Freshpet vs. The Farmer’s Dog 2025: How Similar?

Freshpet and The Farmer’s Dog both offer high-quality, fresh dog food and use questionnaires to narrow down the best meals for your pup. In the past, they were quite different offerings, with Freshpet only selling via stores and The Farmer’s Dog as an online subscription. Now that Freshpet has launched its own fresh subscription service, Freshpet Delivery, they’re a lot more similar.

Overall, I found The Farmer’s Dog the more convenient choice. Unlike Freshpet Delivery, it offers a trial, and the food is also human-grade, so you really are getting the best for your pet. Freshpet Delivery is also not available to all zip codes yet, so TFD may be the better choice for more locations.  

Freshpet Delivery might be better for some, though. While it doesn’t have a trial, it’s a long-standing brand that people may already be familiar with, as you can buy it easily from online stores like Amazon. It also has really flexible plans, including a Make Your Own plan option.

Continue reading for a side-by-side comparison of both services to see how they compare in pricing, delivery, ease of ordering, and more.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Ingredient Quality: The Farmer’s Dog Uses Human-Grade Ingredients

Both companies use veterinary nutritionists to develop meals and meal plans. Each company takes into account factors like breed, age, and activity level, and both gently cook the food to retain nutrients.

But The Farmer’s Dog uses human-grade meats and veggies in its dog food. The standards that regulate human food production are much higher than those applied to pet food production.

The Farmer’s Dog food is made in USDA kitchens and exceeds normal industry standards required for dog food. You also won’t find any preservatives or meals in the food (meals are made from parts of animals not allowed to be sold for human consumption, like offal). The Farmer's Dog ingredients include several superfoods such as lentils, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, and parsnips.

Freshpet’s ingredients are still very good quality, even if they’re not human-grade. Around 96% come from either the USA or Canada. The food is also free of gluten, soy, fillers, added preservatives, meat meals, or by-product meals. The focus is on visible, whole ingredients – such as recognizable pieces of chicken, beef, or vegetables.

Meals and Customization: Both Offer Customizable Plans

As a brand, Freshpet has an enormous variety of products, with about 50 different types of meals, plus a selection of a few treats. However, its Freshpet Delivery line offers 4 main recipes. This is similar to TFD, which offers 4 main proteins in its recipes. These are:

• Chicken
• Beef
• Turkey
• Pork

The main difference is that TFD focuses on single proteins, while Freshpet Delivery has recipes that mix proteins, such as the Beef, Turkey, and Lamb Recipe.

The Farmer’s Dog also offers an innovative DIY plan for those who prefer a hands-on approach to their dog’s nutrition. This plan provides pet owners with The Farmer’s Dog nutrient blend, which can be added to home-cooked meals prepared from store-bought ingredients.