Spot and Tango Review 2023: Is It Worth the Price?

Overview

You might be considering Spot & Tango, but you also may be overwhelmed by the multitude of recipe options and glowing reviews from reputable sources like Google, Refinery29, and CNN. Look no further than this unbiased Spot & Tango review. I’ve done my best to present the information so that you can make the most informed decision possible.

I've taken into account ingredient quality, price, recipe selection, menu variety, and more. Additionally, I've explored Spot & Tango's UnKibble line to determine if it truly surpasses the quality of typical kibble found in conventional pet stores. I've also scrutinized the company's extensive K9 health questionnaire, which guarantees a tailored diet for your pup.

After a thorough evaluation, I believe Spot & Tango is one of the top choices today. Its meals are composed of human-grade ingredients free from soy, corn, and wheat, and they're devoid of artificial flavors, additives, and preservatives. And, the food meets or exceeds AAFCO nutrient standards for all life stages and is formulated by veterinarians.

Spot & Tango Meals

Plans and Recipes

Spot & Tango has 2 different types of food – UnKibble and Fresh. UnKibble is dried, fresh food made with 100% whole foods-based ingredients just like the fresh food. All of the recipes are human-grade as well. The UnKibble comes in just a full, recommended plan, but the fresh comes in either a full or topper plan.

The topper plan serves 2 purposes – it helps you save money, and it’s a great way to slowly ease your pup into new fresh food (or to find out if he or she even likes it in the first place!).

Each recipe is also non-GMO and gluten-free, whether from the UnKibble or fresh line. I know that not all competitors offer this, so this is really great to see.

In terms of UnKibble, there are 4 different recipes to choose from – Cod + Salmon, Beef + Barley, Chicken & Brown Rice, and Turkey & Sweet Potato.

The Fresh recipes are made with 100% fresh ingredients as well. Each is balanced for both puppies and adults. There are 3 different recipes to choose from in the Fresh range – Turkey + Red Quinoa, Beef + Millet, and Lamb + Brown Rice.

All recipes have been formulated by veterinary nutritionists for puppies and adults according to AAFCO's nutritional standards, and are GMO- and hormone-free. Plus. Spot & Tango’s fresh food is cooked in small batches in a USDA facility.

Ingredients

All ingredients used in Spot & Tango’s meals are fresh and locally sourced. Recipes are created using only lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and high-quality carbs for a balanced diet for your pup. There will never be any fillers, additives, or preservatives.

One of the most popular options is the Beef + Millet fresh recipe pictured above. The ingredients include turkey, red quinoa, spinach, carrots, peas, apple, eggs, parsley, apple cider vinegar, safflower oil, vegetable stock, vitamins, and minerals.

Each ingredient is clearly labeled on the website to make it easy if you have a pup with allergies or sensitivities to any foods. In terms of actual ingredients, you’ll find things like sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, spinach, eggs, and even fresh herbs like parsley.

All of these ingredients are dense in micronutrients like minerals and vitamins and do a fantastic job of maximizing your pup’s health.

Nutrition

I took a closer look at the nutritional value of all the meals, including fresh and UnKibble. In terms of fresh meals, the Turkey + Red Quinoa recipe, for example, has a breakdown of around 14% crude protein, 6% crude fat, and 1.5% crude fiber. The rest is moisture.

In the UnKibble meals, I found a slightly different breakdown, which is to be expected as it’s dry food. The Cod + Salmon UnKibble is 30% crude protein, 22% crude fat, and 2% crude fiber. This is interesting but to be expected as dry food weighs less than fresh food.

Each ingredient is selected to maximize vitamins and minerals to make sure your doggo’s get the proper nutrition. You’ll receive a meal plan recommendation when you sign up, and you can switch it up over time if you’d like.

What Makes It Different

There are some things that make Spot & Tango different and of higher quality than most of the competition. For example, its UnKibble is far better than most kibble out there, and it offers higher-quality ingredients.

UnKibble is a Better Alternative to Traditional Kibble

Dogs flourish and thrive when they eat fresh food instead of kibble. However, fresh food can be pricey – but not anymore. Enter Spot & Tango’s UnKibble line. It’s essentially dehydrated and dried fresh food that retains all of the same nutritional value as regular fresh food.

Also, traditional kibble found at your average pet supply store can contain loads of additives, preservatives, and other ingredients you wouldn’t want to eat as a human – so why feed those things to your pup?

So, you may be wondering what makes it so valuable vs. Spot & Tango’s regular, fresh food. Well, for one, it’s a lot cheaper, plus, it contains higher levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates per gram than fresh food. It’s also non-GMO and gluten-free, just like the fresh food lineup.

This is one of the primary differences between Spot & Tango and, say, The Farmer’s Dog. The Farmer’s Dog only offers fresh food, which means you don’t have the option of saving money.

All of Spot & Tango’s Food is Non-GMO and Gluten-Free

Speaking of GMOs and gluten-free, this is what you’ll get no matter what meals you buy. I was happy to discover that this is something Spot & Tango does, which many other competitors simply don’t.

This is especially true if you purchase regular, off-the-shelf, generic dog kibble from pet supply stores. Those kibbles are generally very low-quality, non-human-grade ones made from rubbish ingredients devoid of any real nutritional value.

Unboxing

Your Spot & Tango delivery will come in a nice branded box within a few days of placing your order. For fresh food orders, you’ll receive a box with insulation to keep the food cold while it travels. Put it away in your freezer as soon as possible to maintain its freshness.

The packages use dry ice to keep them cold. This will evaporate if left in a well-ventilated area. Once the ice is all gone, the packaging is completely recyclable. Make sure to be very careful handling the dry ice as it’s extremely dangerous.

Each fresh food meal is pre-portioned, so you just grab the food for the next day and move it to the fridge to thaw (a bowl of cold water will work as well if you’re short on time). The food will stay fresh for up to 6 months in the freezer and 4 days in the fridge. You don’t have to do anything to the food other than simply serve it.

Your first UnKibble order will come with a custom-sized scoop for your furry friend. UnKibble doesn’t need to be refrigerated – just store it in a cool, dry place. Unopened bags will stay fresh for up to 12 months. Once you open the bag, make sure to reseal it after each meal. UnKibble will stay fresh for around 8 weeks once opened.

Prices

Spot & Tango’s prices differ based on what recipe you choose, and your pup’s size. Each dog requires a different portion size based on activity levels and breed. I’ve taken a 25 lb mixed breed dog with regular activity to compare the different options.

For instance, the Turkey + Red Quinoa recipe is the most affordable fresh food option at around $4.66 per meal. Next up is the Beef + Millet at roughly $5.02 per meal, then there’s the Lamb + Brown Rice as the priciest option at around $7.12 per meal. Again, exact prices heavily depend on the size of your dog.

The Turkey + Red Quinoa fresh food recipe costs around $39.87 per week for a 25 lb dog and $19.99 per week for the Topper plan. The Beef + Millet plan comes to $42.88 per week for the Full plan and $21.49 per week for the Topper plan. That’s around $3.00 per meal for the full serving.

But overall, the UnKibble is the cheapest option. The Beef + Barley recipe came out to $22.36 per week compared to the Chicken + Brown Rice which was $25.36 per week. The Turkey + Sweet Potato recipe is a similar price to the Chicken + Brown Rice. Both of those work out to be less than $2 per meal.

Let’s compare the pricing for a smaller dog against that of a very large dog breed. Say, for instance, a 90 lb Great Dane. Pricing for the same Turkey recipe would be around $5.71 per day, Beef + Millet would be around $6.14, and Lamb + Brown Rice would be around $8.72 per day.

There are also 2 different options for fresh food – full meals or toppers. Many people switch their pups completely to this diet, while others choose the Topper plan, which sends a smaller amount that you add to your dog’s regular food to boost the nutritional content.

Having an option to just mix in fresh food can make this more affordable. You can also use our special discount – 50% Off Your First Order.

You could also get some snacks and treats for your buddy. The Sweet Potato bites, for instance, are $12 per bag and the Chicken Bites are $14 per bag. You can add either of these options before you check out.

Plus, the initial trial period gives you 2 weeks of food for 20% off the normal price. This allows you to test the options with your pup and, if you’re not happy, Spot & Tango offers a full refund. Shipping is always free on all orders.

Shipping & Delivery

Spot & Tango starts by offering a 14-day trial, with 2 weeks of food for 20% off the normal price. Once you’re happy and finished with the trial, the food will auto-ship every 4 weeks.

The company uses FedEx Ground, and you’ll be able to track your order to find out exactly when it’ll arrive. Everything is prepared in small batches at Spot & Tango’s facility and shipped out within days of cooking. Most orders come in about 3 business days from the purchase date.

Delivery is available in all 48 contiguous states. Unfortunately, at this time, you can’t get Spot & Tango deliveries if you live in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, or if you only have a PO box.

You can’t choose or change your actual delivery date, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make any other changes to your order. For example, you could edit the amount of food you receive, change your order date, change your meal options, and your delivery address. You’ll need to make these changes by 5 pm ET the day before your order gets processed.

How Spot & Tango Works

To get started with Spot & Tango, complete the meal customization quiz. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be provided with a fully custom meal plan for your puppy that takes his or her breed, weight, health, and more into consideration.

How to Sign Up

1. Click START QUIZ: In the top-left of the home page located at on the Spot & Tango website, click the START QUIZ button to begin the customization questionnaire.

2. Provide some basic information: Enter your first name and email address, then click on CONTINUE.

3. Choose how many dogs you want meals for: From here, you can select up to 4 dogs. 

4. Answer several more questions: Here, you’ll be asked a few more questions about your dog and your zip code. For instance, you’ll have to answer questions about your dog’s name, breed, gender, weight, activity level, and whether he or she has any health conditions.

   You can choose whether (or not) your pup has any health-related concerns

5. Choose UnKibble or fresh food: Make your selection, then click Continue yet again.

6. Pick your recipes: Once you’ve decided whether you want UnKibble or fresh food, it’s time to choose your preferred recipes. Note that if you choose fresh food, you can also choose your preferred amount. More on that in the next step.

7. Choose your plan if going with fresh food: If you decide on fresh food, choose whether you want the full (recommended) plan, or just the topper plan.

8. Add any snacks to your order: Here, you can add snacks to your order, or skip this step entirely.

9. Continue checking out: From here, fill in the rest of your details including shipping address, billing address, and payment information to finish up the checkout process.

Managing Your Subscription

It’s super easy to make any changes to your account or subscription by logging into your account dashboard. And, if at any point you have any questions, it’s easy to get in touch with customer service.

Customer Service

You can contact the customer service team by text, live chat, or phone. Someone is available via text 7 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm ET and via live chat from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm ET.  If you need a phone consultation, you can schedule one, or you can simply call (718) 514-6292 from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm ET. It’s not very straightforward to find Spot & Tango’s contact info. Here’s how you can contact someone (or schedule that phone consultation).

And, if you need to cancel your account or subscription, there’s a simple option right on the website under “Your Account”. By canceling, you won’t be charged for any future orders, but you’ll still receive any orders you’ve already paid for.

I personally tried out the live chat and email support. The live chat was super smooth, and the agent got back to me in under a minute. The agent was nice, knew their stuff, and was really helpful, just as I expected.

But my investigation didn’t stop there – I also tested out the email support to share what that experience was like. I received a response in about 24 hours, even on the weekend, which was a nice surprise. The email support worked as expected. The rep was friendly, well-informed, and helpful.

And finally, you can use the detailed FAQ section if you're in a hurry, right on the website. Most questions seem to be answered already.

You should also know about the refund policy. Spot & Tango offers a 14-day 100% “Happy Pup Guarantee” on your first trial order. It is a bit vague, but essentially, if your pup isn’t happy with his or her food within 14 days of receiving your order, just contact support. It promises to “do everything it can to ensure you’re taken care of”. 

Plus, if you experience any issues with subsequent orders, make sure to contact support as well. The Spot & Tango team does its best to assess each issue on a case-by-case basis.

Spot & Tango Recalls

As of February 3, 2023, there are currently no active recalls for Spot & Tango.

However, on September 6, 2022, it voluntarily recalled 9,288 bags of its Chicken + Brown Rice UnKibble due to contamination with salmonella bacteria as per this FDA Enforcement Report.

Affected SKU (stock-keeping unit) numbers included T-22220, U-C-004, T-22223, U-C-005, T-22220, and U-C-006. Again, this was not an FDA-mandated recall and was voluntary, and it's since been resolved.

How Spot & Tango Compares to Other Pet Food Services

• Spot & Tango vs. The Farmer’s Dog: The Farmer’s Dog offers a couple of benefits over Spot & Tango. For instance, you can get different food like pork instead of lamb.. Additionally, Spot & Tango relies on the taurine naturally found in meat. The Farmer’s Dog, on the other hand, recognizes the importance of this additive for K9 cardiac health. As such, it fortifies all its dog food with additional taurine.

• Spot & Tango vs. Ollie: Ollie has some advantages over Spot & Tango, which you may find appealing. For example, Ollie provides 4 fresh recipe options: Turkey, Chicken, Lamb, and Beef. Additionally, it offers mixed bowl plans that include both fresh food and baked kibble options. If you want to try it out or want to save some money by mixing it with kibble, Ollie also offers a half-fresh plan.

The Bottom Line: Is Spot & Tango Worth It?

If you want to switch your 4-legged family member to high-quality dog food, Spot & Tango offers a good selection of UnKibble and fresh food options. It makes it easy to feed your dog human-grade food with ingredients you recognize and can find at your local farmer’s market.

If you’re still not convinced that Spot & Tango is the right choice for your dog, we’ve got you covered. Head over to our review of the best human-grade dog food delivery services in 2023 to get the full scoop.

FAQ

Is Spot & Tango a healthy dog food?

Yes. It uses human-grade ingredients. Plus, all the food has been approved by veterinary professionals, so you can rely on it to best support your pup’s health.

Is Spot and Tango AAFCO approved?

Yes, all of the food meets strict guidelines set forth by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

Is UnKibble worth it?

Spot & Tango’s UnKibble may be worth it to you. You’re basically getting the benefits of fresh food while cutting down on costs. The UnKibble is dried fresh food that retains all of the same nutritional value as fresh food and remains as healthy for your pup. Actually, it contains more macronutrients per gram, too.

Is Spot & Tango UnKibble hard or soft?

Spot & Tango’s UnKibble line is not as hard and crunchy as traditional kibble, yet also not quite as soft as traditional fresh food. If you’re looking for soft food, you can try out Spot & Tango’s fresh food lineup – otherwise, you’re welcome to check out the UnKibble as well.