What Autoship Pet Food Actually Costs vs. Buying in Store
Autoship saves money on pet food, but the amount depends on which retailer you use and how often you'd normally buy
Most autoship programs offer a discount of 5 to 20 percent off the regular price, though some retailers cap the discount at certain price points or exclude sale items. Amazon Subscribe & Save typically gives 5 to 20 percent depending on how many subscriptions you stack. Chewy's autoship discount is usually 5 to 10 percent. Walmart+ members get 5 percent off Walmart's autoship orders. The real savings depend on three things: whether you were already buying on sale, how much you'd spend on shipping if you didn't autoship, and whether the food you want actually qualifies for the discount.
Before you commit to autoship, compare the autoship price to what you actually pay now — not the regular shelf price. If you normally buy during a sale or use coupons, autoship may not beat that. If you buy in bulk at a warehouse club or stock up when there's a promotion, autoship is unlikely to save you money. But if you buy small quantities regularly at full price and pay for shipping, autoship can reduce your total spending.
Key Takeaways
- Autoship discounts range from 5 to 20 percent depending on the retailer, but you need to compare that discount to the price you actually pay now, including any sales or coupons you use.
- Autoship saves the most money if you currently buy small quantities at full price and pay for shipping each time, because it eliminates the shipping cost and locks in a discount.
- You can pause or skip autoship orders without penalty at most retailers, so you can adjust the schedule if your pet eats less or you find a better price elsewhere.
- Some autoship programs exclude certain brands, sizes, or sale items from the discount, so check what you actually feed your pet before assuming the advertised percentage applies.
- Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club often have lower per-pound prices than autoship, even without a subscription discount.
How autoship discounts actually work
Autoship discounts are not applied to every product. Amazon Subscribe & Save excludes items already on sale or marked down, and some brands opt out entirely. Chewy's autoship discount applies to most items in their catalog but not to prescription diets or certain specialty foods. Walmart's autoship discount requires a Walmart+ membership and applies to may be able to access items only. Read the fine print for the brand and size you feed your pet, because the discount may not cover it.
The discount also depends on how many subscriptions you have active. Amazon gives you a higher discount if you have five or more Subscribe & Save orders running at once — up to 20 percent instead of 5 percent. If you only autoship one item, you get the lower tier. This means autoship saves more money if you're buying multiple things on subscription, like food for two pets or food plus treats, but less if you're only subscribing to one product.
Comparing autoship to what you spend now
The only way to know if autoship saves you money is to calculate what you actually spend per month on pet food right now. Write down the brand, size, and quantity you buy, and the price you pay. Include any shipping costs if you order online. Then find that same product on an autoship program and calculate the monthly cost with the discount applied.
If you buy at a warehouse club, compare the per-pound cost there to the autoship per-pound cost. A 30-pound bag of food at Costco might cost less per pound than a smaller bag on autoship, even with the discount. If you wait for sales and stock up, calculate your average monthly cost over three months, not just the sale price. Autoship is most useful if your spending pattern is small, regular purchases at full price.
Factor in shipping too. If you currently pay for shipping on online orders, autoship eliminates that cost — which can be $5 to $15 per order depending on the retailer and order size. That savings alone may justify autoship even if the percentage discount is small. If you already get free shipping through a membership or because you order large quantities, autoship's value shrinks.
Autoship frequency and flexibility
You choose how often autoship delivers — usually every 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 weeks, depending on the retailer. Pick a schedule based on how fast your pet eats the food and how much storage space you have. If your dog eats a 30-pound bag in six weeks, set autoship for six weeks. If you have limited pantry space, choose a shorter interval and get smaller deliveries more often.
You can pause, skip, or cancel autoship orders without penalty at any major retailer. If your pet gets sick and eats less, or if you find a better price elsewhere, pause the next delivery. You can resume it whenever you want. This flexibility means you can try autoship for a few months to see if it actually saves you money, then cancel if it doesn't. Some retailers let you change the delivery date or quantity on each order, so you can adjust as your pet's needs change.
When autoship doesn't save money
Autoship is not the cheapest option if you have access to a warehouse club. Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's Wholesale typically have lower per-pound prices on pet food than any retailer's autoship program, even without a subscription discount. The trade-off is that you need a membership and you buy in larger quantities, but if you have the space and the membership, warehouse clubs usually beat autoship.
Autoship also doesn't save money if you regularly buy during sales. Many pet food brands go on sale every 6 to 8 weeks, and the sale price often beats the autoship discount. If you track sales and stock up when prices drop, you'll spend less than autoship over time. Autoship is designed for people who don't want to hunt for deals — you pay a consistent price in exchange for convenience.
Some specialty or prescription diets are not may be able to access for autoship discounts, or the discount is smaller. If your pet eats a limited-ingredient or prescription food, check whether autoship applies before assuming it will save money. For expensive prescription diets, the difference between 5 percent and 20 percent is significant.
Setting up autoship without overspending
Start with one autoship subscription for your pet's main food and see how much you actually save over two or three months. Calculate the total you spend on autoship and compare it to what you spent during the same period before. If it's less, keep it. If it's not, cancel and go back to your previous buying method.
Don't autoship treats, supplements, or other items just because the discount is available. Autoship works best when you're buying something your pet needs regularly in a consistent quantity. Treats and toys are easier to buy on sale or skip in months when money is tight. Stick to autoship for the core product — food — and buy everything else as needed.
Set a phone reminder for a few days before each delivery so you can pause or skip if you need to. This prevents your pantry from overflowing and gives you a chance to check whether the price has dropped elsewhere. Some retailers let you set up email reminders, which is even easier.
Autoship across different retailers
| Retailer | Autoship Discount | Membership Required | Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Subscribe & Save | 5–20% (higher with 5+ subscriptions) | No, but Prime speeds delivery | Free with Prime; otherwise varies |
| Chewy | 5–10% | No | Free on orders over $49 |
| Walmart Autoship | 5% | Yes (Walmart+) | Free with Walmart+ |
| Costco | No autoship; warehouse pricing | Yes (membership required) | Included in membership |
Each retailer has different brands in stock and different autoship policies. Chewy carries the widest selection of pet food brands and sizes, and their autoship is straightforward — 5 to 10 percent off most items. Amazon's discount is higher if you stack multiple subscriptions, but they exclude sale items. Walmart requires a Walmart+ membership, which costs money upfront but includes other benefits beyond autoship.
Costco doesn't have autoship, but their per-pound prices are often lower than autoship prices at other retailers. If you're comparing total cost, factor in the Walmart+ membership fee (currently $98 per year) or Amazon Prime membership fee (currently $139 per year) when deciding whether their autoship discount makes sense for your budget. The discount needs to save you enough to cover the membership cost before it becomes worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my autoship order after I set it up?
Yes. You can change the delivery date, quantity, or product on most autoship programs. You can also pause or skip individual deliveries without canceling the subscription. Changes usually take effect on the next scheduled delivery, so make changes at least a few days before the delivery date.
What happens if my pet stops eating the food?
Pause or cancel the autoship subscription immediately. Most retailers let you pause for a specific number of deliveries or cancel entirely with no penalty. If you've already received food your pet won't eat, check the retailer's return policy — many allow returns of unopened pet food within 30 days.
Does autoship work for prescription pet food?
Some retailers offer autoship for prescription diets, but the discount may be smaller or not apply at all. Check with your veterinarian's preferred retailer or call the retailer directly to confirm whether your specific prescription food qualifies for autoship and what discount applies.
Is autoship cheaper than buying at a pet store in person?
Usually yes, because autoship includes a discount and eliminates shipping costs. However, local pet stores sometimes run sales that beat autoship prices. If you have a local store you trust, compare their regular price and sale prices to autoship before deciding.
Can I use coupons with autoship?
Most retailers do not allow coupons on autoship orders. Autoship discounts and manufacturer coupons are usually mutually exclusive. If you have a coupon for your pet's food, check whether using the coupon or using autoship saves more money, then choose the option that costs less.