Have you ever considered Freshpet dog food for your pup? I’ve purchased it a few times for my dogs and have seen varying costs for the products. Is Freshpet an affordable option for you? I dove into the details to learn more about Freshpet dog food costs and if it is a sustainable choice for my budget. Let’s get into it.
What Is Freshpet?
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Freshpet is an easy-to-find commercial brand of dog food. Made with fresh ingredients, it uses all-natural farm-raised beef, fish, and poultry. Freshpet’s meals are steam-cooked to preserve nutrients and sustain top flavor. Their recipes use natural, United States-sourced proteins and vegetables and are developed to support healthy digestion. You’ve likely seen Freshpet at your local grocery or pet store. The easily recognizable fridges offer fresh, high-quality foods right out of the grocery store case. It is convenient, easy to serve, and much better quality than many canned food options you might pick up at the grocery store.
How Much Does Freshpet Cost?
Freshpet is available from many different retailers. The pricing depends upon the specific retail you buy it from and the products you choose. It is available in brick-and-mortar retail locations and online, and the price varies by retailer. Along with that, different recipes have different price points. My local Kroger grocery store sells one-pound rolls starting at $5.49 and bags of other recipes starting at $6.49. However, at Walmart, the food rolls start at $3.49 for a one-pound roll. Amazon prices start around $6 for a one-pound roll.
Freshpet offers several product lines. I’ve briefly described them below.
Freshpet Select
The Select line offers food rolls, wet, bagged food, and stews. Recipes are fresh, preservative-free, and use 100% natural beef, poultry, or fish.
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Freshpet Vital
The Vital line uses 100% non-GMO ingredients with no preservatives. These are made to be complete and balanced for dogs in all life stages and come in bagged or rolled options.
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Freshpet Nature’s Fresh
Nature’s Fresh recipes are antibiotic-free and use vegetarian-fed proteins. Ingredients are locally sourced, and recipes come in both bag and rolled options.
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Freshpet Homestyle Creations
Homestyle Creations is a line of frozen chicken and beef patties mixed with fresh fruit and vegetables. Recipes are 100% natural with no preservatives.
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Freshpet Dog Treats
Freshpet also offers two types of fresh treats under the Dog Nation and Dog Joy treat lines. These limited-ingredient fresh treat options use real meat and no byproducts.
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What About Freshpet Deli Fresh?
The Deli Fresh dog food line is grain-free and uses antibiotic-free chicken and non-GMO ingredients. Deli Fresh can only be purchased at Costco, and prices vary.
What Do Freshpet Custom Meals Cost?
Along with buying fresh pre-made recipes from brick-and-mortar stores or online, you can set up a Freshpet Custom Meals plan (in select areas). These meals are freshly prepared and then shipped to your door. Meals are steam-cooked and never frozen, and use no preservatives, powders, meals, or by-products. You can select the plan that works best for your dog and set up regular delivery. However, these custom meals are not yet available in all areas of the United States. Many locations I searched that were unavailable estimate service expanding in the fall of 2024.
Currently, there are three Custom Meals recipes available:
- Shredded Chicken
- Beef & Chicken
- Multiprotein
You can select from a full or half plan when you set up your personalized plan. Full plans start at $1 per day, and half plans start at $0.50 per day. I ran several quotes for healthy dogs of different weights and dietary needs to get an idea of how much Freshpet custom meals cost.
Delivery frequency depends on the selected recipe and if you want a full or half plan. You also have the option to set up a customizable plan where you can pick the amount of food and delivery frequency.
The quotes I ran were for healthy dogs with no dietary concerns or underlying medical needs. I did select options to keep my dogs at a healthy weight and to support skin and coat health. I selected the chicken recipe for all my quotes to maintain consistency. The delivery frequency varies based on the size and plan. All plans receive 50% off the first order.
Freshpet Custom Meals Price Samples
| Dog Weight (In Pounds) | Full Plan | Half Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 5 pounds | 10 bags every 4 weeks, $120 | 4 bags every 4 weeks, $48 |
| 15 pounds | 10 bags every 3 weeks, $120 | 5 bags every 4 weeks, $60 |
| 25 pounds | 11 bags every 2 weeks, $132 | 7 bags every 4 weeks, $84 |
| 45 pounds | 11 bags every 2 weeks $132 | 11 bags every 4 weeks $132 |
| 65 pounds | 7 bags every week, $84 | 7 bags every 2 weeks, $84 |
| 85 pounds | 9 bags every 2 weeks, $108 | 11 bags every 4 weeks, $132 |
Feeding guidelines are provided specifically for your pup’s profile. For larger dogs, Freshpet is more expensive simply because they need more food. For budget-conscious pet parents, the half plan and customizable plans are easy to work in fresh food but do not break the bank.
Is Freshpet Worth The Cost?
Yes, it is worth the cost. This is true for the prepackaged options, which you can pick up from the fridges in the pet and grocery store. The food is of high quality, and you simply cannot beat the convenience. If you are not ready to switch your dog to fresh dog food, it is a perfect compromise between highly processed commercial kibble and fresh nutrition.
Freshpet’s ingredients are high quality, and the food is gently cooked without extra processing. Recipe selection is also a consideration, and it offers recipes for small and large dogs, as well as a variety of protein sources and flavor varieties. While a little more expensive than some options, this brand is very reasonable when it comes to the cost of feeding your dog fresh nutrition.
My Personal Experience With Freshpet Dog Food
I like Freshpet for a few different reasons. The ingredient quality is better than many other off-the-shelf options. It is very convenient to find and available in most local stores where I shop. My dogs do not eat fresh meals as their main nutrition, but I do like to add them to their diet occasionally to offer flavor variety as well as extra nutrition. There are many options out there, and Freshpet is very convenient. I also like the available selection without having to go online or commit to a subscription.
I have tried both the rolls and some of the bagged recipes with my pets, and they like both of them. Another thing that I appreciate is that I can get nutrition formulated for both my large breed dog and my smaller breed dog at the same time without having to pay an extra cost. The price is very reasonable and even less than some other “premium” canned or wet options. For me, it’s a perfect compromise, and it allows me to give my pups a complete and balanced diet without costing me a fortune.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, I’ve answered a few commonly asked questions about Freshpet. If I didn’t mention yours, just shout it out in the comments.
Is Freshpet Human-Grade?
No, it is not human grade. The ingredients are considered feed grade and not for human consumption. Along with that, the recipes are not made in a kitchen licensed as a human food facility. While it is not human-grade, Freshpet is still of remarkably high quality and can offer a healthy dose of fresh nutrition and flavor to your dog’s diet.
What Does Freshpet Cost Per Day?
Freshpet can cost anywhere from $2 a day to over $15 a day, depending upon the recipes and products you buy, as well as your dog’s nutritional needs and eating habits. It will cost more if you choose to put your dog fully on fresh meals or if you use it as a supplement to other food.
How Long Does Freshpet Last In The Fridge?
In general, Freshpet products should be used within seven days of opening.
Why Consider Fresh Dog Food?
Fresh dog food is a wonderful addition to your dog’s diet, and not just because it tastes great. Fresh nutrition is easier for them to digest and less processed, so it has higher nutritional value. Because it is easier for your pup’s system to break down, it can help support healthier bowel movements and gut health. Fresh foods support healthy weight and leave dogs feeling more satisfied after meals. They also tend to have far fewer additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients like flavors and coloring.
Fresh dog food can be very beneficial for dogs with digestive issues, and it also supports skin and coat health due to the high level of omega fatty acids in fresh ingredients. Any way you can add it to your dog’s diet, whether as their full meals or as a topper or mix-in, fresh nutrition adds more than visual appeal to your dog’s bowl.
Alternatives To Freshpet
Freshpet is an excellent choice for introducing fresh dog food to your pup, and it does not require a huge financial investment. However, there are many other options for fresh dog food. If you like the idea of human-grade food, learn more about The Farmer’s Dog, as well as several other top-notch options in our reviews of the best human-grade dog food. Other fresh options include Spot & Tango, Ollie, and Nom Nom. Of course, you should always check with your veterinarian first before making any major changes to your dog’s diet.
Our Methodology
We analyze hundreds of dog food brands and individual formulas to provide our recommendations for the best nutrition. Each of the following elements helps us determine the best dog food for any dietary need. Our in-depth research includes:
- Scrutinizing all ingredients included in every formula
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Unlike many other review sites, we give unbiased reviews based on countless hours of research. Our goal is to provide our readers with the healthiest options for their pups.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Danielle is a dog owner with over thirty years of canine care experience. She has welcomed many rescue pets to her home, including those with special medical needs such as epilepsy, cancer, and heart disease. She is a lifelong supporter of rescue animals and believes all dogs are good dogs in the right homes. Danielle spends countless hours vetting information and reviewing dog products as a professional researcher. She works alongside a talented professional team dedicated to bringing our readers the most up-to-date, relevant information to support their dogs.