You feel a soft nose jostle your side as you slowly open your eyes. It’s still dark out, but your beloved furry friend is ready for his morning meal. “Mom, it’s breakfast time!” In an instant, you’re up and walking towards the kitchen to get all of their favorites prepared.

Opening the fridge, you suddenly realize you’re completely out of pet food. If you’ve had this happen during quarantine, you know the sad reality of looking down at that perfect, hungry face and knowing you have to make a special trip to the store. You think about the time it’s going to take and all the traffic you have to sit in, not to mention the mask and gloves you have to wear. Thankfully, we live in 2020, and pet food delivery has become the norm.

Here are our top 10 healthiest, most balanced online pet stores and food delivery services that you should order from the comfort of your own home.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Delivery Service

Dog sign off with his paw

Before you hop on your computer and scour the web for the best pet food delivery service, you want to consider a few factors before choosing the one that’s right for you and your pet.

Do they offer a wide variety of options?

This is one of the most important aspects to consider before deciding on a pet food delivery company. Dogs and cats can easily become bored with the same food day in, day out.

As pets age, you’ll want various options if their taste buds happen to change. There are many different pet food diets including raw, dry, canned, semi-moist, and home-cooked. Your pet food delivery service should have multiple options if you want to try something different.

Is there an easy cancellation policy?

Although most online pet stores and delivery services have a clear cancellation policy, you want to make sure there are no “ifs, ands, or buts” to the language used. Make sure you’re able to stop the service at any time and that you are not charged for canceling early.

In addition, many delivery services offer a free trial period where you can try out the service before committing. These companies value their patrons and know they’ll get you hooked, which is a good quality to look out for.

Do they offer healthy, balanced meals?

Not only do you want fast delivery and superb variety, but you want the meals to be healthy and balanced! Check their ingredients and make sure fillers like rice, corn, meal, modified corn starch, hulls, or corn syrup are not listed in the top three ingredients. Lamb, chicken, fish, or beef should be listed first and then rice, corn, and wheat can be one of the ingredients listed later.

Recent studies have shown that completely grain-free foods can cause heart issues in pets; however, having too many grains can be detrimental as well. Find pet food that is well-balanced with nutritious vegetables or fruits included. It is recommended that pet food has no more than eight ingredients in the total list.

Will it fit my budget?

Everyone’s budget is different; however, it’s recommended that you purchase high-quality pet food and treats. High-quality pet food is a nutritionally balanced meal calculated for your dog’s specific weight, age, breed, and activity level. The average cost of pet food is often between $30 to $100 per month.

Wet or dry pet food that can be delivered straight to your house is often more expensive than if you purchase it from a brick and mortar pet store; however, choosing a delivery option is usually needed for its convenience. Most pet food delivery services offer delivery every two to 12 weeks and cost between $15 to $70 per week depending on your dog’s size.

Do they have excellent customer support?

Pet food delivery services can be pricey. That’s why, if you can’t easily get a hold of the company, you want to avoid them at all costs.

Before you enroll, try out the customer service via phone and website. Ask them a multitude of questions and see how they navigate their answers. Of course, don’t waste their time, but they should be able to help you decide if this brand is worth the money.

Our Top 10 List of Best Pet Food Delivery Services

Dog enjoys the delivered food

Now that you know what you’re looking for in a pet food delivery service, we’ve highlighted our top 10. We think these companies not only have healthy, balanced meals, but they go above and beyond for their customers.

10: Two Bostons

Two Bostons as the 10th best delivery pet food

Two Bostons is focused on local delivery options across the Chicagoland area. They offer choices of toys, treats, and pet food from a wide variety of companies. Two Bostons definitely has one of the most user-friendly and accessible websites to get into contact with one of their representatives. Also, they have many organic dog food brands to choose from. They’re created by a pet lover duo that focuses on the customer’s experience.

Flexibility: 8/10

Variety of Options: 7/10

Cancellation: 8/10

Food Quality: N/A – Different Brands

Budget-Friendly: 5/10

Customer Support: 9/10

9: Pet Flow

Pet Flow website

Pet flow is a one-stop-shop for all your pet needs. They offer a quick reorder function in case you need something you completely forgot about at a moment’s notice. They offer free shipping on orders $50 or more, unlike other online pet stores. Their helpful website assists you by navigating through different choices of foods for your pet.

Flexibility: 8/10

Variety of Options: 8/10

Cancellation: 9/10

Food Quality: N/A – Different Brands

Budget-Friendly: 6/10

Customer Support: 7/10

8: Joy Food

Joy Food as the 8th best pet food delivery company

Joy Food offers human-grade food that can be split into full or half portions, as well as toppers (small amounts of food that is added to existing kibble for flavor). Unfortunately, their shipping is the least convenient with little to no flexibility or cancellations. However, their meals are extremely well-balanced, organic dog food that comes straight to your door. They avoid all preservatives and flash freeze to maintain flavor.

Flexibility: 5/10

Variety of Options: 5/10

Cancellation: 8/10

Food Quality: 9/10

Budget-Friendly: 7/10

Customer Support: 5/10

7: Chewy

Chewy's website homepage

Chewy is by far one of the most customer-focused, online pet stores in the industry. They have everything your pet will need from toys, bedding, collars, furniture, food, etc. Their delivery fee is always a good price and their overall prices for pet food are reasonable. Chewy is fairly flexible and offers a wide variety of pet food brands to choose from.

Flexibility: 8/10

Variety of Options: 9/10

Cancellation: 9/10

Food Quality: N/A – Different Brands

Budget-Friendly: 9/10

Customer Support: 10+/10

6: Smalls

Smalls for the cranky cat

Smalls is a cat food delivery service that customizes your kitty’s meals depending on their size, “fluffiness”, and age. They offer extremely well-balanced, high protein cat food at a decently low price. Their meals have nutritional facts listed and you can customize if your furry friend has any dietary restrictions or allergies. Unfortunately, their website doesn’t state an “FAQ” section so it’s difficult to see if their cancellation policy or customer support is up to par. Another benefit is that Smalls allows you to try their food before you commit which is a nice feature.

Flexibility: 7/10

Variety of Options: 9/10

Cancellation: N/A – Did not see on their website.

Food Quality: 10/10

Budget-Friendly: 8/10

Customer Support: N/A – Did not see on their website.

5: Darwin’s Natural Pet Products

Darwin's Natural Pet Products is selected as the 5th best option

Darwin’s Natural Pet Products is definitely known for their flexibility and customer support,  which is top-notch. They even email or text you reminders in case you want to pause or cancel their services. They offer both dog and cat food options; however, they don’t have as many options as other services. Darwin’s is focused on raw, organic dog food options. In addition, they have a pet nutritionist that can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have!

Flexibility: 10/10

Variety of Options: 4/10

Cancellation: 9/10

Food Quality: 9/10

Budget-Friendly: 6/10

Customer Support: 10/10

4: NomNom Now

NomNomNow is the 4th best food delivery option

One of the most highly-rated pet food delivery companies on the market. They have more fresh options for dogs than cats. Theyship to 48 states, which makes NomNom Now one of the most inclusive delivery systems. NomNom Now offers 50% off your first box as a trial, which is nice to know before you commit. They don’t have a ton of variety like you may expect from other pet food delivery services; however, their home-cooked, holistic dog food will wow you from the start.

Flexibility: 8/10

Variety of Options: 7/10

Cancellation: 10/10

Food Quality: 11/10

Budget-Friendly: 7/10

Customer Support: 7/10

3: Spot & Tango

Spot & Tango delivers healthy pet food

Spot & Tango takes a new approach to pet food by offering both dry and fresh pet food. Unkibble, their 100% wholefoods, with human-grade ingredients is their dry option if your pet prefers healthier kibble. They don’t have a ton of fresh options; although, all of their recipes are prepared with no fillers or additives which makes them a top pick. In addition, they understand pets can be picky eaters. They have a 100% money-back guarantee if your pet doesn’t absolutely love his new food.

Flexibility: 9/10

Variety of Options: 8/10

Cancellation: 10/10

Food Quality: 10/10

Budget-Friendly: 8/10

Customer Support: 7/10

2: The Farmer’s Dog

Farmer's Dog is the 2nd best pet food delivery option

One of the most well-known fresh pet food delivery services, The Farmer’s Dog offers a blend of vegetables and USDA certified meat for pet owners who want to focus on balanced, portioned recipes for their four-legged friend. One of the aspects they highlight on their website is they do not freeze their organic dog food and it is delivered days after it is made. They offer nationwide shipping for dogs.

Flexibility: 9/10

Variety of Options: 9/10

Cancellation: 10/10

Food Quality: 10/10

Budget-Friendly: 8/10 

Customer Support: 10/10

1: Ollie

Prudent Pet chooses Ollie as the best pet food company

Ollie is relatively new to the market but has made a splash in fresh dog food. They feature portioned, fresh meals delivered straight to your door. One of the highlights of this brand is they compile a profile on your pup to learn more about their eating habits, activity levels, and lifestyle changes. Once you’ve completed the profile, you will get quite a few holistic dog food options to choose from. They also have a large section regarding allergies and weight loss for pets. Ollie offers two-day delivery which is as convenient as it gets. In addition, they’re easy to get a hold of and have a user-friendly FAQ section if you’re interested in learning more.

Flexibility: 10/10

Variety of Options: 10/10

Cancellation: 10/10

Food Quality: 10/10

Budget-Friendly: 9/10

Customer Support: 10/10

Benefits of Choosing Healthy Pet Food

Dog looks at healthy dog food

When it comes to feeding your cat or dog, you want to make sure you choose healthy foods, bones, and treats to nourish them throughout their life. Healthy food comes in all shapes and sizes, so it can be difficult knowing what to purchase.

When you choose well-balanced foods, your pet can get the nutrients and vitamins they need to live a healthy life. Not only do these nutrients keep your pet’s coat healthy and shiny, strengthen the immune system, and keep the digestive system working properly, but they can also ensure your pet’s bones remain strong and their eyesight continues to be sharp.

A few important vitamins your pet will need in their diet are:

  • Vitamin C: Reduces inflammation and cognitive aging
  • Vitamin D: Promotes growth and development, especially bones and muscle
  • Vitamin K: Maintains the ability for your blood to clot in case of injury
  • Choline: Increases brain and liver functioning
  • Vitamin A: Promotes immune system and eye-sight
  • B vitamins: Maintains energy levels, metabolism, as well as increases glucose and red blood cell management

If your pet food is not supplying your four-legged friend with vitamins they need, you may need to ask your vet what vegetables, fruits, or supplements you can add to their diet. Most kittens will need high protein cat food and dogs will need a more balanced with both vegetables, grains, and meats blended together.

Keeping Pets Healthy with Insurance

Husky and its parent closeup

As a pet owner, choosing the right food and diet is incredibly important for your furry friend’s health. Organic dog food and high protein cat food can help pets live a more energetic, well-rounded life. If you already have a pet food brand that is nutritious, there are other ways to keep your pet healthy and happy no matter what life throws at them.

Did you know that as of 2018, over 2.43 million pets have enrolled in health insurance in the U.S. (Insurance Information Institution, 2020)? Dog and cat insurance ensures your four-legged buddy will be in good hands in case of an accident or illness. Paws a moment to explore our website to learn more about the benefits of choosing Prudent Pet.

If you have additional questions about our policies and coverage, feel free to call us at 888-820-7739 or get your FREE dog or cat insurance quote.