Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services: Ranked and Reviewed

Fresh dog food delivery has gone from a niche curiosity to a legitimate industry in a remarkably short time. Companies like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, and JustFoodForDogs are shipping millions of pre-portioned, gently cooked meals to doorsteps across the country, and their customers are passionate about the results.

But let me be upfront: fresh food delivery is expensive. Depending on your dog’s size, you could be looking at $150-400+ per month – three to ten times what you would spend on quality kibble. So the question is not just “is fresh food good for my dog?” It is “is fresh food good enough for my dog to justify the cost?”

I have tested multiple services with real dogs, compared their ingredients, talked to their nutritionists, and crunched the numbers. Here is an honest comparison of the top fresh food delivery services and who they actually make sense for.

Prices last updated February 2026.

What Makes Fresh Dog Food Different

Fresh dog food sits between kibble and raw on the processing spectrum. These meals are gently cooked at low temperatures (enough to eliminate bacterial risks but not so high that nutrients are destroyed) and then flash-frozen or refrigerated for delivery.

How Fresh Food Compares

The Science Behind Fresh

A 2019 study from the University of Illinois found that fresh, lightly processed dog food was significantly more digestible than extruded kibble. Dogs absorbed more nutrients from less food and produced 40-66% less stool. This higher digestibility is the most concrete scientific advantage of fresh over kibble.

That said, digestibility alone does not necessarily translate to better long-term health outcomes. No long-term comparative studies have been published showing that fresh-fed dogs live longer or have fewer diseases than kibble-fed dogs. The benefits are plausible based on nutrient retention and digestibility data, but they are not proven at the outcome level.

Our Rankings

1. The Farmer’s Dog – Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog has become the most recognizable name in fresh dog food delivery, and they have earned it through consistent quality, transparent ingredients, and a straightforward subscription model.

Available recipes: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork

Key features:

• USDA-grade ingredients sourced from US suppliers
• Recipes developed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
• Meals are gently cooked and flash-frozen
• Pre-portioned daily packs based on your dog’s profile
• Delivered in insulated boxes with dry ice

Ingredient quality: The Farmer’s Dog uses real, identifiable ingredients. A typical recipe reads like something you would cook at home: turkey, sweet potato, chickpeas, spinach, fish oil. There are no vague “by-products,” no artificial preservatives, no ingredients you cannot pronounce. Each recipe meets AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.

Customization: You fill out a detailed profile about your dog: breed, age, weight, activity level, body condition, any allergies or sensitivities. The Farmer’s Dog uses this to calculate exact daily calorie needs and pre-portions each meal accordingly. If your dog needs to lose weight, the portions reflect that. If your dog is a high-energy athlete, same thing.

Pricing: This is where reality checks in. For a 50-pound moderately active adult dog, expect to pay approximately $8-12 per day, or $240-360 per month. Smaller dogs are less expensive ($4-7 per day), while large and giant breeds can push $15+ per day.

What we like:

• Simplest subscription model – just choose a recipe and a delivery schedule
• Excellent palatability across virtually all dogs we tested
• Transparent sourcing and manufacturing
• Quick results visible in coat quality and stool firmness
• Responsive customer service

What could be better:

• No grain-free options (all recipes include plant ingredients)
• Only four protein options
• No retail or single-purchase option – subscription only
• Requires freezer space for storage

2. Ollie – Best for Customization

Ollie offers the most recipe variety among the major fresh food delivery services and includes both fresh and baked options, giving you more flexibility in how you feed.

Available recipes:

• Fresh: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb
• Baked (dry): Beef, Chicken

Key features:

• Human-grade ingredients
• Recipes designed by a team including veterinary nutritionists
• Fresh meals are gently cooked and flash-frozen
• Baked option available for a more affordable alternative
• Customized meal plans based on detailed dog profiles

Ingredient quality: Ollie uses human-grade ingredients sourced in the US. Their recipes feature real meat as the primary ingredient, with a supporting cast of vegetables, fruits, and supplements for balanced nutrition. The beef recipe, for example, includes beef, sweet potatoes, peas, rosemary, and a nutrient blend including fish oil and vitamins.

The Baked Option: Ollie’s baked formulas are an interesting middle ground. They are gently baked rather than extruded (like kibble), which preserves more nutrients than standard kibble processing. They cost roughly half of the fresh meals, making them a more accessible entry point.

Pricing: Fresh meals for a 50-pound dog run approximately $7-11 per day ($210-330 per month). The baked option brings this down to roughly $4-6 per day ($120-180 per month). Mixed plans (some fresh, some baked) offer another cost-saving approach.

What we like:

• Most recipe variety among major services
• Baked option makes the brand more accessible
• Detailed ingredient transparency
• Mixed feeding plans (fresh + baked) for budget flexibility
• Free trial pricing on first box

What could be better:

• Packaging generates significant waste
• Fresh meals have a shorter fridge life than some competitors
• Lamb recipe was less popular with picky eaters in our testing

3. JustFoodForDogs – Best for Special Dietary Needs

JustFoodForDogs stands apart from other services in a critical way: they operate actual kitchens that you can visit and watch your dog’s food being prepared. They also offer the widest range of veterinary-formulated diets, including recipes for specific health conditions.

Available recipes:

• Daily meals: Beef & Russet Potato, Chicken & White Rice, Fish & Sweet Potato, Lamb & Brown Rice, Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni, Venison & Squash
• Veterinary support diets: Renal Support, Hepatic Support, Joint & Skin Support, Metabolic Support, and others

Key features:

• Ingredients sourced from USDA-inspected facilities
• Open kitchens in retail locations where food is prepared in full view
• Widest range of condition-specific diets
• Available in fresh, frozen, and pantry-fresh (shelf-stable) formats
• Developed with veterinary nutritionist oversight and published research

Ingredient quality: JustFoodForDogs has the most transparent production process in the industry. Their kitchens are open to the public, and they regularly publish research on their food’s digestibility and nutritional adequacy. A peer-reviewed study found their food to be significantly more digestible than leading kibble brands.

Pricing: Comparable to The Farmer’s Dog for daily meals: approximately $8-13 per day for a 50-pound dog. Veterinary support diets may cost more. Their pantry-fresh (shelf-stable) option is slightly more affordable and does not require freezer space.

What we like:

• Published research backing their nutritional claims
• Open-kitchen transparency that no other brand matches
• Veterinary support diets for dogs with health conditions
• Pantry-fresh option for convenience
• Available for retail purchase in select Petco locations

What could be better:

• The most expensive option on this list for daily feeding
• Retail availability is limited geographically
• Online ordering can feel less streamlined than competitors
• Packaging and portioning is less automated than Farmer’s Dog or Ollie

4. Nom Nom – Honorable Mention

Nom Nom (now a Mars Petcare brand) offers a solid fresh food product with a clean ingredient list and the backing of a major pet care company’s resources.

Available recipes: Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Turkey Fare, Pork Potluck

Pricing: Approximately $7-12 per day for a 50-pound dog.

Notable: Nom Nom invests in microbiome research and offers a gut health supplement. Their acquisition by Mars gives them supply chain advantages but raises questions for owners who specifically seek independent, small-batch brands.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Who Fresh Food Delivery Actually Makes Sense For

Let me be honest: for the average healthy adult dog on a reasonable budget, quality kibble like the options in our best dry dog food guide provides complete nutrition at a fraction of the cost. Fresh food delivery is not necessary for most dogs.

That said, fresh delivery is worth considering for:

Dogs With Chronic Health Conditions

Dogs with kidney disease, liver conditions, or other health issues that benefit from precise dietary control may thrive on fresh food, especially JustFoodForDogs’ veterinary support diets. The higher digestibility means the body can absorb more nutrients from less food, which matters when organ function is compromised.

Extreme Picky Eaters

Some dogs simply refuse kibble, regardless of brand, flavor, or topper. If you have genuinely exhausted other options and your dog is losing weight or nutritionally suffering, fresh food’s high palatability can be the solution. Every dog we tested fresh food with ate it eagerly.

Dogs With Food Allergies

Fresh food services with single-protein recipes can function as high-quality limited ingredient diets. The minimal processing and transparent ingredient lists make it easier to control exactly what your dog eats. See our limited ingredient dog food guide for more on managing allergies.

Owners Who Prioritize Food Quality Above Cost

If you view your dog’s food the way you view your own – prioritizing whole, minimally processed ingredients and transparent sourcing – fresh delivery aligns with that philosophy. There is nothing wrong with choosing to spend more on food quality if your budget allows it.

Senior Dogs With Declining Appetite

Aging dogs who have lost interest in kibble often perk up when offered fresh food. The enhanced aroma and flavor can help maintain caloric intake during a stage of life when weight loss is a genuine concern. See our senior dog food guide for more on feeding older dogs.

How to Make Fresh Food More Affordable

If fresh food delivery appeals to you but the full cost is prohibitive, several strategies can bring the price down:

Mixed Feeding

Use fresh food as a topper or mix with kibble rather than feeding 100% fresh. A 50/50 split cuts the fresh food cost in half while still adding palatability, moisture, and nutritional variety. Most services allow you to adjust portions downward.

Baked or Shelf-Stable Options

Ollie’s baked formulas and JustFoodForDogs’ pantry-fresh options cost significantly less than their fresh counterparts while still offering higher quality than standard kibble.

DIY Fresh Cooking

Home-cooking for your dog can deliver fresh food benefits at a lower cost. However, formulating a nutritionally complete homemade diet is complex. Work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and use formulation tools like BalanceIT to ensure completeness. This is not the same as just feeding your dog table scraps or leftover chicken and rice.

Consider Fresh for One Meal

Feed fresh food for one meal and quality kibble for the other. This approach cuts fresh food costs roughly in half and still provides daily exposure to minimally processed nutrition.

Switching to Fresh Food

If you decide to try a fresh food service, transition gradually just as you would with any food change:

• Days 1-3: 25% fresh, 75% current food
• Days 4-6: 50% fresh, 50% current food
• Days 7-9: 75% fresh, 25% current food
• Day 10+: 100% fresh

Most dogs handle the transition smoothly, but some may experience temporary loose stools as their digestive system adjusts to the higher moisture and different nutrient profile.

Fresh Food vs. Raw Food

Fresh food delivery and raw feeding share a “minimally processed, whole food” philosophy, but they differ in important ways:

• Fresh food is cooked (reducing bacterial risk to near zero); raw is uncooked
• Fresh food is pre-portioned and nutritionally complete by design; raw DIY requires careful balancing
• Fresh food requires no handling precautions beyond normal food safety; raw requires extensive food safety protocols
• Fresh food costs more than DIY raw but is comparable to commercial raw
• Both offer higher digestibility than kibble

For a detailed breakdown of raw feeding, including safety protocols and cost analysis, see our raw dog food diet guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fresh dog food really worth the cost?

It depends on your priorities and your dog’s needs. For healthy dogs with no special dietary requirements, quality kibble provides complete nutrition at a fraction of the cost. For dogs with health conditions, severe pickiness, or allergies, the higher digestibility and ingredient transparency of fresh food may justify the premium. Many owners find a middle ground with mixed feeding (kibble + fresh topper).

How long does fresh dog food last in the fridge?

Most services recommend using thawed fresh food within 4-5 days when stored in the refrigerator. Unopened packs can be stored in the freezer for several months. Always follow the specific storage instructions provided by your service.

Can I feed fresh food to my puppy?

Yes, most services offer puppy-specific meal plans formulated for the growth life stage. Puppies have different caloric and nutrient needs than adults, so make sure your subscription is set up for a puppy profile. That said, quality puppy kibble like the options in our puppy food guide is also perfectly adequate and much more affordable.

Will my dog go back to kibble after trying fresh food?

This is a legitimate concern. Some dogs who switch to fresh food become reluctant to eat kibble afterward because fresh food is significantly more palatable. If you plan to use fresh food as a temporary solution or supplement, keep some kibble in the rotation so your dog stays accustomed to it.

How do I cancel or modify my subscription?

All three major services allow you to pause, modify, or cancel your subscription online or through customer service. There are no long-term contracts or cancellation fees. Most services also allow you to adjust delivery frequency and recipe selection at any time.

Prices last updated February 2026. We update pricing quarterly. Affiliate links are used – if you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This does not influence our rankings.

This guide is for informational purposes only. Consult your veterinarian before making significant changes to your dog’s diet, especially for dogs with health conditions.