How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Ollie and Nom Nom are the closest fresh-food replacements, with vet-developed, human-grade meals and personalized plans.
- Spot and Tango's UnKibble is the best pantry-friendly option, with fresh-dry food from $0.53 per meal and no fridge needed.
- Sundays is the best air-dried pick, with vet-formulated recipes that ship to all 50 states and need no refrigeration.
- We Feed Raw suits raw feeding, with complete and balanced raw recipes designed by an animal nutritionist.
- Open Farm is the best ethically sourced option, with traceable ingredients and gently cooked meals alongside kibble and raw mixes.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Ollie | Personalized fresh food | See website | See website |
 Nom Nom | Gently cooked meals | See website | See website |
 Spot and Tango | Pantry-friendly fresh dry | $0.53/meal | See website |
 JustFoodForDogs | Vet-recommended fresh | See website | See website |
 PetPlate | Flexible fresh plans | $0.71/day | See website |
 Sundays | Air-dried convenience | See website | See website |
 We Feed Raw | Raw feeding | See website | See website |
 Open Farm | Ethically sourced food | See website | See website |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best The Farmer's Dog alternatives
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Ollie calls itself fresh and healthy, human-grade dog food delivery, and its homepage leads with personalization: pick your dog's number one goal, answer a few quick questions, and get a plan built just for them. Its human-grade meats, veggies, fruits, and grains are carefully sourced and formulated with vet nutritionists, with health tracking to follow your dog's progress.
For Farmer's Dog users wanting the closest like-for-like switch, Ollie is the best pick, with a similar fresh-food subscription model and strong review volume. The trade-off is the same as any fresh service: freezer space and a subscription price above kibble.
What we like- Human-grade recipes developed by vets and chefs
- Personalized plans built from your dog's goals and profile
- 1 million-plus dogs served with 20,000-plus 5-star reviews
- Free shipping and 30-day money-back guarantee
Watch out for- Pricing is personalized, so you must complete the quiz to see your rate
- Fresh food requires freezer and fridge space
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Nom Nom describes its fresh dog food as nose-to-tail delicious, with enticing taste, enriching variety, and energizing nutrition. Its homepage explains the method: each ingredient, from proteins to vegetables to starches, is gently cooked separately to ensure optimal nutrient capacity and digestibility, with real, whole food ingredients prepared in small batches.
For dogs that love variety, Nom Nom is the best Farmer's Dog alternative, with diverse recipes and a new scoopable format that removes the thawing wait. Its Mars Petcare backing also gives it scale and supply stability that smaller brands cannot match.
What we like- Vet-developed recipes with ingredients gently cooked separately for nutrient retention
- Board-certified veterinary nutritionists formulate every recipe
- New Scoopable Meal Clusters need no overnight thawing
- Part of Mars Petcare
Watch out for- Homepage is light on pricing, so plans require a quiz
- Fresh meals need freezer storage
Starting price$0.53/meal
Free planSee website
Spot and Tango calls itself healthy, fresh dog food delivery, and its homepage highlights UnKibble: real nutrition, made simple and affordable, with pantry-friendly storage, picky-eater appeal, and gentle cooking for easy digestion. Its meals are developed by vet nutritionists to meet AAFCO standards, with human-grade ingredients and USDA meats, and the company owns its facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
For Farmer's Dog users tired of freezer logistics, Spot and Tango is the best pick, since UnKibble delivers fresh-food ingredients without refrigeration at a lower price. Dogs needing wet food can still choose its fresh plans, but UnKibble is the standout value.
What we like- UnKibble is the only Fresh Dry food for dogs, gently cooked and dried at low temperatures
- UnKibble starts at $0.53 per meal
- 150 million-plus meals served with a 14-day Happy Pup Guarantee
- Free shipping and risk-free trial
Watch out for- Fresh frozen plans cost more than UnKibble
- Dry format may not suit dogs that prefer wet food
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
JustFoodForDogs describes itself with the tagline choose more life, and its homepage backs the claim with scale: trusted by more than 1 million pet parents, with fresh, whole-food meals crafted to nourish every stage of doghood. Its recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists to be complete and balanced, and its open kitchens let customers watch cooking any day of the week.
For owners who prioritize veterinary credibility, JustFoodForDogs is the best Farmer's Dog alternative, with peer-reviewed digestibility research and a vet-recommended positioning that few rivals match. The first-box discount also makes the trial affordable.
What we like- Number one vet-recommended fresh dog food
- 100 percent human-grade ingredients
- 12 open kitchens you can visit
- Peer-reviewed research found its food up to 40 percent more digestible than kibble
- 50 percent off your first box
Watch out for- Fresh frozen format needs freezer space
- Store locations are limited to a few states
Starting price$0.71/day
Free planSee website
PetPlate calls itself fresh dog food delivery with the promise of real food and real tail wags, and its homepage explains the flexibility: pick your texture, wet, dry, or both, and your protein, and PetPlate handles the rest. Its plans span FreshCooked Full at 100 percent of calories, FreshCooked Toppers at 25 percent, FreshCombo at a 50/50 cooked and baked mix, and FreshBaked shelf-stable morsels from $0.79 per day.
For owners who want to try fresh food without committing to a full plan, PetPlate is the best Farmer's Dog alternative, since its Topper Plan lets you add fresh food to your dog's current diet at a low daily cost. The money-back guarantee on the first order also lowers the trial risk.
What we like- Widest variety of human-grade meals, with wet, dry, or both
- FreshCooked Full Plan from $1.89 per day after intro discount
- Topper Plan from $0.71 per day for a budget entry
- 100 percent money-back guarantee on your first order
Watch out for- Prices shown are after intro discount, so ongoing rates are higher
- No samples, though the guarantee covers the first order
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Sundays describes itself as air-dried dog food delivery with clean ingredients and zero fine print, and its homepage explains the method: gently air-dried at low temperatures to preserve nutrients and taste, with a kill step that eliminates pathogens, so there is no food safety or handling risk like freeze-dried raw. Founded by vet Dr. Tory Waxman, Sundays replaces ultra-processed kibble with air-dried real meat and superfoods, and its food stays fresh for about 12 months before opening and 6 to 8 weeks after.
For Farmer's Dog users who want fresh-food nutrition without freezer hassle, Sundays is the best pick, with pantry storage, fast shipping, and a price well below frozen fresh brands. Dogs that strongly prefer wet food may still favor Ollie or Nom Nom.
What we like- Gently air-dried, vet-formulated food with human-grade ingredients and no synthetic nutrient blends
- No fridge, thawing, or prep needed, just scoop and serve
- Free shipping to all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii
- Up to 55 percent less pricey than frozen fresh
Watch out for- Air-dried format is closer to jerky than fresh wet food, which may not suit every dog
- Recipes are limited to beef, chicken, fish, and turkey
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
We Feed Raw describes itself as raw meals for healthier, happier dogs, with all-natural, protein-rich recipes designed by an animal nutritionist. Its homepage states the philosophy plainly: complete and balanced meals to power whole-body health, clean ingredients you can see, and no fillers or junk, with simple ingredient lists such as beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef bone, flaxseed, and kelp.
For owners committed to raw feeding, We Feed Raw is the best Farmer's Dog alternative, since Farmer's Dog cooks its food while We Feed Raw keeps it raw and biologically appropriate. Raw feeding carries handling and safety considerations, so talk to your vet before switching, especially for puppies, seniors, or dogs with health conditions.
What we like- Complete and balanced raw meals designed by a Ph.D. animal nutritionist
- Clean ingredients with nutrient-rich organs and bone and zero fillers
- Frozen raw and freeze-dried raw recipes
- 5 nutritious proteins delivered at peak freshness
Watch out for- Raw feeding requires careful handling and freezer storage
- Raw diets are not right for every dog, so vet guidance matters
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Open Farm calls itself the best ethically sourced dog and cat food, and its homepage covers the range: kibble, gently cooked fresh meals made with real, human-grade ingredients, raw mixes, wet food, and treats, all under the Open Farm Promise of humanely raised, ethically sourced proteins, no corn, wheat, or soy, and third-party certification. With over 50,000 five-star reviews, it has scale across both subscription and retail channels.
For owners who care about sourcing ethics as much as nutrition, Open Farm is the best Farmer's Dog alternative, since its traceability and humane sourcing claims go further than most fresh-food brands. It also suits households that mix formats, combining gently cooked meals with kibble or raw toppers.
What we like- Ethically sourced, humanely raised proteins with 100 percent traceable ingredients
- Gently cooked fresh meals alongside kibble, raw mixes, and wet food
- No corn, wheat, or soy, and sustainably sourced seafood
- 25 percent off your first Autoship
Watch out for- Broad catalog can make choosing harder than a single subscription plan
- Pricing varies widely across formats
How we chose
We compared fresh and alternative dog food brands on vendor homepages, weighing human-grade ingredients, veterinary formulation, AAFCO completeness, format convenience, pricing transparency, and shipping coverage. We favored tools with live homepages and current offerings, and we included fresh, air-dried, raw, and ethically sourced options because Farmer's Dog buyers range from convenience seekers to raw feeders. Note that this article compares pet food products, not veterinary advice: consult your veterinarian before changing your dog's diet, especially for puppies, seniors, or dogs with health conditions.
What to check before you commit
Start with your dog's needs and your storage reality. Fresh and raw services need freezer and fridge space, while Sundays and Spot and Tango's UnKibble need only pantry space, so your kitchen setup may decide the format before price does.
Next, run a transition trial. Mix the new food gradually over a week, watch digestion and energy, and use the guarantees: Ollie offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, PetPlate offers 100 percent money-back on the first order, and Spot and Tango offers a 14-day Happy Pup Guarantee. A trial tells you more than any review.
Finally, price the ongoing plan, not the intro offer. PetPlate's prices are after intro discount, JustFoodForDogs offers 50 percent off the first box, and Open Farm offers 25 percent off the first Autoship, so confirm your second-order price before committing to a subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best The Farmer's Dog alternative overall?
Ollie for the closest fresh-food switch, Nom Nom for gently cooked variety, and Spot and Tango for pantry-friendly value. Sundays leads for air-dried convenience, and Open Farm leads for ethically sourced food.
Is there a cheaper fresh dog food alternative?
Yes. Spot and Tango's UnKibble starts at $0.53 per meal, and PetPlate's Topper Plan starts at $0.71 per day. Sundays claims up to 55 percent savings versus frozen fresh brands, since it avoids frozen shipping.
Which alternative does not need freezer space?
Sundays and Spot and Tango's UnKibble are pantry-friendly, with no fridge, thawing, or prep needed. Open Farm's kibble and freeze-dried options are also shelf-stable.
Which alternative is best for raw feeding?
We Feed Raw, with complete and balanced raw recipes designed by a Ph.D. animal nutritionist, plus frozen raw and freeze-dried raw formats. Talk to your vet before switching to raw.
Which alternative is vet-recommended?
JustFoodForDogs calls itself the number one vet-recommended fresh dog food, with recipes formulated by veterinary nutritionists and peer-reviewed digestibility research. Ollie, Nom Nom, and Sundays are also vet-formulated.
Which alternative offers the most variety?
PetPlate, with the widest variety of human-grade meals and a choice of wet, dry, or both textures. Open Farm also offers a broad catalog across kibble, gently cooked, raw mix, and wet formats.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.myollie.com
- https://www.nomnomnow.com
- https://spotandtango.com
- https://justfoodfordogs.com
- https://petplate.com
- https://sundaysfordogs.com
- https://wefeedraw.com
- https://openfarmpet.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.