Pet Food Delivery Services: What Each One Costs and How They Work

How pet food delivery works and what to expect

Pet food delivery services ship bags or cans of food to your home on a schedule you set — usually every two, four, or eight weeks. You choose a brand and formula, the company stores your order, and it arrives on the date you pick. Most services let you skip a delivery, change the frequency, or cancel anytime without penalty. You pay per order, not a membership fee, though some offer discounts if you commit to regular deliveries.

The main trade-off is convenience against price. Delivery costs money — usually $5 to $10 per order, sometimes free if you spend above a threshold — and the food itself is often priced higher than buying the same bag at a store. But if you have a large dog, live far from a pet store, or buy premium brands that are hard to find locally, the time saved and the may provide stock can be worth the extra cost.

Most services work the same way: you set up an account, choose your pet's food, pick a delivery date, and the order ships automatically on that schedule. You can log in anytime to change the date, skip a shipment, or swap brands. If you forget to cancel before a shipment processes, most companies have a return window — usually 30 days — to send it back for a refund.

Key Takeaways

• Pet food delivery charges $5 to $10 per order for shipping, and food prices are typically 10 to 20 percent higher than in-store prices, so the service pays off most for large dogs or hard-to-find brands.
• Amazon Prime members get free shipping on Chewy orders over $35, and Chewy also offers its own subscription discount of 5 to 20 percent depending on delivery frequency.
• Petco and PetSmart both run delivery services tied to their loyalty programs, offering discounts to members but charging non-members full price plus shipping.
• Smaller services like The Farmer's Dog and Nom Nom deliver fresh or frozen food that spoils faster, so you need freezer space and must use the food within days of arrival.
• Canceling or skipping deliveries is free on all major services, but you must do it before the order ships — usually three to seven days before the delivery date.

Chewy: Largest selection and lowest shipping for Prime members

Chewy carries over 10,000 pet food products — dry, wet, fresh, and frozen — across all major brands and many smaller ones. Shipping costs $5.95 per order, but Amazon Prime members get free shipping on orders over $35. Chewy also runs its own subscription program: if you set up automatic deliveries, you get 5 percent off for every four weeks, 10 percent off for every two weeks, and 20 percent off for weekly deliveries.

Chewy's return policy is generous. You can return unopened food within 30 days for a full refund, and the company will even refund opened bags if your pet doesn't eat it or gets sick. This matters because switching foods can upset a dog's stomach, and Chewy doesn't charge you to find out. You can also call customer service to change your delivery date or skip a shipment — they don't require you to log into an account if you prefer to call.

The downside is that Chewy's prices are higher than buying the same food at Petco or PetSmart in-store. A 30-pound bag of mid-range dry food might cost $45 at Chewy versus $38 in a store. The subscription discount and free Prime shipping narrow that gap, but you're still paying more unless you're a Prime member ordering over $35.

Petco and PetSmart: Loyalty program discounts, but higher base prices

Both Petco and PetSmart offer delivery through their websites, with shipping costs of $5.95 to $9.95 per order depending on order size. Both companies tie discounts to their loyalty programs: Petco Rewards members get 5 to 10 percent off recurring orders, and PetSmart Treats members get similar discounts. If you're not a member, you pay full price plus shipping, which makes their delivery service more expensive than Chewy.

Petco's advantage is that you can pick up online orders at your local store instead of paying for shipping — useful if you want to avoid the delivery fee or need food the same day. PetSmart offers the same option at most locations. Both companies also let you return unopened food within 30 days, though the process is slower than Chewy's — you may need to return it to a store or mail it back.

Petco and PetSmart's food prices are generally lower than Chewy's for the same products, so if you're a loyalty member, the discount plus lower base price can make delivery competitive. But if you're not enrolled in their programs, you'll pay more than you would at Chewy with Prime, especially on smaller orders.

Fresh and frozen food services: Higher cost, shorter shelf life

Services like The Farmer's Dog, Nom Nom, and Ollie deliver fresh or frozen meals made to order, usually portioned for your dog's weight and dietary needs. Prices range from $2 to $4 per day, or roughly $60 to $120 per month for a medium dog. Shipping is included in the price, and most services offer a discount on your first order — usually 50 percent off.

The appeal is that fresh food is closer to what a dog would eat in nature, and these services often use human-grade ingredients and no fillers. Some owners report their dogs have better digestion or shinier coats. The trade-off is that fresh food spoils quickly: it arrives frozen or refrigerated and must be used within days. You need freezer space to store a week's worth, and you can't skip deliveries as easily — most services require you to pause for at least two weeks at a time.

Fresh food is also significantly more expensive than dry kibble. A month of fresh food for a 50-pound dog costs roughly $90 to $120, while a month of premium dry food costs $40 to $60. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or you're willing to pay for perceived health benefits, the cost may be justified. But if you're looking to save money on pet food, fresh delivery services are not the answer.

Comparing costs: When delivery makes financial sense

The math depends on what you're buying and where you live. A 30-pound bag of mid-range dry food costs about $38 to $45 in-store, $45 to $50 on Chewy with shipping, and $48 to $55 on Petco or PetSmart without a loyalty discount. If you buy one bag every month, the in-store price wins. But if you buy two bags a month and live 20 minutes from the nearest pet store, the time saved might be worth $5 to $10 extra per month.

The biggest savings come from Amazon Prime membership combined with Chewy. Prime members pay $0 shipping on Chewy orders over $35, and Chewy's subscription discount stacks on top of that. A Prime member ordering a 30-pound bag every four weeks gets 10 percent off the food price plus free shipping, bringing the total cost close to in-store prices. Without Prime, Chewy's shipping fee makes it more expensive than buying in-store.

For large dogs eating 60+ pounds of food per month, delivery becomes more attractive because the per-order shipping fee is spread across more food. A household with two large dogs might save $20 to $30 per month by switching to Chewy with Prime, even after accounting for the higher per-pound price.

How to avoid common delivery problems

The most common issue is forgetting to cancel before an order ships. All services process orders three to seven days before the delivery date, so if you want to skip a month, you need to log in or call at least a week in advance. Set a phone reminder for the day before your usual delivery date, or mark it on a calendar. If you miss the window and the order ships, most services will refund you if you contact them within 30 days, but you'll have to deal with returning the food.

Another issue is ordering the wrong formula or size. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or allergies, order a small bag first to test it before committing to automatic deliveries. Chewy and Amazon Prime both make returns easy, but Petco and PetSmart require you to return food to a store or mail it back, which takes longer. If you're switching brands, do it gradually — mix the new food with the old food over 7 to 10 days to avoid digestive upset.

Frozen and fresh food services require more planning. You need to make sure you have freezer space before your first order arrives, and you need to thaw food in advance — most services recommend thawing in the refrigerator overnight. If you travel or your schedule is unpredictable, the short shelf life makes these services harder to manage than dry kibble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I return opened bags of pet food?

Chewy will refund opened bags if your pet doesn't eat it or gets sick, with no questions asked. Petco and PetSmart only refund unopened bags within 30 days. Smaller services like The Farmer's Dog and Nom Nom typically don't accept returns of opened food, but they offer a discount on your first order so you can test it at lower cost.

What happens if I forget to cancel before my order ships?

Most services will refund you if you contact them within 30 days of the shipment. You'll usually need to return the unopened food or provide proof that it arrived. Set a phone reminder for one week before your usual delivery date to avoid this problem.

Do pet food delivery services work for cats?

Yes, all major services carry cat food in dry, wet, and fresh formats. Chewy has the largest cat food selection. Fresh food services like The Farmer's Dog and Nom Nom offer cat-specific meals, though they're more expensive than dog food and require the same freezer space.

Is it cheaper to buy pet food in bulk at a warehouse store?

Warehouse stores like Costco and Sam's Club often have lower per-pound prices than delivery services, but they require a membership fee and you have to pick up the food yourself. If you live near a warehouse store and have a car, bulk buying is usually cheaper than delivery. If you live far from a store or don't have a membership, delivery becomes more competitive.

Can I use multiple delivery services at once?

Yes, many owners use one service for dry food and another for treats or fresh food. You can also switch services month to month if you want to test different brands. Just make sure to cancel with one service before starting with another to avoid paying for overlapping deliveries.