Disclosure: We earn a commission when you buy through our links. You pay the same state-filed rate as buying direct, and commissions never change a score. How we collect and score quotes.
The quick verdict
Top picks at a glance
Prices are real quotes for the same 2-year-old, 45-pound mixed-breed dog in Austin, Texas. Every quote used a $250 deductible, 80 percent reimbursement, and a $10,000 annual limit where available.
| # | Insurer | Score | Best for | Sample price | Reimbursement | Annual limit | |
|---|
| 1 |  Lemonade | 8.8 | Young, healthy pets on a budget | $30.00/mo | 60 to 90 percent | $5,000 to $100,000 | View plans |
| 2 |  Embrace | 8.7 | Claim-free pets (advertised yearly deductible drop) | $39.00/mo | 70 to 90 percent | $2,000 to unlimited | View plans |
| 3 |  Figo | 8.6 | Zero coinsurance (100 percent option) | $30.00/mo | 70 to 100 percent | $5,000 to unlimited | View plans |
| 4 |  Pumpkin | 8.5 | Pets that age or breed rules block elsewhere | $32.00/mo | 80 or 90 percent | $5,000 to unlimited | View plans |
| 5 |  Fetch | 8.4 | Fast payouts, US + Canada vets | $27.00/mo | 70 to 90 percent | $5,000 to unlimited | View plans |
| 6 |  ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | 8.4 | Accident-only fallback, friendly lookbacks | $39.00/mo | 70 to 90 percent | $2,500 to unlimited | View plans |
| 7 |  MetLife | 8.0 | Employer benefits, multi-pet families | $53.00/mo | 50 to 90 percent | $500 to unlimited | View plans |
| 8 |  AKC Pet Insurance | 8.0 | The only pre-existing pathway | $36.00/mo | 70 to 90 percent | $2,500 to unlimited | View plans |
| 9 |  Liberty Mutual | 7.0 | Bundling with home or auto | $63.00/mo | 70 to 90 percent | $5,000 to $15,000 | View plans |
| 10 |  Odie | 5.8 | Modular budget builds | $119.00/mo | 70 to 90 percent | Up to $40,000 | View plans |
| 11 |  Trupanion | 4.9 | Chronic conditions and big bills | $168.00/mo | 90 percent | Unlimited | View plans |
Ranked and reviewed
The 11 best pet insurance plans
Each card shows the plan's dated quote, three facts that define it, one honest drawback, and a Fit Verdict naming who should buy it and who should skip it. Cat quotes run roughly 35 to 40 percent below the dog prices shown; exact cat samples appear on the best pet insurance for cats page.
1Lemonade: Best Value for Young, Healthy Pets
Underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company · since 2015
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓App-first claims, simple claims often paid within minutes
- ✓Certified B Corp, founded 2015
- ✓Unclaimed premium dollars donated through the Giveback program
The drawback: Support runs almost entirely through the app, and add-ons raise the low headline price.
Fit verdictPick Lemonade for a young, healthy dog or cat when price is the deciding factor and app-first service suits you. Skip it for older pets, or anyone who wants phone-first support. Full numbers in our Lemonade review.
- Reimbursement
- 60 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $5,000 to $100,000
- Deductibles
- $100 to $750
View plansSame price as going direct.
2Embrace: Best Deductible Math for Claim-Free Pets
Underwritten by American Modern Insurance Group · since 2003
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Advertised a $50 deductible drop each year without a claim; its current reward lineup has changed, so confirm the terms at quote
- ✓Covers exam fees several rivals exclude, plus a 24/7 pet health line
- ✓Curable pre-existing conditions can regain coverage after 12 symptom-free months
The drawback: The 6-month orthopedic waiting period for dogs catches cruciate injuries unless you complete a waiver exam.
Fit verdictPick Embrace for a young pet you expect to stay healthy, if the advertised diminishing deductible still applies at quote. Skip it for owners worried about cruciate risk who cannot schedule the waiver exam. Full numbers in our Embrace review.
- Reimbursement
- 70 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $2,000 to unlimited
- Deductibles
- $100 to $1,000
View plansSame price as going direct.
3Figo: Best 100 Percent Reimbursement Option
Underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company · since 2013
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓100 percent reimbursement tier turns covered bills into $0 after deductible
- ✓Cloud app with live vet chat
- ✓Costco members get discounted pricing on the same policies
The drawback: Exam and vet-visit fees sit behind an add-on, and the 100 percent tier raises the premium.
Fit verdictPick Figo for owners who want zero coinsurance at claim time, or Costco members. Skip it for anyone who would rather keep the premium low and share each bill. Full numbers in our Figo review.
- Reimbursement
- 70 to 100 percent
- Annual limit
- $5,000 to unlimited
- Deductibles
- $100 to $1,500
View plansSame price as going direct.
4Pumpkin: Best When Age or Breed Blocks Other Insurers
Underwriter noted in review · since 2020
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Enrolls pets with no breed restrictions and no upper age limit
- ✓Hereditary conditions and dental illness covered at no extra charge
- ✓Flat 90 percent reimbursement on every policy
The drawback: The flat 90 percent structure removes the cheaper-premium lever, so Pumpkin rarely wins on price.
Fit verdictPick Pumpkin for a senior pet, a French Bulldog, or any breed other insurers surcharge heavily. Skip it for owners who want a budget lever to pull. Full numbers in our Pumpkin review.
- Reimbursement
- 80 or 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $5,000 to unlimited
- Deductibles
- $100 to $1,000
View plansSame price as going direct.
5Fetch: Best Claim Payout Speed
Underwriter noted in review
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Claims are typically processed in less than 10 days, with direct deposit faster than paper checks
- ✓Any licensed vet in the United States or Canada
- ✓Covers every tooth for dental injury, plus sick-visit exam fees
The drawback: No accident-only plan, so there is no cheap fallback tier.
Fit verdictPick Fetch for owners who value payout speed and cross-border vet freedom. Skip it for anyone who wants an accident-only option. Full numbers in our Fetch review.
- Reimbursement
- 70 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $5,000 to unlimited
- Deductibles
- Dogs $300 to $700; cats $250 to $400
View plansSame price as going direct.
6ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Best Accident-Only Fallback
Underwritten by Crum & Forster · since 1997
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Program has insured pets since 1997 under the Crum & Forster carrier
- ✓Single 14-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses alike
- ✓Cheap accident-only tier alongside full coverage
The drawback: The name is a licensing arrangement, not the charity itself, and payout speed trails the fastest rivals.
Fit verdictPick ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for a cheap accident-only safety net, or a pet with a curable past condition waiting out the 180-day window. Skip it for owners for whom payout speed is the priority. Full numbers in our ASPCA Pet Health Insurance review.
- Reimbursement
- 70 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $2,500 to unlimited
- Deductibles
- $100 to $750
View plansSame price as going direct.
7MetLife: Best Through Your Employer
Underwriter noted in review
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Sold as a workplace benefit with group pricing at many employers
- ✓Family plans share one deductible across the household's pets
- ✓Deductibles decrease $25 per claim-free year
The drawback: Policy terms vary by employer group, so the HR-portal plan may differ from quotes here.
Fit verdictPick MetLife for employees whose employer offers group rates, or several pets under one deductible. Skip it for single-pet buyers paying direct at list price. Full numbers in our MetLife review.
- Reimbursement
- 50 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $500 to unlimited
- Deductibles
- $0 to $2,500
View plansSame price as going direct.
8AKC Pet Insurance: The Only Pre-Existing Pathway
Underwritten by PetPartners program
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓The only program we track with a pre-existing coverage pathway
- ✓Lean accident base plan with stackable illness, hereditary, and wellness modules
- ✓Administered by PetPartners; availability varies by state
The drawback: The base plan alone is thin, and the modules that make it competitive raise the real price.
Fit verdictPick AKC Pet Insurance for a pet with a pre-existing condition every other insurer excludes permanently. Skip it for healthy pets, because cleaner policies cost the same. Full numbers in our AKC Pet Insurance review.
- Reimbursement
- 70 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $2,500 to unlimited
- Deductibles
- $100 to $1,000
View plansSame price as going direct.
9Liberty Mutual: Best for Bundlers
Underwriter noted in review
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Pet coverage alongside home and auto with one login
- ✓Multi-policy discounts where state filings allow
- ✓Standard accident and illness architecture with wellness add-ons
The drawback: Nothing about the pet product itself leads the market, so without a bundle discount there is rarely a reason to choose it.
Fit verdictPick Liberty Mutual for existing Liberty Mutual customers whose bundle discount beats the top five on price. Skip it for everyone else. Full numbers in our Liberty Mutual review.
- Reimbursement
- 70 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- $5,000 to $15,000
- Deductibles
- $250 to $1,000
View plansSame price as going direct.
10Odie: Best Modular Budget Build
Underwriter noted in review
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Budget-airline model: pay only for the coverage modules you choose
- ✓Annual limits reach $40,000, higher than most mid-market rivals
- ✓Lean accident and illness core keeps entry pricing low
The drawback: Young and small, so its claim-handling track record is shorter than rivals.
Fit verdictPick Odie for building the cheapest real accident and illness policy possible. Skip it for owners who sleep better with a long claims history. Full numbers in our Odie review.
- Reimbursement
- 70 to 90 percent
- Annual limit
- Up to $40,000
- Deductibles
- $100 to $1,000
View plansSame price as going direct.
11Trupanion: Best for Chronic Conditions and Big Bills
Underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company · since 1999
Quotes collected August 2026- ✓Unlimited annual benefit with no payout cap, 90 percent reimbursement
- ✓Per-condition deductible paid once per condition for the pet's lifetime
- ✓Vet Direct Pay settles the bill at checkout in participating clinics
The drawback: The price: the highest monthly cost on this list, and no wellness add-on.
Fit verdictPick Trupanion for breeds prone to lifelong conditions where a per-condition deductible plus no cap beats annual-reset policies. Skip it for low-risk pets on a tight budget. Full numbers in our Trupanion review.
- Reimbursement
- 90 percent
- Annual limit
- Unlimited
- Deductibles
- Per-condition, lifetime
View plansSame price as going direct.
Best by situation
Find your match in 20 seconds
Which pet insurance is best depends on the pet, not the brand. These shortcuts jump to rankings rebuilt for each situation from the same quote dataset.
What these prices mean
How we collected 117 quotes
Every price on this page is a dated, sourced sample quote, not an advertised average. We track identical pet profiles at every insurer: a 2-year-old, 45-pound mixed-breed dog and a 3-year-old domestic shorthair cat, in Texas and Colorado markets. Where no insurer publishes that exact profile, we publish the closest published, dated sample, which for most insurers is a $250 deductible, 80 percent reimbursement, and a $5,000 annual limit, with each figure's exact configuration, source, and collection date listed on the methodology page.
Scores weight price (30 percent), coverage breadth (25 percent), policy mechanics like waiting periods and deductible structure (20 percent), claim experience (15 percent), and fine-print fairness (10 percent). The full weighting table, every zip code, and every quote date live on the methodology page. National averages and state tables are in what pet insurance costs in 2026.
Before you buy
The three traps that cause denied claims
- Waiting periods. Coverage starts 1 to 15 days after purchase for accidents and 14 to 30 days for illnesses, and some dog orthopedic clauses stretch to 6 months. Anything that happens first is never covered. The company-by-company table is in pet insurance waiting periods.
- Pre-existing definitions. Insurers exclude conditions that showed symptoms before coverage started, even without a diagnosis, and they check vet records at the first claim. What counts, and the exceptions, are in our pre-existing conditions guide.
- Bilateral clauses. Tear one cruciate ligament before enrolling and most policies exclude the other knee too, because paired-organ conditions are treated as one. Our fine-print traps guide lists the nine clauses worth reading before any purchase.
Which pet insurance should you choose?
Choose by elimination. First, remove insurers your pet can't enroll with (age limits knock out several options past 12; the senior dog rankings handle that case). Second, remove policies that exclude what your pet is most likely to need: hereditary coverage for purebreds, dental illness for small breeds and cats, chronic-condition handling for the breeds that develop lifelong conditions. Third, price your top three at your real zip through the quote links, because your quote will differ from our samples. Whatever remains cheapest with the right coverage is your answer, and it's frequently not the number one on anyone's list.
Also reviewed
Insurers we reviewed but did not rank
We scored 19 more brands that didn't make the ranked list, because they resell a ranked insurer's policy, sell wellness plans rather than insurance, or trailed on our criteria: Nationwide, Spot, Pets Best, Healthy Paws, Progressive (a Pets Best reseller), Costco (Figo member pricing), USAA and Geico (Embrace resellers), State Farm (a Trupanion partner), Chewy, Walmart, Petco, PetSmart, AAA, AARP, Sam's Club, Allstate, Banfield (wellness plans, not insurance), and nine smaller programs. Every one has a page explaining what it actually sells: start at pet insurance companies: all 30 US providers reviewed.
How pet insurance works, in 60 seconds
You pick three levers: deductible, reimbursement, limit. On a $1,000 bill at $250/90 percent, you get $675 back.
Is pet insurance worth it for your pet?
Worth it when a $3,000 to $7,000 surprise would force a hard choice. Often not, with a funded reserve. The math decides.
Prices by state
Rates are filed state by state; the same dog costs different amounts in Austin, Denver, and Boston.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which pet insurance is best overall?
Our number one pick is set by the current quarter's scored quote run, and the ranking table above shows the live order with the collection month stamped.
Which pet insurance is best for dogs?
The dog ranking uses dog-profile quotes and covers six insurers; see
best pet insurance for dogs for the current order.
Which pet insurance is best for cats?
Cat premiums run 35 to 40 percent below dog premiums across every insurer we track, and
the cat ranking page shows current cat-profile quotes.
Do you pay more buying through a comparison site?
No, you pay the same price as buying direct, because pet insurance rates are filed with state regulators and cannot legally differ by sales channel.
Can companies pay to change these rankings?
No, scores are computed from the weighted criteria on our
methodology page, and affiliate commissions have no input into any score.
How often are these prices updated?
Prices are re-quoted every quarter, and the collection month is stamped at the top of this page.
