Chewy vs. Amazon 2023: Which Is Best for Pet Food?

As a pet parent, you know that finding the best food for your furry friend is essential. I share your sentiment; after all, we want nothing but the best for our pets. Deciding between 2 popular online stores for pet supplies – Chewy vs. Amazon – can be challenging, as both offer a broad range of products, reliable service, and competitive prices.

I’ve thoroughly analyzed both stores, focusing on crucial factors. These factors include the quality of ingredients, the variety of meal types, prices, and delivery options. This extensive research was fueled by my desire to make an informed choice for my pets, and I'm excited to share these insights with you.

After careful consideration, I found that Chewy is the better choice for pet food. Chewy is more pet-oriented, with consistent pricing and a specialized pharmacy service. While Amazon does boast impressive product diversity and occasional discounts, the advantages of Chewy in terms of pet-specific expertise and services make it the better choice for pet parents.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Ingredient Quality

Winner: Chewy

Both shops offer lots of options for pet foods with a wide range of ingredients. I definitely like Chewy’s way of organizing things best. Plus, the company also has a Pharmacy section that you can use to have a vet prescription delivered to your door. This service isn’t (yet) available on Amazon.

Chewy and Amazon offer easy access to a wide range of brands, like Purina, Pedigree, Blue Buffalo (for dogs), Friskies, Sheba, Fancy Feast (for cats), and many others. Plus, there are plenty of options for dry, wet, dehydrated and freeze-dry, food toppers, and more.

On Amazon, you can find food of all types with various levels of ingredient quality. There are options for dogs, cats, horses, fish, aquatic pets, reptiles, small pets, and amphibians. The same is true about Chewy, with the addition that there’s also a section for farm animals.

There’s a good chance Amazon has more diversity in terms of brands and foods. However, Chewy is pet-oriented and better organized. Plus, there’s a Fresh & Prepared Meals section for dogs that features high-quality recipes with human-grade ingredients.

Both sites have a Veterinary Diets section for dogs and cats. Here, you can find foods designed for pets with specific health needs. In my case, both companies win points due to the good selection of foods for weight management and digestive care.

Chewy also has my vote when it comes to product organization. Let’s take dog food as an example. Chewy organizes the food based on type (dry, human-grade, wet food, and so on). The filters on the side of the screen make it even easier to find what you need on Chewy. You can filter options by special diet, flavor, health feature, and more.

Amazon, on the other hand, is more focused on brands, price, and flavor. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it did leave me feeling confused whenever I wasn’t looking for a specific brand or type of food.

I don’t feel the filters are as intuitive as Chewy’s. Finding things on Amazon takes more time and effort, unless you’re looking for a specific product. It’s definitely not as easy to browse.

While Amazon has a bigger selection, I found Chewy’s offer better. The site is geared toward quality pet food, so it’s much easier to find what you’re looking for.

Meals and Customization

Winner: Chewy

Chewy takes the lead here, as you can find a great range of options to suit your pet. I like that the store also offers Raw Food, Human-Grade, and Fresh & Prepared Meals. The categories with the most options are dry and premium food.

However, there’s a huge range of meal types available at both Amazon and Chewy. These include dry and wet foods, dehydrated and freeze-dried foods, treats, food toppers, frozen meals, and gluten- and grain-free – all of these are easily available on Amazon and Chewy.

The most common options on Amazon are dry, wet, and canned dog food. You can also find dehydrated and freeze-dried, food toppers, and a limited selection of frozen meals. Each of these sections includes a wide range of meals that fit dogs of any age with varied dietary needs. 

With Chewy, it’s easy to find meals fit for dogs with allergies or a specific health condition due to the well-designed filters at the side. I also like the Premium Dog Food section, where you’ll find meals from some of the top pet food brands on the market.

Since Amazon and Chewy are both online stores, there’s no room for customization. The experience is similar to online shopping and works on a what-you-see-is-what-you-get concept. However, the sheer diversity of food products and brands makes it easy to find what you and your pet need.

Ordering and Delivery

Winner: It’s a tie

There’s no clear winner here, so this round is a tie between Chewy and Amazon. As a new customer, you need an account before you can place an order. It literally takes less than a minute, and both sites have features such as order history, favorites/wish list, and order management.

If you like a personalized shopping experience, Chewy has some interesting features. I like that I can build a profile for each of my pets and receive recommendations based on that info. Plus, you can connect with licensed vets and ask for advice and tips, which is really useful.

When it comes to delivery, it’s no surprise that Amazon is the best. The e-commerce giant delivers all over the US and offers several options for delivery times such as Standard Shipping (4 to 5 business days), 2-Day Shipping (business days), or 1-Day Shipping.

Chewy delivers within the contiguous US. It takes 1 to 3 days for your order to arrive. Parcels are shipped by FedEx or other premium carriers.

Both sites have a feature for recurring orders. I like that you can easily control the frequency with the option to skip or cancel at any time. However, not all products have this option, so make sure to check first.

In both cases, there’s no need to set up a subscription. You can order whenever and whatever you want (as long as the item is available for purchase). Also, you’re notified when the package starts its journey to your door, so you can easily track each order.

How Do the Meals Arrive?

Winner: It's a tie

Both companies will make sure the order reaches your door in good condition. All non-perishable food items will be packed in standard packaging that may differ depending on the courier services used.

Chewy ships fresh, refrigerated, and frozen items separately. Items are packaged with proper insulation (dry ice packs). They’ll still feel cold on arrival.

Amazon also has a special shipping option for perishable goods. This is called Expedited Chilled Shipping. It means that the items are packed in Styrofoam containers with cooling gel packs.

If you order perishable goods, the food should have proper instructions on use and storage. If these instructions are missing from your package and the information isn’t available on the website, contact Chewy or Amazon and report the issue.

Both companies focus on reducing waste when it comes to packaging materials. Just be aware that not everything is recyclable. In general, cardboard totes and plastic bags are curbside-recyclable but insulated bag liners usually aren’t. Also, coolant packs and gel packs come with instructions on how to dispose of them safely.

Pricing

Winner: It’s a tie

I find it difficult to properly differentiate between Chewy and Amazon’s prices. This is because there are so many factors involved. In my experience, you can find great deals on both sites, and the prices for similar products are roughly the same.

The only striking difference is the variety of prices. Since Amazon works with different merchants, you can easily find the same product at different prices (which is great if you’re hunting for deals). On the other hand, Chewy is consistent in its pricing, which makes it more reliable in the long term.

Both sites offer discounts for recurring orders. Chewy’s Autoship offers a 35% discount on your first order and 5% off future orders. Amazon is less generous and only offers 5% on all recurring deliveries.

When it comes to shipping costs, things are a bit different. Chewy offers free shipping for any order over $49 and a flat fee of $4.95 for less expensive orders. On the other hand, Amazon calculates the fee based on several factors (item types, volume, weight, and so on). To get free shipping, you can set up an Amazon Prime account for $14.99 a month.

With Chewy, your order is free if you spend over $49. This is true regardless of where you are located within the contiguous US.

Chewy and Amazon both support returns, but the policy is different. Amazon gives you 30 days to change your mind but doesn’t accept returns on pet food. However, you may get store credit if you contact customer support.

Chewy is a bit more generous, with a 365 days return period for most items. This doesn’t include prescription medications (unless the order was incorrect or you received it damaged). The company also accepts replacements.

Chewy vs. Amazon – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Chewy

I have to be honest and say that this was a close call. Both companies offer similar features and similar prices.

However, I have to give the advantage to Chewy because it’s more pet-oriented and provides pet parents with reliable information and easy access to veterinary assistance.

Amazon might be a better option if you know exactly what you’re looking for. The e-commerce giant offers a wider range of products, which encourages more competitive prices and discounts.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to your shopping preferences. Also, if you want a more personalized experience with fewer options, make sure you check our list of the best pet food delivery services.

FAQ

Is Chewy better than Amazon?

Chewy is better in terms of pet food ingredients and meals. It makes it easier to find the right food for your pet. The product descriptions are more informative, and you can even send the company your pet’s prescription and have everything delivered.

Are there fake pet products on Amazon and Chewy?

Chewy’s offer is carefully curated, and you’ll only find trusted brands on its platform. The risk of fake products is minimal to non-existent. Amazon, on the other hand, works with third-party sellers and doesn’t have the same level of control over who sells what.

Is buying online better than buying in pet stores?

Buying online is best If you want greater product variety, lower prices, and convenience. In this case, buying online from a reputable store like Chewy or Amazon makes a lot more sense than going to a pet store. However, if you want to see or feel the product and have a chat with an in-store specialist, buying from a pet store might be the right choice for you.