The cost of pet insurance depends on your location, your pet’s age, the insurance company, and other variables. If you’re seeking the cheapest pet insurance, it’s important to understand what you are getting for that price, since cheaper plans may not offer your wallet as much protection over the long term.
To help you find the cheapest and best pet insurance for your needs, Yahoo Finance reviewed 30 pet insurance and wellness plans to see whose costs stood out.
Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.
Learn more: How much does pet insurance cost?
Liberty Mutual has the lowest pet insurance premiums among the insurance companies we collected data for. Its average overall premium that combines rates for $5,000 in annual coverage and $15,000 in annual coverage (the maximum amount) is $68.39 per month.
Liberty Mutual’s pet insurance plans are also an excellent value. The base accident and illness plan provides coverage for things like vet exam fees, behavioral therapy, and alternative therapy, which some insurers make you pay extra for. There are also multiple discounts available, which could help you save up to 20% on your pet insurance premium.
Liberty Mutual was also one of our best pet insurers for discounts.
Liberty Mutual pros and cons
Pros:
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Cheapest combined premium in our analysis of 30 pet insurance companies
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Comprehensive coverage without needing to purchase add-ons
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Multiple discounts with potential savings of up to 20%
Cons:
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Annual maximum limit choices: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000
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Deductible choices: $250, $500, $1,000
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Waiting periods: 14 days for accidents/14 days for illnesses
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Average costs for $5,000 annual coverage: $63.96/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
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Average costs for $15,000 annual coverage: $72.81/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Learn more: Liberty Mutual pet insurance review
Lemonade is a digital pet insurance provider that offers some of the most affordable rates. The company’s combined average pet insurance premium for $5,000 in annual coverage and $100,000 in annual coverage is $71.07 per month, which is only a few dollars more expensive than Liberty Mutual, but with a mich higher coverage limit.
With Lemonade, pet parents can take advantage of multiple discounts, including 5% off for paying in full, 10% for policy bundling, and up to 10% for insuring more than one pet. Lemonade’s base plan has more limited coverage than some of its competitors, but you can buy add-ons for things like vet fees, behavioral therapy, and euthanasia, so you only pay for the coverage you want.
Lemonade was also one of our best pet insurers for pet insurance discounts.
Lemonade pros and cons
Pros:
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Some of the lowest costs in our analysis
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Easy to customize your policy with add-on coverages
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Great discounts for additional premium savings
Cons:
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Doesn’t offer an unlimited coverage option
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30-day waiting period for orthopedic injuries
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Prescription food is an out-of-pocket expense
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Annual maximum limit choices: $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000
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Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Waiting periods: 2 days for accidents/14 days for illnesses
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Average costs for $5,000 annual coverage: $56.96/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
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Average costs for $100,000 annual coverage: $85.19/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Learn more: Lemonade pet insurance review
Pets Best’s Essential plan is one of the cheapest among the 30 pet insurance companies we analyzed. Not only does Pets Best have affordable pet insurance rates, but it also offers benefits like unlimited annual coverage and multiple deductible options (choosing a higher deductible will result in a lower monthly premium).
Unlike many other pet insurance companies, Pets Best allows for direct vet payments if the vet signs a reimbursement form. If you use direct vet pay, you don’t have to pay for your pet’s healthcare up front and in full before submitting a claim, which can ease the impact on your wallet, especially for things like surgery or cancer treatment.
Pets Best was rated the top overall pet insurer in our best pet insurance analysis.
Pets Best (Essential plan) pros and cons
Pros:
Cons:
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Cruciate ligament conditions have a six-month waiting period
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Exam fees are paid out of pocket
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Doesn’t cover prescription pet food or supplements
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Annual maximum limit choices: $5,000, Unlimited
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Deductible choices: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Waiting periods: 3 days for accidents/14 days for illnesses
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Average costs for $5,000 annual coverage: $72.79/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
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Average costs for unlimited annual coverage: $89.05/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Learn more: Pets Best pet insurance review
USAA partners with Embrace to offer pet insurance to eligible USAA members, which includes active duty and retired service members, and their immediate families. Not only does USAA have some of the cheapest pet insurance rates, but the company also offers lots of discounts.
USAA was ranked among the best pet insurers for discounts according to our analysis.
USAA pros and cons
Pros:
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Affordable rates
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Broad selection of coverage limits, including unlimited, and deductibles
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Multiple discount options to lower costs are available
Cons:
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Annual maximum limit choices: $2,000, $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, Unlimited
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Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Waiting periods: 0 days for accidents/14 days for illnesses
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Average costs for $5,000 annual coverage: $67.05/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
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Average costs for unlimited annual coverage: $99.64/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Learn more: USAA pet insurance review
Progressive doesn’t sell its own pet insurance plans — it partners with Pets Best. The Pets Best Essential plan through Progressive provides the same coverage you would get if you bought the plan directly from Pets Best, but the pricing is slightly higher through Progressive. The main difference is that Progressive policyholders can earn a 5% bundling discount when purchasing pet insurance with another policy, like home insurance or car insurance.
Progressive pros and cons
Pros:
Cons:
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Costs are slightly higher than going directly through Pets Best
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No coverage for preexisting conditions, including curable conditions
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Plan excludes coverage for several conditions, and vet exam fees
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Annual maximum limit choices: $5,000, Unlimited
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Deductible choices: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Waiting periods: 3 days for accidents/14 days for illnesses
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Average costs for $5,000 annual coverage: $77.56/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
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Average costs for unlimited annual coverage: $94.71/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Learn more: Progressive pet insurance review
In the table below, you can see the overall star ratings for the pet insurance companies we evaluated for our 2026 cheapest pet insurance rankings.
The cost of pet insurance depends on your pet’s breed and size, your insurance company, and your coverage selections. To find the cheapest and best pet insurance, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple insurers.
The average monthly pet insurance premium for a plan with $5,000 in annual coverage is about $85 per month.
For a pet insurance plan with unlimited annual coverage, the average monthly rate is around $144 per month.
Pet insurance premiums depend on many factors, including:
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Your location
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Your pet’s breed, size, and age
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The coverage limits and deductible you choose
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The plan reimbursement rate
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The type of plan (accident-only vs. accident and illness)
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The insurance company
When choosing a pet insurance policy, you’ll select coverage amounts and deductibles that can impact your monthly premium. If you want the cheapest policy, choose a plan with a lower annual coverage limit, a higher deductible, and/or a lower reimbursement rate.
Expert tip: While you can save money on your monthly premium with a lower annual coverage limit, a higher deductible, and/or a lower reimbursement rate, it could wind up costing you more out of pocket in the long run if your pet needs extensive care.
Here’s a look at the coverage choices that our winners offer:
Pet insurance costs vary, but there are plenty of ways to find the cheapest coverage for your needs. Here are some tips that can help you get the best and most affordable pet insurance.
The cost of your pet insurance will depend on the insurer you choose. For example, Lemonade’s average premium for a plan with $5,000 in annual coverage is $56.96 per month, but the average rate from Fetch for the same amount of coverage is more than double the cost at $134.14 per month.
Pet insurance companies charge different rates for the same types and amounts of coverage, and can weigh rating factors differently. To find the cheapest pet insurance for dogs or cats, it’s important to compare quotes from at least three or four insurance companies. Make sure to get quotes for the same plan type, coverage amounts, and deductibles for an accurate comparison.
Learn more: How to compare pet insurance quotes
Some of the best pet insurance companies have discounts that can help you save money on coverage. The exact discounts offered and savings potential vary by insurer, so pay attention to the discounts available as you compare pet insurance providers.
Many of the cheapest pet insurers we reviewed offer 5% or 10% off your premium if you insure more than one pet. You can also find pay-in-full discounts, military discounts, affinity group discounts, and occupation discounts through MetLife pet insurance, for example. Choosing an insurer with low premiums and multiple discounts can help you get the cheapest possible rate.
Before you purchase a pet insurance policy, find out if your employer offers pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. Nationwide, Fetch, and MetLife are just a few insurers that partner with employers to offer pet insurance benefits. Oftentimes, pet insurance through your employer is cheaper than getting an individual policy.
You can also look for membership discounts. For example, Costco Gold Star, Executive, and Business members can save 15% on a Figo pet insurance plan. Sam’s Club members can earn 15% off a Spot pet insurance policy.
Learn more: Costco pet insurance review
4. Compare the plan coverage and cost
When you purchase a pet insurance policy, you’ll choose an annual coverage limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate. Plans with the highest coverage limits and reimbursement rates provide the most coverage for your pet’s healthcare, but have the most expensive premiums.
If you’re looking for cheap pet insurance, it’s important to weigh coverage with cost. For instance, the premium for a plan with unlimited annual coverage and 90% reimbursement might be too high. You could get a much cheaper premium if you chose a lower coverage limit, a lower reimbursement rate, or a higher deductible.
Learn more: Your guide to what pet insurance covers
One of the best ways to save money on pet insurance is to bundle your policy with another insurance product, like when you bundle renters insurance and auto insurance. Most insurance companies that offer pet insurance and other types of insurance will provide a discount when you purchase multiple policies.
Some insurance companies that offer policy bundling discounts with pet insurance include:
Learn more: When you bundle home and auto insurance, be sure it’s the best deal
Your pet’s age and health are two factors that can have a big impact on the cost of your pet insurance. In general, older pets are more expensive to insure, and so are pets with certain preexisting health conditions. To get the cheapest pet insurance, it’s ideal to insure your dog or cat while they’re young and healthy.
Most pet insurance companies allow pet owners to enroll their pets starting around eight weeks. You can still insure older pets, but it’s common for pet insurance companies to have an upper age limit, at least for accident and illness coverage.
Learn more: Pet insurance that will cover preexisting conditions
Liberty Mutual is the cheapest pet insurance company, based on Yahoo Finance’s evaluation of 30 pet insurance companies and wellness plans. Liberty Mutual’s average overall premium for plans with $5,000 in annual coverage and $15,000 in annual coverage is $68.39 per month, or around $820 per year.
Pet insurance can be pricey, but it’s not expensive for everyone. The cost of pet insurance depends on different factors, like your pet’s breed and age, the insurance company, your location, and your coverage choices. Choosing lower coverage limits and a higher deductible will result in the cheapest premium, but you’ll pay more out of pocket when your pet goes to the vet.
You might be able to negotiate pet insurance rates, but it depends on the situation. For example, if you’ve been a loyal customer for many years and haven’t filed any claims, your insurance company might be willing to lower your premium. But if you have a lengthy claim history, it could be harder to negotiate a cheaper rate.
Pet insurance is worth the cost for many pet owners. It can ease the financial impact of your pet’s healthcare, and help cover big expenses like surgery, hospitalization, cancer, diabetes, and treatment for chronic conditions. But if you’re able to pay for your pet’s veterinary care out of pocket, or if your pet is older and has preexisting health conditions, the cost of pet insurance may outweigh the benefits.
Learn more: Is pet insurance worth it?
Tim Manni edited this article.
We researched the pricing details for 30 pet insurance and wellness plans. We then weighted the category, and each pet insurer was scored relative to the others to find the cheapest pet insurance companies. We evaluated average costs in five states for $5,000 and unlimited coverage for a mixed-breed dog (age 1), a French bulldog (age 5), and a Labrador retriever (age 8).
