AKC

Here’s the shortlist I’d actually shop first in the U.S. pet-insurance market. I’m prioritizing companies that are widely used, have recognizable products, and repeatedly show up in major comparisons—not just obscure “best of” picks.

Best pet insurance companies to compare first

My practical recommendation

If you want the best 3–5 quotes to pull, I’d start with:

1. Lemonade — best value/app-first option for many younger pets.
2. Trupanion — best if you want strong catastrophic coverage and direct vet payment.
3. ASPCA — best broad-coverage “safe” comparison quote.
4. MetLife — especially if you have multiple pets or an employer/association discount.
5. Pets Best or Embrace — quote both if price is a big factor or you want more traditional plan flexibility.

If you have a bird, reptile, rabbit, ferret, or other exotic pet, add Nationwide to the list immediately. (nationwide.com)

Two important buying tips

• Enroll early if you’re going to enroll at all. Pet insurance generally excludes pre-existing conditions, and Money’s 2026 guide specifically notes it’s best to enroll pets when they’re young and healthy. (money.com)
• Do not pick based on national rankings alone. Prices vary a lot by ZIP code, breed, age, deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit; NerdWallet explicitly recommends getting quotes from at least three companies because the best plan depends on your pet and budget. (nerdwallet.com)

Bottom line: For most U.S. dog/cat owners, I’d compare Lemonade, Trupanion, ASPCA, MetLife, and Pets Best/Embrace before buying. For exotics, start with Nationwide.

Best Pet Insurance Companies (2026)

Based on recent reviews from major consumer finance and insurance review sites, several companies consistently rise to the top across different needs:

Top Overall Picks

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is a frequent #1 choice. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is the best pet insurance company, according to research that looked into 19 companies, surveyed hundreds of policyholders and analyzed thousands of policy features. It's also praised for practical perks — it scored well for best vet visits due to the vet exam fee being covered, paying the vet directly, having a 24/7 vet health line, and a decent claim submission period, plus it covers microchip implementation and end-of-life expenses.

Pets Best and Figo are Forbes' top picks after extensive analysis. Forbes analyzed 34 key coverage categories and crunched more than 900,000 pet insurance costs for six popular dog breeds, finding that Pets Best and Figo have the best pet insurance.

Spot and MetLife also rank highly. ASPCA, Spot and MetLife top NerdWallet's list of the best pet insurance companies, with ASPCA topping the list thanks to comprehensive coverage, Spot offering the best perks, and MetLife being the pick for insuring multiple pets.

Best for Specific Needs

• Cheapest option: Liberty Mutual's low costs, broad coverage, and no special waiting period earned it high marks, with the lowest prices among companies analyzed, making it the cheapest pet insurance company in 2026.
• Other budget-friendly options: Figo, Spot and Pumpkin are a few of the cheapest pet insurance companies.
• Fastest claims processing: Lemonade, Fetch, and Trupanion are some of the fastest, known for excellent turnaround times when you need reimbursement most.
• Most comprehensive/extra perks: Fetch Pet Insurance offers comprehensive coverage that goes beyond the clinic, including boarding fee reimbursement if the owner is hospitalized, lost pet reward money, vacation cancellation fees, coverage for every adult tooth (not just canines), and specialized behavioral therapy support.
• Multi-pet families: MetLife Pet Insurance offers some of the most flexible "family plans" in the industry, allowing multiple pets to share a single annual deductible and limit.

Other Well-Regarded Brands

Money.com's broader list includes Spot, AKC, Nationwide, Pumpkin, Figo, Embrace, Pets Best and MetLife as top picks, while Consumer Reports' large-scale policyholder survey scored well-known national brands like Liberty Mutual, MetLife, and Nationwide; affinity-group carriers like ASPCA and the American Kennel Club; and newer web/app-based providers such as Fetch, Figo, Lemonade, and Spot.

Bottom Line — What to Actually Consider

There's no single "best" for everyone. The "best" pet insurance is the one that covers your pet's breed-specific health risks, meets your personal preferences, and is available where you live. A few practical tips:

• Enroll early: Early enrollment provides the best value — insuring pets when they're young helps secure lower premiums and avoids pre-existing condition exclusions.
• Compare structure, not just price: Plan structure matters more than price, since similar premiums can hide major differences in coverage, limits, and exclusions.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Pets Best, Spot, Trupanion, Nationwide, Lemonade, and Pumpkin frequently rank among the top pet insurance companies based on 2025–2026 expert reviews from sources like U.S. News, Forbes Advisor, WSJ Buy Side, NerdWallet, and Wirecutter, along with market share data and user feedback.

There is no single “best” for everyone—the ideal choice depends on your pet’s age, breed, location, your budget, desired coverage (e.g., unlimited vs. capped annual limits), deductible/reimbursement preferences, and needs like multi-pet discounts, direct vet payments, or fast claims. Prices vary widely; national averages for accident-and-illness policies are roughly $50–70/month for dogs and $24–36/month for cats (higher for purebreds, seniors, or high-cost areas), but quotes can range much lower or higher.

Top Brands and Why People Use Them

Here are standout companies based on expert rankings, customer surveys, popularity/market share, and real-world use:

• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance (often best overall): Highly customizable accident-and-illness (and accident-only) plans with options for unlimited annual coverage in many cases, no upper age limit, solid coverage for exam fees, alternative/behavioral therapies, dental, prescription food, and more in base plans. Optional wellness add-ons. Sample mid-range premiums. Good multi-pet discounts in many areas; 24/7 telehealth. Covers horses in some states. Claims can take longer (up to 30–60 days in some reports). Frequently tops U.S. News and NerdWallet lists for comprehensive coverage. Part of Independence Pet Holdings (IPH).

• Pets Best: Strong budget/value pick with some of the lowest sample premiums in comparisons, customizable plans (including unlimited options), direct payment to vets (a major plus for reducing out-of-pocket costs), and add-ons for exam fees/physical therapy. Covers alternative therapies on higher tiers; 24/7 telehealth. Large user base (claims hundreds of thousands of pets insured). Highly rated by WSJ Buy Side, Forbes (especially for dogs/cats and direct pay), and U.S. News (best budget). Waiting periods typically short for accidents (e.g., 3 days) but longer for cruciate ligaments; bilateral condition exclusions apply. Also under IPH.

• Spot: Excellent for comprehensive base coverage at competitive prices, including behavioral/alternative therapies, exam fees, prescription food/supplements, dental emergencies, microchipping, and end-of-life costs in many plans. Unlimited annual options available; 10% multi-pet discount; good wellness plans; 24/7 telehealth. Strong for multi-pet households. High marks from WSJ, Wirecutter (best comprehensive at decent price), NerdWallet, and others. Processes many claims quickly. Part of IPH.

• Trupanion: Largest by U.S. market share (~29%). Simple single comprehensive plan with unlimited payouts, fixed 90% reimbursement after deductible (per-condition deductible model can help with chronic issues), and strong direct VetDirect Pay network (pays vets at checkout for covered care so you mainly cover deductible/coinsurance). Popular for major emergencies and hereditary/congenital conditions. Covers many pets (hundreds of thousands). Plans tend to be pricier; no routine/wellness in base; waiting periods apply (e.g., 5 days accidents, 30 days illness). Highly regarded for seamless payments.

• Nationwide: Second-largest market share (~21%); long-established “America’s favorite” with broad availability, including exotics in some cases and any licensed vet. Modular or major medical plans covering accidents/illnesses/hereditary conditions; optional wellness. Popular via employer benefits (often discounted group rates). Mixed satisfaction in some surveys; coverage can feel less comprehensive without add-ons compared to Spot/Pumpkin base plans. Good for those with workplace access.

• Lemonade: Best for budget-minded or tech-savvy users, with competitive/low rates, highly customizable digital/app experience, fast AI-assisted claims, and strong bundling discounts (home/renters/auto). Good coverage options and multi-pet/humane society discounts. Available in many (but not all) states; age limits may apply (e.g., under 14 in some cases); annual limits rather than unlimited in some reviews. Frequent budget or value winner (Forbes, others).

• Pumpkin: Standout for fast reimbursements (PumpkinNow can fund large claims quickly, sometimes while still at the vet) and no upper age limit (great for seniors). Comprehensive coverage similar to Spot (therapies, etc.), unlimited options, solid wellness plans (standalone available). Competitive pricing. Highly rated by Wirecutter (fast payments), WSJ, and NerdWallet. Part of IPH.

Other notables:

• Embrace (IPH): Strong unlimited options, diminishing deductibles in some cases, 24/7 vet help; good value.
• Healthy Paws (now under Chubb): Competitive pricing for unlimited lifetime-style coverage; simple plans.
• MetLife: Short/no accident waiting periods, multi-pet/family plans with shared deductibles, many discounts (military, etc.), exotic pet options in some states.
• Prudent Pet: Forbes’ top overall in one analysis for competitive prices, comprehensive benefits (therapies, dental, end-of-life, prescription food), high customer satisfaction scores, and 24/7 vet chat. Growing presence with strong Trustpilot feedback.
• Figo, Fetch, AKC, Hartville: Solid options for specific needs (e.g., Fetch for dental, AKC for certain preexisting after long waiting periods).

Market context: Trupanion and Nationwide lead in overall share. IPH (owner of ASPCA, Pets Best, Spot, Pumpkin, Embrace, Figo, AKC, and others) is a major player covering hundreds of thousands of pets across brands. Consumer Reports surveys (thousands of policyholders) show generally middling overall satisfaction across providers—no clear standout superstar, with most in the middle on claims ease, reimbursements, price, and service (one or more lower-rated). Peace of mind is a big driver even if pure cost savings aren’t always realized.

Key Tips for Choosing and Using Pet Insurance

• Get personalized quotes: Use comparison tools (e.g., Pawlicy Advisor) or company sites. Factors include pet species/breed/age/location, deductible ($50–$1,000+; higher lowers premium), reimbursement (70–90%), and annual limit ($2,500–unlimited).
• Prioritize accident + illness coverage. Accident-only is cheaper but limited. Wellness/preventive add-ons cover vaccines, checkups, etc., but calculate if they pay off (often break-even or not).
• Watch exclusions and details: Preexisting conditions are almost never covered (some “curable” ones may be after 180+ symptom-free days). Waiting periods are common (days to months, longer for orthopedics/cruciate). Bilateral conditions (e.g., one knee issue excludes the other) appear in some policies. Read the full policy.
• Claims and payments: Prefer direct-to-vet options (Trupanion, Pets Best, some ASPCA) or fast reimbursers (Pumpkin, Spot, Lemonade). Submit promptly with itemized invoices.
• Discounts: Multi-pet (5–10%+), military, bundling, shelter/adopted pets, employer groups.
• Enroll young/healthy: Premiums rise with age; fewer exclusions early. No medical exam usually required at signup, but records matter later.
• Is it worth it? Useful for unexpected high costs (surgery, cancer, emergencies can run thousands). Many users report peace of mind; pure ROI varies (some surveys show ~1/3 save more than they pay in premiums/deductibles long-term). Shop annually as rates can increase.

Bottom line recommendations for most people: Start by quoting ASPCA, Pets Best, and Spot (strong all-around/comprehensive + value) plus Trupanion (if direct pay matters) or Lemonade (if budget/app-focused). Cross-check with Pumpkin or Prudent Pet. Compare 3–5 options side-by-side for your specific pet, then verify current details, availability in your state, and recent customer reviews (Trustpilot, BBB, Reddit communities like r/petinsurancereviews) as policies and performance evolve. Consult your vet for breed-specific risks. Always review the sample policy before buying.