ConsFirst / Automatic pet feeders

Petlibro

Petlibro Air WiFi Smart Feeder (2 L, rechargeable): the downsides first

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#2 of 8
$$Wi-Fi feederScore 3.6/5
23%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)1,503 ratings, just above our small-sample threshold.

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.

Top complaints

  • Wi-Fi drops and early failures

    Amazon's review summary says Wi-Fi connectivity problems are common, with owners reporting constant disconnections. It also flags durability, with units breaking after 2 months and others stopping at five months.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Battery life varies

    Petlibro and the reviewers cite about 30 days per charge. Amazon's summary calls battery life mixed, with some owners saying it needs charging every 3-4 days.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say), CNN Underscored
  • Small, app-only, 2.4 GHz only

    WIRED lists the small 2-liter container and 2.4 GHz-only Wi-Fi as cons. CNN notes there is no physical button for a manual feeding, so extra snacks go through the app. Wirecutter, which used to recommend it, says Petlibro no longer sells it on its own site and isn't sure how long it will be supported.

    Source: WIRED, CNN Underscored, Wirecutter

What owners love

  • Kept feeding through outages

    CNN never saw it miss or delay a scheduled meal in two weeks, including during a power outage and with the router deliberately switched off. The schedule runs from the feeder once it's set in the app.

    Source: CNN Underscored
  • Easy app scheduling

    WIRED calls Petlibro's app easy to use, with up to 10 meals a day and portions down to 1/24 cup. CNN found it more intuitive than the physical buttons on many feeders, with low-food and low-battery alerts. Amazon owners also find scheduling through the app simple.

    Source: WIRED, CNN Underscored, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Sealed, cat-resistant lid; easy bowl

    WIRED says the tight seal and push-button lid keep kibble fresh and are kitty tamper-proof. CNN found the lock effective, the gentle dispensing kept kibble in the bowl, and the bowl was effortless to remove and clean.

    Source: WIRED, CNN Underscored
Good for
  • One cat or a very small dog
  • Placing the feeder away from an outlet
  • Many small meals a day (up to 10)

Scores (tap for why)

  • Reliable dispensing3.5
    Why 3.5?Never missed or delayed a meal in CNN's test, but Amazon reliability is mixed, with units failing within months.
    Source: CNN Underscored, Amazon.com product page
  • App & scheduling3.5
    Why 3.5?Easy, flexible app (WIRED, CNN), but Amazon owners commonly report Wi-Fi disconnections, and it only works on 2.4 GHz.
    Source: WIRED, CNN Underscored, Amazon.com product page
  • Power backup & alerts4.0
    Why 4.0?Built-in rechargeable battery kept it feeding through a power outage, with low-battery and low-food alerts (CNN); Amazon owners report mixed battery life.
    Source: CNN Underscored, Amazon.com product page
  • Easy cleaning4.0
    Why 4.0?CNN says the bowl is effortless to remove and clean; WIRED notes a stainless steel bowl.
    Source: CNN Underscored, WIRED
  • Pet-proof build3.0
    Why 3.0?Tamper-proof locking lid (WIRED, CNN), but durability is an Amazon concern and 23% of ratings are 1-2 stars.
    Source: WIRED, Amazon.com product page

What experts say

  • CNN Underscored: Best automatic cat feeder of 13 tested: space-saving, never missed a feeding even in an outage. Only real drawback is no manual-feed button.
  • WIRED: Best cheap single feeder with an app (updated May 2026): rechargeable, stainless bowl, tamper-proof lid. Cons: 2 L capacity and 2.4 GHz only.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Former pick, now under The Competition (updated 2026-09-22): a great cordless feeder, but no longer sold on Petlibro's site, so long-term support is uncertain.
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If that catch is a deal-breaker

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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.

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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.

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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.

Its catch: stops working or loses power

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