive than on Petlibro and Petkit, and it wasn't clear how to recalibrate for new kibble. WIRED says its intake tracking can't tell which of two cats ate.

    Source: Wirecutter, WIRED

What owners love

  • Most accurate portions tested

    Wirecutter measured an average deviation of about 2% with small kibble and 4% with large kibble, the best of 17 hopper feeders. It weighs each portion instead of estimating by volume.

    Source: Wirecutter
  • Corrects over- and underfeeding

    Smart Mode subtracts leftovers from the next meal and Precision Mode adjusts after a miscount (Wirecutter). WIRED says it alters how much it dispenses based on what's left in the bowl.

    Source: Wirecutter, WIRED
  • Useful eating stats

    Amazon owners call the app intuitive and like monitoring eating habits and getting notifications about feeding times and amounts. WIRED notes anti-jam design and low-food sensors.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say), WIRED
Good for
  • Pets on a strict diet
  • Tracking how much a single pet actually eats
  • Cats and small dogs on kibble

Scores (tap for why)

  • Reliable dispensing4.0
    Why 4.0?Most accurate portions in Wirecutter's 260-plus tests, but owners report units stopping after a few months, and Amazon reliability is mixed.
    Source: Wirecutter, Amazon.com product page
  • App & scheduling3.5
    Why 3.5?Rich data and Amazon owners call it intuitive, but Wirecutter found scheduling less intuitive than rivals, and WIRED says tracking is unreliable with two cats.
    Source: Wirecutter, WIRED, Amazon.com product page
  • Power backup & alerts3.0
    Why 3.0?D-cell backup kept the schedule, but Wi-Fi shuts off on battery, so no logs or alerts during an outage (Wirecutter).
    Source: Wirecutter
  • Pet-proof build3.0
    Why 3.0?Longevity not yet proven (Wirecutter); 17% of a small Amazon sample is 1-2 stars.
    Source: Wirecutter, Amazon.com product page

What experts say

  • Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick for dry food (updated 2026-09-22): most accurate portions; flaws are an unintuitive app, partial function in a power outage, and unproven longevity. One-year warranty, two if registered.
  • WIRED: Affordable pick to measure food intake: built-in scale prevents overfeeding, but tracking works best in single-pet homes.
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If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked automatic pet feeders whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in automatic pet feedersWhisker Feeder-Robot Smart Feeder

The Spruce Pets calls it the most impressive feeder it has ever tested, with the best app, 24-hour battery backup and a schedule stored on the device. WIRED found no real faults beyond the plastic bowl. The catches are a $299 price, a big footprint, and a bowl that isn't dishwasher-safe.

Its catch: expensive and bulky#2 in automatic pet feedersPetlibro Air WiFi Smart Feeder (2 L, rechargeable)

CNN Underscored's best overall and WIRED's best cheap app feeder: slim, cordless for about 30 days, and it never missed a meal in CNN's test, even with the power and Wi-Fi off. But 23% of Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, citing Wi-Fi drops and units dying within months, and Wirecutter questions how long Petlibro will keep supporting it.

Its catch: wi-fi drops and early failures#3 in automatic pet feedersCat Mate C500 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Ice Packs

The Spruce Pets' best overall: a simple, battery-run five-tray carousel for wet or dry food with dishwasher-safe parts and a low 11% Amazon low-star share. But its ice packs kept wet food cold only overnight or about four hours on warm days, WIRED and CNN found wet food reaching unsafe temperatures, and some owners say the timer resets itself.

Its catch: ice packs don't keep wet food cold long

Head-to-head

See all 8 automatic pet feeders ranked →