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 (the best price-to-quality ratio among the wsava-compliant brands recommended by veterinary nutritionists.) 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.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Nom Nom	Purina Pro Plan
Parent company	Mars Petcare	Nestlé Purina
Category	Fresh-cooked subscription	Premium dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met	4 of 5	5 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Feeding trials
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Yes	Yes
Credentialed formulator	Yes	Yes
AAFCO feeding trials	No	Yes
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Yes	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 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 ↗

Nestlé Purina

Purina Pro Plan

The best price-to-quality ratio among the WSAVA-compliant brands recommended by veterinary nutritionists.

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
Avoid confusion with Purina ONE / Purina Dog Chow (NOT WSAVA-compliant tiers)

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 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.