Comparison

BARK vs PetSmart

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Real-time shipping updates
  • Manage subscription details
  • Personalize dog profiles
  • Direct human support
  • Customizable boxes
Features
Read full description

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!

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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

BARK4 screens
PetSmart4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BARK ships an update every 2 weeks, PetSmart every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
BARK versus PetSmart: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBARKPetSmart
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (30K ratings) — better4.0 (31K ratings)
Positive reviews68.8% of reviews — better9.5% of reviews
Number of ratings30K31K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#44 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB138 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBarkBox, IncPetSmart LLC

Customer experience

BARK

All ratings29,965 ratings
Positive98.7%
Neutral0.8%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews208 reviews
Positive68.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative26.4%

PetSmart

All ratings31,190 ratings
Positive72.5%
Neutral5.0%
Negative22.5%
Written reviews1,335 reviews
Positive9.5%
Neutral11.5%
Negative79.0%

User reviews

BARK

From 30K App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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

None

BARK

No in-app purchases

None

PetSmart

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BARK free?
BARK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PetSmart free?
PetSmart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BARK or PetSmart?
BARK is rated higher. BARK averages 4.9 out of 5 from 30K ratings, while PetSmart averages 4.0 from 31K ratings.
Do BARK or PetSmart have ads?
PetSmart shows ads; BARK does not.
Which is updated more often, BARK or PetSmart?
BARK ships an update every 2 weeks, and PetSmart every 10 days. Most recently, BARK was updated on October 25, 2026 and PetSmart on October 25, 2026.

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