I’ll admit, the idea of a camera watching my pet eat breakfast felt a bit much at first. If you’ve ever come home late and found your dog or cat staring at an empty bowl – or worse, gone away for a night and worried about it the whole time – an automatic feeder solves a genuinely everyday problem. The PETLIBRO Granary 5L is one of the most consistently well-reviewed options on the market right now, so this review breaks down exactly what it does well, where it falls short, and whether it’s worth the money over a cheaper basic timer feeder. Here’s what I found.
Update: PETLIBRO has since discontinued the original Granary 5L in most markets in favour of newer models in the same automatic-feeder line. The link below points to PETLIBRO’s current closest equivalent (5L capacity, app control, similar core features) available on Amazon.
Quick Verdict
Short version: The PETLIBRO Granary 5L is a strong pick if you want reliable, app-controlled portion feeding with a camera to check in on your pet – it’s accurate, easy to set up, and well-built. It’s not the cheapest option, and the camera’s recording history sits behind an optional subscription, so if you only need basic scheduled feeding without the smart extras, a simpler model will save you money.
At a Glance
Not sure the featured pick is right for you? Compare it against the alternatives before reading on – every product mentioned in this post has its own link here, not just the featured pick:
| Product | Best For | Price Range | Link |
 PETLIBRO Granary 5L (featured) | Camera + smart scheduling | €€€ (~90-140) | Check Price on Amazon |
 PetSafe Smart Feed | Bigger households, more meals/day | €€ (~60-90) | Check Price on Amazon |
 PETKIT YumShare Solo | AI camera, motion-sorted clips | €€€ (~90-110) | Check Price on Amazon |
 Budget timer feeder | Simple scheduled feeding only | € (~30-60) | Check Price on Amazon |
Key Features
- Capacity – 5-litre (about 21 cups) capacity, enough for most households to go 2-4 weeks between refills depending on pet size.
- Scheduling – up to 6-10 meals per day, 1-50 portions per meal, each portion around 20ml.
- Camera & audio – built-in 1080p camera with a 145-degree wide-angle view and night vision, plus two-way audio so you can talk to your pet and hear them back.
- App control – controlled entirely through the PETLIBRO smartphone app, with instant alerts when your pet shows up to eat.
- Power – USB-C powered, with 3 D-cell batteries as backup so scheduled feeds still happen during a power cut.
- Accuracy – portion accuracy is rated among the best in its class for dry kibble (roughly 4% deviation), which matters if you’re managing a pet’s weight or a vet-recommended diet.
Pros
- Reliable and consistent – the most repeated praise across customer reviews is that it simply works, day after day, without jamming.
- Easy to set up – no complicated pairing process, the app walks you through it.
- Genuinely useful camera – wide viewing angle and clear night vision make it easy to actually check in, not just a gimmick.
- Good portion accuracy – meaningful if your pet is on a controlled diet.
The camera is the feature that surprised me most – it’s easy to dismiss as a gimmick until you’re the one checking in on a stressed pet from the office.
Cons
- Camera recording history requires an optional paid subscription – live viewing is free, but saved clips are not.
- Pricier than basic timer feeders – you’re paying for the smart features, so it’s not the right pick if you just want simple scheduled meals.
- A handful of users report occasional portioning issues with certain kibble shapes/sizes – worth checking your food type isn’t unusually shaped before buying.
None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re worth going in with your eyes open.
Who It’s For
Best suited to owners who travel occasionally, work long or irregular hours, or specifically want portion control for a pet on a managed diet (if digestion is part of that picture too, our probiotics & gut health supplements roundup is worth a look). If you want to check in visually during the day, the camera makes a real difference over a basic feeder.
Best skipped by anyone who just wants a simple, no-frills way to automate two meals a day – a basic timer feeder does that for a fraction of the price, without any app or subscription involved. If that sounds like you, no need to overspend – skip to the budget pick in the table above.
Alternatives Worth Considering
- PetSafe Smart Feed – similar smart feeding with a 24-cup hopper and up to 12 programmable meals a day – a solid alternative if you want a bigger capacity for multi-pet households.
- PETKIT YumShare Solo – the highest-rated camera feeder in its class, with AI-powered motion detection that automatically sorts video clips into feeding, eating, and visit events – worth a look if the camera is your main reason for buying.
- Budget option – for anyone who just wants scheduled feeding without any smart features, budget feeders in the EUR30-60 range cover the basics reliably.
Final Verdict
For most owners who want the reassurance of a camera and reliable app-controlled scheduling, the PETLIBRO Granary 5L is worth the higher price over a basic feeder. If budget is the main concern and you don’t need the camera, a simpler timer feeder will do the core job just as well. Either way, your pet won’t know the difference – they’ll just be fed on time.