Dog food subscriptions in the UK: fresh, tailored kibble or a repeat order
Six UK dog food subscriptions compared by what they deliver, what they publish about price and how easy they are to pause.
How this guide was written: from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published independent reviews. We have not tested these products ourselves. If you buy through a link on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The shortlist
- Check price at Butternut Box
Butternut Box
Fresh, gently cooked, delivered frozenSuits: owners with freezer space who want cooked meals portioned for their dog.
Published price: fresh meals from £2.34 a day / Stop, start or skip deliveries / Intro offer at the time of writing: 50% off the first box
- Check price at Years
Years
Fresh cooked meals with a tailored supplementSuits: owners who want to try fresh food cheaply before committing.
Published price: from £1.05 a day (80 g serving) to £6.40 a day (980 g) / Trial box from £7 plus postage / Cancel, pause or amend
- Check price at tails.com
tails.com
Tailored dry food blend, with wet food as an optionSuits: owners who want food matched to their dog without paying fresh-food prices.
Monthly delivery / Pause or cancel / Intro offer varies by page
- Check price at Different Dog
Different Dog
Fresh cooked, delivered frozen, no grains or legumesSuits: owners who want small-batch cooked food and are happy to get a quote first.
Price shown after you enter your dog's details / Pause, cancel or tweak the plan at any time / Intro offer at the time of writing: 20% off the first two boxes
- Check price at Lily's Kitchen
Lily's Kitchen
Wet and dry food for dogs and cats, on repeat orderSuits: households with a cat as well as a dog, or anyone who already knows which recipe they want.
Repeat order every 2 to 9 weeks / Skip or cancel / Free delivery over £29
- Check price at Pooch & Mutt
Pooch & Mutt
Dry and wet food, treats and supplements, Subscribe and SaveSuits: owners who want a discount on a food they already buy.
Subscribe and Save advertised at 25% off / Free delivery over £39.99
A dog food subscription is one of three different things, and the name on the box does not tell you which. Work out which kind you want first, then compare brands inside it.
The three kinds of subscription
Fresh cooked food, delivered frozen. Butternut Box, Years and Different Dog cook meals, portion them for your dog and send them frozen. You need freezer space for a fortnight or more of pouches, and you need to remember to defrost.
Tailored dry food. tails.com asks about your dog and mixes a kibble blend to match. It stores in a cupboard and costs far less per day than fresh food.
A repeat order with a discount. Lily’s Kitchen and Pooch & Mutt sell the same products you could buy once, and take money off if you let them send it on a schedule. Nothing is tailored. This suits you if you already know what your dog eats.
What “complete” means on the label
“Complete” is a legal term on pet food labels. A complete food is enough on its own as the daily ration for the species and life stage stated. A “complementary” food, such as a topper or treat, needs other food alongside it. Whatever the format, check the label says complete and names your dog’s life stage. In Europe the reference for nutrient levels is the FEDIAF nutritional guidelines.
Is fresh food healthier than kibble?
We found no statement from a UK veterinary body saying that fresh cooked food is healthier than dry food. The PDSA says its vets advise “a complete commercial diet”, which covers both. The British Veterinary Association’s 2024 policy does not name a best diet. It supports informed owner choice, notes that long-term evidence on alternative diets is limited, and asks owners to talk the choice through with their vet.
So treat fresh against dry as a question of cost, storage and what your dog will eat. If a brand’s marketing promises a shinier coat or a longer life, ask what evidence sits behind it.
Raw feeding is a separate matter. The PDSA warns that raw meat can carry bacteria and parasites that cooking would kill, and advises against it in homes with anyone pregnant, very young, older or with a weakened immune system. None of the services above is a raw food service, although Pooch & Mutt also sells a raw range.
What it costs
Fresh food brands publish a “from” price that applies to the smallest dogs. Butternut Box quotes from £2.34 a day. Years quotes from £1.05 a day for an 80 g serving and £6.40 a day for 980 g, which shows how steeply the bill rises with the size of the dog. Different Dog shows its price only after you describe your dog.
Before you compare, get a quote from each service for your own dog and multiply the daily price by 30. Introductory discounts are large and change often, so compare the full price you will pay from the second or third box.
Before you sign up
- Check how to pause and cancel. All six say you can skip, pause or cancel. Note the cut-off date before the next box is charged.
- Measure your freezer if you choose fresh food.
- Switch gradually. The PDSA advises changing food over about two weeks, because a sudden change can cause an upset stomach or put your dog off the new food.
- Ask your vet first if your dog has a health condition or eats a prescription diet.