Brand Comparison · 2026

Nom Nom vs Purina Pro Plan

Nom Nom (fresh-cooked subscription acquired by Mars in 2022; partial WSAVA) and Purina Pro Plan (meets all 5 of WSAVA's manufacturer questions, with Sport Performance and Bright Mind lines, at a lower price than Hill's Science Diet or Royal Canin) compared head-to-head on WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, AAFCO substantiation, monthly cost, and which dog each is best for in 2026. Purina Pro Plan meets 5 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Purina Pro Plan is roughly 71% less than Nom Nom.

The verdict

Purina Pro Plan is a fully WSAVA-compliant kibble meeting all 5 criteria with AAFCO feeding trials at $40-75/month; Nom Nom is a fresh-cooked subscription, acquired by Mars Petcare in 2022, meeting 2 of 5 with owned manufacturing and, by its own account, board-certified formulators but formulation-only substantiation, at $150-240.

Pick Purina Pro Plan for feeding-trial proof, full compliance, a far lower monthly cost, and shelf-stable convenience. Pick Nom Nom if you want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company's scale, and have the budget for premium subscription pricing. If feeding-trial substantiation is your bar, Pro Plan wins; for fresh palatability with a major parent company behind it, Nom Nom fits.

Key differences at a glance

Different makers: Nom Nom is Mars Petcare; Purina Pro Plan is Nestlé Purina.
WSAVA manufacturer-quality: Purina Pro Plan meets 5 of 5 criteria vs 2 of 5 for Nom Nom.
AAFCO substantiation differs: Nom Nom uses formulation only; Purina Pro Plan uses AAFCO feeding trials.
Different formats: Nom Nom is fresh-cooked subscription; Purina Pro Plan is premium dry kibble.
Monthly cost: Purina Pro Plan runs roughly 71% less than Nom Nom for a typical 50 lb dog.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Nom Nom	Purina Pro Plan
Parent company	Mars Petcare	Nestlé Purina
Category	Fresh-cooked subscription	Premium dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met	2 of 5	5 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Feeding trials
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Partial	Yes
Credentialed formulator	Yes	Yes
AAFCO feeding trials	No	Yes
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Partial	Yes
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$150 – $240 / month	$40 – $75 / month

Mars Petcare

Nom Nom

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

Strengths

Acquired by Mars Petcare (2022) adds scale
Says its recipes are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists (none named)
Strong palatability and owned kitchens

Watch-outs

Formulation-only substantiation
Publishes only a one-line testing claim
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 ↗

Nestlé Purina

Purina Pro Plan

Meets all 5 of WSAVA's manufacturer questions, with Sport Performance and Bright Mind lines, at a lower price than Hill's Science Diet or Royal Canin.

Strengths

Roughly 25-40% cheaper than Hill's at comparable spec
Largest owned manufacturing footprint in pet food globally
Bright Mind senior cognitive line has peer-reviewed support
Sport Performance line designed for working dogs

Watch-outs

Mass-market positioning leads to incorrect 'lower quality' perception
Easy to confuse with other Purina lines on the shelf, which differ in formulas and price

Best for: Healthy adult dogs without specific medical conditions; budget-conscious owners who still want full WSAVA-compliant quality.

Avoid if: You specifically need a breed-tailored formulation only Royal Canin provides.

Visit Purina Pro Plan ↗

Which is better for your dog?

The right pick depends on your individual dog. Nom Nom is the better choice when: Owners who want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company. Purina Pro Plan is the better choice when: Healthy adult dogs without specific medical conditions; budget-conscious owners who still want full WSAVA-compliant quality.

On cost, Purina Pro Plan is roughly 71% less than Nom Nom at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, Purina Pro Plan meets 5 of 5 vs 2 of 5 for Nom Nom.

Checking one brand rather than the pair? See is Nom Nom WSAVA-approved or is Purina Pro Plan WSAVA-approved.

Where to buy

Made your pick?

Check current pricing on whichever brand fits your dog. Prices and promotions change frequently, so it is worth comparing both before you commit to a bag or a subscription.

Shop Purina Pro Plan on Chewy →

Disclosure: these are affiliate links and IntelliBowl may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission does not influence the comparison above. See our methodology.

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 October 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.