Best Chewy Alternatives in 2026 — Where Else to Buy Pet Supplies Online
Chewy has owned the pet supply market for years, but 2025 and early 2026 changed that. Shipping delays crept in. Autoship glitches became frequent. Prices jumped. And subscribers started asking a fair question, what if there are better options?
There are. I've tested five solid Chewy replacements and ranked them by use case. Some crush it on price. Others nail the subscription experience. One offers local pickup for emergencies. All of them work.
Why People Are Leaving Chewy
Shipping Delays
Chewy's 2-day promise slipped to 3-5 days for most customers in late 2025. Faster tiers became more expensive. When your dog needs food and the delivery is three days late, that's a real problem.
Autoship Glitches
Orders get skipped. Dates shift without notice. Customer service is slower than it used to be. The autoship system that made Chewy famous is showing cracks.
Price Increases
Chewy raised its base prices by 8-15% year-over-year. The Subscribe and Save discount (10-15%) barely offsets the increase. You're paying more for the same products.
Limited Brand Diversity
Chewy axed smaller premium brands to push private label products. If you fed your pet Acana or Fromm through Chewy, you had to source elsewhere anyway.
Alternative 1 — Amazon — The Speed and Selection Winner
Amazon Pet Supplies doesn't brand itself as a pet retailer, which is partly why it's winning. You get the full Amazon catalog, toys, bowls, treats, food, plus Prime's logistics and 1-2 day shipping on most items.
I've used it for everything from premium dog food to cat climbing structures. Returns are instant. The selection is unmatched. Filter by Prime eligible, sort by price, and go.
The Subscribe and Save program offers 5-20% off depending on frequency. It's not as pet-focused as Chewy's autoship, but the shipping speed more than compensates.
Why choose Amazon, Prime shipping, massive brand selection, easy returns, Subscribe and Save discounts.
Browse pet supplies, Amazon Pet Supplies
Alternative 2 — PetFlow — The Autoship Specialist
PetFlow is autoship done right. You pick your pet's food or supplies, set the frequency, and they arrive like clockwork. The interface is clean. Shipping is fast (3-5 days). And the app reminds you before each delivery so there are no surprises.
The biggest win is brand partnerships. PetFlow works with premium brands like Fromm, Acana, and Stella and Chewy's. If Chewy's been limiting your brand choices, PetFlow opens those doors back up.
I tested their subscription with a grain-free dog food and never missed a delivery in six months. Pricing sits in the mid-range, not as cheap as Walmart, not as expensive as specialty retailers. But the reliability of the autoship experience is worth the slight premium.
Why choose PetFlow, Best-in-class autoship, premium brand access, reliable delivery, clean app experience.
Alternative 3 — Walmart Pet Center — The Budget Leader
If price is the deciding factor, Walmart's pet supplies section undercuts everyone. Generic dog food costs 30-40% less than Chewy. Name brands like Pedigree and Purina are cheaper too.
Local pickup changes the equation if you live near a Walmart. Order online, grab in-store same day or next morning. No shipping wait, no surprises. When your dog is out of food tonight, this is the solution.
The trade-off is selection. Walmart stocks the bestsellers (Purina, Hill's Science Diet, Iams, Fancy Feast) but skips the premium grain-free and specialty brands. If your dog eats standard kibble, you're golden. If you're picky about ingredients, you'll hit limits.
Why choose Walmart, Lowest prices, local pickup option, mainstream brand availability.
Alternative 4 — iHerb — The Supplement Specialist
iHerb isn't a pet-only platform, it's a global health retailer that happens to stock premium pet supplements, vitamins, and organic treats. I'm including it because Chewy's supplement section is weak, and iHerb's is comprehensive.
Looking for glucosamine for an aging dog, or omega-3s for coat health? iHerb carries brands like Zesty Paws, NaturVet, and specialty veterinary supplements. Prices are often lower than Amazon for specialty items. New users get a discount code (often 10-15% off).
Why choose iHerb, Best supplement selection, organic and natural options, competitive pricing on specialty items.
Alternative 5 — Petco and PetSmart Online — The Vet-Bundled Option
Petco and PetSmart both run solid e-commerce operations. Their real advantage isn't speed, it's store integration. You can order online and pick up same-day at your local store. You can also schedule vet appointments (Petco) or grooming (both) through the same app.
If your pet needs a prescription diet, or you want professional advice without leaving your house, this is the play. Both retailers offer autoship with 10% discounts, and their brands are solid (Purina, Science Diet, Wellness).
Pricing is mid-range, closer to Chewy than Walmart, but the vet and grooming services justify the premium for some households.
Why choose Petco/PetSmart, Same-day store pickup, integrated vet services, grooming available, autoship discounts.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Amazon | PetFlow | Walmart | iHerb | Petco/PetSmart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autoship Quality | Basic | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| Shipping Speed | 1-2 days | 3-5 days | 1-3 days | 5-7 days | Same-day (local) |
| Brand Selection | Largest | Premium-focused | Mainstream | Supplements | Mainstream + Premium |
| Price Range | Competitive | Mid | Low | Premium | Mid |
| Local Pickup | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Vet Services | No | No | No | No | Yes (Petco) |
| Subscribe Discount | 5-20% | Varies | 5-10% | Yes | 10% |
How to Save the Most on Pet Supplies
The smartest approach is splitting your orders across platforms. Use Amazon for fast one-off purchases and Subscribe and Save for staple items. Use PetFlow or Petco autoship for recurring food deliveries. Hit Walmart for budget basics and emergency pickups. Source supplements from iHerb.
No single retailer beats Chewy at everything, but a combination of two or three alternatives beats Chewy at the total cost of pet ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Subscribe and Save on all Amazon pet products?
No. Subscribe and Save works on eligible items (usually recurring staples like food and litter). Check the product page for the option. If it's not there, the seller doesn't participate.
Does PetFlow charge a membership fee?
No. It's free to sign up. You pay per order, with autoship discounts built in.
Will Walmart price-match online?
Walmart matches online prices in-store and vice versa, but pet supplies are usually final-sale when ordered online. Check the product page for return policy.
Can I split my order across multiple delivery dates?
Yes, on Amazon Subscribe and Save and PetFlow autoship. Set different frequencies for different items, monthly for food, quarterly for treats, etc.
Do Petco and PetSmart offer subscription discounts online?
Yes, 10% off when you sign up for autoship on eligible items.