Compared on one dog · prices checked October 21, 2026
The Farmer's Dog alternatives with an open price per day
Viva Raw is a Farmer's Dog alternative at an estimated $9.59 a day for a 30 lb adult, using its brand-store catalog price checked October 21, 2026. Cooked and dried options cost more in this comparison.
Calories a day
744
kcal · methods 694–794
Viva RawBeef for Dogs
527g
$9.59 a day · $292 a month
1 of 23744 kcal a day for a 30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks. Viva Raw Beef for Dogs: 527 grams, $9.59 a day, $292 a month.
Estimates for healthy dogs at ideal weight. Ask your vet; weigh monthly and adjust. How we calculate
Every bowl for this dog
30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks · 744 kcal a day. Sorted by price a day; “Show” puts the bowl next to your dog.
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VRViva Raw
527 g a day · 18.6 oz
$9.59a day · $292 a month
Beef for Dogs · Raw · 1,411 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
JFJustFoodForDogs
477 g a day · 16.8 oz
$12.16a day · $370 a month
Beef & Russet Potato · Gently cooked · 1,559 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
MMaev
722 g a day · 25.5 oz
$14.25a day · $433 a month
Raw · 1,030 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $14.45 a day
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SSmallbatch
155 g a day · 5.5 oz
$14.45a day · $439 a month
Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 4,793 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
JFJustFoodForDogs
807 g a day · 28.5 oz
$15.42a day · $469 a month
Fish & Sweet Potato · Gently cooked · 922 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
NNNom Nom
623 g a day · 22 oz
$15.60a day · $474 a month
Beef Mash · Gently cooked · 1,194 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day
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SSmallbatch
149 g a day · 5.3 oz
$16.35a day · $497 a month
Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 5,004 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
APA Pup Above
538 g a day · 19 oz
$16.56a day · $504 a month
Gently cooked · 1,384 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day
By the brand’s own 2–3% rule No calories on the label: don’t compare these with the bowls above
- WFWe Feed RawBeef272–408 g$5.33–8.00 a day$162–243 a monthCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- DWDarwin'sNatural Selections Chicken272–408 g$5.62–8.43 a day$171–256 a monthCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)
“As a general rule, an adult pet should consume about 2-3% of their ideal body weight of Darwin’s raw food per day.”Darwin's, product page
Not enough open data yet
- FDThe Farmer's DogPrice after the quiz; no calories or price on its open pages (Oct 21), Walmart showed no priceOur review of The Farmer's Dog
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $12.16 a day · Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day
Some buttons are partner links: we may earn a commission if you buy. Rows are sorted by price a day, never by commission.
Ranked on one dog
Which alternatives cost less per day?
Viva Raw Beef for Dogs is the lowest calorie-based row. At the other end, JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash comes to $21.74 a day at its brand-store catalog price on October 21, 2026. One is raw and the other cooked; both estimates supply the same daily calories.
The lower-looking We Feed Raw and Darwin's rows use body-weight feeding rules, not label calories. Their ranges are not directly comparable with the calorie-based prices.
Compare calorie-based rows together; the raw feeding-rule ranges answer a different question.
| Brand and recipe | Type | Grams a day | Per day | Per month | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Feed Raw Beef | Raw | 272–408 g* | $5.33–8.00 | $162–243 | Lowest plan price: “Plans start at $8.89/pound” |
| Darwin's Natural Selections Chicken | Raw | 272–408 g* | $5.62–8.43 | $171–256 | Catalog price for 2 lb |
| Viva Raw Beef for Dogs | Raw | 527 g | $9.59 | $292 | Catalog price for 2 lb |
| JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato | Cooked | 477 g | $12.16 | $370 | One-time price; the first subscription box is $91.00 |
| Maev Raw | Raw | 722 g | $14.25 | $433 | Subscription price; one-time $206 |
| Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | Freeze-dried | 155 g | $14.45 | $439 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato | Cooked | 807 g | $15.42 | $469 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| Nom Nom Beef Mash | Cooked | 623 g | $15.60 | $474 | PetSmart shelf price, not the subscription |
| Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | Freeze-dried | 149 g | $16.35 | $497 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| A Pup Above Gently Cooked | Cooked | 538 g | $16.56 | $504 | One-time price, plus shipping |
| Ollie Fresh Chicken | Cooked | 573 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
| Ollie Pork | Cooked | 483 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
By the brand’s 2–3% of body weight rule: no calorie figure on the label, not comparable with the calorie-based rows.
Price per day
Why do portions and prices differ?
A smaller portion does not necessarily mean a lower bill. Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw needs an estimated 5.5 oz a day, compared with 18.6 oz of Viva Raw Beef for Dogs, yet costs more at the listed prices.
Label calories determine the portion needed to reach the same calorie target. The package price then determines the daily bill. Compare both, rather than judging by the bag's weight alone.
Calorie density changes the portion; portion size and the listed price together determine cost.
- Viva Raw Beef for Dogs527 g · Raw$9.59
- JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato477 g · Cooked$12.16
- Maev Raw722 g · Raw$14.25
- Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw155 g · Freeze-dried$14.45
- JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato807 g · Cooked$15.42
- Nom Nom Beef Mash623 g · Cooked$15.60
- Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw149 g · Freeze-dried$16.35
- A Pup Above Gently Cooked538 g · Cooked$16.56
- Smallbatch Lamb Small Bites Freeze-Dried Raw155 g · Freeze-dried$17.25
- JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash853 g · Cooked$21.74
Calorie-based rows only; brands without an open price or calorie figure are listed apart.
| Viva Raw Beef for Dogs | $9.59 |
|---|---|
| JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato | $12.16 |
| Maev Raw | $14.25 |
| Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | $14.45 |
| JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato | $15.42 |
| Nom Nom Beef Mash | $15.60 |
| Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | $16.35 |
| A Pup Above Gently Cooked | $16.56 |
| Smallbatch Lamb Small Bites Freeze-Dried Raw | $17.25 |
| JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash | $21.74 |
No open price
What can you know before a quiz?
Ollie, Spot & Tango and Sundays show prices after a quiz; The Farmer's Dog also requires one and does not publish a calorie figure. Their starting-price claims are not quotes for the comparison dog.
Label calories still allow portion estimates: Ollie Fresh Chicken comes to 20.2 oz a day, while Sundays Beef comes to 4.8 oz. That difference reflects calorie density, not a known difference in cost.
A portion estimate is possible without a price, but it cannot establish the daily bill.
Ollie
573 g a dayBrand’s own words: “At Ollie, our fresh dog food starts at less than $4 per day for small dogs and averages…”
Spot & Tango
431 g a dayBrand’s own words: “Spot & Tango's fresh plans start around $2 per day”
Sundays for Dogs
137 g a dayPrice only after the brand’s quiz.
The Farmer's Dog
no calorie figureBrand’s own words: “Plans start at about $2/day, and delivery options mostly range from 1 week to 2 months of…”
Lone Wolf Ranch
155 g a dayNo open price found.
Maev USDA Beef
676 g a dayNo open price found.
Calories or 2–3%
Is the body-weight rule equivalent?
No. For the 10 lb adult, the Raw Paws beef-and-vegetable example gives 152 g a day by calories, versus 91–136 g under the 2–3% body-weight rule.
That rule is what raw brands print, not a veterinary norm. The gap changes with the dog's size, activity and the recipe's calories, so it cannot substitute for a calorie comparison.
Body-weight percentages and calorie calculations are separate methods, not interchangeable portions.
| Dog | By calories | By 2–3% of body weight |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb adult | 152 g | 91–136 g |
| 30 lb adult | 384 g | 272–408 g |
| 60 lb active adult | 769 g | 544–816 g |
The rule is what raw brands print; it is not a veterinary norm. Small dogs need more food per pound than the rule gives, large active dogs less or more depending on calories.
First-box offers
What happens after the first box?
On October 21, 2026, Darwin's advertised 70% off the first box; its Awin listing ran until December 30, 2026. JustFoodForDogs listed 50% off the first order, 20% off the second and 5% off future orders on its own page.
Maev's own page listed 13% off with subscription. That is a subscription offer, not a first-box-only discount. Keep introductory savings separate from the ongoing cost.
First-box discounts do not describe the price of later deliveries.
Darwin's
Get 70% off your first box at Darwin's!Listed until December 30, 2026
JustFoodForDogs
50% off 1st order, 20% off 2nd order, and 5% off future…On the brand page
Maev
13% off with subscriptionOn the brand page
How the list is made
How is the ranking calculated?
One dog
30 lb adult, 744 kcal a day
Label calories
kcal per kg as printed by each brand
Open prices
listed prices with date, October 21, 2026
Same order
price per day, low to high
The ranking uses a 30 lb adult at an estimated 744 kcal a day, converts label calories into portions, then applies open prices; FEDIAF, AAHA and WSAVA methods give a 694–794 kcal range, explained in the calculation method.
Ask your vet about the starting amount, especially for puppies, weight loss, allergies or medical diets; weigh your dog monthly and adjust.
These are starting estimates for the same dog, not individualized feeding instructions.
Partner links
Brands on this page with a partner link
- PetCheck price at PetPlate (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Plate Gently cooked - JustCheck price at JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Food Gently cookedFor Dogs - We Feed RawRawCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Viva RawRawCheck price at Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Darwin'sRawCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Buttons open the brand’s store in a new tab. They are partner links: if you buy, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Order and prices on this page do not depend on it.
Questions
Short answers
What is a cheaper Farmer's Dog alternative?
Viva Raw has the lowest calorie-based daily estimate here. To establish whether it is cheaper for your dog, compare your Farmer's Dog quote with an equivalent calorie allowance, not an advertised starting figure.
What is a cooked Freshpet alternative?
JustFoodForDogs and Nom Nom are cooked options in this comparison. Nom Nom Beef Mash uses a PetSmart shelf price here, not a subscription quote; the fresh-food price comparison keeps those price bases separate.
What is a Sundays for Dogs alternative?
Smallbatch offers freeze-dried raw options with open catalog prices. Sundays Beef is air-dried, so these are different food types, even though both have smaller calculated portions than the cooked recipes shown.
Are the daily prices the full checkout total?
Prices exclude tax and shipping unless the brand includes them. Check those charges and the ongoing subscription terms before comparing the final bill.
Sources
- 1FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 2PetSmart: Nom Nom All Life Stages Frozen Dog Food Beefpetsmart.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 3Ollie: Ingredientsollie.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 4Spot & Tango: Beef and Brown Ricespotandtango.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 5Viva Raw: Beef for Dogsvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 6Sundays for Dogs: Beefsundaysfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 7The Farmer's Dog: Our Foodthefarmersdog.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 8JustFoodForDogs: Real Meat Venison Dog Food Recipejustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 9Smallbatch: Freeze-Dried Pork Sliders for Dogssmallbatchpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 10JustFoodForDogs: Beef Russet Potatojustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 11Maev: Raw Foodmeetmaev.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 12Darwin's: Natural & Raw Pet Food Delivery to Your Doordarwinspet.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 13Darwin's: Natural Selections for Dogs Chickendarwinspet.com · checked Oct 21, 2026