Ollie vs. The Farmer's Dog vs. Nom Nom in 2024

Choosing the right food for your dog is more challenging than it should be. Many dog food delivery services claim to use only the best, wholesome ingredients, but you also have to consider your pup’s dietary preferences and health conditions.

To help you out, my team and I have put 3 big-name competitors through their paces. In this battle of Ollie vs. The Farmer’s Dog vs. Nom Nom, you’ll find out what the differences are, how each stacks up against the others, and ultimately, which will best suit your own pup’s needs.

The Farmer’s Dog came out on top – though it was a close call! Not only does this service require you to fill out an in-depth meal customization questionnaire so you can tailor your dog’s food to their specific needs, but it also happens to be the most affordable of all 3 services. Read on to find out more. 

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Ingredient Quality: All Companies Offer Top-Quality Ingredients

Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, and Nom Nom all offer dog food comprising premium-quality wholesome ingredients designed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists. Each and every recipe also meets strict AAFCO standards for all life stages. But there are perhaps just a few subtle differences you may want to be aware of.

Ollie

Ollie states that its chicken and turkey are raised without added hormones, as per USDA guidelines, and its premium lamb comes from the US, New Zealand, or Australia. You’ll also find carefully sourced human-grade produce, seeds, and oils that contain no by-products, fillers, artificial flavorings, or preservatives – which are great to see. All of Ollie’s recipes are prepared in a USDA-certified kitchen.

They’re also all free from corn, wheat, and soy. However, not all the recipes are grain-free, namely the Fresh Chicken With Carrots. At the time of this article’s publication, all of Ollie’s other Fresh food meals were free from grains.

Ollie’s ingredients are essentially the same whole foods a human requires for optimal health. These include nutrient-dense foods like carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, fresh turkey, chicken, beef, and more. You’ll also find a healthy number of so-called superfoods like blueberries, spinach, chia seeds, and kale. 

If you’re concerned about protein content, Ollie’s recipes are relatively high in protein. The Fresh Turkey dish is the highest protein offering, with a minimum of 11% per serving. You’ll find that all the other dishes contain somewhere between 9-10% minimum. 

Finally, Ollie employs a small-batch, low-temperature cooking technique that helps to preserve the most amount of vital nutrients and minerals. 

The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer's Dog ingredients include only human-grade elements and processes. They use clean, USDA-certified proteins, fresh produce, and a mix of health-boosting vitamins and minerals, all balanced according to AAFCO standards. You’ll never encounter feed-grade ingredients or foods processed for shelf stability in their products. 

All the recipes are formulated by pet nutritionists and approved by vets. They’re even tested on humans! The 4 recipes include a pork, turkey, beef, and chicken option, and all are grain-free. In each dish, you’ll find a solid helping of superfoods such as sweet potato, liver, broccoli, spinach, parsnip, kale, sunflower seeds, fish oils, and brussels sprouts.

Each dish from The Farmer’s Dog also contains a minimum of 8% crude protein, but the general range is somewhere between 8-11.5%. If you want the highest amount of crude protein right out of the gate, the chicken recipe contains the most, at 11.5%.

Much like Ollie’s dishes, The Farmer’s Dog’s meals are gently cooked at low temperatures in line with USDA standards. After that, they’re flash-frozen for convenience, safe shipping, and to maintain the high levels of nutrients without the need for preservatives. Preparing the meals in such a way ensures they’re as fresh as possible once they finally arrive at your doorstep.

Nom Nom

Nom Nom follows a very similar trend to Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog. Its nutrient-packed meals only use wholesome food ingredients that are processed in the US. The ingredient profile of each recipe is developed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists for maximum balance.

Each recipe also includes a custom mix of vitamins D, E, B1, B2, B12, iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, choline, and taurine, all of which work in harmony to ensure your pup remains as healthy as possible.

Nom Nom cooks each ingredient gently and separately, after which they’re combined in batches. This helps to seal-in vital nutrients and maximizes digestibility. Of its 4 recipes, only the turkey dish contains grains. All the meats used are hormone-free. 

You’ll also find a large number of superfoods, including carrots, eggs, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, kale, and mushrooms. The crude protein content for all 4 dishes is around 7%-10%, with the Turkey Fare being the highest protein meal.

Meals and Customization: The Farmer’s Dog Is Better for Specific Health Issues

The Farmer’s Dog

Though all the competitors here today are great choices, The Farmer’s Dog wins. Compared with the other options, The Farmer’s Dog asks more specific questions about your furry friend’s health, with queries related to anxiety, bad breath, cancer, constipation, allergies, sensitivities, and more.

Overall, The Farmer’s Dog is the best option for those with pets who have specific health concerns. The packets even arrive pre-portioned based on your pet’s caloric needs, which prevents you from overfeeding.

It offers 4 recipes – turkey, beef, chicken, or pork. Each contains a minimum crude protein level of 8% but ranges as high as 11% for the chicken recipe. The quiz will help you figure out which recipe will be best for your pup, but you’re more than welcome to just pick your own anyway.

At this time, The Farmer’s Dog doesn’t appear to sell anything other than its fresh foods, but – as mentioned – it does do these especially well. The service’s good personalization process means your dog’s food will be created and portioned to meet their specific calorie, health, and lifestyle needs. 

Ollie

Ollie offers 5 Fresh recipes: beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and pork. The meals range in crude protein from around 8% to 10%, with the lamb and chicken recipes containing the most.

It also offers 2 vet-formulated, kibble-style Baked recipes – beef and chicken. These 2 meals contain a minimum protein level of 23% to 24%, with the chicken option being the higher of the 2. The nice thing about Ollie is that you’re free to mix and match any of the fresh and kibble recipes.

You’ll also find 3 treats and 3 supplements at Ollie. The treats include Chicken and Apple Jerky, Beef and Sweet Potato Jerky, and Sweet Potato Slices, while the supplements include Probiotic Chews and Zoomies hip and joint formula pills, which can all be good for your pup’s teeth, gums, and overall health.

Nom Nom

Nom Nom will also ask about specific health conditions – it just doesn’t have as many options to select as The Farmer’s Dog. Health conditions include a sensitive stomach, arthritis, or a dull or flaky coat. Since not all competitors in the dog food space offer this level of customization, it’s still good to see.

Nom Nom offers 4 recipes: Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Turkey Fare, and Pork Potluck. Each contains between 7 and 10% crude protein, so not as high as The Farmer’s Dog. The meal with the highest crude protein is the Turkey Fare, so go with that if you’re looking for the most protein.

Nom Nom also offers some interesting add-ons. By this I mean that the service has full-spectrum and GI-targeted probiotics for canines. 

Ordering and Delivery: All Offer a Simple and Easy Process

All 3 services make it easy to order your dog’s meals. After filling out the initial questionnaire, you’ll be presented with a list of options that could suit your pup. After that, you can add any extras, or simply check out. 

Each also has flexible subscription models including weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. Overall, the ordering process is virtually identical with all 3 dog food delivery services – so let’s take a look at each one to see the differences.

Ollie

Ollie offers half-portions that’ll net you around a 48% discount. The idea here is that you can combine it with your dog’s existing pet food to simply boost their diet while keeping costs down. I found this a great way to test if your dog likes the food – and you can always switch to full portions if they do. 

The company requires you to order a minimum of 2 weeks' worth of food. You’ll automatically be signed up for auto-shipments after this, though you can pause or cancel your subscription at any time. And while one-off orders aren’t advertised, nothing stops you from ordering your first batch before immediately canceling your auto-ship subscription.

If you need to make changes to your order, you need to do so by a specific date and time. Your cut-off date for changes will be 4-5 days before your next order ships. You can also skip deliveries and reschedule up to 6 weeks in advance.

Ollie is the only service that offers apps for both iOS and Android. With its app, you can manage your deliveries, make changes to your subscription, and explore extras. Ollie’s shipments will take around 6 days to arrive from the time you place your order. Delivery is available to all 48 contiguous states.

The Farmer’s Dog

Before you’re able to see the recipes, you’ll need to complete The Farmer’s Dog’s questionnaire. This can certainly feel tedious, but it really helps you get the perfect meal for your pup. You also can’t get half portions – rather, you’ll need to commit to a full order. Our The Farmer’s Dog review covers all the steps to signing up for a plan.

You will also be required to order at least 2 weeks’ worth of food, just like with the other 2 competitors here. Auto-ship is automatically applied once you place your order, so I recommend carefully monitoring this if you need to make any changes. 

Rescheduling your Farmer’s Dog order is easy, too. You can organize it to arrive sooner or delay the shipment from within your account dashboard. 

Nom Nom

Nom Nom offers half-portions for just over half-price. Like with Ollie, this is a good way for you to get your pup to try the food before committing to a full order.

The company also requires you to order at least 2 weeks' worth of food. Signing up for auto-ship is automatic after placing an order.

And, just like with Ollie, you can pause or cancel your subscription whenever you want. I also don’t recommend buying one-time orders – however, you’re certainly free to order your first batch of meals and cancel your auto-ship subscription right afterward.

Nom Nom doesn’t specify a cut-off time or date for changes – you’ll simply have to do it before your order gets processed, which you can check via your account dashboard. The company suggests that contacting Nom Nom customer support by phone, chat, text, or email is the best way. I confirmed with an agent that Nom Nom shipments will take just 1-2 days. 

How Do the Meals Arrive? All Offer Useful Labeling & Vacuum Packs

Meals from all competitors will arrive in an insulated box. Everything is neatly labeled, perfectly portioned, and vacuum-packed for convenience. 

Each service also recommends that the meals be stored in either the fridge or freezer upon delivery, though all will have slightly different guidelines.

Ollie

Ollie recommends that you store your packs in the freezer (where they will last 6 months if unopened). Once refrigerated, they’ll need to be consumed within 4 days.

You’ll even get a starter pack in your first delivery, which includes a handy precision serving scoop and a silicone “puptainer”, which will allow you to preserve the freshness of your dog’s opened food until it’s eaten. 

Your Ollie shipment will include a curbside recyclable liner to keep the meals cold, while the bags used for the service’s Baked food are also recyclable through a store drop-off program.

Nom Nom

Nom Nom also suggests its meals can be frozen for up to 6 months and states that any refrigerated food should be eaten within 7 days. Like Ollie, the food can be stored for 4 days in the fridge and up to 6 months in the freezer.

The food comes perfectly portioned in individual packets that you can rip open, pour, and serve. There are no specific instructions about warming the food. Nom Nom also delivers packaging that is either recyclable or made from recyclable materials – everything from the box and meal packs to the insulted liner.

The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog’s instructions are to keep its food at a safe temperature in the fridge. Each order also comes with a storage guide inside the box.

You can feed your pet The Farmer’s Dog’s fresh food straight from the fridge or add a touch of hot water if they prefer warm meals. Each vacuum-packed portion is 1 day’s worth of food, so you might have to divide it up depending on how many times a day your pup prefers to be fed. Again, there’s a great guide to refer to. 

The Farmer’s Dog insulation is biodegradable; you can compost it or even just pop it in the sink and run some water over it and it will dissolve down the drain. The service also promises biodegradable storage containers, and the food packs are made from non-toxic, BPA-free materials.

Pricing: The Farmer’s Dog Is Cheaper

The Farmer’s Dog

Among the 3 services, The Farmer's Dog costs the least for a 2-week shipment, with prices starting at $2/day per day. Despite this, I’ve found that all three fresh pet food delivery services are fairly similar in terms of overall cost, particularly when considering that each offers free shipping as well.

It also states that if your dog doesn’t like his or her food, it’ll send you some different recipes to try. Otherwise, you can opt for a refund if you promise to donate the rest of the food your pet didn’t like to an animal shelter.

Ollie

Ollie’s prices start from $4-$8 per day. Any add-ons will affect your order total, too. Ollie’s Chicken and Apple Jerky treats cost around $10 for a 5 oz bag. The supplements cost around $22 for 60 chews. However, you’ll get 75% off your first order when you sign up to these..

Ollie offers a 100% money-back guarantee – but only on your first box. Contact the customer service team if there are any issues with your order or food.

Nom Nom

If there are any issues with your food (or if your pup doesn’t like it), Nom Nom suggests contacting its team by email within 30 days of receiving your shipment if you require a refund (or to explore other options).

Ollie vs. The Farmer's Dog vs. Nom Nom — Quick Overview

Every service in this round-up has good reasons to choose it, but my first choice is The Farmer’s Dog. It's not just reasonably priced, it also offers a highly personalized service that lets you customize your dog's food to their specific health and lifestyle needs.

However, all of them are excellent options due to their superior quality ingredients and adaptable plans. Certain aspects of other services may be more suitable for you and your dog. For instance, the half-portion plans offered by Ollie and Nom Nom provide a great opportunity to sample the food before committing to full portions. 

Ollie offers 7 recipes in total, including 5 fresh and 2 baked ones. Options include beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and pork. The company also offers several treats and supplements like Beef & Sweet Potato and Apple Treats, and Probiotic Supplement Chews for gut and hip joint health.

On the other hand, Nom Nom doesn’t offer dry food like Ollie. Its options are a bit more limited than the other 2 competitors on this list, but they do seem to contain high levels of crude protein along with superfood ingredients.

FAQ

Is Ollie better than Nom Nom?

Ollie and Nom Nom differ, but Ollie isn’t necessarily better. Ollie is a good choice if you’re looking to avoid corn, wheat, or soy products, and it offers a few more options – such as gently baked kibble-style meals – that Nom Nom doesn’t. Both services allow you to order half portions if you’d like to try out the dog food before committing to a larger order.

Is Ollie dog food vet approved?

Yes – Ollie’s dog food has been approved by board-certified veterinarians and animal nutritionists. All of the meals have been carefully formulated to ensure your pup gets the necessary vitamins and minerals for optimal health. Each recipe also contains a high amount of minimum crude protein that further ensures good health.

Is The Farmer’s Dog better than kibble?

Yes, absolutely. The Farmer’s Dog offers fresh food that’s been made with veterinarian-approved, human-grade wholefoods that are cooked gently at very low temperatures to preserve their nutrition. Many (if not all) kibbles out there are highly processed, packed with “filler” ingredients, and nowhere near the same quality.