The Best Places to Buy Dog Food Online, According to Vets, Dog Trainers & Pet Parents
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Pet parents know: Sometimes, you brain fart and completely forget to restock on kibble for your pup. And when you do run out? It becomes a mad dash to the store to haul a 50-pound bag of dog food into your trunk. That's why having a go-to shop online — especially one that offers auto-ship and recurring delivery options — is so imperative. It not only saves you from stress, but it could also save you money — if you order from the right online store, of course.
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So, where are the best places to buy dog food online? The usual suspects like Amazon , Petco , BJ's Wholesale , and Chewy are great options. Amazon has a "Subscribe & Save" option that, as it suggests, allows you to set up automatic deliveries and simultaneously save you a few bucks. Chewy, which partnered with PetSmart a few years ago, also offers 5 to 10 percent savings with every auto-ship order. Petco is great for ordering traditional dog food and products, while also offering free shipping on most orders over $35. And so much more.
Ahead, We spoke with vets and dog trainers to help learn how to choose the right dog food online for your goodest pup.
Best Places to Buy Dog Food Online at a Glance
Best Fresh: The Farmer's Dog
Best for Buying Dog Food in Bulk: BJs
Best for Fast Delivery: Amazon
Best for Autoship: Chewy
Best Raw Dog Food: Maev
Best for Meal Variety: PetPlate
Best for Fresh Food Beginners: Spot & Tango
Best Personalized Fresh Dog Food: Ollie
Best Dog-Trainer-Approved: My Perfect Pet
Best Whole Foods Ingredients: Green Juju
What Is the Best Home-Delivered Dog Food?
"There isn't one 'best' home-delivered dog food. The best choice depends on an individual dog's age, health, lifestyle, and nutritional needs," explains Dr. Liza Cahn , veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance. "Most major pet food brands offer online ordering and home delivery, either through a direct-to-consumer program or through well-known online pet retailers such as Chewy, PetSmart, and even Amazon. Automatic delivery can be extremely convenient and may also come with a small price discount compared to buying in-store."
Dr. Cahn also shares that there are companies that produce and deliver fresh dog food, such as JustFoodForDogs or Farmer's Dog. "Anecdotally, some pet owners report healthier skin and fur coats and smaller, firmer stools on fresh food; however, it is not inherently healthier and is also significantly more expensive."
Is It Cheaper to Buy Dog Food Online or in the Store?
Nicole Ellis , a celebrity dog trainer based in Los Angeles, explains that buying dog food online isn't necessarily cheaper, but sometimes it can be. "I always tell people to compare the actual cost per day of feeding their dog rather than just the price of the bag or box; it's not that simple, unfortunately," she says.
"Online retailers sometimes offer bulk discounts, or autoship/subscription discounts can sometimes save money, but local retailers may have sales or loyalty programs that make them less expensive."
Ellis also says that convenience has value. "I have multiple dogs, so having food delivered means it's one less thing I have to remember to pick up or worry my local store may be out of stock with," she notes. "I prefer to feed a food that has the option of both autoship and being available in local stores, so if I do need more, have a trip coming up, or I'm running low, I can just run down the block and pick up some and not be stuck waiting on a delivery."
What Ingredients Should Pet Parents Look for & Avoid in Dog Foods?
Before shopping for dog food online, Dr. Cahn suggests not getting caught up in marketing, since buzzwords such as organic, grain-free, and human-grade can often be misleading, and it's even more important to check with your vet before committing to a new food.
Both Dr. Cahn and Ellis recommend looking at dog food as a whole. Instead of specific ingredients, consider your dog's stage of life first. Ellis says to ask these questions: Is it complete and balanced for my dog's life stage? Who formulated it? Does the company have good quality-control standards? Are they transparent about what is in the food and where ingredients come from? And, of course, how does my individual dog do on it?
Additionally, Dr. Cahn explains to choose a brand that follows WSAVA best practices. "The World Small Animal Veterinary Association standards help pet owners choose diets that are not only complete and balanced but also come from companies that employ board-certified veterinary nutritionists and undergo rigorous quality control measures and feeding trials," she says.
Keep reading to shop the best places to buy dog food online.
BEST OVERALL
The Farmer's Dog
$2/meal+
Considered the best online shop for fresh, homemade dog food deliveries by Canine Journal, the Farmer's Dog delivers "balanced, freshly made pet food" that features real food such as human-grade meat and veggies made fresh in USDA kitchens. The food is delivered within days of cooking (meaning nothing's ever deep-frozen or stored on a shelf for months), and shoppers can opt in for personalized, vet-designed plans customized to your dog's needs.
It's important to note that pricing varies depending on the size of your dog, but most food plans cost around $2 per meal.
"My two German Shepherds love Farmer's Dog, and they can definitely taste the difference between real food and kibble. They have literally knocked me down out of excitement when they see me reaching for their packets of Farmer's Dog," Gina Vaynshteyn, AVP Commerce says.
"I can't speak to everyone's dogs, obviously, but Farmer's Dog has been a life-saver for my eldest dog who has a sensitive stomach. It's helped so much with her stools—they're finally solid!—so I trust and feel good about the formula. The only downside is that it's not cheap." she adds.
BEST FOR BUYING DOG FOOD IN BULK
BJ's Wholesale
Berkley Jensen Pet Food
$41
Like to buy in bulk for your fur baby? This membership-based mega store has its own in-house pet food brand, Berkley Jensen , which uses whole ingredients and excludes the not-so-great stuff like corn, wheat, and fillers. Shop a variety of flavors and formulations for dogs — and a few for cats, too! When you look at the cost-per-pound, their prices can't be beat.
BEST FOR FAST DELIVERY
Amazon
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food
$16+
As we mentioned, Amazon is a fantastic place to order dog food. Here, you'll find a variety of dog foods (we're talking hundreds of dog food options) that fit any budget (from the affordable Purina Pro Plan to the higher-priced Blue Buffalo). But Amazon's biggest draw is its Subscribe & Save option, which allows you to save 5 percent on your first delivery and up to 10 percent on repeat deliveries — no extra fees required, and you can cancel anytime.
BEST FOR AUTOSHIP
Chewy
Blue Buffalo
$17+
At Chewy , you'll find it all: dog food, treats, toys, even pet DNA tests. But what's so appealing about Chewy is that they not only offer free one- to three-day shipping on orders over $49, but they also offer 30 percent off your first auto-ship, followed by 5 percent off future auto-ship orders.
BEST RAW DOG FOOD
Maev
Wild-Caught Nordic Fish
$179
Lots of pet parents are turning to raw food diets for their pups, but it can be a lot of work. Unless, of course, you opt to order your dog's raw food diet through Maev . Maev makes raw food diets as easy as possible by shipping you balanced raw food filled with frozen meats, fruits, and veggies to make sure your dog gets all the nutrients they need. Maev offers several different varieties so you can choose the one that best suits your pup. They also sell daily vitamin bars and even frozen bone broth treats!
BEST FOR FRESH FOOD VARIETY
Nom Nom
Turkey Fare
$10+
At Nom Nom , each meal is formulated by a vet and made with "fresh, whole ingredients and targeted vitamins and minerals for folks with paws." And at Nom Nom, not only are the meals made with carefully sourced ingredients (from U.S. growers and suppliers), but they're also delivered in ready-to-serve, fully recyclable packaging (including even the insulated packing material). Currently, Nom Nom sells a variety pack for $15 that includes four recipes in 150-gram meal bags. They also offer free shipping on orders over $30.
BEST FOR MEAL VARIETY
PetPlate
FreshCooked Full Plan
$1.83/day+
Speaking of fresh-cooked dog food and personalized meal plans delivered to your doorstep on your schedule, PetPlate 's mission is to feed dogs real food. "That's why our meals are always made with high-quality, human-grade, whole food ingredients — no different from what you would feed the rest of your family," PetPlate's website states.
BEST FOR FRESH FOOD BEGINNERS
Spot & Tango
Unkibble
$0.85/meal+
High-quality fresh dog food company Spot & Tango sells what's considered one of the best shelf-stable fresh dry dog foods, UnKibble. Made with 100 percent whole foods, the vet-developed dog food is described as the "freshest dry dog food ever" — and you can get it delivered straight to your door once a month.
BEST PERSONALIZED FRESH DOG FOOD
Ollie
Ollie Pet Food
$1.00/meal+
Ollie is a homemade dog food delivery service, similar to the Farmer's Dog. And, similar to Nom Nom, Ollie works with veterinarians to formulate their four different recipes, which are Association of American Feed Control Officials-approved. Ollie ships every four or eight weeks and offers auto-shipping that you can pause, skip or cancel anytime.
BEST DOG-TRAINER-APPROVED
My Perfect Pet
Turkey and Wild Salmon Blend
$4.66/day
Ellis says My Perfect Pet is at the top of her list because it takes a unique approach, using fresh ingredients in small-batch, gently cooked recipes.
"Their focus on safety and digestibility makes it an excellent choice for dogs with sensitivities or specific dietary needs, offering peace of mind to pet parents who want the best for their furry companions. My dog Henry has a sensitive tummy, and when we adopted him, he had tear stains; he is thriving on the Turkey blends," she adds.
BEST WHOLE FOODS INGREDIENTS
Green Juju
Freeze-Dried Raw Food
$35+
Ellis also recommends Green Juju particularly for pet parents interested in freeze-dried or frozen raw options. "They offer recipes with a variety of animal proteins along with whole-food ingredients such as vegetables and herbs," she says. "Depending on the particular product, they have options that can be used as complete meals as well as toppers, so it's important to check the label and make sure you're feeding the product as intended."
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