Honest Waggle Pet Monitor Review (+2 Cheaper Alternatives)

I was excited to try the Waggle pet monitor while traveling full-time with my dog, Oscar. Even though I do everything I can to avoid leaving him unattended, the reality of RV travel is that sometimes you need to run into the grocery store, stop by a laundromat, or see a doctor.

In those scenarios, knowing that my dog is safe and comfortable while I’m away for a few minutes is absolutely crucial to me. That’s why a reliable RV pet monitor is non-negotiable.

Unfortunately, my Waggle pet monitor didn’t meet the standard for reliable (among other issues.) I’m covering those details in my Waggle review, as well as two better alternatives I’ve found much more reliable and affordable.

In this article:

• My Waggle pet monitor review – the good & bad
• 2 reliable, cheaper Waggle alternatives
• Easy features and cost comparison of Waggle vs Necto vs MarCELL

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After being disappointed with the Waggle pet monitor I set out to find another option that I could trust to send me safety alerts if my camper became too hot for my dog. Since then, I’ve tried Necto and MarCELL and have been happy with both.

While I would not recommend Waggle pet monitors, I do give 5-stars to both Necto and MarCELL RV temperature monitors for pets.

Here’s a quick overview of how all 3 monitors stack up to help you decide which one is the best RV pet temperature monitor for you:

In addition to being less reliable, there’s also a massive difference in lifetime cost for Waggle vs Necto or MarCELL.

If you need year-round alerts, this is the cost difference for each pet monitoring system:

After two years, Waggle will have cost $497 whereas Necto would only cost $214 — literally less than half as much! After three years, Necto would have saved you $500 more than Waggle.

If you only need alerts for a few months each year, this is what you can expect to spend for each pet monitoring system (based on 3 monthly subscription payments each year):

After two years (using the pet monitor for 3 months each year), Waggle will cost $333 whereas Necto is only $160 total — again Necto is nearly half the cost of Waggle AND Necto devices come with a full year of service so you’re actually getting way more.

By year three, the cost of Waggle soars to $450 but Necto total cost remains at $190.

You can literally save hundreds of dollars with Necto, and get more reliable alerts. It’s an easy choice, in my opinion.

Even better, Necto has offered a 10% off discount code to my readers!

🔥🔥 DEAL: Save 10% with Necto discount code EVERYWHERE

What Is The Waggle Pet Monitor?

The Waggle pet monitor is a device that measures temperature, humidity and power outages in your camper/RV/car. If it notices a problem, it’ll send you an alert.

Waggle pet monitors come with an internal SIM card that connects to cellular networks in order to send alerts to your cell phone, even when you aren’t nearby.

Like all cellular pet temperature monitors, a monthly subscription is necessary in order to access cellular networks and receive notifications.

This means you don’t need to rely on WiFi or Bluetooth in order to stay updated on your pets safety.

NOTE: The Waggle pet monitor uses it’s own SIM card and cellular connection so it can send you alerts even if your phone uses a different carrier.

Waggle Subscription Cost

After you purchase a Waggle pet monitor, you’ll also need to activate a monthly subscription in order to receive real-time alerts.

You need both the device and the monthly subscription in order to receive alerts.

NOTE: While Waggle pet monitors are one of the cheaper pet temperature monitoring devices, they have the highest recurring monthly fees which make them the most expensive option overall.

Waggle Pet Monitor Review: The Good Stuff

There’s a few things that Waggle pet monitors do well:

✅ Has an integrated mobile app
✅ Quick, easy installation
✅ Backup battery for power outages
✅ Alerts up to 5 users

Waggle App

I like that Waggle has an app, so it’s easy to monitor the temperature in my camper from my phone.

Within the Waggle app you’re able to choose which types of alerts you want to receive (temperature, humidity, power outages) and the frequency of reminder notifications.

✅ Necto and MarCELL also have mobile apps with customized settings.

Quick Set-up & Installation

The Waggle pet monitor is also incredibly easy to set-up. In total, it took me about 10 minutes to install and activate my Waggle pet monitor.

The unit comes with a wall mount and double-sided tape, so it’s easy to fix to any wall. It also comes with a 12v or 110v outlet adapter, so no hard-wiring to electricity is required.

✅ Necto and MarCELL were also easy to set-up and install, and come with similar wall mounts and power cords.

Waggle Pet Monitor Review: The Bad Stuff

While there are a few positives in my Waggle review, they unfortunately get some very crucial things wrong.

❌ Most expensive ongoing costs
❌ Short battery life
❌ Unit failures make it unreliable
❌ Poor customer service
❌ No WiFi connection

Waggle Is Too Expensive

The Waggle pet monitor is simply way too expensive for what it actually does. Especially compared to other pet monitors that cost less, are more reliable, and offer better customer service and warranties.

Over the last few years, it seems like Waggle is shifting their business model to offering a cheap device (used to be $200, now $99) while hiking up their monthly fees (used to be $19, now $39.)

$39 a month for a Waggle pet monitor that only sends temperature, humidity and power outage alerts seems excessive to me…

If you compare Waggle vs Necto costs over the first year, you’ll save over $150 with Necto.
[My math: Waggle pet monitor ($99) + 1-year subscription ($199) = $298/year. Necto pet monitor + 1-year subscription = $130/year]

Battery Life Not As Advertised

As someone who spends most of my time boondocking and relying on solar power, I was really drawn to the advertised 4-8 day battery life for Waggle pet monitors. That would mean I could conserve my power, and only recharge the device 1 or 2 times per week.

The reality is that I had to recharge my Waggle pet monitor almost daily. Actual battery life was only 1-2 days, not 4-8.

After reading many other Waggle reviews it appears that this is pretty common problem that’s been ongoing for several years.

Unit Failures & Poor Customer Service

There are many Waggle pet monitor reviews indicating that their unit suddenly stopped working without any warning. Either it failed to send heat alerts, stopped connecting to the cellular network, or reported drastically low temperature readings – sometimes off by as much as 20 or 30°F!

In addition, there aren’t many positive Waggle reviews about their customer service. Most people indicate that it takes weeks to get a proper response or solution… if at all.

In my experience, I’ve had to follow up multiple times over several weeks in order to get a response from the team at Waggle.

At the end of the day, if my Waggle pet monitor is not reliable 100% of the time, it’s worthless to me. The unreliability of Waggle is the primary reason I tossed mine.

No WiFi Option

I would really love to see RV temperature monitors evolve to having both cellular and WiFi connection capabilities.

Currently, you can have cellular, or you can have WiFi but you cannot have both.

With the availability of Starlink, a WiFi feature would expand the Waggle pet monitor range to even the most remote locations where cellular signal is non-existent (especially in National Parks!)

Waggle Vs Necto & MarCELL: Pet Monitor Alternatives

Necto and MarCELL are great alternatives to Waggle pet monitors. In fact, the comparison of Waggle vs Necto or MarCELL is very clear cut.

They outperform Waggle in literally every category; better price, more reliable, good customer service, lifetime warranties, etc.

In my experience, Necto and MarCELL are pretty much tied for first place. I’ve used both and have full reviews for each:

Necto pet monitor review
MarCELL pet monitor review

If you are a full-time traveler and need year-round temperature alerts, Necto is definitely the best option. However, for seasonal travelers the cost comparison between the two is fairly even.

One feature that MarCELL offers, which isn’t available for Necto or Waggle pet monitoring systems, is a water leak monitor. They call it SPuck and it’s a $30 device you place near your pipes, under your sink, etc. If it senses a water leak you’ll get an immediate alert.

Waggle Review: Not Worth It

After trying Waggle, Necto and MarCELL I have firmly placed the Waggle pet monitor in last place. Waggle is far more expensive than Necto or MarCELL, and it’s an inferior monitor.