ROLA PetPal
4 independent reviewsRead the findings →A pet camera on wheels that you drive from your phone, with add-on modules for treats and play. It's for owners who want to check on and spoil pets from afar. Door tracks and small steps can strand it.
Updated
Check the manufacturer’s site for current availability.
Where it sits in Enabot’s range
- ROLA MiniSmaller hand-driven pet camera with a weeks-long battery
- ROLA PetPalThis model
- ROLA PetTrackerWearable camera for pets rather than a robot
- EBO XBig family robot with a 4K camera and Alexa
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What reviewers found
Four reviewers have tested PetPal at home with cats or dogs. Digital Camera World gave it 4.5 out of 5, PetsRadar and The AU Review gave it 4 out of 5, and Can Buy or Not said you can buy it, with reservations. All four liked the camera and the remote driving. They split on how well it copes with real homes: Digital Camera World's found its dock about nine times in ten, while Can Buy or Not's kept getting stuck on a door track and a step. Several wished the modules and cloud extras came included.
Digital Camera World, hands-on, Sept 2024 · PetsRadar, hands-on, 7 months with two cats, Jan 2025 · The AU Review, hands-on, Mar 2025 (Tested with both add-on modules) · Can Buy or Not, hands-on, Jan 2025 (Tested without the toy module)
What it really does
Mixed resultsAs a camera you can drive around, it works: PetsRadar and Digital Camera World both praise the picture and controls. The self-driving extras are weaker, as Can Buy or Not's kept getting stuck on a door track and a small step, and Digital Camera World's under a table.
Staying engaging
Mixed resultsPetsRadar still enjoyed it after seven months with her cats. Can Buy or Not's cats mostly just watched it after the first few days, and The AU Review's dogs ignored the toys but stayed keen on the treat dispenser.
Who it suits
Mixed resultsThe AU Review found the toys suit cats more than dogs, and its small dachshunds couldn't reach the pet call button. Digital Camera World found it good fun for entertaining children too, while Can Buy or Not warns that homes with steps, door tracks or mesh Wi-Fi may struggle.
App, subscription and running costs
Mixed resultsPetsRadar and Digital Camera World found the app easy to use and say it works fine without a subscription. Both felt smart alerts and daily clips shouldn't sit behind the Cloud+ plan, and that the treat and toy modules should come included.
Privacy
Not enough evidenceOnly Digital Camera World commented, pointing to a physical on/off switch underneath and local SD card storage. No other review we use judged its privacy.
Build quality and battery life
Mixed resultsPetsRadar found it sturdy enough not to topple when pets play, and The AU Review found its wheels coped well with carpet. But The AU Review's light dock slid around on hard floors, and no reviewer measured battery life.
Support and longevity
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use judged Enabot's support. PetsRadar used it for seven months without camera delays, though it sometimes needed restarting before the app would connect.
Value
Mixed resultsPetsRadar thinks it's worth paying more than for simpler robots, but not that the modules cost extra. Digital Camera World expected more for the money, and Can Buy or Not found its features not useful enough for the price.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
A clear camera you can drive
PetsRadar used PetPal for seven months and found the camera much better than a typical pet camera, with no delays in all that time. It liked the joystick steering, speed control and preset patterns such as a figure of eight. Digital Camera World called the picture superb, if slightly purple, and the night vision really impressive. On the same Wi-Fi network, Can Buy or Not found it very responsive, and The AU Review said it moved smoothly with no sudden jolts.
Docking and floors depend on your home
Digital Camera World found PetPal got back to its dock about 90% of the time, sometimes after a few tries, but it kept bumping chairs and getting stuck under a table despite its obstacle avoidance. In Can Buy or Not's flat, a sliding-door track and a 20mm drop into the bathroom trapped it again and again, so the reviewer turned off automatic recording. The AU Review's light dock slid around on hard floors as the robot tried to reverse onto it. Clear its routes and fix the dock against something solid.
Treats win over toys
The AU Review's dogs weren't much interested in the toy module, but the treat dispenser won them over, even though it released anything from two to 15 treats at a time. PetsRadar had the treat module running within minutes. The toys are aimed at cats: Digital Camera World's dog still pawed at the balls, but Can Buy or Not's cats lost interest in the robot after a few days, though that unit came without the toy module. Buy the treat dispenser first.
The best extras cost more
Both PetsRadar and Digital Camera World felt the treat and toy modules should come included rather than sold separately. Cloud storage, smart alerts and the daily highlight video need a Cloud+ subscription, which Digital Camera World thought should be standard. All three reviewers who mentioned it, including The AU Review, found PetPal worked perfectly well without a subscription. Digital Camera World says there's a seven-day free trial, so you can see whether the extras are worth it to you.
Mesh Wi-Fi can cut it off
Can Buy or Not found PetPal stuck to its first mesh Wi-Fi point and lost connection as it drove away. PetsRadar sometimes had to restart the robot before the app would connect, which meant no remote use until someone got home. If you want dependable check-ins while you're away, those dropouts matter more than the camera quality. Make sure you've got good coverage in every room you plan to visit.
Can Buy or Not tested without the toy module, and The AU Review tested both add-on modules.
Our take
Should you buy the ROLA PetPal?
Best for: Pet owners wanting to drive a camera around one floor of the home. Skip it if: Stairs, thick rugs or raised thresholds separate the rooms you want to reach.
buy it if you want to drive a camera to wherever your pet is hiding and drop it a treat, and budget for the treat module. For simple check-ins, the ROLA Mini does the job with less to go wrong.
ROLA PetPal is a low, car-like camera you drive round the house from the ROLA app, talking to your pet as you go. Its trick is a swappable back module. The basic version carries a storage box, and a treat dispenser and a toy module with a feather stick, laser and balls are sold separately. It can recognise your cat or dog, take photos by itself and drive back to its dock when it's close by.
All four reviewers liked the camera and the driving. PetsRadar used it for seven months and found the picture far better than a typical pet camera, and Digital Camera World called the night vision really impressive. Homes vary, though. Digital Camera World's found its dock about nine times in ten, while Can Buy or Not's kept getting trapped by a sliding-door track and a small step, and The AU Review's light dock slid about on hard floors. The AU Review's dogs ignored the toys but stayed keen on the treat dispenser. PetsRadar and Digital Camera World both felt the modules and the cloud extras should come included rather than cost more, and Can Buy or Not found the connection dropped on its mesh Wi-Fi.
Where to buy
Where to buy the ROLA PetPal in United States
No United States price checked in the last 21 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United States retailers for this model.
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Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a subscription to keep working?
No. Live view, driving, two-way audio and recording to the included SD card all work without one the specifications. The Cloud+ plan adds round-the-clock cloud playback, smart alerts and an automatic daily clip of your pet. PetsRadar thought those should be free but said you can definitely get by without them, and The AU Review agreed.
What does it record, and where does that go?
Photos and video go to the 32GB SD card in the box, and you can also save them to your phone the specifications. It takes pictures by itself when it recognises your cat or dog. It only saves to the cloud if you have a Cloud+ subscription. Digital Camera World points out a physical on/off switch underneath for when you want privacy.
How long does the battery last?
Enabot claims two to eight hours depending on use, with about 2.5 hours to recharge the specifications. It drives back to its dock by itself, but only from close range. Digital Camera World found it docked about nine times in ten, and PetsRadar liked not having to remember to plug it in.
Will it suit a small dog?
Mostly. The AU Review's miniature dachshunds took a while to accept a robot nearly their size, and treats from the dispenser helped. They couldn't reach the call button that lets pets ring you, and the toy module's teasing stick appealed more to cats than dogs. PetsRadar says it's sturdy enough not to topple if a pet plays with it.
Will it work on mesh Wi-Fi?
It supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, according to the specifications, but Can Buy or Not found it didn't switch between mesh points and lost connection out of range. You need solid coverage where it drives, and that one review can't tell you whether a particular router setup would fix the problem.
Alternatives
Other companion robots to compare.
ROLA Mini
Why consider it: Smaller and simpler, and The AU Review found it easy to set up, with clear audio.
The compromise: There's no dock or treat dispenser, and raised surfaces sometimes left it stuck.
EBO Mini
Why consider it: A compact moving camera with pet play and automatic charging.
The compromise: There's too little owner evidence to judge how reliable it is day to day.
EBO Air 2 Plus
Why consider it: It adds a screen for video calls to mobile monitoring.
The compromise: It isn't clear yet how dependably it all works day to day.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the ROLA PetPal?
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Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- Digital Camera World: Enabot ROLA PetPal review ↗4.5 / 5Hands-on
- PetsRadar: Enabot ROLA PetPal: The craziest pet camera I've ever tested ↗4 / 5Hands-on, 7 months with two cats
- The AU Review: The Enabot ROLA PetPal Robot Pet Companion is a step in the right direction for all in one pet products ↗4 / 5Hands-on · Tested with both add-on modules
- Can Buy or Not: Enabot Rola PetPal review: Limited use ↗Hands-on · Tested without the toy module
Sources
Videos
- BearBear Cammy: 2024 Enabot ROLA PetPal Unboxing | Set Up | Testing | Full App Tutorial | Treat Dispenser | Robot ↗
- SmartPaw: Enabot Rola PetPal Pet Camera ↗
- Search YouTube for Enabot ROLA PetPal ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.