When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Here’s how it works.
Pumpkin and Pets Best both offer pet insurance plans for accident and illness policies as well as optional wellness plans. However, there are some key differences you should know about before choosing between these providers. We pit the two pet insurance companies against one another to select a clear winner.
We compare coverage, customer service and reputation, claim processing, pricing, and customizations and explain which company we think is better in most cases. But, remember that each pet and household budget varies, so obtaining quotes from multiple companies for your unique situation can help ensure that you get the best policy and price to meet your specific needs.
| Pumpkin | Pets Best | |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Coverage | Extensive | Extensive |
| Customer Service & Reputation | Uncertain, New | Good |
| Claim Processing Average | 5 Days | 18-30 Days |
| Price Of Policy (avg) | Higher | Lower |
| Plan Customizations | Restricted | Many |
| Overall Winner |  | |
| Get Pumpkin Quote | Get Pets Best Quote | |
| Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
Policy Coverage
Policy Coverage Winner
The table below shows precisely what Pumpkin and Pets Best cover.
Both companies cover emergency care, surgery and hospitalization, specialized exams and specialty care, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, cancer, chronic conditions, euthanasia, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, non-routine dental treatment, and prescription medications.
Neither covers pre-existing conditions, cremation and burial costs, pregnancy and breeding, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures.
| Pumpkin | Pets Best | |
|---|---|---|
| Illness Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 14 Days |
| Accident Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 3 Days |
| Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 14 Days |
| CCL Surgery Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 6 Months |
| Behavioral Therapies | | |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapy | | |
| Wellness Care For An Extra Fee | | |
| Exam Fees | | Extra Fee |
| Underwriter | United States Fire Insurance Company | American Pet Insurance Company Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC) (CA only) |
| A.M. Best Rating | A | Unrated A- |
*States are gradually adopting a Model Law for pet insurance, aiming to standardize regulations, including uniform waiting periods. In California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Washington, Rhode Island, and Maryland, waiting periods are:
- Accidents: 0 days
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Cruciate Ligament Conditions: 30 days
- Routine Care: 0 days
Pumpkin Pet Insurance comes out ahead because it offers coverage for alternative/holistic therapy and exam fees without an extra fee. Pumpkin also has shorter waiting periods for CCL surgery. However, Pumpkin’s accident waiting period is considered long compared to most companies.
Pumpkin’s underwriter has an A rating from A.M. Best (a measurement of financial stability). This means that the underwriter may be more reliable than Pets Best’s primary underwriter (who has opted to go unrated) when it comes to claims repayment. However, Pets Best has been in business for 15 years longer than Pumpkin, so it has more experience paying out claims and customer experiences to read and learn from.
Ultimately, Pumpkin is the winner of this category because it provides more thorough coverage and excludes fewer health conditions; however, this is a close race due to Pets Best’s longer business history with a strong customer experience reputation (read more below).
Customer Service & Reputation
Customer Service & Reputation Winner
Founded in 2020, Pumpkin is new to the pet insurance space. And from the customer reviews we’ve seen, there are many complaints regarding pricing, cancellation difficulties, lengthy claim processing periods, and more. It can take years for a company to stabilize its performance and pricing, and it appears that Pumpkin is still working through these challenges.
Pets Best isn’t perfect either and has experienced a lot of growth since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Thanks to its thorough coverage and low prices, it saw a massive uptick in policy purchases during this time. However, this led to more claims being filed, and there wasn’t enough staff to help resolve the increase in claims. As a result, complaints flooded in for poor customer service and long claim processing times. Unfortunately, Pets Best is still recovering.
However, Pets Best isn’t alone in increased policy purchases and insufficient staff to tend to claims and other customer service needs. In fact, we’ve spoken with many pet insurance providers and have noticed there are longer response times across the board.
Claim Processing
Claim Processing Winner
Pumpkin states it processes claims in an average of five days. This is much shorter than the previous two to four weeks in the past. The majority of companies average fewer than ten days. Pets Best averages 18-30 days for its claim processing. This is longer than Pumpkin’s average.
Price Of Policy
Price of Policy Winner
Both Pumpkin and Pets Best have monthly transaction fees of $2 but no one-time sign-up fees.
Your premium price quote is based on your pet’s details (age, breed, location, etc.). We recommend obtaining quotes from each company for your specific pet. You can also visit our pet insurance comparison quotes to see a few sample prices we’ve gathered.
Pets Best almost always came out less expensive than Pumpkin in the quotes we’ve run. However, remember that it’s always best to get quotes for your specific dog to compare what pet insurance could cost for you. You can use our pet insurance quote form to get multiple company quotes when you complete this one-quick form.
Coupons
Pumpkin
Pumpkin offers the following discount:
- 10% off for multiple pets
Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed.
Pets Best
Pets Best offers the following discounts:
- 5% off for multiple pets
- 5% off for military members and their families
Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed.
Pets Best discount may not be available in all states, and the discount amount may vary by state. More information is available in enrollment.
Plan Customization
Plan Customization Winner
Both companies offer several plan customization options to try and fit your premium into your budget.
| Pumpkin | Pets Best | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Payout Options | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, and unlimited | $5,000 and unlimited |
| Deductible Options | $100, $250, $500, and $1,000 | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000 |
| Reimbursement Options | 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, and 90% |
| Optional Wellness Plan | | |
| Accident-Only Plan | |
Overall, Pets Best has more customization options than Pumpkin, which may make it a better, more flexible fit for your budget.
What’s Our Verdict?
Overall Winner
In the end, Pets Best wins this comparison against Pumpkin due to its longstanding reputation, plan customizations, and lower pricing. However, we always recommend obtaining quotes from multiple providers to see how the pricing compares so you may want to consider Pumpkin still.
If you didn’t find what you were looking for, our experts dig even deeper into each company in our individual reviews of Pumpkin and Pets Best.
Our experts have spent thousands of hours researching to bring you our comprehensive and frequently updated pet insurance reviews, including our top picks, along with details on each of the most popular pet insurance companies. So, if you want to know how other providers compare against one another, you may find this review helpful in your pet insurance search.
Methodology
My team and I conduct extensive research on the most reputable pet insurance companies, analyzing customer feedback, policy changes, and industry trends. Our licensed insurance agent fact-checks everything, and we update our reviews year-round as insurers adjust premiums, coverage, exclusions, and customer service.
We rank each U.S. pet insurance provider using a 100-point scale, ensuring an unbiased breakdown of how companies perform in real-world claims.
Our Ranking Criteria
- Coverage & Exclusions (30%) – We analyze policies, exclusions, and age restrictions, rewarding companies with fewer coverage limitations.
- Pricing (15%) – We run thousands of sample quotes and factor in extra fees, discounts, and add-ons.
- Customer Service & Reputation (12%) – We review hundreds of customer experiences, assess the sign-up process, and evaluate claim support.
- Financial Strength (10%) – We examine A.M. Best & Demotech ratings to ensure companies can pay claims reliably.
- Customization Options (10%) – Providers with more deductible, reimbursement, and payout flexibility rank higher.
- Waiting Periods (5%) – Shorter illness & accident waiting periods result in a better score.
- Claim Processing (5%) – Companies offering fast reimbursements and direct vet pay score higher.
- Innovation (3%) – We recognize unique offerings and advanced technology in the industry.
Unbiased Pet Insurance Rankings: Putting Pets First
Unlike many review sites, we don’t sell rankings—every provider earns its spot based on real performance. Our in-depth comparisons help pet parents make informed decisions, while insurers use our reviews to improve their policies. We only recommend the best because that’s what our readers deserve.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance since 2012, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to author for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Kimberly knows the subject so well that she can answer a breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately. And on the rare occasion she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head, she can find it within minutes due to her extensive list of resources.
Kimberly also consulted with Michelle Schenker, Canine Journal’s in-house licensed insurance agent, for additional expertise, to ensure accuracy, and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies that are accurately represented.
Pets Best Underwriter Disclosure – Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits, and exclusions may apply. For all terms visit www.petsbest.com/policy. Products, schedules, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. More information is available at checkout. Premiums are based on and may increase or decrease due to the age of your pet, the species or breed of your pet, and your home address.
Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company (NAIC #12190), a New York insurance company headquartered at 6100 4th Ave. S. #200 Seattle, WA 98108, or Independence American Insurance Company (NAIC #26581), a Delaware insurance company located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd. #160 Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC (NPN #8889658, CA agency #0F37530) is a licensed insurance agency located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd. #160 Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Please refer to your declarations page to determine the underwriter for your policy. Terms and conditions apply. See your policy for details.
Canine Journal® is a trademark of Cover Story Media, Inc.® All insurance applications and solicitations are entrusted to Michelle Schenker (NPN #19494757; CA license #4071990), a licensed insurance agent representing Cover Story Media, Inc.® Canine Journal® does not underwrite pet insurance or pay claims but receives compensation on sale and/or renewal.
