The best pet insurance is the plan that matches what you want as core cover and what you're happy to add on. Makers split it differently: some sell accident-only plans beside accident and illness plans, some sell wellness as an add-on, and some sell dental, prescription or rehab as separate plans. Read the plan names first, then the brand.
Pet insurance looks simple until you open three maker sites side by side. One maker's core plan is another maker's add-on, and the plan names are where that shows up.
This list covers ten pet insurance makers, using only what each one's own website says, read on 2 Nov 2026 (as of Nov 2026). It's alphabetical and in no particular order. You won't find premiums, reimbursement levels, claims speeds or ratings here. It sticks to the plans and services each maker names, so read the full policy terms on the maker's own site before you buy.
Pet insurance makers and their plans at a glance
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | Dog, cat, dental, prescription and rehab plans | Dental, prescription and rehab named as plans |
| Fetch | Accident and illness, dental and hereditary condition pages | Its own online vet and pet Rx service |
| Figo | Dog and cat insurance with a Pet Cloud login | A waiting period waiver on its menu |
| Lemonade | Pet cover from an insurer with renters, home, car and life | Pet cover beside other policies on one menu |
| Nationwide | Pet insurance for dogs, cats and exotics | Exotic pets named on the menu |
| Pets Best | Dog, cat and pet wellness plans | No upper age limits stated |
| Prudent Pet | Accident Only, Essential and Ultimate plans | An accident-only plan |
| Pumpkin | Pet insurance with a wellness club | Wellness club pages for dogs and cats |
| Spot | Accident and illness plans with a wellness add-on | Wellness sold as an optional add-on |
| Trupanion | Dog and cat insurance with VetDirect Pay | Vet bills handled at checkout |
Ten pet insurance makers, plan by plan
Embrace
Best for: Choosing dog or cat insurance at a maker whose page title says it can be used at any licensed vet, with 24/7 telehealth and pet wellness plans listed.
Fetch
Best for: Reading separate pages on accident and illness, dental coverage, and hereditary and congenital conditions, with the maker's own online vet and pet Rx service named.
Figo
Best for: Taking dog or cat insurance from a maker that describes flexible, reliable pet insurance for intentional, modern pet parents, with a Pet Cloud login.
Lemonade
Best for: Keeping pet cover with an insurer whose menu also lists renters, homeowners, car and life insurance and a Giveback page, and which says it's powered by AI.
Nationwide
Best for: Insuring a dog, cat or exotic pet, with Pet Healthzone, VetHelpline and PetRxExpress listed among its pet resources.
Pets Best
Best for: Comparing dog and puppy, cat and kitten, and pet wellness plans, with direct vet pay and a 24/7 pet helpline it says comes with all plans.
Prudent Pet
Best for: Picking an Accident Only, Essential or Ultimate plan, with optional wellness add-ons and unlimited 24/7 vet chat named on all policies.
Pumpkin
Best for: Pairing pet insurance with the Pumpkin Wellness Club for dogs or for cats, and reading its plain pages on what pet insurance is.
Spot
Best for: Splitting cover into accident and illness, with wellness as an optional add-on, a 24/7 pet telehealth helpline and an employer benefits page.
Trupanion
Best for: Using VetDirect Pay, which its page links to vet bills at checkout, with pet dental coverage and a Find a Hospital page.
Core cover, add-on or separate plan?
Here's the split you won't guess from an advert: what counts as core cover versus an add-on or a separate plan differs by maker, so the plan names matter more than the brand. Spot splits cover into accident, illness and a 'wellness optional add-on'. Prudent Pet sells an 'accident only for when your pet is hurt' plan beside plans for a pet that's 'hurt or sick'. Embrace names 'dental insurance', 'prescription coverage' and 'rehab & therapy' as their own plans.
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- Accident only: a plan for when a pet is hurt, sold by one maker beside its fuller plans.
- Accident and illness: the plans makers here describe for a pet that's hurt or sick.
- Wellness: sold as an optional add-on, a wellness plan or a wellness club, depending on the maker.
- Dental, prescription and rehab: named as their own plans or pages by some makers.
Which pets, which ages, which extras
The animals and ages each maker names vary too. Nationwide lists 'dogs cats exotics' on its menu, so it's worth a look if your pet isn't a dog or a cat. Pets Best states 'no upper age limits for coverage'. Figo names a 'waiting period waiver' in its menu, which is the kind of plan detail to ask about before you sign.
Then there are the services around the policy. Several makers here name a 24/7 telehealth line, vet chat or a pet helpline, and a couple list their own pet pharmacy or online vet service. Treat these as services the maker names, and read the terms for what each one includes.
Questions to ask before you get a pet insurance quote
- Which plans does this maker name: accident only, accident and illness, or both?
- Is wellness part of the plan, an add-on or a separate club?
- Are dental, prescription or rehab sold as their own plans?
- Does the maker name my kind of pet, such as an exotic?
- What does the maker say about my pet's age?
- Is there a waiting period, and does the maker name a waiver?
- Which helplines or vet chat services come with the policy?
Do you make a pet insurance plan? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice for comparing pet insurance plans
Start with the plan names, not the brand. Decide whether you want accident-only cover or a plan for a pet that's hurt or sick, then check whether wellness, dental, prescriptions or rehab sit inside the plan, come as an add-on or are sold as a separate plan with each maker. For anything about what a policy pays or excludes, read the maker's own policy documents for where you live before you buy.
If you've just brought a dog home, my new puppy checklist covers the rest of the first-week shopping. And if you'd like to know more about your dog's background, here's my guide to the best dog DNA tests.
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Frequently asked questions
Which of these makers sell an accident-only plan?
One maker on this list sells an Accident Only plan for when your pet is hurt, beside Essential and Ultimate plans for a pet that's hurt or sick. Check each maker's plan names for the cover you want.
Is wellness cover included or an add-on?
It depends on the maker. One here lists wellness as an optional add-on, another sells wellness add-ons beside its plans, and others name pet wellness plans or a wellness club. Read how each maker sells it before you compare.
Can I insure an exotic pet?
One maker on this list names exotics on its menu beside dogs and cats. The other pages here talk about dogs and cats, so check with the maker if your pet's something else.
Do any of these makers say there's no upper age limit?
One maker here states 'no upper age limits for coverage'. For your own pet, check what each maker says about age in its policy documents.
Which makers name dental cover?
Several do. One names dental insurance as its own plan, one has a dental coverage page, and another lists pet dental coverage. Read the policy terms for what each one includes.
Which of these list a 24/7 vet helpline or chat?
Several do. Pages here name 24/7 telehealth, a 24/7 pet telehealth helpline, unlimited 24/7 vet chat on all policies and a 24/7 pet helpline included with all plans. Check what each service includes with your policy.
