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Choosing the best automatic ball launcher for your dog can be a daunting task. With so many out there, how do you know which one is right for you and your pup?
In this post, I’ll compare two of the most popular options: the iFetch Automatic Ball Launcher and the GoDogGo Fetch Machine.
I’ll break down all their features, pros and cons, design, durability, and much more to help make your decision easier.
So, which is the better ball launcher? Keep reading to find out!
Table of Contents
Main Features
iFetch:
- It can be used outdoors as well as indoors.
- Comes with 3 mini tennis balls roughly 1.6 inches in diameter (can be a choking hazard for large dogs).
- 3 distance settings: 10, 20, and 30 ft.
- The device is small, lightweight, and has a clean, compact design which makes storing it and bringing it with you places requires little effort.
- No assembly is needed. Simply plug it in or put batteries in (6 C batteries required), and it’s ready to go.
- Simple to use – no detailed instructions to follow in order to use the toy.
GoDogGo:
- Designed for outdoor use only. Not meant for indoor use unless you have A LOT of open space (and a high ceiling).
- Comes with 5 tennis balls.
- 3 distance settings: Low (20 ft.), Medium (30 ft.), High (40 ft.).
- Ball launches with a “safety arc” feature. It launches them high in the air to avoid hitting your dog as they wait for the ball to be thrown.
- Comes with a remote control. Allows you to be up to 50 ft. away from the device and control how often balls are launched.
- Comes with rechargeable batteries.
- Large area for the ball to be dropped in.
- Can hold multiple tennis balls at once.
Winner: GoDogGo
Design
iFetch:
- Sleaque, compact design.
- Very modern.
- Small.
- White and blue.
- Good quality plastic.
- The area for the ball to be dropped in is a little small. This may take some dogs a little longer to learn where to drop the ball and play with the toy.
- Button on the back of the device to change up the distances.
- Easy to store.
GoDogGo:
- Bulky design. The top bucket-like portion is attached to the bottom half.
- Green and black.
- Medium-large sized.
- The bottom half feels sturdy and compact, but the top bucket is more flimsy (it’s thinner plastic, so that’s understandable).
- Multiple balls can be held in the device at once.
- Distance control is a D-ring switch on the bottom of the device.
- Time interval control is on the back of the device. Or you can use the remote control.
Winner: iFetch
Size
iFetch:
- The iFetch is a pretty small device. However, this didn’t surprise me, considering it’s designed for small to medium-sized dogs.
- Storing it in your home should be simple, even though it is round in shape.
- Note: iFetch does have another larger device called the iFetch Too, though.
GoDogGo:
- The GoDogGo is roughly 50% bigger than the iFetch. Its design is also bulkier.
- While it doesn’t take up excessive space, finding a place to store it is a little more challenging than iFetch.
Winner: iFetch
Durability
iFetch:
- The compact design of the iFetch makes it quite durable because few places are vulnerable and more likely to break.
- However, it is not waterproof and won’t work if you get water on it.
GoDogGo:
- The GoDogGo fetch machine is slightly less durable. The bottom half is compact, and I consider it very similar in durability to the iFetch. But the top half is thinner plastic that could break more easily.
Winner: iFetch
Distance Control
iFetch:
- The distance control on the iFetch is generally quite accurate.
- When you set it to 10 ft., the ball goes roughly that distance. Sometimes a foot or foot and a half shorter. The same experience happens with the 20 and 30 ft. settings. How far they say the ball will go is pretty accurate.
GoDogGo:
- The distance control of the GoDogGo is a little less reliable. I think this is because of its safety launch feature.
- Also, given it shoots the ball so much higher in the air, how much the ball bounces will affect how far it ends up.
Winner: Tie. While the control over the distance is better with the iFetch, the safety arc feature is important when a ball launcher has the ability to shoot a ball 40 ft. That could hurt a dog if launched straight at them.
Noise
iFetch:
- When the ball prepares to be launched and eventually launches, there’s a good bit of noise going on. Especially when the ball gets shot out.
- It’s not a cover-your-ears type of loud, but it definitely could be a little bothersome if you were watching TV and your dog was playing with the toy. But seeing them enjoy themselves makes up for the slight noise.
GoDogGo:
- The sound coming from the GoDogGo is slightly louder, but that’s to be expected, given it’s a little bigger and can throw the ball further.
Winner: iFetch
Warranty
iFetch:
- The iFetch has a 1-year worry-free warranty. If at any time during the first 12 months after you bring it home, you can contact their support about getting a replacement.
GoDogGo:
- The GoDogGo has a 6-month limited warranty.
Winner: I’m sure the warranty for iFetch has some limits to it as well, but considering it’s double the length of the GoDogGo, the winner here is: iFetch
Other Reviews
iFetch:
- The iFetch has over 3,000 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars.
- A large number of people share that their dog simply adores the toy. They’re super excited when it comes out to play and are sad when it’s being put away.
- A few people caution that you need to train your dog to stand back. Otherwise, they will get hit by the ball when it launches.
- The balls’ poor quality seems to be a common thread among people who’ve bought this automatic dog ball launcher. And the device can only work with balls the same size as the ones that come with the toy (1.5-1.6 inches).
- Roughly 60% of people gave the toy a 4 or 5-star rating. Not perfect, but many people have had a positive experience with the toy.
GoDogGo:
- To GoDogGo has over 1,500 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars as well.
- Many people shared that their dog enjoyed the toy, but it wouldn’t shoot the ball as far as advertised.
- Other people weren’t disappointed and shared that it works well and does the job it’s designed to do.
- The balls it comes with are generally low quality, and you’re better off using standard tennis balls.
- The GoDogGo also has roughly 60% of people giving it a 4 or 5-star rating.
Our Pick For The Winner:
If you have a small dog, I have to give the edge to the iFetch on this one. It’s more durable, has better distance control, and comes with a longer warranty.
However, if you have a larger dog, the small balls are potentially dangerous for them. In that case, I recommend checking out our list of the best dog ball launchers, where we have picks that are better for large dogs.
The reviews are pretty similar between the two, but I personally don’t love the design of the GoDogGo Fetch Machine. I think it’s unnecessary for the toy to be able to hold multiple balls.
One ball is all that’s needed for my dog to play fetch with himself and the toy.
If you want to look at individual reviews, you can check out our complete iFetch review and our GoDogGo Fetch Machine review.
