Brand Comparison · 2026

Hill's Science Diet vs Nom Nom

Hill's Science Diet (veterinarian-recommended premium kibble with the deepest prescription-diet portfolio on the market.) and Nom Nom (fresh-cooked subscription acquired by mars in 2022; partial wsava.) compared head-to-head on WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, AAFCO substantiation, monthly cost, and which dog each is best for in 2026. Hill's Science Diet meets 5 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Hill's Science Diet is roughly 64% less than Nom Nom.

The verdict

Hill's Science Diet is a fully WSAVA-compliant premium kibble meeting all 5 criteria with AAFCO feeding trials at $55-85/month. Nom Nom is a fresh-cooked subscription, acquired by Mars Petcare in 2022, that meets 4 of 5 criteria with a veterinary nutritionist on staff and owned manufacturing — but still relies on formulation-only substantiation and costs $150-240.

Choose Hill's for its clinical track record, feeding-trial proof, prescription continuity, and shelf-stable convenience. Choose Nom Nom if you want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company's scale and quality control, and have the budget for premium subscription pricing. If feeding-trial substantiation is non-negotiable, Hill's is the pick; Nom Nom suits owners prioritizing fresh palatability with corporate manufacturing rigor.

Key differences at a glance

Different makers: Hill's Science Diet is Colgate-Palmolive; Nom Nom is Mars Petcare.
WSAVA manufacturer-quality: Hill's Science Diet meets 5 of 5 criteria vs 4 of 5 for Nom Nom.
AAFCO substantiation differs: Hill's Science Diet uses AAFCO feeding trials; Nom Nom uses formulation only.
Different formats: Hill's Science Diet is premium dry kibble; Nom Nom is fresh-cooked subscription.
Monthly cost: Hill's Science Diet runs roughly 64% less than Nom Nom for a typical 50 lb dog.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Hill's Science Diet	Nom Nom
Parent company	Colgate-Palmolive	Mars Petcare
Category	Premium dry kibble	Fresh-cooked subscription
WSAVA criteria met	5 of 5	4 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Feeding trials	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Yes	Yes
Credentialed formulator	Yes	Yes
AAFCO feeding trials	Yes	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Yes	Yes
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$55 – $85 / month	$150 – $240 / month

Colgate-Palmolive

Hill's Science Diet

Veterinarian-recommended premium kibble with the deepest prescription-diet portfolio on the market.

Strengths

Most extensively used brand in US veterinary clinical practice
50+ years of feeding trial data from an owned research facility
Strong palatability across life stages
Pairs cleanly with Hill's Prescription Diet for any future therapeutic needs

Watch-outs

Higher price than Purina Pro Plan at comparable nutritional spec
Less breed-specific formulation than Royal Canin
Vitamin D toxicity recall in 2019 affected canned formulas

Best for: Healthy adult dogs where you want continuity from over-the-counter to prescription within a single brand.

Avoid if: You are highly price-sensitive and your dog has no medical conditions.

Visit Hill's Science Diet ↗

Mars Petcare

Nom Nom

Fresh-cooked subscription acquired by Mars in 2022; partial WSAVA.

Strengths

Acquired by Mars Petcare (2022) adds scale and manufacturing rigor
Veterinary nutritionist on staff
Strong palatability and quality control

Watch-outs

Formulation-only substantiation
Premium subscription pricing
Limited recipe variety vs Ollie

Best for: Owners who want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company.

Avoid if: You prefer to avoid Mars-owned brands or want feeding-trial substantiation.

Visit Nom Nom ↗

Which is better for your dog?

The right pick depends on your individual dog. Hill's Science Diet is the better choice when: Healthy adult dogs where you want continuity from over-the-counter to prescription within a single brand. Nom Nom is the better choice when: Owners who want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company.

On cost, Hill's Science Diet is roughly 64% less than Nom Nom at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, Hill's Science Diet meets 5 of 5 vs 4 of 5 for Nom Nom.

Personalized recommendation

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Compare these brands against others

Methodology: WSAVA criteria reflect each brand's publicly documented manufacturer-quality practices as of May 2026, scored against the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee's 5-question rubric. AAFCO substantiation reflects the dominant method used across the brand's main retail product line. Monthly cost reflects typical US 2026 retail for a 50 lb adult dog at premium spec, before autoship discounts. Recommendations are editorial and not influenced by affiliate relationships. See our recommendation methodology for IntelliBowl's quiz-engine ranking logic.