The strongest Stella & Chewy’s alternatives in 2026 are Instinct, Ziwi Peak, Orijen, Primal Pet Foods, and Steve’s Real Food. Four are freeze-dried or air-dried raw in the same category as Stella & Chewy’s; Orijen is a high-meat kibble for owners stepping down from raw. The right pick depends on whether your priority is sourcing, meat content, shelf stability, or cost per day. This guide is built from each brand’s published product specifications, not from physical testing.

What Stella & Chewy’s actually is

Stella & Chewy’s is a freeze-dried raw and raw-coated dog food brand. Per the company’s own product pages, its freeze-dried raw dinners are built around recipes that are 95% meat, organs, and bone with added organic fruits and vegetables, and the brand describes its proteins with grass-fed and cage-free sourcing language (stellaandchewys.com, accessed June 2026).

Pricing varies widely by recipe, bag size, and retailer, so we do not quote a single fixed price. Freeze-dried raw dinners generally run from roughly $40 for small bags to well over $100 for large ones. Check the current figure for your size at Chewy before buying, since auto-ship discounts move the real cost per day.

Why owners look for an alternative

Stella & Chewy’s has a loyal following, but it does not fit every dog or budget. Common reasons owners shop around:

• Cost per day runs high, especially for large dogs fed freeze-dried as a full diet
• A protein sensitivity the current recipes do not address
• A wish to rotate proteins or brands for variety
• Regional availability or shipping gaps
• A preference for a different format, such as air-dried or high-meat kibble

If cost is the main driver, the bigger savings often come from changing format rather than brand. Our cheapest fresh dog food guide covers mixed feeding, where freeze-dried raw is used as a topper over a less expensive base.

The five alternatives, compared

The table below summarizes format and the headline sourcing claim each brand publishes. Prices are intentionally left to the retailer; we link out rather than print a figure that goes stale.

Most of these brands are easiest to find and price-compare at Chewy, which carries the freeze-dried raw category and runs frequent auto-ship discounts. A few formats also appear on Amazon.

1. Instinct (Nature’s Variety)

Instinct, made by Nature’s Variety, sells a full freeze-dried raw line alongside frozen raw, raw-coated kibble, and toppers. Per Instinct’s own product pages, its freeze-dried raw meals are grain-free and made without corn, wheat, soy, or artificial colors and preservatives (instinctpetfood.com, accessed June 2026). One note worth getting right: the popular “Raw Boost” product is grain-free kibble combined with freeze-dried raw pieces, not pure freeze-dried raw (instinctpetfood.com, accessed June 2026). For a like-for-like swap from Stella & Chewy’s, look for the Instinct freeze-dried raw meals or frozen raw bites rather than Raw Boost.

Best for: owners who want a trusted raw brand with a wide range of protein recipes and easy availability. Check current Instinct pricing on Chewy.

2. Ziwi Peak

Ziwi Peak is air-dried, not freeze-dried. Per the brand’s product pages, its air-dried recipes are built on a 96% PeakPrey ratio of meat, organs, seafood, and bone, sourced from New Zealand and gently air-dried to preserve nutrients (us.ziwipets.com, accessed June 2026). Air-drying makes it shelf-stable and easy to travel with, and the high meat percentage suits owners focused on animal content. It typically sits at the premium end of the category.

Best for: owners prioritizing meat content and a shelf-stable raw alternative. Check current Ziwi Peak pricing on Chewy.

3. Orijen

Orijen is not raw; it is a high-meat kibble. Its Original recipe is 85% quality animal ingredients, with two-thirds of that content fresh or raw, following what the brand calls a WholePrey approach using meat, organs, and bone (orijenpetfoods.com, accessed June 2026). For owners who want top-tier ingredients without the freezer space, rehydration step, or cost-per-day of full raw, it is the strongest dry-food step-down on this list.

Best for: owners moving away from raw who still want high animal-ingredient content. Check current Orijen pricing on Chewy.

4. Primal Pet Foods

Primal Pet Foods makes freeze-dried raw nuggets and frozen raw across multiple proteins. The brand states its freeze-dried formulas use protein raised without steroids or added hormones and certified organic produce, with no corn, wheat, or soy (primalpetfoods.com, accessed June 2026). Quality is comparable to Stella & Chewy’s with less mass-market recognition, which can translate to value depending on the recipe and retailer.

Best for: owners who want freeze-dried raw quality and a range of formats. Check current Primal pricing on Chewy.

5. Steve’s Real Food

Steve’s Real Food follows a B.A.R.F. (biologically appropriate raw food) model. Per the brand’s own product pages, its freeze-dried formulas are 80% meat, organ, and bone; 15% produce sourced from the Pacific Northwest; and 5% value-added ingredients such as raw goat milk, with the brand stating it works with family farms that avoid added hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides (stevesrealfood.com, accessed June 2026). It is a smaller brand with narrower retail availability than the others here, so confirm it ships to your area before committing.

Best for: owners who want a B.A.R.F.-style raw diet and are comfortable with a smaller brand. Check current Steve’s Real Food pricing on Chewy.

How to choose between them

Weigh three things: format, sourcing, and cost per day.

Format. If you want the closest match to Stella & Chewy’s, stay with freeze-dried raw (Instinct, Primal, Steve’s). If shelf stability and travel matter, air-dried Ziwi Peak is the easiest to store. If you want to leave raw entirely, Orijen is the high-meat kibble step-down.

Sourcing and recipe. Look for a named meat protein as the first ingredient, minimal fillers, and a formula matched to your dog’s life stage and size. For a puppy, raw brands do not always meet growth-specific needs; our best fresh dog food for puppies guide covers what to check.

Cost per day. A bag’s sticker price tells you little until you divide by how long it lasts your dog. Large dogs fed freeze-dried as a full diet are the most expensive case; mixed feeding lowers that sharply. For the lowest overall cost, compare against our cheapest fresh dog food guide.

Common questions

Is Stella & Chewy’s worth the price?

Many owners who value its 95% meat freeze-dried recipes and stated sourcing standards find it worth the cost. Several alternatives above publish comparable meat-content and sourcing claims at different price points, so the better value depends on your dog’s needs and budget. Compare current per-bag pricing rather than assuming one brand is cheaper.

Can I mix Stella & Chewy’s with another brand?

Yes. A gradual transition that mixes old and new food over 7 to 10 days reduces the risk of digestive upset, and the same approach works when switching between any of these brands. When in doubt about a dog with existing health issues, check with your veterinarian first.

How do I pick the right alternative for my dog?

Start with your dog’s age, size, activity level, and any known sensitivities. Then weigh format, sourcing, and delivery convenience. Many owners rotate between two compatible brands for variety.

Are there trial options for these brands?

Some raw and fresh brands run introductory offers, but promotions change often and vary by retailer. Rather than rely on a deal that may have expired, check each brand’s current offer at Chewy before buying.

Affiliate disclosure: GetPetPros.com participates in affiliate programs including the Amazon Associates Program and Chewy’s affiliate program. We earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are based on independent research and editorial judgment, not paid placement.