Brand Comparison · 2026

Iams vs Nom Nom

Iams (mass-market-priced wsava-compliant kibble for budget-conscious owners.) 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. Iams meets 5 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Iams is roughly 82% less than Nom Nom.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Iams	Nom Nom
Parent company	Mars Incorporated	Mars Petcare
Category	Mass-market 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)	$25 – $45 / month	$150 – $240 / month

Mars Incorporated

Iams

Mass-market-priced WSAVA-compliant kibble for budget-conscious owners.

Strengths

Most affordable WSAVA-compliant brand in the US
Same manufacturing-control standards as Eukanuba and Royal Canin
Wide retail availability (grocery and pet stores)

Watch-outs

Limited prescription-diet line; pair with another brand if therapeutic diet is needed
Ingredient list is more mass-market-tier than Pro Plan

Best for: Healthy adult dogs on a tight budget where WSAVA compliance still matters.

Avoid if: You have a dog with allergies or want a premium-tier ingredient profile.

Visit Iams ↗

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. Iams is the better choice when: Healthy adult dogs on a tight budget where WSAVA compliance still matters. Nom Nom is the better choice when: Owners who want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company.

On cost, Iams is roughly 82% less than Nom Nom at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, Iams 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.