10 Best Affordable Raw Dog Food Brands in 2024

While many dog food brands offer raw recipes, not all keep it wallet-friendly. This creates a real dilemma for pet owners wanting to provide raw diets without spending a fortune (especially for those of us with big boys and girls).

But this doesn’t mean you have to stick to kibble and hope for the best – there are some good options out there. In my search for affordable raw dog food offers, I sifted through numerous brands, focusing on nutrition, ingredient quality, and affordability. I've narrowed it down to a top 10 list of brands that don't sacrifice quality for price.

Top of my list is We Feed Raw, a brand that manages to balance high-quality nutrition and affordability. With recipes crafted by vets and made from fresh, prime protein, it's my go-to recommendation. But if We Feed Raw doesn’t work for you and your furry friend, don’t worry – I’m sure you’ll find at least one good recommendation on my list.

The Best Affordable Raw Dog Food Brands Reviewed

1. We Feed Raw – Best Raw Dog Food Recipes Overall

We Feed Raw offers a diverse array of well-formulated recipes that cater to the nutritional needs of dogs at any life stage. This brand stands out for its commitment to using high-quality, human-grade meat, ensuring meals are both complete and balanced.

What’s on Offer?

We Feed Raw offers 6 human-grade protein options, ensuring that pets receive meals that are as nutritious as they are delicious. Each recipe, whether it's chicken, turkey, duck, beef, venison, or lamb, is crafted to meet AAFCO standards for all life stages, from puppies to senior dogs.

We Feed Raw focuses on biologically appropriate diets, comprising approximately 80% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, 10% edible bones (finely ground to enhance taste, texture, and nutritional profile), and essential vitamins and minerals. We Feed Raw emphasizes natural ingredients without artificial flavors or colors.

We Feed Raw's recipes are not only rich in high-quality proteins but also fortified with a specifically tailored blend of vitamins and minerals. This mix includes essential nutrients such as Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, and Sodium Selenite. To learn more about the mix and the recipes, check our full-length We Feed Raw review. 

What Makes It Special?

The meals are formulated by a Ph.D. animal nutritionist with extensive experience, guaranteeing a balanced diet packed with essential vitamins and minerals​​. All patties contain 100% meat, organs, and finely ground bone sourced from pasture-raised, grass-fed animals​​. 

We Feed Raw lets you create a meal plan based on your pooch’s specific dietary needs, including age, level of activity, and breed. Plus, many pet owners have reported seeing positive health outcomes in their pets, such as improved allergies, better digestion, higher energy levels, and improved coat quality, when switching to We Feed Raw​​.

Since raw dog food is highly sensitive, the company prioritizes food safety and quality. The meat is not heated, but it does go through high-pressure processing (HPP) to eliminate pathogens without compromising nutritional value. This processing happens in a USDA-certified facility and follows the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety.

Is It Good Value?

While the price tag might be higher than traditional dog foods (it starts at $6.59/lb), the health benefits, premium-quality ingredients, and overall convenience provide lots of value for your buck. 

The use of high-pressure processing to ensure food safety without compromising nutritional integrity is a testament to the brand's commitment to quality​​. Furthermore, the absence of dog food recalls shows a reliable track record of safety and quality​​.

2. Maev – Best Vet-Crafted Freeze-Dried Recipes

Maev stands out for its focus on high-quality ingredients and convenience in feeding, particularly for raw dog food options. The brand's commitment to creating vet-crafted, freeze-dried recipes emphasizes both nutrition and ease of use for pet owners.

What’s on Offer?

Maev offers 2 highly nutritious core recipes focusing on high-quality, USDA-certified chicken and beef, complemented by a variety of vegetables and superfoods like kale, zucchini, and blueberries. The menu also offers a puppy formula made with chicken and extra ingredients, such as Bovine Colostrum and Probiotics.

Maev's recipes were developed with the help of veterinary nutritionists and cater to the common nutritional gaps in dogs' diets. These recipes feature a blend of 11 core ingredients, including lean meats (beef or chicken), organ meats (liver, gizzard, and sweetbreads), fresh vegetables and fruits, and functional supplements, ensuring a high-protein, low-carb diet.

Maev emphasizes transparency and trust, with meals prepared in accordance with AAFCO standards and containing no fillers. Our reviewer was also impressed by Maev's extras, like daily supplement bars and bone broth, designed to target various health concerns​​​​​​.

What Makes It Special?

Maev's flash-frozen meals are designed for optimal nutrient absorption, but they’re also easy to feed. Since you don’t have to thaw the food, it’s a simple, no-mess, no-prep experience. Plus, the packaging is designed to fit small urban freezers, making it an excellent choice for city dwellers.

Furthermore, Maev lets you choose the supplements that go in each recipe, so you don’t have to decide between taste and your pooch’s specific dietary needs​​. For each adult recipe, you can decide whether you want a supplement that supports your dog’s coat, joints, digestion, and so on.

I was also impressed by the quality of the ingredients Maev uses. It offers human-grade, USDA-certified meats and fresh produce, ensuring that dogs receive the best possible diet. This focus on high-quality, natural ingredients without fillers supports a dog's health and wellness in a way that mimics their ancestral diet​.

Is It Good Value?

While I can’t say Maev is the most budget-friendly raw dog food out there (prices start at $143 per bag), the value it brings is difficult to ignore. Maev's approach to raw dog food balances expense with high nutritional content and convenience.

The inclusion of human-grade and AAFCO-compliant ingredients, coupled with recipes formulated by veterinary nutritionists, speaks to the brand's value proposition​​. Additionally, the fact that you can choose the type of supplements that go into your dog’s food is an impressive feature.

3. Open Farm – Best Variety of Raw Dog Food Options

Open Farm offers raw dog food options that are affordable, high-quality, and transparently sourced. What caught my attention most about Open Farm was its commitment to variety and transparency.

What’s on Offer?

Open Farm's menu is impressively diverse, featuring a range of products from freeze-dried raw options like Surf & Turf and Homestead Turkey to gently cooked dry and wet recipes. Each recipe starts with a high-quality protein source, followed by a mix of human-grade fruits and vegetables, ensuring comprehensive nutrition at all life stages.

For dogs on an exclusively raw diet, you can choose from 2 categories: Freeze Dried Raw and RawMix. The Freeze Dried Raw recipes are available in morsels and patties that you combine with water or bone broth before serving. RawMix options are nutrient-dense kibble coated in a bone broth and freeze-dried raw blend plus chunks of raw meat.

In each category, you’ll find a variety of proteins, such as chicken, turkey, grass-fed beef, or surf and turf. As you can read in our well-detailed Open Farm review, all the meats included are humanely raised and sustainably sourced.

What Makes It Special?

One aspect of Open Farm that truly stands out is its commitment to transparency and animal welfare. Using the Lot Code on your Open Farm dog food bag, you can trace each ingredient back to its source, providing peace of mind about the quality and ethics behind what you’re feeding your pets. 

Moreover, with certifications like Certified Humane and Ocean Wise, it's evident that animal welfare and sustainable practices are at the core of Open Farm's mission. Every product assures 100% obsessively sourced ingredients, as the company only works with providers that adhere to the highest ethical and sustainable standards.

Is It Good Value?

With Open Farm, prices start at $7/lb without auto-shipment. Considering the quality of ingredients, ethical sourcing, and the range of options available, Open Farm presents a more affordable alternative to similar premium brands without compromising on quality. 

Additionally, with options like auto-ship services, you can save money on regular orders. Although the initial cost might be higher than that of some other brands, the quality of ingredients, the brand's commitment to sustainability and animal welfare, and the comprehensive nutrition provided make Open Farm a valuable choice.

4. Chewy – Best for Budget-Friendly Options

Chewy offers a variety of affordable dog food options from different brands, catering to different preferences and needs. With an extensive range of freeze-dried raw meals and toppers, Chewy offers access to quality raw dog food without breaking the bank.

What’s on Offer?

Chewy’s menu caters to dogs and cats and offers a wide range of options, from dry to wet foods, treats, and toppers. The raw food section offers 300+ options and has 4 main categories: Dry Food, Freeze-Dried Food, Frozen Food, and Mixers & Toppers.

Chewy’s raw selection includes top-rated brands like Stella & Chewy's, Pure Bites, and Vital Essentials, offering freeze-dried raw food, meal mixers, and toppers. Therefore, you’re free to choose whichever options best fit your budget and your pup’s needs.

Products like Stella & Chewy's Stella's Super Beef Dinner Patties and Wellness CORE Bowl Boosters Bare Turkey Freeze-Dried Dog Food Mixer are particularly popular among customers for their quality ingredients and the convenience they offer. 

What Makes It Special?

Chewy is a great option for budget-conscious shoppers since it carries a wide range of brands, including their own. Plus, the diverse range of products, even in the raw foods category, makes it easy to find something that fits your budget and Fido’s preferences. Our full-length Chewy review offers more details on available brands and types of foods.

Whether you're looking for food that is grain-free, high in protein or has limited ingredients, Chewy offers options that don't sacrifice quality for cost. For instance, the Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Entree Mini Nibs offers the right balance between premium ingredients and affordability.

Besides offering an extensive selection of dog food brands, Chewy also provides hard-to-find specialty diets and prescription foods. This variety means you can find almost any product suited for your dog's specific nutritional needs, preferences, or health conditions all in one place.

Is It Good Value?

Chewy offers a broad range of affordable options from different brands, with prices starting from <$2 per meal. However, you won’t find fresh raw recipes like the ones offered by We Feed Raw or Maev – the only options are freeze-dried raw and mixers and toppers.

Still, it’s a better option than kibble, and the overall prices range from budget-friendly to premium. Moreover, Chewy's autoship feature offers additional savings​​.

5. Viva Raw – Best Single-Protein Organic Ingredients Recipes

Viva Raw specializes in producing dog and cat raw food recipes with a strong emphasis on quality and health. The brand uses single-protein sources and organic ingredients to create nutritious and delicious recipes that even fussy eaters will enjoy.

What’s on Offer?

The menu features a selection of 5 single protein recipes, chunked and ground – chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, and duck. There’s also a puppy recipe that combines beef and turkey and features Viva Raw’s special blend of nutrients optimized for growth.

Each recipe has a high protein content (between 70% and 83%) and organic ingredients. There are no GMOs, and the meat is sourced from USDA-inspected, humane-certified farms that do not use hormones or antibiotics​​.

Additionally, Viva Raw has a special recipe made of seasonal proteins with limited stock. When I did the research for the best affordable raw dog food, the special recipe was ground Bison. Just like with the other recipes, 90% of the content is grass-fed & pasture-raised bison, while the rest is made of organic fruit and veggies (8%) and a mix of natural supplements (2%).

What Makes It Special?

The brand prioritizes the use of USDA-certified, humanely raised, antibiotic-free meats sourced from smaller farms. These farms are certified humane through third-party audits, ensuring the meat is of the highest quality. 

Additionally, the inclusion of organic fruits, vegetables, and natural supplements in Viva Raw recipes maximizes bioavailability and absorption, which is easy to see in your pup’s coat, skin, and energy levels. Our reviewer was thoroughly impressed by the brand’s dedication to quality and pets’ well-being.

Viva Raw's products are crafted in small batches in a facility that also produces human food, underscoring its commitment to quality and safety​​. Its approach to pet nutrition is designed to offer pets a diet closer to what they would naturally consume, with benefits including cleaner teeth, healthier skin and coats, and firmer poops​.

Is It Good Value?

Considering the high quality of ingredients and the meticulous preparation process, it’s easy to see why Viva Raw’s prices fit in the premium category. The most affordable recipe starts at $5.75/lb, but if you fancy any of the specials, you’ll pay around $11.50/lb. 

Still, the brand’s commitment to quality, from sourcing to production, along with its range of recipes designed by veterinary experts, makes it a noteworthy choice.

6. Darwin’s – Fresh, Minimally Processed Raw Meals

Darwin's caters to different dietary needs while also considering your budget with its array of raw recipes. Darwin's meals are minimally processed for safety reasons and include free-range, cage-free, or pasture-raised meats alongside high-quality vegetables. Overall, the brand is committed to offering high-quality raw nutrition for both dogs and cats.

What’s on Offer?

The menu features 3 main lines of raw dog food recipes: Natural Selections, Biologics, and Intelligent Design. Each line features both single-protein and mixed recipes that don’t include any grains, fillers, hormones, or chemical preservatives.

The Natural Selections line includes premium recipes made with free-range meats and organic vegetables. There are 5 single-protein options (chicken, duck, turkey, lamb, and beef) and 1 combination (Chicken & Beef). The Biologics line features similar meals but made with conventional meats and vegetables that are more affordable for the regular pet owner. 

Lastly, the Intelligent Design line features recipes designed to support specific health issues. They are made with the highest-quality meats and organic vegetables and are available by prescription only. My colleague’s full-length Darwin’s review offers more detailed information on each line’s recipes, so make sure to check it out.

What Makes It Special?

The availability of multiple product lines caters to both budgetary and health-specific needs, with options ranging from more economical choices to specialized formulas for health issues like kidney and liver support. 

All the recipes are formulated under the guidance of veterinary nutritionists​​, and even though the Biologics line is supposed to offer more economic options, this doesn’t mean Darwin’s compromises on quality. All the recipes are formulated using the same care for your dog’s health and needs.

Additionally, Darwin's team of menu consultants is available for free to help tailor your dog's diet to their specific requirements. Darwin’s team can help you create a feeding schedule, help you choose the best recipes, and tell you more about how these recipes work. ​

Is It Good Value?

Darwin’s prices start at $10.84 per pack for the Biologics line, which is quite acceptable considering the quality of ingredients and the care that goes into each formula. Plus, the health benefits could lead to long-term savings on veterinary bills.

Overall, the brand's commitment to quality, coupled with its efforts to accommodate various dietary needs and budgets, makes it an interesting option.

7. Raw Paws Pet Food – Great Menu Diversity

Raw Paws Pet Food is a dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable pet food. The company offers a wide array of raw options, ranging from meals to chews and treats, for cats and dogs of all ages and sizes. 

What’s on Offer?

Raw Paws Pet Food offers an extensive range of raw food options for both dogs and cats, including meat rolls, patties, and grinds. It sources over 10 types of proteins, such as beef, chicken, duck, fish, goat, lamb, and more, providing a broad spectrum of choices to meet any pet's dietary needs. 

Additionally, Raw Paws Pet Food's offering includes extras like meaty bones, freeze-dried treats and toppers, raw frozen organs, snacks, and even vegetarian options. My colleague’s Raw Paws Pet Food review goes into more detail about this extensive menu, so make sure to check it out.

Overall, Raw Paws Pet Food emphasizes the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients from small family farms, adhering to rigorous quality control standards. Some of these raw recipes cater to specific diets, like BARF, Alpha Prey, or Prey Model.

What Makes It Special?

Raw Paws is dedicated to sourcing high-quality meats from ethical farms in the USA, ensuring its products are free from preservatives, grains, hormones, GMOs, and antibiotics. The good news is that this commitment to quality doesn't come at the expense of affordability. 

Raw Paws provides diverse pricing levels to accommodate any budget, making it a cost-effective choice for raw pet food. Furthermore, the company offers competitively priced complete raw diets and frequent promotions, helping pet owners save money while providing their pets with premium nutrition​​.

Additionally, I like Raw Paws’ focus on environmental responsibility and customer satisfaction. For this, the company uses eco-friendly foam coolers for shipping, sources ingredients locally, provides detailed guidance on raw feeding, and offers nutritional counseling from raw feeding experts.

Is It Good Value?

Despite its many benefits, 1 aspect to consider is the lack of customizable food options, which may not cater to pets with specific dietary needs. However, Raw Paws redeems this by offering a wide variety of proteins and formulas. 

With prices starting at From $10.99/lb, Raw Paws is 1 of the best affordable raw dog food suppliers on the market. Add to this the brand’s focus on ethical sourcing and quality ingredients, and it’s easy to see why so many dog owners appreciate it.

8. Raw Wild – Best for Straightforward and Simple Recipes

What’s on Offer?

Raw Wild offers a single yet highly nutritious recipe that consists of 99.4% wild elk and deer, with the remaining 0.6% made up of essential vitamins and minerals. By offering only 1 recipe, the company can focus all its efforts on nutritional integrity and sourcing (the meat comes directly from the Rocky Mountains).

This approach provides dogs with a diet that's as close to their natural ancestral eating habits as possible, promoting overall health and vitality. The service's commitment to an unprocessed, organic, and filler-free diet means your furry friend receives food free of gluten, preservatives, and GMOs.

Each meal is designed to offer a complete and balanced diet, and since the recipe is so simple, it caters to a broad spectrum of dietary needs​​. Many dog owners who feed with Raw Wild noticed an improvement in allergies and sensitivities.

What Makes It Special?

The primary allure of Raw Wild lies in its ingredient purity and the health benefits it brings. As you can read in our well-detailed Raw Wild review, dogs fed with this diet often exhibit better muscle tone, shinier coats, improved digestive health, and a more enthusiastic demeanor.

These benefits stem from the diet's high-quality protein and the natural way in which the animals were raised and sourced, ensuring a meal free of hormones, antibiotics, and unnatural additives. Plus, the food meets AAFCO's nutritional levels, ensuring a complete and balanced diet for your pet​​.

Is It Good Value?

Raw Wild’s pricing structure is competitive within the premium raw dog food market. The product comes with a satisfaction guarantee, free shipping across most of the United States, and flexible purchasing options ranging from 12, 24, to 48-pound packs. 

Prices start at $11.64 per lb, which is quite affordable for a raw diet of this quality. This pricing flexibility, coupled with the simplicity of the offering, makes Raw Wild 1 of the best affordable raw dog food brands on the market.

9. PetCareRx – Affordable Freeze-Dried Raw Mix Options

PetCareRx offers a range of freeze-dried raw dog food options that emphasize diversity and affordability. The company also offers a wide range of dry and wet food, snacks, treats, and supplements for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. There is also a Pharmacy section where you can get various meds and special supplements.

What’s on Offer?

The freeze-dried raw dog food offered by PetCareRx showcases a variety of proteins, including turkey, beef, salmon, and duck, among others, catering to the dietary requirements and preferences of different dogs.

PetCareRx features several brands, including big names in the industry, like Royal Canin, Purina, Taste of the Wild, and even some Chewy products. However, if you’re feeding raw, most of the recipes are freeze-dried or high-protein kibble combined with freeze-dried meat. You won’t find fresh recipes like the ones made by We Feed Raw.

Besides catering to special dietary needs, PetCareRx extends its offerings to include a broad spectrum of pet medications, including prescription options, for a variety of health issues like arthritis, diabetes, and heart issues

What Makes It Special?

PetCareRx is committed to quality and safety, and while it doesn’t have its own dog food brand, it provides pet parents with a wide range of options. Our reviewer was also impressed by the fact that you can find a wide range of information verified by experts on various topics ranging from medication to nutrition.

Unlike many pet food brands that focus solely on nutrition, PetCareRx offers a wide array of FDA and EPA-approved prescription medications. This makes them a one-stop-shop for pet owners, addressing not just nutritional needs but also health concerns ranging from chronic conditions to flea and tick prevention.

Additionally, PetCareRx was founded on the principle of making pet care more affordable, especially when it comes to medications. While pet food and supplies might not always be the cheapest, the brand strives to offer competitive prices on prescription medications, making essential healthcare more accessible.

Is It Good Value?

The pricing structure of PetCareRx's freeze-dried dog food is competitive, offering options for one-time purchases or subscription models, which include savings for bulk buys. Prices start at $1.99/1.4oz, but keep in mind that PetCareRx works like an e-commerce platform. This means you can buy as much or as little as you want.

10. Maxbone – Gourmet Freeze-Dried Recipes for Picky Eaters

Maxbone offers a premium range of freeze-dried raw dog food designed to cater to dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. Maxbone’s products are free from added hormones, antibiotics, grains, gluten, colors, fillers, flavorings, and synthetic vitamins or minerals. 

What’s on Offer?

Maxbone features 3 single-protein recipes, 1 topper recipe, and 3 treats. The dog food is crafted from farm-raised beef, turkey, and duck, and the Topper is made with wild-caught salmon. The treats section includes 2 vegetarian options and 1 turkey recipe.

Besides protein, the core recipes also include multi-tasking superfoods, like chia seeds, spinach, blueberries, or sweet potatoes, which provide additional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Overall, each recipe is well-balanced, ensuring a high-protein diet rich in essential nutrients. 

According to my colleague’s in-depth Maxbone review, Maxbone’s methods help keep the nutrients and ingredients in these recipes fresher than fresh food while being as convenient as kibble. In a way, Maxbone’s recipes remind me of Maev’s freeze-dried raw options.

What Makes It Special?

I like that Maxbone's dog food is versatile and can be served as is, mixed with other food, or even used as treats. This flexibility makes it an excellent choice for finicky eaters or those looking for a meal topper to enhance a dog's current diet​.

Maxbone also employs a more advanced freeze-drying technique that helps preserve the natural nutrients in raw ingredients without cooking them. This method ensures that the food retains more of its original nutritional content while making it extremely easy to handle when feeding (just like kibble).

Like most raw dog food brands, Maxbone incorporates a variety of superfoods known for their health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. This comprehensive nutritional approach supports everything from a strong immune system to healthy skin and coat.

Is It Good Value?

Maxbone is a premium brand, and, as expected, its prices are premium as well (starting at $11 per pack). But it also comes with impressive ingredient quality, nutritional integrity, convenience, and customer satisfaction. 

So, even though it’s not the most budget-friendly option on my list, you do get lots of bang for your buck.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Affordable Raw Dog Food Brands

Finding the right affordable raw dog food brand can be difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with the niche. But it’s an important step to take if you want to provide your furry friends with a diet that's both nutritious and close to their natural eating habits. 

To make it easier, I put together some of the main criteria I used to find the brands I listed in this article.

• Good selection of raw recipes: A varied menu is essential to catering to dogs' diverse tastes and nutritional needs. I found We Feed Raw to stand out due to its wide array of raw recipes, ensuring your dog doesn't get bored with its meals. This diversity is crucial for maintaining your dog's interest and health over time.
• High-quality ingredients: When feeding raw, it's vital to choose brands that prioritize the use of high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients. For instance, Maev's commitment to using only the finest ingredients ensures your dog receives the nutritional benefits needed for optimal health. High-quality ingredients support better digestion and overall well-being.
• Low Price Per Serving: Affordability without compromising on quality is key, as it lets you provide the best for your pet while managing your budget effectively. Open Farm offers competitive pricing per serving, making it easier to feed your dog a raw diet regularly without breaking the bank.
• Customized meal plans: Every dog is unique, and their food should reflect their individual health needs and taste preferences. Viva Raw, with its diverse menu and customized meal plans, allows you to tailor your dog's diet to their specific requirements.

FAQ

Which are the most affordable raw dog food brands?

This depends on the type of raw food you want to feed your dog. For instance, Chewy and Open Farm have the best prices, but their offer comprises mostly freeze-dried raw and raw mix options.

What are the benefits of feeding my dog raw food?

Feeding your dog raw food can lead to numerous benefits, including improved digestion, healthier skin and coat, more energy, and smaller stool volume. Raw diets, like the one proposed by We Feed Raw, often contain fresher ingredients compared to traditional kibble, providing more natural nutrition for your pet.

How can I ensure the raw dog food I choose is safe and nutritious?

To ensure safety and nutrition, look for brands that follow AAFCO guidelines, use high-quality, human-grade ingredients, and have good manufacturing practices. Brands like Maev and We Feed Raw are great examples when it comes to safety when feeding raw because the recipes are frozen to lock in the freshness and nutrients.

Best Affordable Raw Dog Food Brands in 2024 — Final Score