It’s the battle of the treat dispensing pet cameras on the blog today – specifically Petcube Bites vs Furbo. Amazon’s #1 Best Selling Pet Camera (Furbo) vs Amazon’s #1 New Release in Pet Supplies – how will they fare? Read on to find out!
Petcube Bites vs Furbo Dog Camera
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Side-by-Side Comparison
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| Product Details | ||
| Camera/Video | 1080p HD | 1080p HD |
| Audio/Microphone | 2-way Audio | 2-way Audio |
| Wireless Communication | Wifi/Blutooth | Wifi/Blutooth |
| Dimensions | 7.2 x 3 x 12.9 in | 5.9 x 4.7 x 8.9 in |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs | 2.09 lbs |
| Power | Outlet/USB Cable | Outlet/USB Cable |
| Wall Mountable | Optional | ✘ |
| Colors Available | Silver/Black/Rose Gold | White |
| Standard Features (Without Subscription) | ||
| Treat Dispenser | ✔ | ✔ |
| Treat Dispenser Capacity | 100 treats | 100 treats |
| Free Cloud Video Storage | 4 Hours | ✘ |
| Sound & Motion Alerts | ✔ | Bark Alerts Only |
| Family Sharing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multicam Ability | ✔ | ✔ |
| Warranty | 12 Months | 12 Months |
| Guarantees | 45-Day Money Back | 30-Day Money Back |
| Subscription Free-trial Period | 14 days | 90 days |
| Subscription Extras (Paid) | Petcube Care | Furbo Dog Nanny |
| Cloud Based Video Storage (Activity/Event Triggered Recordings) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Smart Alerts (Bark/Activity/Event/ Pet & Human Recognition) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pet Care Partner Discounts | ✔ | ✘ |
| Extended Warranty | ✔ | ✘ |
| Subscription Cost | Up to $9.99/month | $6.99/month |
| Connectivity & Compatibility | ||
| Connectivity Requirements | 2.4GHz WiFi, iOS 9.3 & higher or Android 5.1 & higher | 2.4GHz WiFi, iOS 10 & higher or Android 6 & higher, BLE |
| Alexa Compatible | ✔ | ✔ |
| Amazon Dash Replenishment | Enabled | ✘ |
Differences
1. Design
Let’s start with the obvious – design! Whilst both dog cameras perform many of the same functions and whilst they both hold the same number of treats (100 pieces), the Petcube Bites is substantially larger (and heavier) than the Furbo.
The Petcube Bites also comes in 3 colors vs. the Furbo that comes in white only. Similarly, the Bites comes with an optional wall-mount kit – a nice touch, especially if you have bigger dogs with a tendency for knocking things over!
2. Sound & Motion Alerts
Without a paid subscription, the Petcube Bites offers both sound and motion alerts (push-notifications to your phone), the Furbo on the other hand, only offers bark alerts without a subscription.
3. Free Cloud Video Storage
The Bites comes with 4 hours of free cloud storage as standard (without a subscription) and up to 10 days of video history as part of Petcube Care. The Furbo offers 24 hour event-based recording as part of the Furbo Dog Nanny subscription service only.
4. Zoom & Wide Angle View
Furbo outranks Petcube Bites in terms of zoom and field of view, offering 4x digital zoom capability (vs the Bites 3x zoom) and 160° wide-angle view vs. the Bites at 138°.
5. Subscription Packages
These vary significantly between the two. Available in a number of tiers, Petcube Care, the Bites subscription service ranges from $2.99/month up to $9.99/month (annual discounts available) and comes with various video storage options (not available from Furbo).
The $9.99/month offering from Petcube appears to be most comparable to Furbo’s Dog Nanny subscription service ($6.99/month) in terms of the Smart Alerts on offer, however it’s video storage offering far exceeds that of Furbo’s (10 days of video history vs 24 hours).
The $9.99/month Petcube Care package also offers extended warranty and access to partner pet care discounts (not currently available from Furbo Dog Nanny).
6. Furbo Doggie Diary (60-sec daily highlight video) vs. Daily Timeline
Furbo Dog Nanny offers a daily Doggie Diary, a 60-second daily highlight video, as part of its subscription service. This Petcube Care offers timeline history only at this time.
7. Dog Selfie Alert
Furbo’s AI technology (in conjunction with the Furbo Dog Nanny subscription service) can detect when your dog is facing the camera and snap a dog selfie and send direct to your phone as an alert.
This feature is not currently available with Petcube Bites, however you can snap photos manually – Petcube still alerts you to motion though and includes pet and human recognition.
8. Free Subscription Trial Periods & Money Back Guarantees
The Furbo comes with a free 90-day trial period for its Furbo Dog Nanny subscription service, vs Petcube which only offer a 14-day free trial of Petcube Care. Petcube do offer a slightly longer money back guarantee however (45-days vs Furbo at 30 days).
9. Amazon Dash Replenishment Service
Available with Petcube Bites only.
10. Cost
While Petcube’s top-tier subscription package is slightly more expensive than Furbo’s offering, its inclusions are far greater and unit price substantially cheaper at $124.50 vs Furbo at $199 (currently), making it the more cost-effective option of the 2.
11. Cleaning
The Petcube Bites treat tray is detachable and can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand. The Furbo treat container on the other hand is not removable and can only be cleaned using a damp cloth.
Similarities
1. Interactive treat tossing
Interactive treat tossing is available with both units. Similarly, they both hold up to 100 treats. Automatic treat toss (treat scheduling) is also available from both units.
2. 2-Way Audio, 1080p HD video, and 24/7 monitoring from your phone
Both units allow you to see (in 1080p HD), hear and talk to your pets in real-time from your phone via their apps. Both cameras also offer night vision mode – which is pretty damn cool!
3. Smart Alerts
Both devices offer Smart Alerts (push notifications to your phone via their apps), these include sound and motion alerts, activity alerts as well as human and pet detection alerts. Available alerts increase depending on your subscription status.
4. Photos and Video Sharing
Both devices allow you to take photos and record video as well as share access with family and friends. Social sharing is also a feature of both pet cams as well as multi-camera capability.
5. Connectivity and Wireless Communication
The Furbo and the Petcube Bites both have similar connectivity requirements and wi-fi technology. They are both Alexa compatible.
Final Thoughts - Petcube Bites vs Furbo in 2019
Both devices are great for monitoring and interacting with your pet when you can’t be there, with the core features of each being essentially the same. What sets them apart however, are their subscription offerings and also their design.
If you’re looking for a pet camera with extensive video recording storage and play-back options, access to other pet care perks and offers, ease of cleaning and wall-mounting capability, then the Petcube Bites (with Petcube Care) might be the pet cam for you.
If you’re willing to pay a little more for a slightly sleeker, more compact design with greater Smart Alert options (via Furbo Dog Nanny), slightly wider field of view with 4x zoom, then Furbo might be the better option.
At the end of the day it all comes down to the features you value most and what you feel will work best for you and your doggo/s!
Did you enjoy this post? Check out some of our other doggy product reviews right here!
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