- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Once a novelty, pet cameras have grown in popularity in recent years—thanks in part to a wide range of models that cater to different needs. For example, some pet parents use cameras with motion and noise detection to monitor behavioral issues like separation anxiety and reactivity. Others choose models with a treat tosser to aid in training or to keep their pets active and entertained throughout the day. And of course, each camera (and its features) comes with a different price point.
For those looking for a basic live-streaming option that offers clear monitoring but won’t break the bank, the Petcube Cam is one of the most budget-friendly and smallest pet cameras on the market. And, with varying subscription plans, you can choose to pack more punch into the tiny package for a relatively affordable price.
But how does the camera really hold up when put to the test? And does the basic model provide enough features for pet parents to keep an eye on their dog’s activity and behavior while they’re gone?
To find out, I review the Petcube Cam to see if it will help me learn more about what my reactive pup, Roo, is up to while I’m away.
The Petcube Cam passes Roo’s sniffspection.
The Petcube Cam (Without a Subscription Plan)
The Petcube Cam is by far the most affordable out of the company’s product line. It’s also the simplest.
While the brand’s other cameras include features like a treat tosser or laser game, this model keeps things pretty basic. Here are some of the main features of the Petcube Cam without a subscription plan:
- Live streaming—Offering clear 1080p HD live streaming, the Petcube Cam has a wide-angle lens that gives a 110-degree view of the room.
- Full-room coverage—The camera tilts up and down, while the 8x digital zoom lets you get in close to check things out. An attachable magnet piece also attaches the camera to walls and ceilings.
- Two-way audio—When watching a live stream of your pet in full-screen mode, the audio feature lets you listen to them, talk to them—or both simultaneously!
- Night vision—The camera automatically switches to night vision in low light and no light conditions, so you can see your pet clearly up to 30 feet in the dark.
- Extras—The Petcube Cam is compatible with Amazon Alexa and includes a one-year warranty.
The Petcube Cam makes it tempting to live stream Roo’s big stretches all day.
The Petcube Cam (With a Subscription Plan)
To get additional features, the Petcube Cam requires a subscription plan called Petcube Care. There’s an “optimal” and “premium” plan that can be purchased either monthly or yearly (and canceled at any time).
Petcube also offers “bundles,” where you can get a camera for free if you sign up for a subscription plan—this is the route we chose in our testing. With Petcube Care, the camera also features:
- Smart alerts—These notifications alert you when your pet moves or makes noise (pick between a dog bark or cat meow). They even let you know when a human has entered the room.
- Automatic recording—Triggered by sound and motion, the Petcube Cam will record 30-second videos of your pet’s activity, which then appear on an interactive timeline. Smart filters allow you to choose which type of activity you want to record (i.e., when your dog barks, moves, or both).
- Video history and downloads—The optimal plan lets you replay your videos for up to three days and save up to 10 each month, while the premium plan gives you up to 90 days of video history and unlimited downloads.
- Web interface—This feature lets you set timeline filters, browse your video history, and download your videos from a desktop or laptop.
- Extras—The premium plan extends the warranty to two years and lets you sync up with other Petcube cameras. Additional subscription services include 24/7 online vet assistance and a pet emergency fund that acts as a pet insurance alternative.
Smart alerts are one of Petcube’s subscription features.
Testing the Petcube Cam—The Results
Roo doesn’t have separation anxiety, but she is reactive and sound-sensitive. We also just moved recently and now live next to some particularly noisy (see: barky) neighbors.
While she looks calm and rested when I return, I wanted a basic camera to make sure she wasn’t barking or upset while I was away. The Petcube Cam seemed like an ideal choice for our needs.
Offering a compact design, the Petcube Cam is smaller than a mini treat jar.
Design and setup are straightforward
When the Petcube Cam arrived, the first thing I noticed was how compact and well-designed everything was—right down to the QR code on the box. The instructions were easy to follow, and the setup was relatively quick.
The design is sleek and lightweight—making it easy to move and place in different rooms, although it does have to stay plugged in via a cord, which can be a little annoying at times. I liked how inconspicuous it was as Roo can sometimes have big feelings about changes in her environment, even the addition of an object. But she wasn’t at all fussed by the camera.
Setting up the app is easy with a QR code right on the box!
Smart alerts and two-way audio come in handy
Once the Petcube Cam was connected to my phone, I adjusted the settings so that I would receive smart alerts and videos any time the camera detected motion and sound.
I soon discovered that the motion sensor is highly sensitive—alerting me of movement and recording a video even when Roo would just stretch or raise her head. The notification settings, however, do have a sliding sensitivity scale, and once I selected the minimum level for movement, it did help a bit. In the end, I turned off the motion alerts altogether as I found them to be excessive and not really helpful for our particular needs.
I did appreciate the thoroughness of the noise monitor, however. Not only did it alert me of Roo’s barks and her soft, low grumblings, but impressively, it picked up on the barking of the neighbor dogs as well. Since I want to monitor Roo’s reactions and learn more about the noises that could potentially bother her while I’m away, this feature was spot-on with its detections.
The two-way audio is also a nice added touch, and the quality of the sound is pretty good. I actually used it to talk to Roo at one point to calm her down when she was barking. I do think, however, the novelty will eventually wear off, and the feature would work best if paired with a treat tosser to reinforce preferred behaviors.
Any shift in position (stretch, head raise, etc.) would send an alert that Roo was up and moving.
Camera Lens
The wide angle of the camera provided a full view of the room, and the tilting feature let me position the camera where it would show Roo both on and off the furniture. The image quality, however, was pretty average at best—although I liked that the zoom let me get in really close, even allowing me to see Roo’s paws and ears twitch while she slept.
Since I always tend to leave a lamp or some kind of light on while I’m gone, we didn’t really use the night vision feature. But in our testing, it did switch over immediately when I turned off the light, and the view was pretty clear.
Live streaming and video history were delayed but effective
While the camera would sometimes take a while to connect to the live stream, it always worked itself out. I did notice that sometimes it wouldn’t feed in real-time and was a second or two delayed. But that could also be due to my ancient phone and not-always-reliable Wi-Fi.
And, if I missed anything, the timeline made it easy to go back through my alert history and watch the recorded 30-second clips to see what had been going on.
Motion and sound are recorded and saved on an interactive timeline.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Petcube Cam?
The Petcube Cam offers a quality option at an affordable price point. We think it’s a great choice if you’re just looking for the basics to keep an eye on your pet, like live streaming and two-way audio.
If you have a little extra to spend, the Petcube Care subscription plans definitely elevate the experience with features like smart alerts and recorded videos—letting you monitor more behavior while you’re away.
In particular, we think this pet camera would be a hit for:
- Pet parents who don’t want to spend a lot of money and just want a basic camera that lets them live stream and listen/talk to their pets
- Puppies who are learning to sleep in their crate through the night
- Pet parents who are looking for an affordable subscription plan
- Pets who have walkers and sitters come into their home
- Noise-sensitive pups and their guardians who want to monitor their barking
- Pet parents in a smaller space who want a compact design
The Petcube cam might not work for the following, however:
- Pet parents who want a camera with a treat tosser or built-in game to train and exercise their pets while they’re away or in another room
- Dogs with separation anxiety who need a camera that can track their movement and behavior across rooms
- Pet parents who want crystal clear image quality
- Households that don’t have a strong Wi-Fi connection
