Between kibble, treats, flea meds, and litter, pet parents in the U.S. spend an average of $1,500–$2,000 a year on supplies—and that number climbs fast with multiple pets. After more than a decade of deal-hunting and personally running Chewy Autoship for my own two dogs, I can tell you this: Chewy is one of the smartest ways to shave real dollars off your monthly pet budget, if you understand how Autoship and Chewy+ actually work. In this guide, I'll break down exactly what you get, what it costs, and whether it's truly worth your money compared to PetSmart and Amazon.
Autoship is Chewy's free automatic delivery program—and it's the backbone of how most savvy pet parents save at Chewy. There's no membership fee to use it. You simply select the products you want delivered on a recurring schedule, and Chewy ships them to your door automatically.
The real benefit? 5% off on most items with Chewy coupon just by choosing Autoship at checkout, and your first Autoship order can save up to 35% off on select products.
Browse Chewy.com and find a product marked "Autoship eligible"
Select the "Autoship & Save" option instead of one-time purchase
Choose your delivery frequency (typically every 1–12 weeks, depending on the item)
Complete checkout—your Chewy discount applies automatically
Manage, modify, or cancel anytime from your account dashboard
What I love about Autoship is the flexibility. Each item in your Autoship can run on its own delivery schedule. Your dog food might ship every 4 weeks, while flea medication ships every 8 weeks. Chewy also sends you an email before each shipment, giving you time to skip, delay, or swap products.
Chewy+ is Chewy's paid membership tier that goes beyond what free Autoship offers. At the time of writing, Chewy+ is priced at $20 per year (check Chewy.com for the most current pricing). For that annual fee, you unlock several perks that add up fast—especially if you're ordering frequently or placing smaller orders.
Free shipping on every order — no $49 minimum required (standard Chewy requires $49+ for free shipping)
Extra Autoship savings — member-exclusive discounts on top of the standard 5% Autoship discount
Exclusive member-only deals — access to promotions not available to non-members
Free vet consultations — connect with licensed veterinarians through Chewy's "Connect with a Vet" service
Priority customer support — Chewy's already-legendary customer service gets even better
In my experience, Chewy+ is a clear win if you place 3+ orders per year or regularly order items below the $49 free-shipping threshold. The free-shipping-on-everything perk alone can save you $5–$8 per order in shipping fees, which means the $20 annual cost pays for itself in just 3–4 small orders.
This is the question I get asked most often. Here's the simple breakdown:
| Feature | Autoship (Free) | Chewy+ ($20/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $20/year |
| Product Discount | ~5% on recurring orders | 5% + additional member savings |
| First Order Savings | Up to 35% off select items | Up to 35% off + member extras |
| Free Shipping | On orders $49+ | On ALL orders (no minimum) |
| Vet Consultations | ✗ Not included | ✓ Free via Connect with a Vet |
| Exclusive Deals | ✗ Standard promotions only | ✓ Member-only offers |
| Best For | Casual shoppers, budget-conscious pet parents | Frequent buyers, multi-pet households |
My recommendation: Start with free Autoship. If you find yourself ordering more than once a month or frequently placing orders under $49, upgrade to Chewy+. The $20/year fee is so low that the barrier to entry is minimal—and the shipping savings alone make it worth considering.
This is the big question—and I wanted to give you a real answer, not vague estimates. I compared the exact same products across all three retailers to see who actually comes out cheaper. Here's what I found as of February 2026 (prices fluctuate, so always verify before purchasing).
| Product | Chewy | PetSmart | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach — Salmon & Rice, 30 lb | |||
| One-Time Price | $77.48 ($2.59/lb) | $77.48 | ~$77.48 |
| 1st Autoship / S&S | $57.48 (save 35%) | $57.48 (40% off, capped at $20) * | — |
| Recurring Autoship / S&S | $73.61 (5% off) | $73.61 (5% off) | ~$73.60 (5% S&S) |
| Dr. Elsey's Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter, 40-lb bag | |||
| One-Time Price | $22.99 | $22.99 | ~$22.99 |
| 1st Autoship / S&S | $14.94 (save 35%) | $11.50 (save 50%) * | — |
| Recurring Autoship / S&S | $21.84 (5% off) | $21.84 (5% off) | ~$21.84 (5% S&S) |
| Simparica Trio Chewable Tablet — 44.1–88 lbs (Green Box, 3 ct / 3-mos. supply) | |||
| One-Time Price | $123.04 ($41.02/ea) | $225.50 | ~$223.81 |
| 1st Autoship / S&S | $116.89 (5% off) | $205.50 (35% off, capped at $20) * | Varies (Rx availability limited) |
| Recurring Autoship / S&S | $116.89 (5% off) | $214.23 (5% off) | Varies (Rx availability limited) |
| Extra Rx Savings | Save 20% on 1st Rx with code RX20 | — | — |
* PetSmart's first Autoship discount is capped at a maximum savings of $20.00 per order. On low-cost items (like cat litter), the full percentage applies. On expensive items (like Simparica Trio at $225.50), you save only $20—not the full 35%. Chewy's first-order Autoship discount has no such cap. Prices verified as of February 2026; check each retailer for current pricing.
After comparing real prices across all three retailers, here's the honest breakdown—no spin, just math:
| What You're Buying | Cheapest Retailer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription Meds (Simparica, Heartgard, etc.) | ✓ Chewy — by a mile | Base price $102 cheaper than PetSmart on Simparica Trio alone. No cap on Autoship discounts, plus Chewy Rx promo codes (RX20) stack on top. |
| Premium Pet Food ($50+ bags) | ✓ Chewy | Same base price as competitors, but Chewy's uncapped 35% first-order discount outperforms PetSmart's $20-capped percentage on pricier items. Recurring 5% is identical across the board. |
| Budget Essentials (litter, treats under $25) | PetSmart (first order) | Higher first-order Autoship percentage (up to 50%) stays under the $20 cap on cheap items — $11.50 vs. Chewy's $14.94 on Dr. Elsey's litter. After that first order, pricing is identical. |
| One-Off Purchases (toys, accessories) | Amazon (with Prime) | Competitive pricing on non-recurring items with free Prime shipping at no minimum. Best for things you don't buy regularly. |
Not at all—this is one of the things Chewy does right. You can cancel individual Autoship items or your entire Autoship directly from your account dashboard on Chewy.com. No phone calls, no guilt trips, no hidden cancellation fees. You can also contact their 24/7 customer service via chat or phone if you prefer a human touch.
Chewy carries over 2,000 brands, and most consumable products are Autoship-eligible. Top brands include Blue Buffalo, Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, ACANA, Taste of the Wild, Wellness, American Journey, and Chewy's own brand Frisco. Prescription medications (NexGard, Heartgard, etc.) are also available through Chewy's pharmacy. Look for the "Autoship & Save" label on any product page to confirm eligibility.
Log in at chewy.com (or the Chewy app) and go to Account → Manage Autoship, or navigate directly to chewy.com/app/account/autoship. From there you can add or remove items, change quantities, adjust delivery frequency, skip a shipment, trigger an early order, or cancel — all self-service.
There are two tiers. Autoship is completely free—no subscription cost at all, just automatic discounts on recurring deliveries. Chewy+ membership is the paid tier, typically priced around $20 per year at the time of writing. Check Chewy.com for the most current pricing.
Yes. You can set delivery frequency anywhere from every 1 week to every 8 weeks, and each product in your account can run on its own schedule (e.g., dog food every 4 weeks, cat litter every 3 weeks). You can change the frequency at any time from your Autoship management page — you're never locked in.
Yes — no penalties, no fees, and it takes about 30 seconds either way.
To pause: Go to Account → Manage Autoship and click "Skip Shipment." Your subscription stays active but the next delivery gets pushed back.
To cancel: Go to chewy.com/app/account/autoship, click "Manage Autoship," then scroll down and click "Cancel Autoship." You can also call Chewy 24/7 at 1-800-672-4399.
Just make sure to cancel before the 24–48 hour processing window ahead of your scheduled ship date.
Source: Chewy Autoship Terms
