The Best Dog Training Apps of 2026, Compared
An honest, sourced comparison of Dogo, Zigzag, Woofz, Puppr, Pupford, and Pawsho — matched to your dog's age, your problem, and your budget.
Choosing a dog training app is harder than it looks. Every listing promises to fix barking, pulling, and biting, and most show an average of 4.6 stars or higher. The real question isn’t “which app is best” — it’s which app fits your dog’s age, your specific problem, and how much hand-holding you want.
Full disclosure up front: Pawsho makes one of the apps on this list. So we’re not going to crown ourselves “best overall.” Instead, we’ll tell you honestly where each app shines — including where a competitor is the better call for your dog.
Everything below was checked on September 23, 2026, against published App Store and Google Play listings, developer pricing pages, and Apple’s public ratings API. Where we couldn’t confirm something, you’ll see “not confirmed” rather than a guess.
Quick picks
- Best for a big trick library plus trainer video feedback: Dogo
- Best for a brand-new puppy: Zigzag
- Best for training plus general care tracking: Woofz
- Best for tricks and obedience with a built-in clicker: Puppr
- Best free structured course (on a budget): Pupford
- Best for breed-aware training tied to daily care (iPhone): Pawsho — ours
How we compared
We looked at each app’s own App Store description and in-app purchase list, its Google Play listing, and its official website. Rating counts come from Apple’s public lookup API, and averages are rounded to one decimal, as the store shows them.
A few honest caveats: US App Store prices in USD change often, and several apps list the same product at multiple price points (likely tests or promotions). We attribute company self-claims (“the only app dedicated to puppyhood,” for example) rather than stating them as fact. And we don’t cite Reddit or Trustpilot sentiment here — we couldn’t verify it first-hand.
Dogo
Dogo describes itself as helping “dog parents to train their dogs at home and build stronger relationships,” with a subtitle of “Puppy Potty Trainer & Tricks.” It runs on iPhone, Apple Watch, and Android.
Standout features: a “library of 100+ dog tricks with video instructions,” a built-in clicker and whistle, personalized training programs, and 12 named behavior programs — Stop Dog Jumping, Potty Training, Home Alone, Leash Walking, Perfect Recall and more. Its most distinctive feature is video feedback: you can “send a video exam to the Dogo trainer and get feedback on your puppy’s performance,” plus “ask help of professional dog trainers.”
Pricing (as listed on Sep 23, 2026): a 7-day free trial, then a subscription. In-app purchases run across many price points, including a “Premium Lifetime” option at $299.99. A free tier is not confirmed — in a 2023 review reply, the developer wrote that they had “decided to require a paid subscription.”
Ratings: 4.8 from 17,224 App Store ratings; 4.6 from 129K on Google Play.
Worth knowing: a recurring theme in App Store reviews is frustration that the app moved from free to paid (2019 and 2023 reviews), and one 2023 reviewer felt “the app advances you through skills too quickly.”
Best for: owners who want a large trick library plus trainer video feedback, on iOS or Android.
Zigzag
Zigzag calls itself “the perfect app for dog training beginners,” “backed by science and loved by trainers,” and — its own claim — “the only app dedicated to puppyhood.” It runs on iPhone and Android.
Standout features: a “personalised puppy training programme by age and breed,” three daily lessons, and “over 250 puppy training lessons with ‘how-to’ videos.” It offers “24/7 live-chat with our experts” and an AI you can “ask anything.” Behavior topics include crate and potty training, leash pulling, and socialization.
Pricing (as listed on Sep 23, 2026): a 7-day free trial plus some free learning content, then monthly plans around $9.99 and annual plans listed between roughly $24.99 and $49.99.
Ratings: 4.8 from 3,902 App Store ratings; 4.7 from 5.59K on Google Play.
Worth knowing: adult-dog coverage is not confirmed — the app is built around puppyhood. One 2024 reviewer was “charged without the warning that was promised” when the trial converted; the developer noted trial reminders are “managed by your app store,” and the reviewer later raised their rating after good support.
Best for: first-time owners of a young puppy who want an age- and breed-tailored plan and on-demand human chat.
Woofz
Woofz bills itself as an “all-inclusive dog training app,” with the subtitle “Tricks trainer & care tracker.” It runs on iPhone and Android.
Standout features: a behavior program for “barking, chewing, biting, and more,” a “24/7 AI Assistant,” a walking tracker, a doggy calendar, and “care routines” for grooming and wellness. Its website adds a customized plan based on “breed, goals, and behavioral issues,” a clicker, “+150 training lessons,” and a “1x1 video session with dog trainer” — though which plan includes those video sessions is not confirmed.
Pricing (as listed on Sep 23, 2026): several plans, including weekly options with a 3-day free trial at $7.99 and $9.99, quarterly at $29.99, and yearly plans from $29.99 to $59.99.
Ratings: 4.6 from 56,306 App Store ratings; 4.1 from 51.8K on Google Play. (The website claims “4.8 on App Store,” which doesn’t match the 4.6 on the current US listing — treat that as a company figure.)
Worth knowing: one App Store reviewer in 2025 said they were charged after cancelling, and the developer’s reply is worth knowing: subscriptions bought via the App Store and via the website “operate separately, [so] canceling one doesn’t automatically cancel the other.” One 2025 reviewer also found the plan “way too basic” for an already-trained dog.
Best for: owners who want training plus general care and wellness tracking, with an AI assistant. For more detail on plans and cancelling, see our full Woofz review.
Puppr
Puppr’s pitch: “Meet your new dog trainer!” with “step-by-step video instructions” from “sit” and “stay” to advanced tricks, and it’s “great for both new and experienced dog owners.” It carries an Editors’ Choice badge and runs on iPhone, Mac, and Android.
Standout features: “over 100 lessons taught by celebrity dog trainer Sara Carson & The Super Collies,” a built-in clicker, “live chat with our team of world-class trainers” available 24/7, a “Weekly Puppy Guide,” and “Puppr Masterclasses.” All lessons use positive reinforcement.
Pricing (as listed on Sep 23, 2026): Puppr states “$13.99 per month” and “$99.99 per year” for US customers, with other price points in the in-app purchase list. A free trial is not confirmed from a primary source.
Ratings: 4.8 from 27,182 App Store ratings; 4.5 from 4.94K on Google Play.
Worth knowing: on Android, “the weekly puppy guide and masterclasses are not currently available” — iPhone users get more of the app. A personalized plan and AI chat are not confirmed, and some reviewers note the paywall for unlocking all tricks.
Best for: owners focused on tricks and obedience who like a celebrity-trainer format and a built-in clicker.
Pupford
Pupford is built around “The 30-Day Perfect Pup Course — Created by renowned dog trainer Zak George.” It runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Android, and courses are available on the website too.
Standout features: the 30-day course covers “basic obedience commands, house training, crate training, leash walking, and socialization.” There are “desensitization sounds” for thunderstorms and fireworks, a free private community, and problem-specific courses sold individually — including reactive dog, separation anxiety, and barking.
Pricing (as listed on Sep 23, 2026): genuinely free to start — “Pupford has a FREE app” and the 30-Day Perfect Pup course is free. Academy+ adds “20+ expert-led training courses” for $9.99/month, $39.99 every six months, or $199.99 lifetime. Single problem courses run $19.99 each.
Ratings: 4.8 from 3,724 App Store ratings; 4.3 from 2.26K on Google Play.
Worth knowing: a clicker, a personalized plan, and live trainer video are not confirmed. The website mentions “Ask Doris” for on-demand answers, but whether that’s AI or a human is not confirmed. Pupford also sells treats and gear.
Best for: owners on a budget who want a structured free course, with optional paid courses for specific problems.
Pawsho — ours
Here’s the honest part. Pawsho is our app, so read this section knowing that.
Pawsho’s homepage positioning is “training that knows your dog”: know what to try today, and what to change when it isn’t working. It starts from your problem — your dog, your goal, and what you’ve already tried, whether that’s jumping on guests, pulling on walks, or biting hands. From there it builds a plan shaped by breed, what your dog already knows, and where you’re stuck. A real event like guests arriving can move that skill up the plan.
Each exercise comes with simple instructions: when to reward, and what response to look for. When a session goes sideways, you tell Pawsho what happened and ask what to try next — the AI answers, and the chat can update your plan. Because Pawsho is breed-aware, it also covers care: breed-specific health watch-outs, vaccine and medication reminders, breed-aware Q&A, and scanning vet records.
Pricing: a “Pawsho Pro” subscription, yearly (with a 3-day trial) or monthly.
Worth knowing — the honest limits: Pawsho is iPhone only for now (Android hasn’t shipped), and it has no live human trainer chat or video. If getting a person to watch a video of your dog matters most to you, Dogo, Zigzag, or Puppr are the better fit.
Best for: owners who want breed-aware training tied to daily care, and a plan that adapts when a real-life problem comes up.
The best app isn’t the one with the biggest lesson library — it’s the one that tells you what to try today, and what to change when it doesn’t work.
Comparison table
| App | App Store rating (count) | Google Play | Free option | Human trainer access | AI chat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogo | 4.8 (17,224) | 4.6 (129K) | 7-day trial | Video exam feedback + “ask help” | Not confirmed |
| Zigzag | 4.8 (3,902) | 4.7 (5.59K) | 7-day trial + some free content | 24/7 live chat | Yes |
| Woofz | 4.6 (56,306) | 4.1 (51.8K) | 3-day trial on some plans | ”1x1 video session” (website) | Yes |
| Puppr | 4.8 (27,182) | 4.5 (4.94K) | Not confirmed | 24/7 live chat (Premium) | Not confirmed |
| Pupford | 4.8 (3,724) | 4.3 (2.26K) | Free 30-day course | Not confirmed | Not confirmed (“Ask Doris”) |
| Pawsho (ours) | On the App Store | iPhone only | 3-day trial on the yearly plan | No | Yes |
A note on GoodPup, which older roundups often recommend: GoodPup, acquired by Rover in 2022, no longer appears on the US App Store or Google Play as of September 2026; goodpup.com now redirects to Rover’s training page.
How to choose
- By your dog’s age. A young puppy points toward Zigzag’s puppyhood-focused plan or Pupford’s free 30-day course. An adult dog with an existing behavior problem is better served by Dogo, Woofz, or Pawsho, which build around the problem rather than a puppy timeline.
- By problem type. Tricks and obedience? Puppr or Dogo. Specific issues like reactivity or separation anxiety? Pupford sells targeted courses. A day-to-day plan that adapts to your dog’s breed and setbacks? Pawsho.
- By budget. Pupford’s free 30-day course is the clearest no-cost starting point. Everything else runs on a subscription after a trial.
- Down to the three most-compared apps? Our Dogo vs Zigzag vs Woofz comparison puts them side by side.
- By whether you want a human. If a real trainer reviewing your video matters, choose Dogo, Zigzag, or Puppr. Pawsho and Woofz lean on AI plus a plan instead.
Whichever you pick, remember that an app supports training — it doesn’t replace a professional when the stakes are high. For a young dog, it also helps to know where they are developmentally; our size-aware dog age calculator puts your dog’s stage in perspective, and if you’re weighing a senior dog’s changing needs, see when a dog becomes a senior.
Frequently asked questions
Are dog training apps worth it?
For everyday skills — sit, recall, loose-leash walking, potty training, calm greetings — yes. A good app gives you step-by-step guidance and keeps you consistent. What they can’t fully replace is a trainer’s eyes on your specific dog in real time.
Are there free dog training apps?
Pupford offers a genuinely free 30-day course and a free app tier. Zigzag includes some free learning content alongside its trial. Most others run on a subscription after a free trial. Free trials for Puppr and Pupford’s paid tiers are not confirmed, so check inside the app before you assume.
Can an app fix aggression or severe anxiety?
No — and no honest app should claim to. Aggression, severe separation anxiety, and sudden behavior changes need a qualified trainer or a veterinary behaviorist who can assess your dog in person. Use an app for everyday manners and skills, and route the serious stuff to a professional.
Which app is best for a new puppy?
Zigzag says it’s “the only app dedicated to puppyhood,” and it offers an age- and breed-based plan and human chat. Pupford’s free Zak George course is a strong no-cost alternative. Both give you structure through those chaotic first months.
Do these apps work on Android?
Dogo, Zigzag, Woofz, Puppr, and Pupford all have Android listings — though Puppr’s weekly puppy guide and masterclasses are iOS-only. Pawsho is iPhone only for now.
The right app is the one that matches your dog today and keeps pace as they grow. Start with your actual problem, pick the tool that speaks to it, and you’ll stay one step ahead of whatever your dog throws at you next.
Sources
All checked on September 23, 2026: Dogo on the App Store · Zigzag on the App Store · Woofz on the App Store · woofz.com · Puppr on the App Store · Pupford on the App Store · Pupford Academy · Rover’s 2022 annual report (GoodPup acquisition)