BARK vs PetSmart
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BARK
Manage your dog's monthly subscription box with ease. Customize deliveries, track shipments, update your dog's profile for personalized boxes, and access direct support. Receive new toys and treats tailored to your pup's needs and playstyle.
- Real-time shipping updates
- Manage subscription details
- Personalize dog profiles
- Direct human support
- Customizable boxes
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We’re BARK – Monthly Dog Goodies for Great Pups! With the BARK app, managing your dog’s subscription is easier than ever. From customizing your deliveries to tracking shipments, we’ve got everything you need to keep your pup happy. Sign up today and get FREE extra toys for a year! App Features - Real-time shipping updates with push notifications - Manage your subscription, including billing and shipping details - Update your dog’s profile for personalized boxes - Access fast support from real humans directly in the app How It Works Tell us about your best bud We build a box that’s just as unique as your pup—from allergy-friendly snacks to toys tailored to their playstyle. Pick your pup’s plan Choose from 1-, 6-, or 12-month plans. Cancel anytime. Free shipping included! Unbox dog joy every month Discover new toys, treats, and adventures with every box. Plus, your dog will start thinking every package is for them!
PetSmart
Shop for pet supplies, book grooming appointments, and manage your pet's care all in one place. Access helpful articles, earn rewards, and find store locations easily. Get everything you need for your furry, feathered, or scaled family members.
- In-app shopping for pet essentials
- Buy online, pick up in store (1-hour option)
- Treats Rewards loyalty program management
- In-app salon booking and appointment management
- Doggie Day Camp availability check
- PetsHotel reservations
- Personalized offers and content
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At PetSmart, we know being a pet parent is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. It also raises many questions! So, we’ve built our app to be a valued resource for every step of your journey as a pet parent. You’ll find helpful articles, products, services bookings and can shop for all your pet needs in one place. • With in-app shopping, you can get all your pet essentials in one place. In a rush? Get your order in 1 hour with buy online pick up in store. • Sign up for our Treats Rewards loyalty program. You’ll earn points every time your shop & you can manage your account through the app. • Get your pet looking fresh with in-app salon booking, appointment management & easy rebooking • Check Doggie Day Camp availability • Make & manage PetsHotel reservations • Tailor the app experience to your entire pet family with personalized offers & content With a store locator, helpful resources, in-app shopping, services bookings, informative articles & videos, the PetSmart App is a great resource for a great life with your best friend!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BARK at 69% against PetSmart's 10%. BARK also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and ads (none vs shown). PetSmart's advantage is chart position (#44 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BARK holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30K and 31K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of BARK's written reviews are positive against 10% of PetSmart's.
BARK ships an update every 2 weeks, PetSmart every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | BARK | PetSmart |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (30K ratings) — better | 4.0 (31K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 68.8% of reviews — better | 9.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 30K | 31K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #44 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 138 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BarkBox, Inc | PetSmart LLC |
Customer experience
BARK
PetSmart
User reviews
BARK
From 30K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎉 Exciting monthly themes
- 🐶 Dogs love the toys and treats
- 💯 High-quality, durable products
- 🤝 Excellent customer service
- 🎁 Customizable subscription options
Room to improve
- 📦 Inconsistent or delayed delivery
- 🕰️ Outdated app features
- 🤔 Lack of personalization options in app
- 💰 Expensive for some users
PetSmart
From 31K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📅 Easy to book appointments
- 🛒 Convenient online shopping
- 💰 Rewards program with coupons
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 🇨🇦 Doesn't work for Canadian customers
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive UI
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 🔒 Login and account issues
Bugs and requests
BARK
Reported bugs
2 issues- App login issues
- Incorrect billing or missing items
Requested features
3 requests- Ability to choose specific toys/treats
- Improved app functionality and tracking
- More customization options for subscription
PetSmart
Reported bugs
4 issues- Payment processing errors
- Disappearing cart items
- Incorrect store location and inventory
- Inability to complete online orders
Requested features
5 requests- Add barcode scanner for price checks
- Improve search and filtering functionality
- Allow adding favorite items and past orders
- Integrate pet profiles and medical records
- Provide delivery options beyond in-store pickup
In-app purchases
BARK
No in-app purchases
PetSmart
No in-app purchases






