Ranked: These pet apps actually work (and pet parents love them)

Do you agree with this ranking of best pet apps?

By Nicole Carlino Published November 5, 2022

There’s an app for that may be a phrase that’s turned trite and overused but, well, no matter what you’re looking for, there probably is an app for that. Now, whether there’s a good app for that is another story.

We’ve all been there. Whether you’re looking for a pet app, one to help you design the interior of your home, or just a game of solitaire to play, you can’t seem to find one with decent reviews or that works the way you want it to. Luckily the team at RentCafe, a nationwide apartment search website, combed through Android and iOS apps to find the best of the best (after all, we all know how tough being a pet parent who lives in an apartment can be).

RentCafe

The best pet apps for pet parents

How did RentCafe draw its conclusions? First, they eliminated any apps that weren’t on both Android and iOS (sure, you probably only use one, but most good apps cater to both kinds of phone users). Then, they eliminated any that weren’t designed for pet parents, but were actually meant for veterinarians.

Recommended Videos

After that, all of the apps were ranked based on a 100-point system, giving weight to different aspects of the apps’ features and design:

iOS rating: 20 points
Android rating: 20 points
Easy navigation & clean design: 10 points
iOS number of reviews: 10 points
Android number of reviews: 10 points
iOS price: 10 points
Android price: 10 points
Available on iOS & Android: 5 points
Number of downloads: 5 points

The results? The top ten pet apps and their respective scores follow:

Chewy: 100 points
Rover: 98 points
Puppr: 91 points
Dogo: 90 points
BringFido: 89 points
Tractive: 87 points
Good Pup: 82 points
Whistle: 76 points
Wag Labs: 76 points
Every Doggy: 76 points

More information is available at RentCafe’s site — for instance, while Wag Labs got a total of 76 points, it got significantly better (and more) reviews for its iOS app than its Android app (a five-star rating with 43,500 reviews vs. a three-star rating with 7,300 reviews, respectively). If you’re an iOS user, you probably don’t care about Android ratings so much.

Of course, the best pet apps aren’t all about the ratings. No one is denying that Chewy is a great app if you need food, treats, or toys for your pup, but if you’re looking for a pet sitter, it won’t do you much good. As such, RentCafe also broke down the top apps into different categories:

Pet-sitting: Rover
Pet monitoring & tracking: Tractive
Pet health: Whistle
Pet care: DogLog
Pet training: Puppr
Traveling & shopping for pets: Chewy

Being a pet parent isn’t easy, but having the right tools at your fingertips can make it a little less stressful. With these pet apps, you’ll be well on your way.

Topics

Editor

Dogs

How to train a dog: Techniques that actually work

Teach the basics and then build up to more advanced tricks

A black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sits by his owner and follows obedience commands

When you first bring home a pooch, you'll find yourself overwhelmed by all the changes. Don't worry; it does get better, but only if you dedicate yourself to training your new pet. You want to start with the basics and work your way up, since they're not likely to figure out how to walk a tightrope before they even know how to sit. We'll take you through how to train a dog, beginning with simple commands and working up to more complicated tasks.
The basics of dog training

A lot of dog training is repetition, and the most important thing is to keep at it and reward your beastie.
Consider working with a professional
The good news is that you can train your dog all on your own, but as with most things, bringing a pro into the mix certainly makes things easier. You may decide to sign your pup up for a basic obedience class or work one on one with an expert in your home. This depends on your dog's temperament and needs.
Use positive reinforcement
When your dog does something good, they should get a reward, which can be in the form of a treat or affection. Bad behavior must be redirected or ignored. That means every time your furry friend goes potty outdoors, you can give them a solid "good boy."
Make training fun
You might get frustrated sometimes when your dog doesn't listen or pick things up as quickly as you would like, but don't let that show. It's important to remain calm, as any stress you show will confuse your pup. Keep training sessions short, only five minutes for a young puppy.
How to house train and crate train your dog

Dogs

Dog sounds explained: What each bark, whine, and growl means

This guide will help you decode everything your dog says to you

Small dog howls at the sky while outside in the dirt

Our dogs talk to us. No really, they use a form a communication called "referential signaling," which means they give clues without words. Interestingly, this is also how babies and apes interface as well, though it's rare cross species. Dogs combine body language with vocalizations to get their point across and let us know what they need.

Our brains immediately go to the iconic bark when we think about a pup speaking, but it doesn't end there. Fido also whimpers, whines, growls, and sighs to ensure you know just what he's saying. It's up to us to decode dog sounds and suss out the messages.
What sounds do dogs make?

Dogs

How to bake a dog birthday cake your pup will love

You pup will go bananas for one of these pet-safe birthday cakes

Owner having fun making a birthday party for her dog at home

Every year on your birthday, (hopefully) you get a special dessert. It seems only fair that your pup be allowed the same treat, which may require you to whip out the ingredients. Of course, you can always go for a Puppuccino together, but if you want to give it a little extra, consider creating a dog-friendly cake for the occasion. These concoctions can work out for even a novice baker and will leave both of you thrilled with the results and hungry for more (most dog birthday cakes are edible to humans as well!).
What ingredients should go into a dog-friendly cake?

You may want to pick a staple that your dog loves and build the cake around it. While we're including a dog birthday cake recipe below, you can absolutely mix it up depending on Fido's preferences. Focus on things like pumpkin, peanut butter, yogurt, carrot, and banana.