Chewy Pet Store vs. Petco: Detailed Comparison

Pet food and supply delivery is growing really popular, and there are more and more services that offer it. If you're trying to research Chewy vs. Petco to see which service would be best, we've reviewed the two to provide an in-depth comparison to help with your decision.

Having only been in business for seven years, Chewy.com has quickly gained popularity among pet owners with its free shipping, quick delivery, a wide variety of pet products, and phenomenal customer service.

Although Chewy Pet Store has gained quite the following in just a few short years, its competition isn't going away without a fight. Petco has been in business for over 50 years and has more than 1,500 Petco locations in the United States. While Petco is a brick-and-mortar-store, it is quickly revamping its e-commerce game.

If you're looking for the best prices, product selection, and customer support, Chewy Pet Store wins this round. Petco has a very similar service, but it doesn't quite stand up to Chewy in my opinion.

Carries Supplies for…

Chewy Pet Store

Cats, dogs, and most small/caged house pets, also farm animals and horses

Petco

Cats, dogs, and most small/caged house pets

Auto-Ship

Chewy Pet Store

Yes

Petco

Yes, called "repeat delivery"

Auto-Ship Discount

Chewy Pet Store

30%-40% OFF Your First Autoship Order + 5% OFF All Future Deliveries

Petco

35% OFF Your First Autoship Order

Shipping

Chewy Pet Store

No same-day deliveries, but most 1-3 days.

$4.99 delivery fee on orders under $49. Any order that's $49 and up ships free (no exclusions)

Petco

Offers same or next day delivery if you live near a Petco Standard delivery 2-5 days.

$5.99 delivery fee on orders under $35. Any order that's $35 and up ships free (has exclusions for free delivery that includes products like cat litter, JustFoodForDogs products, wild bird food, live fish, live crickets and other live food, and a few others)

Prices

Chewy Pet Store

Usually has the best deals

Petco

Similar to Chewy.com, some products more expensive

Customer Service

Chewy Pet Store

Live chat, phone, email – 24/7

Petco

Mostly by phone, live chat feature but limited hours

Variety/Selection

Chewy Pet Store

Carries over 1,600 brands, you can find the largest variety

Petco

Decent but limited, no food/treats with artificial ingredients (don't sell the "cheap" stuff)



Chewy vs. Petco Pricing

One of the top priorities for many when trying to figure out which service to use it price. When you're on a budget, it truly can be the biggest deciding factor. An examination into Chewy and Petco prices for products like cat food and cat litter show they're trying to compete, but Chewy definitely has the edge.

Cat Food

Iams Dry Cat Food (16 lbs)

Chewy

$21.59

Petco

$24

Science Dry Cat Food (15 lbs)

Chewy

$38.94

Petco

$38.94

Purina One Dry Cat Food (15 lbs)

Chewy

$23.99

Petco

$28.49

Cat Litter

Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal (28 lbs)

Chewy

$14.87

Petco

$19.99

Tidy Cats Clumping 24/7 (35 lbs)

Chewy

$14.64

Petco

$17.49

World's Best Cat Litter – Multi-Cat (28 lbs)

Chewy

$26.95

Petco

$26.95

After looking through many products on their website, oftentimes Chewy and Petco prices will exactly match. However, with certain products, Chewy is a bit cheaper than Petco. The items within the tables are just a few examples, but it's notable across many different items.



Another thing to note is that Petco doesn't carry the cheapest food options, so if you are on a budget and need cheap pet food, Chewy is where you can find it.

Which Box Subscription is Better?

What's Included in a Chewy Pet Store Box?

Chewy Pet Store is more of a pet brand than a mere dog subscription box company. However, they do offer their own box as well, if that's what you're looking for. The Chewy Goody Birthday Box comes with six hand-picked, full-size items that include:

  • 3 tasty treats
  • 1 plush squeaky birthday cake
  • 1 thermoplastic rubber bone fetch toy
  • 1 Chewy Pet Store exclusive birthday bandana

While the price is usually $39.80, you can qualify for discounts by purchasing other items via the website. And, you should! Chewy Pet Store is a great place for everything pet-related, including food, treats, supplies, and even medication.

The website is easy to navigate, allowing you to shop by pet to easily find what you're looking for. They even sell products for horses and reptiles along with a special section for their “pharmacy” where you can purchase high-quality medicine for your furry friend.

What's especially great about Chewy Pet Store, however, is the fact that they have a special deals section that's full of hot new deals that they update regularly. They'll show you top-rated picks along with discounts that can sometimes be as high as 30% off.



What's Included in a Petco Box?

Petco offers a dog box called PupBox. It's similar to the Chew Goody Birthday Box in that it's specifically designed for a dog's birthday celebration. For $39.99, you get:

  • A festive "barkday" hat
  • Barkday cake recipe and doggie cake mix
  • Grain-Free Chicken Tender Treats
  • Small balloon animal Latex Squeak Toy
  • Small Chocolate Donut

The Final Word

Americans spend at least $70 billion a year on their pets. From purchasing premium pet food to treating your pup to a dog subscription box, it's hard not to spoil your furry friend. They have, after all, also been dealing with the implications of recent shutdowns.

If you're not sure how to keep your pet entertained while everybody is stuck at home, we've got a few tips. Why not try surprising them with a pet treats? Pet stores are full of fun new treats, toys, and surprises that'll help break up the monotony of long days stuck inside.

You can simply head into a top pet store such as Chewy Pet Store or Petco and snag a sweet deal on a toy or special treat that they'll love. Which one is best? Chewy vs. Petco?

When it comes to buying pet supplies for your furry family member, you can't go wrong with either company. Both Chewy Pet Store and Petco offer an auto-ship program, where you can sign up to have certain pet products delivered on a regular schedule. Both companies offer a great online selection of pet products for cats, dogs, birds, fish, and other exotic pets.

However, Chewy Pet Store does come out on top with its free shipping. Chewy Pet Store offers free 2-day shipping on orders over $49. Petco offers free shipping on orders over $35, but several products are excluded - which is extremely frustrating for customers as they'll have to read the fine print to find out which products don't apply. Additionally, Petco may charge customers with an additional fee for oversized items.

If you're buying larger pet products (dog food, cat food, litter, etc.) and want the best deal, we recommend Chewy Pet Store. The company has a fantastic auto-ship program and doesn't charge more or exclude heavier items. That being said, you still can get free shipping with Petco - just be sure to read the fine print.