I used them a lot for my pup when he was having trouble getting outside. I found the more expensive brands were far better quality and far more absorbent and odor free than the cheaper brands. I also have 4 cats who never used the pee pads while I was using them for my pup.
I looked at the Petsmart website and it appears they no longer carry the pee pads I liked best called "Simple Solution" but they do carry "Top Paw" which I considered to be the second best for absorption and odor control. The others were not as good as far as I was concerned. I was also dealing with an adult dog, not a puppy and he peed relatively large volumes.
I think you will need to try them out to decide what works best for you. Good luck!