An automatic feeder is a dry food hopper with a timed dispenser. Choose by how you want to control it (buttons on the unit or a phone app), how many pets eat from it, and whether you want to see them eat.
Our picks at a glance
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
App control
PETLIBRO Granary Wi-Fi 5L automatic feeder
5 L food tank
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Two cats
PETLIBRO Wi-Fi feeder for 2 cats
2 bowls
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Watch them eat
PETLIBRO automatic feeder with 1080p camera
1080p camera
Check price on AmazonPaid link
All four feeders below are PETLIBRO dry food models with a twist-lock lid, desiccant and an anti-jam sensor. The timed feeder has no app; the Wi-Fi models add remote feeding and alerts; one splits food into two bowls and one adds a 1080p camera.
Top picks, and why
PETLIBRO Granary Wi-Fi 5L automatic feeder
- Wi-Fi
- 10 meals per day
- Stainless bowl
- Low food sensor
+1 moreFewer
- 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
5 L tank, up to 10 meals a day in 1/12 cup portions, empty and jam alerts. under $100.
- App scheduling on 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
- Up to 10 meals a day, 1/12 cup portions
- Phone alerts for empty tank, jams, low battery
- One bowl, so not for splitting between two pets
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
PETLIBRO Wi-Fi feeder for 2 cats
- Wi-Fi
- 5 L tank
- 10 meals per day
- 1 to 50 portions
+2 moreFewer
- 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
- Battery backup
Splits each meal evenly into two stainless bowls, 5 L tank, battery backup. $100 to $250.
- Splits food evenly into 2 bowls
- 5 L tank, up to 10 meals a day
- Plug-in power with battery backup
- Both bowls get the same portion
- Kibble 2 to 15 mm only
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
PETLIBRO automatic feeder with 1080p camera
- Wi-Fi
- 1080p
- 145 deg view
- local storage, no plan needed
+5 moreFewer
- 145 degree view
- Night vision
- Two-way audio
- 10 meals per day
- 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
1080p camera with 145 degree view, night vision and two-way audio. $100 to $250.
- 1080p camera, 145 degree view, night vision
- Two-way audio and motion alerts
- microSD recording up to 256 GB, no plan needed
- Cloud video needs a paid subscription
- microSD card not included
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Compare every pick
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. Amazon prices change often, so we show a range and link to the live price.
One pet
For a single cat or small dog, decide whether you need the app. The timed feeder is set on the unit and runs on USB-C with D-cell backup; the Wi-Fi feeder lets you change meals or feed early from your phone.
PETLIBRO timed automatic feeder
- 2.5 tsp per portion
- Battery backup
- Twist-lock lid
- 10 sec meal call
Up to 6 meals a day, 1 to 50 portions of 2.5 tsp, 3 D-cell backup rated 30 to 50 days. under $100.
- Up to 6 meals a day, 1 to 50 portions each
- USB-C plus 3 D-cell backup, 30 to 50 days
- Infrared anti-jam stop
- No app, schedule is set on the feeder
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
PETLIBRO Granary Wi-Fi 5L automatic feeder
- Wi-Fi
- 10 meals per day
- Stainless bowl
- Low food sensor
+1 moreFewer
- 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
5 GHz or 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, 10 meals a day, stainless bowl, low food sensor. under $100.
- App scheduling on 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
- Up to 10 meals a day, 1/12 cup portions
- Phone alerts for empty tank, jams, low battery
- One bowl, so not for splitting between two pets
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Two cats, or a camera
The dual-bowl feeder divides each meal evenly, which stops one cat from eating both portions at a single bowl. Both bowls get the same amount, so it suits cats on the same diet.
The camera feeder records to a microSD card up to 256 GB with no plan; cloud video is a paid subscription.
PETLIBRO Wi-Fi feeder for 2 cats
- Wi-Fi
- 5 L tank
- 10 meals per day
- 1 to 50 portions
+2 moreFewer
- 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
- Battery backup
5 L tank, 1 to 50 portions, kibble 2 to 15 mm, plug-in with battery backup. $100 to $250.
- Splits food evenly into 2 bowls
- 5 L tank, up to 10 meals a day
- Plug-in power with battery backup
- Both bowls get the same portion
- Kibble 2 to 15 mm only
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
PETLIBRO automatic feeder with 1080p camera
- Wi-Fi
- 1080p
- 145 deg view
- local storage, no plan needed
+5 moreFewer
- 145 degree view
- Night vision
- Two-way audio
- 10 meals per day
- 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
1080p, night vision, two-way audio, motion and sound alerts, up to 10 meals a day. $100 to $250.
- 1080p camera, 145 degree view, night vision
- Two-way audio and motion alerts
- microSD recording up to 256 GB, no plan needed
- Cloud video needs a paid subscription
- microSD card not included
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
The bottom line
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
App control
PETLIBRO Granary Wi-Fi 5L automatic feeder
5 L food tank
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Two cats
PETLIBRO Wi-Fi feeder for 2 cats
2 bowls
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Watch them eat
PETLIBRO automatic feeder with 1080p camera
1080p camera
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Frequently asked questions
How long will a 5 liter automatic feeder last?
A 5 L hopper holds about 21 cups of dry food, since 1 cup is 0.237 L. At half a cup a day, that is about 6 weeks of food before a refill. Kibble shape and how full you fill it change the real number a little.
How do I set portion sizes on an automatic feeder?
Convert the daily amount on your food bag into the feeder's portion size. The PETLIBRO Wi-Fi 5L dispenses 1/12 cup per portion, so half a cup a day is 6 portions. The timed PETLIBRO feeder uses 2.5 teaspoon portions, so half a cup (24 teaspoons) is about 10 portions.
Do automatic pet feeders work during a power outage?
Many do on batteries. The PETLIBRO timed feeder runs on USB-C with 3 D-cell batteries as backup, which PETLIBRO rates at about 30 to 50 days. The two-bowl Wi-Fi feeder also has a battery backup, though app control needs your Wi-Fi to be up.
Can two cats share one automatic feeder?
Yes, with a dual-bowl model. The PETLIBRO two-bowl feeder splits each meal evenly between two stainless steel bowls. It gives both bowls the same portion, so cats on different diets need separate feeders.
Can automatic feeders dispense wet food?
Not the gravity hopper models on this page; they are built for dry kibble. The two-bowl PETLIBRO is rated for kibble from 2 to 15 mm. Wet food needs a feeder with sealed or chilled compartments.
Is a Wi-Fi pet feeder worth it over a basic timed feeder?
It is worth it if you want to change meals, feed early or get alerts while away. The Wi-Fi 5L sends phone notifications for an empty tank, a jam or low battery, and lets you set up to 10 meals a day. A timed feeder runs its schedule fine on its own and has no app to set up.
Do I need a subscription for a pet feeder camera?
No, for live view and local recording. The PETLIBRO camera feeder records to a microSD card up to 256 GB, which you buy separately. Cloud video storage is a paid subscription.
How many meals a day can an automatic feeder give?
The PETLIBRO timed feeder can be set for up to 6 meals a day, and the Wi-Fi models up to 10. Splitting the daily amount into several small meals can help pets that eat too fast.
Can my cat break into an automatic feeder?
These PETLIBRO feeders use a twist-lock lid and a patented rotor in the tank base to stop pets from getting extra food. Place the feeder on a flat floor away from furniture a cat can use to knock it over.
Do automatic feeders work on 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
The PETLIBRO Wi-Fi 5L, two-bowl and camera feeders support both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Many other smart pet devices, including several litter boxes, are 2.4 GHz only.
7 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.
Size it for your home
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
More about CrunchYourDollars and how we researchGet notified when we add tools
An occasional email when a new sizing tool goes live or the product database is refreshed. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.