The Farmer's Dog and Ollie are the two biggest fresh dog food subscription services in the US. Both promise restaurant-quality nutrition delivered to your door. They're more similar than different — but the differences matter for the right fit.
What Both Brands Offer
- Gently cooked (steamed/slow-cooked at low temperatures)
- Refrigerated/frozen delivery
- Custom portion sizes based on dog's specifics
- Veterinary nutritionist-formulated recipes
- AAFCO complete-and-balanced
- Subscription model with adjustable frequency
- Online portion calculators
Ingredient Quality
The Farmer's Dog
Recipe example (Beef):
"Beef, sweet potato, lentils, carrot, USDA beef liver, kale, sunflower seeds, dicalcium phosphate, fish oil..."
Characteristics:
- Human-grade ingredients (claimed)
- Simple, short ingredient lists (8-12 ingredients)
- USDA-certified protein sources
- Cooked in USDA-inspected facilities
- 4 recipes (beef, chicken, turkey, pork)
Ollie
Recipe example (Beef):
"Beef, beef heart, beef kidney, potatoes, peas, carrots, blueberries, chia seeds, kale..."
Characteristics:
- Human-grade ingredients
- Slightly longer ingredient lists (12-18 ingredients)
- More variety in ingredients
- 4 main recipes (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb)
- Now also offers baked food option
Both use similar quality ingredients. Differences are at the margins — Farmer's Dog tends toward simpler recipes, Ollie includes more variety.
Price Comparison
For a 50-lb dog at moderate activity:
| Brand | Daily Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| The Farmer's Dog | $5-9 | $150-270 |
| Ollie | $6-9 | $180-270 |
Pricing is very similar. Both offer ~50% discounts on first deliveries (which is significantly different from ongoing price).
Customization
The Farmer's Dog: Customizes portions based on dog's weight, age, activity, body condition. Recipes are standardized — you don't choose specific recipes for your dog, the system recommends based on profile.
Ollie: Similar portion customization. Lets you choose specific recipes from their available options. More flexibility in selecting.
Ollie's customization is slightly more flexible. Farmer's Dog is more "we recommend, you follow."
Palatability
Both score well in customer satisfaction for palatability. Dogs generally love fresh food. Anecdotally, picky eaters seem to do equally well on both.
The Farmer's Dog's simpler recipes may be slightly better for dogs with food sensitivities. Ollie's more complex recipes provide more variety for non-sensitive dogs.
Packaging and Delivery
The Farmer's Dog: Individual meal packets, frozen, packaged in clear plastic pouches. Portion size visible.
Ollie: Larger packaged units (typically weekly), refrigerated or frozen depending on schedule.
Both deliver via insulated shipping. Both arrive frozen or cold. The Farmer's Dog's individual meal portions are more convenient day-to-day.
Customer Service
Both have responsive customer service. Both offer easy pausing/canceling (though both also use moderate-to-aggressive retention tactics if you try to cancel).
Reviews of both companies are generally positive on customer service.
Recall History
Both have clean recall records. Neither has had significant recalls. Both are relatively new companies (Ollie founded 2016, Farmer's Dog 2014).
Which Should You Choose?
Choose The Farmer's Dog If
- Your dog has food sensitivities (simpler recipes)
- You want the most-established brand
- You prefer individual meal portions
- Simple ingredient lists are appealing
Choose Ollie If
- You want more recipe choice/flexibility
- You like more diverse ingredients (more vegetables, berries, etc.)
- Their pricing/promotion is better at the time
- You're willing to manage larger weekly packages
Are They Worth It?
Versus quality kibble or wet food:
- Ingredient quality: Yes, real improvement
- Health outcomes: Marginal, not transformative
- Cost: Significantly higher ($1500-2500/year more than premium kibble for 50-lb dog)
- Practical considerations: Need freezer space, planning
Worth it for picky eaters, dogs with sensitivities, small dogs (where the absolute cost is manageable), or owners who want highest ingredient quality.
Not necessarily worth it for healthy dogs already doing well on quality kibble.
FAQ
Are these worth switching from kibble?
Depends on your situation. For dogs with issues, often yes. For healthy dogs, possibly not worth the cost.
Can I freeze it for longer?
Both companies recommend freezing for the freshness window stated. After thawing, refrigerate and use within 4-5 days.
What about Nom Nom or Spot & Tango?
Both alternatives. Nom Nom is similar quality and price to TFD and Ollie. Spot & Tango is slightly different (offers air-dried option). Browse our fresh food rankings for full comparisons.
The Bottom Line
The Farmer's Dog and Ollie are similar high-quality fresh subscription services. The Farmer's Dog has slightly simpler recipes (better for sensitive dogs); Ollie offers more variety. Both are expensive but deliver real ingredient quality. Browse our fresh dog food rankings for full comparisons.