Goby Electric Toothbrush Review — How This 50 Version Stacks Up Against Big Names
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Goby
Goby is a direct-to-consumer startup making affordable electric toothbrushes, which we got to test out.
Goby brushes are surprisingly effective for their accessible price, and each of us enjoyed using the Goby more than a lot of the other expensive and more sophisticated designs out there.
It's affordable at $50 - $75, effective, and uses minimal countertop space, but it's also worth noting that it can be a little loud. All in all, we think it's a great value.
Whether it's using a $25 jar of charcoal powder, a $215 device to whiten, or a water flosser to finally — after all these long years — master flossing, people tend to care about the integrity and overall status of their teeth. Even the iconic Austin Powers had dental work completed once he woke up on the cusp of the 21st century.
And for the last decade, proper oral care has translated to expensive electric toothbrushes, in part because they clean so much more effectively and consistently than manual brushes, and because they usually get the stamp of approval from your hard-to-please dentist.
But thanks to the digital landscape making it easier for new companies to cut costs by selling directly to you, effective toothbrushes no longer need to be $100+.
Goby, for instance, means to be the solution for smart shoppers who don't want to be priced out of great oral care. You can get an effective electric toothbrush for as little as $50, instead of the $100+ required for other big-name legacy options.
We got a chance to try out Goby's newest Rose Edition (pictured above) and each of us was pleasantly surprised. For such an accessible price point, the Goby electric brushes were among the most effective we've used and even challenged long held favorites we've come to swear by. It has a smart design, takes up minimal countertop space, and brushes extremely effectively, even if you're the type of aggressive brusher that normally applies enough pressure to stop oscillating bristles in their tracks. It's a little loud, but given the price and the efficacy of the toothbrush, we're willing to forgive that con. It also doesn't hurt that it's really good-looking.
Goby also partners with NYU College of Dentistry's Global Student Outreach Program, donating a percentage of all sales to help provide dental services to people around the world (if you need any added incentive).
You can buy a single electric toothbrush kit (with the brush, brush head, hygiene stand, USB charging shell, USB converter, and a hygienic brush cover — all pictured above) on its own as a one-time purchase for $65, or you can choose to subscribe and pay only $50 for the brush. If you subscribe, you'll get a new $6 brush head with free shipping delivered once every month or every 2 or 3 months. You'll save $15 on your electric toothbrush, and if you opt for 3-month deliveries, that comes out to $24 — making that not such a bad deal if you plan to replace your brush heads throughout the year (which you will more than likely want to do).
But, you do not have to buy a subscription to get the toothbrush. You can buy the toothbrush alone. Which, for people like me, (who can feel bogged down by subscriptions unless they're Amazon Prime and Scribd), is a welcome and logical option.
The standard Goby is $65 ($50 with a subscription), and the swanky all black and rose editions are $75 ($60 with a subscription). In terms of price, that's about as inexpensive as electric toothbrushes go — unless you're Quip (of which you can find a review here).
If you want a bit more insight into what the Goby is like, you'll find details about our personal experiences using the electric brush below.
What we tried: The Rose Edition Goby (shown above), $60 with a subscription, $75 for a one-time purchase.
Goby Instagram
Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor: I am a pretty strict manual toothbrush user. I've tried plenty of electric versions, and somehow they all fall short of my usual routine (I love you, $6 Colgate toothbrush). But this one was different than most others I've tried, specifically because the vibrations and rotations didn't yield to my notoriously rough brushing habit. Usually, I find that electric toothbrushes are forced into a still hum from the pressure I place on them against my teeth (my partner often has to tell me to chill out when I brush my teeth… I just… can't help it). The Goby didn't stop vibrating or rotating at any point, which is the most important consideration for me. If you're a super rigorous or intense brusher — for better or for worse — you might actually like this one!
Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks office 2016 ico guides editor: I usually use a Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush, which costs more than $100, so I was blown away by the $60/$75 price tag of the Goby toothbrush. Equally surprising was just how good it was. I love the two different speed settings and how the moving bristles polish away stains on my teeth and any tartar or plaque that builds up. The brush heads are a lot more affordable, too, at $6 compared to the $30+ price of Philips brush heads — and you can subscribe to them to get an even better price.
Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter: I've tried a few electric toothbrushes as part of my job at Insider Picks, but none have ever come close to unseating my toothbrush of choice — the $12 manual Boie, aka the "toothbrush of the future". After trying Goby, though, that's really only half true. I still use my Boie when I travel or want a quick, no-sound brush — usually in the morning or night when my roommates are still asleep — but I probably use the Goby more often than not now because it is truly so vigorous with cleaning. The sound is a bit loud, so I always make sure to close my mouth around the brush before turning it on to minimize it, but I truly love how well it works. I also appreciate the design — its charger can be inserted into its standing dock easily and seamlessly, and it takes up less countertop space than I had imagined. As Ellen says below, too, it's also legitimately cute to look at. For $65 - $75 it's a great value.
Ellen Hoffman, senior Insider Picks editor: I view toothbrushes as practical tools for cleaning teeth, not pretty objects I want to display on my bathroom's countertop. But as weird as it is to say, the Goby toothbrush now fulfills both roles for me. The design is truly, undeniably pretty in all pink and the brush's aggressive speed and rotating bristles are effective at removing all of the day's grime from my teeth. I was fully prepared to not like this toothbrush judging by its looks (because how could something so cute actually do this good of a job?), but I'm very happy to be wrong. It's a good reminder for me, and for those thinking the same, not to judge a book by its very aesthetically pleasing cover.
Buy the Goby standard electric toothbrush with a subscription, $50 - $65
Buy the Goby 'Rose' electric toothbrush without a subscription, $60 - $75
Buy the Goby 'All Black' electric toothbrush without a subscription, $60 - $75
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