Goby Electric Toothbrush Review: Is This Affordable Brush Worth Buying?
Goby is a newer name in the electric toothbrush market, but it‘s quickly making waves with its mission to provide high-quality oral care at accessible prices. Founded in 2015, this New York-based company sells its products directly to consumers online, cutting out the markup of traditional retail to offer premium electric toothbrushes for a fraction of the price of leading brands.
Intrigued by Goby‘s promise of a professionally-designed, dentist-approved clean at a reasonable cost, we decided to put their brushes to the test. We examined the construction and features, analyzed thousands of customer reviews, and compared Goby to other popular electric toothbrushes. Is the Goby toothbrush really a better brush for your buck? Read on for our in-depth review.
Goby Electric Toothbrush Models and Features
Goby currently offers three electric toothbrush kit options:
The Goby Brush Kit ($50-$60): Goby‘s original and most affordable model, with a sleek, minimalist look. Available in Midnight Blue, Sky Blue or Lime Green.
The Monochrome Brush Kit ($60-$70): Same internal components as the original but with a stylish, matte all-black or all-white finish.
The Metallic Brush Kit ($70-$80): Goby‘s premium model featuring a special soft-touch grip and chrome accents. Choose from Rose Gold, Champagne Silver, or Platinum Gray.
All of Goby‘s electric toothbrushes share the same key features:
- Oscillating brush head with soft, tapered bristles that gently polish teeth and massage gums
- Two speeds (normal and sensitive) to customize your brushing experience
- Built-in 2-minute timer with 30-second pulses to guide you through a dentist-recommended cleaning
- Long-lasting rechargeable battery (up to 2 weeks on a single USB charge)
- Included accessories: hygienic stand, USB charging shell, and protective travel cover
One of Goby‘s standout features is its brush head replacement subscription service. For just $6, Goby will automatically send you a fresh brush head every 1, 2 or 3 months, so you always have an effective toothbrush without the hassle of remembering to reorder. The brush heads easily snap on and off and come in matching colors to your kit.
Using the Goby Electric Toothbrush
Out of the box, the Goby toothbrush feels sturdy and well-made. The brush is lightweight but not at all flimsy, with a comfortable grip. Setup is simple: just snap on the brush head, plug the USB charging shell into the stand or a USB port, and set the brush on the magnetic charger.
Fully charging the Goby takes about 8 hours and lasts an impressive 14 days, much longer than many other electric toothbrushes we‘ve tested. When running low, the indicator light flashes red as a reminder to recharge.
Operating the Goby couldn‘t be easier – just press the button once for normal mode or twice for sensitive. The brush delivers 30,000 strokes per minute on the standard setting (which is on par with leading brands) or a gentler 24,000 strokes per minute on sensitive.
As you brush, the Goby delivers a deep, thorough clean without being abrasive. The oscillating head makes quick work of plaque, while the tapered bristles effectively sweep away debris along the gumline and between teeth. The built-in timer with 30-second quadrant pacing ensures you brush every area of your mouth evenly and for the right amount of time.
After two minutes, the Goby automatically shuts off and the included cover keeps your brush protected and hygienic until the next use. Goby recommends replacing your brush head every 3 months for optimal performance and the blue indicator bristles fade to let you know when it‘s time.
With consistent daily use, we noticed a significant improvement in the cleanliness and overall feel of our teeth and gums after just a few days with the Goby brush. Plaque and surface stains disappeared, breath felt fresher, and gums were visibly healthier.
What Customers Are Saying About Goby
To see if our positive experience with Goby matched that of real customers, we analyzed thousands of verified Goby reviews from the company‘s website, Facebook, and Google. Here‘s what we found:
Goby has earned an impressive 4.7 out of 5 star overall rating from nearly 3,000 customer reviews. An overwhelming 86% of buyers rated Goby 5 stars, with another 10% leaving 4-star reviews. Only 4% of customers rated it 3 stars or below.
The most frequently praised aspects of the Goby toothbrush were:
- Excellent cleaning performance, with many reporting "just like the dentist clean" and "smoothest my teeth have ever felt"
- Sleek, attractive design that looks great on the bathroom counter
- Convenient and affordable brush head subscription program
- Long battery life and portable USB charging
- Responsive customer support and easy returns/exchanges
In terms of complaints, a small number of reviewers encountered technical issues like the brush not holding a charge or the motor failing within a few months of use. However, Goby seems to promptly replace defective units under their 1-year warranty.
A few customers felt the vibration could be slightly stronger and missed pressure sensor features found on pricier brands. But the vast majority found Goby‘s 30,000 strokes per minute plenty powerful for a deep, effective clean.
Goby Before and After photos posted by real customers show noticeable whitening, reduced plaque, and healthier gums after 4-6 weeks of use, with many commenting that their dentist was impressed with the improvement.
Overall, Goby reviews reflect a high level of customer satisfaction, with 9 out of 10 saying they would recommend Goby to a friend. Many credit the brush with "transforming" their oral health and establishing better brushing habits.
How Does Goby Compare to Other Electric Toothbrushes?
So how does Goby stack up against top electric toothbrush competitors like Oral-B and Philips Sonicare? Here‘s a quick comparison:
Price: Goby brushes range from $50-$80, significantly less than most Sonicare ($100-$200) and Oral-B ($80-$250) models. Replacement brush heads are also more affordable at $6 vs. $8-$10+ from other brands.
Cleaning: With 30,000 oscillations/minute, Goby delivers a deep clean on par with brushes like the Oral-B Pro 1000 (20,000 movements/minute). While high-end Sonicare models boast up to 62,000 movements/minute, real-world tests show a minimal difference in plaque removal.
Design: Goby offers a more stylish, modern aesthetic compared to the utilitarian look of most Oral-B and Sonicare brushes. The included stand and cover are a nice touch for organization and hygiene.
Features: Goby covers the electric toothbrush basics with 2 brushing speeds, a 2-minute timer, and long battery life but lacks more advanced features like digital apps, pressure sensors, and extra cleaning modes found on premium models from other brands.
Warranty: All Goby brushes are backed by a 1-year warranty while Sonicare and Oral-B typically offer 2 years of coverage. However, Goby does provide a generous 60-day trial period for a full refund if not satisfied.
Overall, if you‘re looking for a simple but effective electric toothbrush without many frills, Goby is an excellent value compared to pricier options from leading oral care brands. You‘ll get a reliable, high-quality clean and convenient brush head replacement at a more budget-friendly price.
That said, if you want the absolute most powerful clean, high-tech features like Bluetooth connectivity, or an extra-long warranty, it may be worth investing in a higher-end Sonicare or Oral-B model.
The Bottom Line: Is the Goby Electric Toothbrush Worth It?
After thoroughly testing the Goby electric toothbrush ourselves and analyzing feedback from real customers, we believe Goby is an excellent choice for anyone looking to upgrade their oral care routine without breaking the bank.
While it may not have all the bells and whistles of ultra-premium models, the Goby brush delivers where it counts: removing plaque, whitening teeth, and promoting gum health. It‘s thoughtfully designed, easy to use, and built to last with regular brush head replacements.
At around one-third the price of leading brands, Goby makes a top-notch clean accessible to more people. Factoring in the affordable brush head subscription, Goby offers unbeatable long-term value compared to other electric toothbrushes.
And with rave reviews from customers and dental professionals alike, a risk-free 60-day trial period, and free shipping, there‘s little reason not to give Goby a try. Your teeth (and wallet) will thank you.
Have you tried the Goby toothbrush? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
