Chewy Review 2024: Everything You Need to Know

Overview

Chewy is a one-stop shop for a wide range of pets and their parents. I think it’s great because it offers food and supplies not just for cats and dogs (like most online retailers) but also for small animals, horses, farm animals, and more.

I’ve learned all you need to know by testing Chewy for myself. I found the selection of products really impressive. With more than 3,000 brands included in Chewy’s offerings, you're sure to find what you need. It was really easy to find the right products when I ordered items for my cat and my colleague had the same experience when ordering for his dog. 

I like that there's a strong focus on minimally processed, human-grade food. Another thing I found Chewy does better than most online pet food retailers is to offer great savings with plenty of deals and subscriptions. Find out more about how it all works in my detailed Chewy review.

Chewy Products

Food Offer

Chewy offers a diverse range of pet foods for a variety of different animals. You can find dry and wet food, raw food, toppings, freeze-dried and dehydrated food, frozen food, and even freshly prepared meals.

I had no problems finding plenty of grain-free options for my cat. I selected the grain-free filter when looking through the various categories to narrow my options. Plus, there are many premium brands and specialist veterinary diets, including human-grade pet food. My colleague ordered a premium branded puppy food for his dog that included added probiotics.

Most of these categories are dedicated to cats and dogs, but you’ll find a considerable number of options for other animals as well. There are hundreds of food products for fish, birds, reptiles, and small pets, for example. The extensive filters on Chewy make it super easy to find exactly what you need.

Farm animals and horses have fewer options by comparison, but there are still plenty to choose from. This is also the case for other exotic or more unusual pets, such as bearded dragons or ferrets. You’ll even find special food for hermit crabs.

Pharmacy

Chewy’s Pharmacy has NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) accreditation, so you know it’s legit. This section provides meds for cats, dogs, and horses, but you can also find supplements and vitamins for other pets, such as reptiles if you browse the respective categories.

You can find prescription and non-prescription meds for different health conditions, too, including arthritis, asthma, ear and eye conditions, flea and tick solutions, and even remedies for your pet’s anxiety.

You can order prescription items for your furry friends easily and even set up an Autoship if you have a valid prescription or remaining refills on file. If you have any questions about medications or prescription food, you can reach Chewy’s pharmacists by phone or email.

If you can’t provide a prescription or if your prescription is about to expire, don’t worry. Chewy’s customer support team will contact your vet to obtain approval. This will come as a huge plus point for many, especially since it saves you a trip to the vet’s office and the veterinary pharmacy.

Accessories & Supplies

You’ll find a variety of toys for your pet too; trees, condos and scratchers to have fun with, harnesses and carriers for traveling, leashes, collars, and harnesses for walks, and even cute clothing and accessories. My colleague’s dog was really impressed with the toy he ordered for him. However, he didn't have the same enthusiasm for the shampoo.

For reptiles, for example, you can purchase décor and accessories as well as tanks and terrariums, plus heating and lighting to keep the environment at optimal condition.

You can keep your pet clean and dandy with grooming products, and keep your home neat with cleaning and potty supplies – from lint rollers and air fresheners to poop bags and scoops. I ordered a cat litter deodorizer and discovered there were over 100 different options to choose from.

Chewy has tons of products for pet parents too, like personalized gifts and books. If you’re looking for a gift, don’t forget to check out Chewy Picks. Here, you’ll find a curated list of items for every occasion. It’s also really sweet that you can order memorials and keepsakes to cherish the memory of beloved pets that are no longer with you.

What Makes It Different

Chewy caters to a wide range of needs for pet owners, setting itself apart from competitors. As such, the most note-worthy features are a vast product range, diverse food offerings, and specialized services.

Options for Different Animals

Chewy's extensive product catalog addresses the needs of various pets and farm animals. Whether it's a common household pet like a dog or cat or more unique animals like birds, fish, reptiles, or even farm animals, Chewy has something for everyone. This inclusivity makes it a one-stop shop for pet owners of all kinds.

Diverse and Inclusive Food Offerings

Chewy provides an extensive selection of pet foods. These cater to various dietary needs, like sensitive stomachs, grain-free, or human-grade. It also offers a diverse range of brands and accommodates different budgets and preferences, making it likely to find a suitable, high-quality product for any pet, whether furry or scaly.

Pharmacy and Connect with a Vet Option

Chewy's Pharmacy is highly beneficial. It offers a range of over-the-counter and prescription treatments for multiple pet health issues. Additionally, the innovative Connect with a Vet service enables convenient access to veterinary consultations via video calls or chat. This is ideal for quick or urgent pet health inquiries.

Unboxing

Fresh, frozen, and refrigerated items (such as medication) are shipped separately so they arrive sooner. The packaging for these orders is insulated with dry ice to keep the items cold or frozen and ensure maximum freshness. This will keep your pet’s food and meds at a safe temperature for up to 72 hours.

All other items will be delivered in a recyclable cardboard box big enough to fit your order. In true cat fashion, Alvy was drawn to the cardboard box, and he couldn’t wait to find out what was inside. It was probably the exciting catnip toy that grabbed his attention.

Both my and my colleague’s Chewy deliveries were free of unnecessary paper or plastic packaging. This is a much more sustainable option, as it really isn’t needed. The boxes were sized just right to fit all of the products in. Chewy takes a simple approach, as cardboard is really easy to dispose of – or keep it and use it as a pet toy.

Since Chewy features a wide range of brands, each item comes with all the necessary information (list of ingredients, feeding guidelines, warnings, and so on) printed on its individual packaging.

Alvy and Baxter’s Testing Experience

I tested Chewy with my cat (Alvy), and my colleague tested it again with his dog (Baxter). This gave me a good idea of what to expect when ordering for 2 pets with different needs and preferences. Overall, both my and my colleague’s experience with Chewy was positive, but let’s dive into all the details. 

My colleague ordered Baxter’s regular kibble for the purposes of this Chewy review. He didn’t want to cause an upset stomach by switching brands, especially as Baxter’s only a pup. As expected, he happily ate the lot and licked the bowl clean. My colleague followed the feeding guide on the back of the pack. Be sure to measure accurately, so your pet gets the correct serving size for their weight.

For Alvy, my cat, I wanted to test out some alternative grain-free options. And, believe me, I’ve tried plenty of options on the market. The brand I selected on Chewy exceeded my expectations. It looked like high-quality wet food that was on par with previous brands I’d fed Alvy before.

I was amazed at Alvy’s response to the Tiny Tiger wet cat food. He’s usually a grazer, and it can take him a while to finish a bowl of his regular brand. I emptied a can of the chicken recipe into his bowl, and he polished the whole lot off.

I really like how easy Chewy makes it for me to try out different brands and see how they compare. Each product has clear feeding guides, so you can determine the correct amount to feed your pet. Overall, both me and my colleague are happy to order products for our pets from Chewy as they really enjoyed them.

Prices

The prices on Chewy’s products are generally similar to those you’d find on other retailer websites, such as Amazon. But – unlike Amazon – the prices are consistent over time, making it way more reliable.

If you want to see what deals Chewy has on at any given time, check the Top Deals tab on the website. You’ll find a collection of pretty good discounts, especially around holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Now, when it comes to recurring orders, you can save a lot of money with Chewy. Your first Autoship order alone gives you 35% off, which is pretty generous, in my opinion. After your initial Autoship discount, you’ll save an extra 5% on select brands for all future Autoship orders, making it easy to save in the long run.

For orders over $49, shipping is free. For smaller orders, the cost is a flat $4.95, which is super reasonable. Chewy’s Connect With a Vet program is free and unlimited if you’re an Autoship customer, too. Otherwise, the price for a single 20-minute video appointment is $19.99.

Shipping & Delivery

Chewy ships to all contiguous US states using FedEx. Orders are conveniently delivered to your door 7 days a week before 10 pm. In most cases, you can expect to receive your pet’s food and supplies within 1 to 3 days. Personalization orders may take a bit longer. Both my and my colleague’s deliveries arrived in just 2 days.

You can check the status of your delivery in the Orders section of your account. There are three stages: Preparing for Shipment, Shipped, and Delivered. You’ll receive an email once your order starts processing in the first stage, then another one with the tracking info once it's shipped.

If you’ve signed up to receive Autoship and you want to change the frequency of your deliveries, go to the Frequency page, click the link to change, and select your desired frequency from the dropdown menu. This will not affect the date of your next order, only the following ones.

To change the date of your next order, you’ll need to click the Change button in the Next Order section. You can delay your orders by clicking on the Skip Shipment button. If you want to get an order earlier than scheduled, click on the Order Now button and confirm your selection.

Fresh, frozen, and refrigerated items, including medications, are shipped separately with insulated packaging and dry ice, so they remain cold or frozen. This maintains the items at a safe temperature for up to 72 hours. Importantly, if you order refrigerated medication over the weekend, it will be shipped on the following Monday. 

How Chewy Works

It’s super easy to order from Chewy and set up an Autoship subscription if you need to.

How to Sign Up

1. Create your account: Click on the Sign In dropdown menu (in the upper-right corner of the website) and choose Create an Account. Insert your name, email, and password in the form that opens up, and click on Create Account. 

2. Browse the menu: Once you have an account, start looking for the items you want to order and add them to your cart. You can use the search bar or click on Shop by Pet to browse different categories.

3. Decide if you want Autoship: If this is a recurring order, select Yes when the form asks about this feature. You can also set the delivery frequency and receive various discounts.

4. Proceed to checkout: When you’re ready, click on Proceed to Checkout. As this is your first order, you’ll be asked to add your shipping address and payment method.

5. Place the order: After double-checking your address and payment details, click on Place Order. You’ll receive an immediate notification that your order is being processed.

Chewy will receive the order and send you regular updates via email, including the tracking number. Signing up and managing your account is really intuitive, and you can complete all you need to do with just a few clicks.

Managing Your Subscription

Once you’ve shopped and set up your Autoship, you’ll receive your items as scheduled. There’s no membership fee, and you can cancel whenever you want. What’s more, you can have multiple Autoships for items that you wish to receive at different intervals.

To manage your subscription, simply go to the Manage Autoship section of your account. You can remove items or cancel here, too. If you want to cancel, simply click on the Cancel This Autoship button at the bottom of the page and you’ll no longer receive future shipments.

You’ll get an email reminder 3 days before your next scheduled order, so you’ll have plenty of time to make changes. You’ll get another email the moment your order ships. You can’t make any changes to your order if it has already been shipped.

Customer Service

Customer service is open all day, every day. You can talk to the team via phone, messaging, or chat right on the website. They should be able to sort out any problems you run into, including handling returns. Chewy's refund policy is flexible. If you're unhappy, you can send back your pet products within a year of buying them. To ask for your return or replacement, just forward a message to customer support with your order number.

In some cases, rather than returning the product, customer service advises you to donate the food or supplies to an animal shelter, which I think is a very nice gesture. You can’t return or exchange any prescription medications. However, if the medication you received is incorrect or damaged, you can get a refund or an exchange depending on the case.

As well as a pretty great customer service team, Chewy also has Connect with a Vet program that offers you support from licensed veterinarians. You can contact a vet daily from 8 am to 11 pm ET, by either instant chat or live video, or schedule an appointment up to two weeks in advance.

Chewy Recalls

As of November 2023, there are no recalls for Chewy’s private label, Tylee’s. These products include a selection of freeze-dried, dehydrated, and human-grade foods and treats. If you’re buying from any other brands in Chewy’s online store, you’ll have to check recalls for that specific brand.

How Chewy Compares to Other Pet Food Services

Chewy vs. The Farmer’s Dog: The Farmer’s Dog features only human-grade, fresh recipes for dogs. These are gently cooked and frozen to lock in the nutrients. Chewy offers fresh and prepared meals for dogs from several different brands. However, for high-quality ingredients, The Farmer’s Dog is the best option.

Chewy vs. Ollie: Ollie offers freshly made foods, baked recipes, treats, and supplements for dogs. This is great for a diverse diet based on high-quality ingredients. Chewy offers more variety and other types of foods per dog. But for a steady diet of fresh, human-grade ingredients, Ollie is the best fit.

Chewy vs. Smalls: Smalls caters exclusively to cats with 5 human-grade fresh recipes in 2 different textures. Chewy offers a wide selection of cat foods, from wet to freeze-dried raw, including toppers and treats. Cats are quite picky, so if you want all the necessary nutrients and the best ingredient quality, Smalls is a better option.

The Bottom Line: Is Chewy Worth It?

Yes! If you’re a pet owner, Chewy is definitely worth checking out. You can get deals on many products and enjoy further discounts on Autoship orders. The prices are more consistent than Amazon’s and generally lower than other online pet shops like PetSmart. I found a new brand of food that my cat really enjoys and the prices are better than his usual brand too.

What I also love is that you can find food and supplies for almost every animal, not just cats and dogs, which is especially helpful if you have an exotic pet or you’re taking care of farm animals. I could have spent hours browsing Chewy’s huge online store, but the intuitive filters make it super easy to find exactly what you need.

Another plus is that you can get quick online appointments with licensed vets if you need some help, using Chewy’s Connect with a Vet program. In many cases, it will save you a trip to your local vet and the related costs, especially since the appointments are free for Autoship customers.

Overall, I have been very impressed with Chewy’s service, and both my and my colleague’s pets were happy, too. I love that your account page is personalized to you and your pets, and you can create profiles for each pet too. It’s definitely a one-stop shop, but if you’re looking for a more customized fresh food order for your dog, I’d recommend our list of the best fresh dog food delivery services for more personalized options.

FAQ

Is Chewy really worth it?

Yes, Chewy is worth considering for pet owners. It offers a vast range of products, competitive pricing, and excellent customer service. You'll find a variety of pet foods, accessories, and health-related items, making it a convenient one-stop shop for your pet's needs.

Does Chewy actually save you money?

Chewy can save you money with its competitive pricing, frequent discounts, and Autoship program, which offers savings on regular deliveries. This is particularly beneficial if you frequently purchase pet supplies.

Is Chewy good for dogs?

Chewy is excellent for dogs, offering a wide selection of high-quality dog foods, treats, toys, and health products. Whether you have a puppy, an adult dog, or a senior, you'll find products tailored to your dog's specific needs. You can also find plenty of options for different animals.

How long does Chewy delivery take?

Chewy delivery typically takes 1-3 business days. It offers fast shipping, ensuring that your pet supplies arrive promptly. This is ideal for routine purchases as well as for urgent needs, ensuring that your pet's necessities are quickly replenished.