Top Ollie Dog Food Subscription Alternatives

Ollie has become one of the most recognizable names in fresh dog food. And that comes as no surprise since the brand built its reputation on clean ingredients, gently cooked meals, and a subscription model that makes it easy for owners to move away from traditional kibble. But, if you’re reading this, maybe you’re asking yourself the same question I did: “Is there another subscription or food style that fits my dog better than Ollie?”

Looking for a Decent Dog Food Subscription Alternative to Ollie

Ollie Dog Food Subscription Alternatives

The things people love the most about this brand is that It is simple, convenient, and a welcome upgrade from shelf-stable food. But, as with any dog food, not every pup thrives on the same diet. Some prefer raw. Some do better on higher protein recipes. Some need simpler ingredient lists. And some people want more flexibility in cost or storage. And others? Well, as we all know, our pups can be fussy. They can be picky; what they wolfed down today, they turn their nose up tomorrow. 

Why Listen To Me?

I went through this exact experience myself. My friend’s frenchie absolutely loved Ollie and looked incredible on it. Shiny coat, lean muscle- i mean, everything you want your fur child to look like. And we all know how fussy frenchies can be. Naturally, I assumed my own dog would be just as enthusiastic. He liked it at first, but after a few days, he became a little indifferent. I could tell he wanted something different and wasn’t too impressed with his Ollie meals anymore. So I did my due diligence and began comparing alternatives. What surprised me was how much the fresh and raw food market has grown since I first looked into it. There are now several subscription brands that offer similar quality with distinct differences that may fit your dog’s needs better.

If you love the concept of feeding real, minimally processed food but want to see what other options are available, these are the alternatives that consistently stand out in owner reviews, forums, and veterinary recommendations (I have a friend that’s a vet and won’t just push the commercial kibble brands down my throat).

I took a fresh look at the landscape. What I found was a wide, thoughtful market (from cooked-fresh subscriptions to raw, freeze-dried, and hybrid formats), each with their own strengths. Below, I walk you through the best alternatives to Ollie I found, and help you figure out which might make the most sense for your dog’s needs and your lifestyle.

Ollie Dog Food Subscription Alternatives

Why Dog Parents Often Look Beyond Ollie

Before comparing brands, it helps to understand common reasons why someone might consider leaving Ollie for something else.

  • Price becomes steep: Ollie’s cost per month can climb quickly depending on your dog’s size, activity level, and meal plan.
  • Freezer or fridge space is limited: fresh meals need storage and quick turnover. For some homes, that becomes a challenge.
  • Dogs have different nutritional or digestion needs: some thrive on high-protein or raw diets, others need gentler dinners or simpler ingredient lists.
  • Taste preferences and variety: dogs (and owners) sometimes get bored with the same recipes; rotation or variety can be a big factor.
  • Flexibility and format needs: sometimes raw or freeze-dried are best for their dog, or shelf-stable options are more practical (travel, mixed feeding, multi-dog households).
  • Ethical or sourcing concerns: for some owners, ingredient traceability, sustainability, or sourcing transparency becomes a priority.

If any of those resonate, then exploring alternatives isn’t just about “hopping onto the latest trend.” It’s about matching your dog’s diet to who they are and how you live.

Quick Overview: Top Alternatives to Ollie

BrandFood Type & FormatWhat Makes It Stand Out
PetPlateCooked-fresh mealsClean ingredients, human-grade kitchens, good for picky eaters or dogs needing digestibility
Nom NomCooked-fresh mealsVet-formulated recipes, consistent quality, straightforward portioning
We Feed RawFrozen raw patties / raw dietHigh protein, minimal processing, ancestral-style diet, customizable proteins
The Farmer’s DogCooked-fresh mealsWell-known, strong vet backing, high quality, good for gentle transitions away from kibble
Open FarmEthically sourced; cooked, freeze- or air-dried or raw optionsGreat ingredient traceability, flexible formats for different lifestyles
Spot & TangoFresh cooked meals + “UnKibble” (dried version)Hybrid flexibility: fresh-food feel or shelf-stable convenience, nice for travel or multi-dog homes

Key Considerations When Choosing an Ollie Alternative

Key Considerations When Choosing an Alternative

Before diving into the alternatives, it helps to understand what matters most in a dog’s diet. Organizations such as the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, or WSAVA, provide helpful guidance about what makes a diet complete and balanced. It is not a certification, and veterinarians often interpret the guidelines in slightly different ways, but it is still a useful framework when comparing foods.

Every dog is different. Age, breed, activity level, sensitivities, and health history all play a part in determining what diet will suit them best. For example, some dogs thrive on gently cooked meals. Others do better with raw protein and minimal processing. Some need very simple recipes, while others are fine with mixed vegetables and grains.

I always recommend finding a vet whose opinion you trust. When I moved back to my hometown, I reconnected with someone I went to school with who is now a practicing veterinarian. She knows my dogs well and understands their quirks, and that makes all the difference when I am choosing a diet for them.

Top Ollie Alternatives: What Each Offers (and Who They Suit)

PetPlate: Closest Fresh Food Alternative

PetPlate: Closest Fresh Food Alternative

If you want something close to Ollie in feel but perhaps simpler in texture and easier on sensitive tummies, PetPlate is often a great match. Their meals come from USDA-inspected kitchens and use visible, whole ingredients. Many owners with picky eaters or dogs transitioning away from kibble report good results: better digestion, more eagerly eaten meals, and improved coat or energy.

Because the food smells more like real home-cooked food and has a texture that tends to be chunkier or more appetizing to some pups, PetPlate can be especially helpful if your dog has turned up its nose at overly soft or mushy meals.

Cost tends to be in the same ballpark as Ollie, though it can vary depending on portion size and feeding frequency. For a dog that doesn’t need a high-protein or raw diet, PetPlate often hits a comfortable balance of quality, digestibility, and practicality.

We Feed Raw: Best High-Protein Raw Option

We Feed Raw: Best High-Protein Raw Option

If your dog has ever shown interest in raw food or tends to thrive on higher protein, We Feed Raw offers a very different type of subscription. Their meals are formulated using raw meat, bone, and carefully balanced supplements, and the company uses high-pressure processing to neutralize harmful pathogens without heat. For owners who want the nutritional density of raw but with added safety steps, this is a major advantage.

I have had remarkable success with We Feed Raw for my sensitive German Shepherd. He struggled with cooked foods, kibble, and even some vet-prescribed diets, but raw completely changed his digestion and coat quality. This kind of story appears often in raw feeding communities. Many owners switch because their dogs do better on simpler ingredient lists.

On the flip side, raw requires commitment: thawing, proper portioning, safe handling, and freezer space. It may be less suitable for senior dogs or those with sensitive digestion, unless carefully managed. For the right dog and owner, someone willing to commit, it can be one of the most nutrient-dense, biologically aligned choices available.

The Farmer’s Dog: A Household Fav

The Farmer’s Dog: A Household Fav

A familiar name for many, The Farmer’s Dog remains a reliable cooked-fresh option that sits firmly in the “real food, vet-backed, human-grade” space. Recipes are nutrient-dense and carefully balanced. For dogs switching from kibble or owners wanting a stable, well-regulated plan, it’s a strong contender alongside Ollie.

It lacks the raw-food punch of something like We Feed Raw, but for many households, that’s exactly the right trade-off. Its balance of convenience, ingredient quality, and nutritional completeness make it a sensible “step up” without drastic change.

Nom Nom: Balanced, Reliable, and Vet Designed

Nom Nom: Balanced, Reliable, and Vet Designed

Nom Nom has been in the fresh food space for years and is often recommended by vets because of its balanced formulations and quality control. The meals are created by board-certified veterinary nutritionists and meet AAFCO standards. The recipes are simple and use recognizable ingredients like chicken, beef, rice, carrots, and spinach.

What stands out most about Nom Nom is the consistency. The portions are reliable, the texture is predictable, and the food is easy to store and serve. It is one of the most stable options in the cooked fresh food category. Many owners report gradual but steady improvements in digestion and energy levels. If you want a cooked meal that is less rich than Ollie but still nutrient-dense, this is a strong alternative.

Open Farm: Best for Ethical Sourcing and Flexible Formats

Open Farm: Best for Ethical Sourcing and Flexible Formats

If ingredient sourcing, ethical farming, and transparency matter to you, Open Farm offers a breadth of formats: cooked, raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried. But what I really love about them is their level of traceability, few brands match. For an owner who wants control over where their meat comes from and how it was raised, Open Farm delivers.

This kind of flexibility can be a lifesaver if you want to rotate your dog’s diet seasonally, manage allergies, or mix formats (e.g., freeze-dried for travel, cooked at home otherwise). It’s often chosen by conscious owners who care as much about ingredient ethics as about nutrient profiles.

Spot & Tango: Fresh Meals Plus a Shelf Stable Upgrade

Spot & Tango: Fresh Meals Plus a Shelf Stable Upgrade

Spot & Tango occupies a useful niche: fresh-food quality with a shelf-stable option called “UnKibble.” That makes it a good bridge for people who like fresh meals but don’t want to rely fully on freezer space or fresh delivery logistics.

It’s especially handy for travel, multi-dog households with different feeding needs, or homes where freezer space is at a premium. The hybrid format gives flexibility without forcing you to choose between fresh food and convenience.

I personally found UnKibble helpful during travel since my dog is not a fan of dry food, but tolerated this better than others. For households that want fresh food without relying entirely on freezer space, this can be a practical compromise. As an added bonus, the fresh meals are also well reviewed and tend to be a little lighter than some of the richer cooked foods on the market.

Notes on Cost

Feeding real food for dogs often means higher monthly bills. But it isn’t just about price. It’s about value. But what determines value? Well, I think there’s a few components to it: nutrition, digestibility, health, and quality of life.

I’ve heard plenty of folks complain about the cost of fresh and raw food, but here’s the thing; these types of food will be more pricey, but they definitely offer more value. Fresh and raw food generally cost more than kibble because you are paying for fresh ingredients, small batch production, and controlled cooking or handling processes. You don’t have unnecessary fillers either, if you buy the right one, that is.

What’s interesting and perhaps frustrating for some is that Ollie often markets itself as an affordable fresh option, but pricing varies significantly depending on your dog’s weight and activity level. For medium and large dogs, the cost increases quickly.

Here’s what I always watch when budgeting for premium dog food:

  • Portion size depends heavily on dog size, activity level, and metabolism. Big or active dogs cost more. Ollie data shows that monthly feeding costs can range widely depending on those factors.
  • Storage demands matter. Fresh and raw meals demand freezer or fridge space. That can be a hidden cost if you need an extra freezer or rearrange your fridge.
  • Mixing and matching can stretch your budget. Some owners feed premium meals part-time (fresh or raw) and mix with good-quality kibble or air-dried meals the rest of the time.
  • Intro offers and promotions help, but real cost is long-term cost. Many services offer discounts for the first box or “starter plans,” but ongoing costs tend to reflect consistent, high-quality ingredients.

If you view quality food as a long-term investment (think coat health, digestion, energy, and possibly fewer vet visits), then the higher cost often starts to feel more like value.

Choosing the Best Fit for Your Dog

There is no perfect universal choice. What matters most is how your dog responds. Here are some helpful guidelines:

Which Alternative Is Best For Your Dog & Lifestyle

Here’s how I’d choose an alternative if I were picking based on my dog’s needs and how we live. Think of this as a quick reference to match food style with your dog’s personality and your household rhythm.

  • For a picky eater or dog with sensitive digestion → PetPlate or Nom Nom
  • For a high-energy or working dog needing lots of protein → We Feed Raw (if you have freezer space)
  • For a stable, balanced cooked diet without fuss → The Farmer’s Dog or Nom Nom
  • For ethical sourcing and maximum ingredient transparency → Open Farm
  • For convenience, travel, or small-space living → Spot & Tango (fresh meals or UnKibble)
  • For variety or rotating diet formats → Open Farm or a combo plan (fresh + air-dried + freeze-dried)
  • For a dog with allergies, sensitivities, or special dietary needs → Raw or minimally processed diets (We Feed Raw, Open Farm) or simple cooked meals (PetPlate, Nom Nom)
  • For budget-minded owners wanting premium food without over-committing → Mix fresh food with high-quality dry / air-dried or use topper strategies

And remember, whenever you switch foods, you should transition gradually by mixing the new food into your dog’s current meals over several days. This helps prevent stomach upset and gives your dog time to adjust. I saw a couple of the top Ollie alternatives, like We Feed Raw, offer transition diets in the plans they develop for your pup. I love this and would highly recommend you follow through on these pre-developed transition meal plans so you give your pup the best.

Top Tips for Transitioning 

If you plan to move your dog off Ollie or try a new food:

  • Transition slowly. Mix new food in with their current meals over 5–7 days.
  • Monitor digestion, energy, coat, mood, and remember that every dog is different.
  • If switching to raw or freeze-dried, ensure safe handling and storage (especially freezer space, thawing routines, hygiene).
  • Keep track of costs and portion sizes as your dog’s activity or life stage changes.
  • Consult a vet if your dog has health issues, allergies, or sensitive digestion (especially before making big changes in diet).

My Final Thoughts on the Best Ollie Dog Food Sub Alternatives

Ollie set a high bar for fresh dog food delivery. It made “real food” accessible, convenient, and trustworthy for many owners. But as I explored the landscape, it’s clear there isn’t a one-size-fits-all. There are many excellent alternatives, each with its own strengths, precisely because dogs (and their owners) are all different.

If you want gentle digestibility and familiarity, PetPlate or Nom Nom might be perfect. If you want raw nutrition and protein density, We Feed Raw could be the right fit. If you care about sourcing or like to mix it up, Open Farm and Spot & Tango offer flexibility.

The most important thing isn’t chasing hype or trendiness. It’s paying attention: to your dog’s reactions, your lifestyle, your budget, and their long-term health. 

The best food is the one they eat, digest, thrive on, and that works for your household.

When feeding is personal, flexible, and honest, it becomes less about “which brand is best,” and more about “which diet respects and supports my dog.”
That’s how I approach my own diet, and how I approach my beloved four-legged soulmates’ diet too. Happy feeding!

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