Chewy vs. Petco vs. Amazon: Where Pet Supplies Are Actually Cheapest in 2026

Last updated: May 2026 | By ThriftyPaw

You’d think buying dog food online would be simple. Pick a site, click buy, done. But after tracking prices across Chewy, Petco, and Amazon for six months on the same 12 products, the results surprised us — and they’ll probably surprise you too.

The short answer: nobody wins everywhere. Amazon is cheapest on some items, Chewy on others, and Petco occasionally beats both — but only if you know when and how to shop each one.

Here’s the real breakdown, with actual prices, hidden fees, and the tricks each site doesn’t want you to know.

The Quick Answer

Bottom line: Chewy wins on food and recurring orders. Amazon wins on one-off purchases and gear. Petco wins only with coupons or in-store vet services.

How We Tested

We tracked prices on 12 common dog products across all three retailers over 6 months (November 2025 – April 2026):

1. Purina Pro Plan Large Breed (30 lb bag)
2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection (24 lb bag)
3. NexGard flea & tick (6-month supply, medium dog)
4. Heartgard Plus (6-month supply, medium dog)
5. KONG Classic Dog Toy (Large)
6. Nylabone DuraChew (Large)
7. Furminator de-shedding tool
8. Dog shampoo (Burt’s Bees 16 oz)
9. Midwest dog crate (36-inch)
10. Ruffwear Front Range harness
11. Dasuquin joint supplements (90 count)
12. Greenies dental treats (27-pack)

We checked prices weekly, noted sales, applied available coupons and subscription discounts, and tracked shipping costs and delivery times. All prices are for the same product, same size.

Round 1: Dog Food — Chewy Wins (By a Lot)

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed (30 lb bag)

| Retailer | Base Price | With Subscription | Best Sale Price | Effective Cost/Month |
|—|—|—|—|—|
| Chewy | $57.99 | $52.19 (Autoship 35%) | $49.99 | $52.19 |
| Amazon | $58.98 | $53.08 (Subscribe & Save 5-15%) | $51.99 | $53.08 |
| Petco | $59.99 | $56.99 (Repeat Delivery 5%) | $49.99 (sale) | $56.99 |

Winner: Chewy saves you $1-$5/month on food, and the gap widens on premium brands. Chewy’s 35% Autoship discount on your first order is the single best recurring deal in pet retail.

The trick: Set up Autoship on Chewy, get 35% off your first order, then cancel immediately after it ships. Re-order with a new Autoship next time. Yes, this works. No, they don’t stop you. But honestly, the 5-10% ongoing Autoship discount is still the best deal for regular food purchases, so keeping it running saves more over time.

Amazon’s weakness: Subscribe & Save maxes out at 15% — and only if you have 5+ subscriptions in a month. For most dog owners buying 1-2 bags of food, you’re getting 5% off. That’s $3/month on a $60 bag. Not nothing, but not Chewy.

Petco’s surprise: In-store pickup sometimes beats online prices, especially during “$10 off $50” coupon weeks. But you have to physically go to the store. For dog food? Not worth the trip.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection (24 lb bag)

| Retailer | Base Price | With Subscription | Best Sale Price |
|—|—|—|—|
| Chewy | $48.98 | $44.08 | $42.99 |
| Amazon | $49.89 | $47.40 | $44.99 |
| Petco | $51.99 | $49.39 | $45.99 |

Same story. Chewy wins by $3-6/month on premium food.

Round 2: Flea & Tick Meds — Amazon Wins (With a Catch)

NexGard (6-month, medium dog)

| Retailer | Base Price | Best Sale | Notes |
|—|—|—|—|
| Amazon | $107.99 | $99.99 | Often sold by third-party sellers |
| Chewy | $119.99 | $109.99 | Requires vet prescription on file |
| Petco | $124.99 | $114.99 | In-store vet can prescribe |

Winner: Amazon by $10-15 on a 6-month supply. But there’s a catch.

The catch: Amazon allows third-party sellers, and some NexGard listings are counterfeit or expired. Always check:
• Seller is “Amazon.com” or the brand directly
• Product has the EPA registration number
• Expiration date is 12+ months out

If you’re buying NexGard on Amazon | Compare prices, stick to Amazon-fulfilled listings. The $10 savings isn’t worth the risk on a third-party deal.

Chewy’s advantage: Legit product, every time. If your vet already has a relationship with Chewy (many do), the prescription transfer is seamless. Paying $10 more for guaranteed authentic medication? That’s a reasonable call.

Heartgard Plus (6-month, medium dog)

Same pattern. Amazon is cheapest but vet your seller. Chewy is safer.

Round 3: Toys & Chews — Amazon Wins (If You Buy Right)

KONG Classic (Large)

Nylabone DuraChew (Large)

Winner: Amazon on individual toy prices. But Chewy’s “spend $49, get free shipping” means you’re often adding a toy to a food order anyway, making the shipping math irrelevant.

The trick: Buy durable chew toys in bulk on Amazon | Compare prices and you’ll save 15-25% per item compared to buying one at a time. KONG variety packs and Nylabone multipacks are consistently 20%+ cheaper than individual purchases.

When Petco wins: Buy 2 Get 1 Free sales happen every 6-8 weeks. If you’re stocking up on durable toys | Compare prices and can time it right, Petco’s B2G1 beats Amazon’s everyday pricing. The problem? You have to physically go to the store.

Round 4: Grooming Supplies — Amazon Wins Consistently

Furminator de-shedding tool

| Retailer | Price |
|—|—|
| Amazon | $24.99 |
| Chewy | $27.49 |
| Petco | $29.99 |

Burt’s Bees Dog Shampoo (16 oz)

| Retailer | Price |
|—|—|
| Amazon | $7.99 |
| Chewy | $8.99 |
| Petco | $9.99 |

Winner: Amazon by 10-20% on grooming gear. This is Amazon’s sweet spot — low-price individual items where you’re not hitting Chewy’s free shipping threshold.

Pro tip: If you’re already buying food on Chewy, add grooming items to your Autoship. You won’t pay shipping, and the 5-10% Autoship discount usually closes the gap with Amazon. But if you’re buying a de-shedding tool | Compare prices or dog shampoo as a one-off? Amazon every time.

Round 5: Crates & Gear — Amazon by Default

Midwest Dog Crate (36-inch)

Ruffwear Front Range Harness

Winner: Amazon on big-ticket one-time purchases. Crates, harnesses, beds — these are items you buy once and forget. Amazon’s free shipping on heavy/bulky items is the deal here. No minimums, no “add $11 more to qualify,” just click and it shows up in 2 days.

Chewy matches on some gear but you need to hit $49 for free shipping. If you’re not already ordering food, that’s an extra hurdle.

For harnesses specifically: A quality no-pull harness | Compare prices is worth investing in — cheap ones chafe, break, or let your dog slip out. The Ruffwear Front Range is our pick for the price.

Round 6: Supplements — Chewy Wins on Selection and Price

Dasuquin Joint Supplements (90 count)

Greenies Dental Treats (27-pack)

Winner: Chewy on supplements and dental treats. The combination of Autoship discounts, frequent “$10 off $50” promos, and better selection makes Chewy the go-to for anything your dog takes regularly.

The trick: Stack Chewy’s promos. Buy $50+ of supplements/treats during a “$10 off $50” sale, set it to Autoship for the ongoing 5% discount, and you’re paying 25-30% less than Amazon on products your dog needs every month.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About

Shipping Minimums

• Chewy: Free shipping at $49. Below that, $4.95 flat rate. For dog food orders, you’ll almost always hit free shipping.
• Amazon: Free with Prime ($139/year). Without Prime, free at $25 for most items, $49 for heavy/bulky. Consider whether Prime is worth it for pet supplies alone.
• Petco: Free shipping at $35. In-store pickup is always free but requires going to the store.

Returns

• Chewy: The best return policy in pet retail. They’ll often refund and tell you to donate the product. Seriously. A Chewy return is painless.
• Amazon: Standard 30-day return window. Opened pet food? Good luck.
• Petco: In-store returns are easy, but you have to go to the store.

Price Matching

• Chewy: Will price match competitor sites if you call/chat. Takes 5 minutes.
• Amazon: Prices fluctuate constantly. The price you see today may be different tomorrow. Set a price tracker or use CamelCamelCamel.
• Petco: Matches PetSmart and Chewy online prices. In-store only. Bring your phone.

The Honest Recommendation by What You’re Buying

Buy on Chewy if you’re buying:
• Dog food (recurring orders)
• Supplements (joint, probiotics, vitamins)
• Dental treats and chews
• Prescription food or medication
• Anything you order monthly

Buy on Amazon if you’re buying:
• One-time purchases (crates, harnesses, beds)
• Toys and grooming tools
• Flea & tick medication (check the seller!)
• Anything you need in 2 days
• Items under $49 where Chewy’s shipping threshold hurts

Already saving on dog costs? See our honest breakdown of monthly dog costs by breed — and learn where your money’s really going.

Need the right gear first? Our no-pull harness guide and orthopedic dog bed picks under $50 show you what’s actually worth buying — before you decide where to buy it.

Buy at Petco if:
• You need vet services (vaccinations, microchipping)
• There’s a Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale on treats
• You have a “$10 off $50” coupon and live near a store
• You need something TODAY and can’t wait for shipping

The 6-Month Savings Breakdown

For a medium dog (50 lbs), here’s what you’d spend on supplies over 6 months buying everything at the cheapest option vs. buying everything at one store:

| Category | 6-Month Cost (Best Prices) | 6-Month Cost (All Chewy) | 6-Month Cost (All Amazon) | 6-Month Cost (All Petco) |
|—|—|—|—|—|
| Food | $313 | $313 | $318 | $342 |
| Flea/tick + heartworm | $157 | $167 | $157 | $175 |
| Toys & chews | $72 | $85 | $72 | $88 |
| Grooming | $33 | $38 | $33 | $42 |
| Supplements | $189 | $189 | $204 | $228 |
| Crate & gear (one-time) | $90 | $95 | $90 | $105 |
| Total | $854 | $887 | $874 | $980 |

Shopping smart saves $126 over 6 months vs. Petco, and $33-46 vs. buying everything at one store.

That’s $252/year just by buying each item where it’s cheapest. For a multi-dog household, double that.

The Bottom Line

There’s no single winner. Chewy owns food and recurring orders. Amazon owns one-off purchases and gear. Petco owns vet services and occasional in-store deals.

The smartest move? Set up Autoship on Chewy for food and supplements, buy gear on Amazon, and keep an eye on Petco for coupons and vet services.

Three accounts, five minutes of comparison, $250+ per year in savings. That’s the ThriftyPaw way.

→ Wondering how much your dog really costs per month? See our breed-by-breed breakdown — the numbers might surprise you.

→ Shopping for flea & tick meds? Our prevention comparison covers what actually works and what’s a waste of money before you decide where to buy.

ThriftyPaw helps pet owners give their dogs the best care without going broke. More price comparisons and deal guides coming soon — bookmark this page and check back for updates.