Looking for where to buy pet insurance? Compare BestMoney, Trupanion, Embrace, Pets Best, and Spot to find the right fit for your dog, cat, budget, and coverage needs.
If you are trying to figure out where to buy pet insurance, the real challenge is not finding a company. It is finding the right buying path. Some shoppers want a comparison marketplace that lets them review several offers in one place. Others want to go straight to an insurer with a clear plan structure and a strong reputation for coverage. That choice matters because pet insurance is growing fast, average premiums are not small, and policy details like waiting periods, deductibles, payout limits, and wellness add-ons can change the value of a plan dramatically. NAPHIA says 7.03 million pets were insured in North America at the end of 2024, and average U.S. accident and illness premiums were $749.29 per year for dogs and $386.47 for cats. APPA also says U.S. pet industry spending reached $158 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $165 billion in 2026.
For most readers, the best answer to where to buy pet insurance comes down to this: start with a comparison tool if you want speed and a broad view of options, then buy direct from an insurer if you already know which policy style fits your pet. In this guide, I compare BestMoney, Trupanion, Embrace, Pets Best, and Spot, explain who each one suits best, and show how to make a smarter decision before you buy.
The quick answer
If you want the simplest buying route, these are the five strongest options in this comparison:
| Brand | Best for | Why it stands out | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| BestMoney | Comparing several providers fast | Built as a comparison and research platform | It is not the insurer itself |
| Trupanion | Big medical claims and chronic conditions | Unlimited payouts, direct vet pay, lifetime per-condition deductible | Longer illness waiting period than some rivals |
| Embrace | Balanced coverage with wellness flexibility | Annual deductible, 24/7 telehealth, wellness add-on | Coverage details vary by state and customization choices |
| Pets Best | Budget-conscious shoppers who want flexibility | Up to 90% reimbursement, annual deductibles, direct pay option | Waiting periods and terms vary by state |
| Spot | Customization and older pet access | Up to 90% back, any licensed vet, telehealth, no upper age limit | You still need to compare payout limits and add-ons carefully |
What “where to buy pet insurance” really means
Many people search where to buy pet insurance when they are really asking one of three questions:
Should I shop through a comparison site or buy direct?
That is the first decision. BestMoney is useful because it is designed to compare pet insurance providers, coverage depth, pricing, claims experience, and customer service in one place. In other words, it is a shopping hub. Trupanion, Embrace, Pets Best, and Spot are actual insurers or insurance brands where you can buy a policy directly.
What kind of plan do I need?
The NAIC says pet insurance products typically fall into three buckets: accident-only, accident and illness, and wellness coverage. That matters because a buyer who only wants protection from surprise emergencies will shop differently from someone who wants broader illness coverage or help with routine care.
What policy details actually matter?
Premium is only one part of the story. The big decision points are deductible type, reimbursement rate, waiting periods, payout limits, excluded conditions, and whether you can use any vet. Those details are what separate a cheap-looking plan from a useful one.
Brand-by-brand comparison
BestMoney: best place to start if you want to compare first
BestMoney is the strongest option in this list if your main goal is to compare offers in one place before choosing a carrier. Its pet insurance section is built around comparing providers on flexibility, coverage, claims experience, customer service, and pricing. That makes it a good first stop for shoppers who do not yet know whether they want Trupanion’s medical-first model, Embrace’s balanced structure, Pets Best’s flexibility, or Spot’s customizable options.
The key thing to understand is that BestMoney is not the carrier. It helps you research and narrow the field. So if your question is literally where to buy pet insurance, BestMoney is best viewed as the place to shop and compare, not the final underwriter. This route makes the most sense for first-time buyers, multi-pet households comparing value, or anyone who wants to see several plan styles before committing.
Trupanion: best for large claims and long-term medical coverage
Trupanion stands out for a very specific kind of pet owner: the person who worries less about routine costs and more about the worst-case emergency or chronic condition. On its official site, Trupanion highlights uncapped payouts for life, direct payment to vets at checkout through VetDirect Pay, and coverage for hereditary conditions, breed-specific conditions, diagnostics, medications, hospital stays, and more. It also lets members visit any licensed veterinarian in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico.
Its most unusual feature is the lifetime per-condition deductible. Instead of resetting a deductible annually for the same medical issue, Trupanion applies it once per condition during your pet’s life. That can be a major advantage if your dog or cat develops an ongoing issue that requires repeat treatment. The tradeoff is its waiting period structure. Trupanion says injuries have a five-day waiting period and illnesses have a 30-day waiting period, which is longer for illness coverage than some rivals in this comparison.
That makes Trupanion especially attractive for pet parents who want strong protection against expensive, ongoing medical problems and who value direct vet pay. It is less attractive for shoppers focused mainly on the lowest monthly premium or the shortest illness waiting period.
Embrace: best for balanced coverage and wellness-minded pet parents
Embrace is the middle-ground option in this group. Its official materials emphasize easy-to-understand plans, 24/7 telehealth support, Wellness Rewards for routine care, and a large existing customer base. It also says you can visit any licensed vet in the U.S., with no network restrictions.
One of Embrace’s strongest practical advantages is its annual deductible. The company explains that you meet the deductible once per policy term, not once per condition. For many shoppers, that structure is easier to budget for than Trupanion’s condition-based model. Embrace also states that illnesses have a 14-day waiting period, while accident coverage starts on the policy’s effective date, though orthopedic waiting periods can vary by state.
If you want a plan that can combine solid accident and illness coverage with optional routine-care budgeting, Embrace is a strong contender. It feels especially well suited to owners of younger pets, families that want telehealth support, and buyers who like a more traditional annual deductible setup.
Pets Best: best for flexible budgeting
Pets Best positions itself as a broad-appeal choice. The company says it covers up to 90% of eligible vet bills, offers plans for dogs and cats, and has insured more than 900,000 pets. Its FAQs also explain that accident and illness plans use annual deductibles, and the company promotes a Vet Direct Pay option that can help reduce out-of-pocket strain at the clinic.
What makes Pets Best appealing is flexibility. It is easy to see why budget-focused shoppers land here. Pets Best lets buyers think in straightforward tradeoffs: higher deductible for lower monthly premium, or lower deductible for lower out-of-pocket cost when a claim happens. The company also notes that waiting periods vary by state and type of coverage, which means you need to read the policy details carefully before enrolling.
For many households, Pets Best is the practical choice. It may not feel as specialized as Trupanion or as wellness-forward as Embrace, but it covers the main bases well. That makes it a strong option for buyers who want flexibility without overcomplicating the purchase.
Spot: best for customization and older pets
Spot is especially appealing if flexibility is your top priority. On its official site, Spot says it offers up to 90% cash back on covered vet bills, lets you visit any licensed vet in the U.S. or Canada, includes a 24/7 pet telehealth helpline, and has no upper age limit for enrollment. It also highlights no lifetime caps and no network restrictions.
That combination is valuable. Older pets are often harder to place because some insurers tighten eligibility with age. Spot’s no-upper-age-limit positioning makes it worth a close look for owners of senior dogs and cats, as long as they understand that pre-existing conditions are still a separate issue. Spot also says its standard waiting period is 14 days for accidents and illnesses, with next-day accident coverage in select states.
Spot is a strong answer to where to buy pet insurance if you want to shape the plan around your budget and your pet’s age. It is also a good fit for multi-pet households because the site advertises a 10% multi-pet discount on additional pets.
So, where should most people buy pet insurance?
Here is the simplest framework:
Choose BestMoney if:
You are at the research stage and want to compare multiple providers quickly before picking one. It is the best starting point, not the final carrier.
Choose Trupanion if:
You care most about major medical protection, direct vet pay, and long-term conditions that could keep generating bills.
Choose Embrace if:
You want broad everyday usability, a traditional annual deductible, and optional wellness support.
Choose Pets Best if:
You want a flexible, practical policy with annual deductibles and a clear budget-first mindset.
Choose Spot if:
You want customization, telehealth access, and a provider that is friendlier to older pet enrollment.
What to compare before you click “buy”
Before you decide where to buy pet insurance, check these five things:
First, look at the deductible type. Trupanion uses a lifetime per-condition deductible, while Embrace and Pets Best describe annual deductibles. That can change your out-of-pocket math a lot over time.
Second, compare payout structure. Trupanion emphasizes uncapped payouts, while Spot says it has no lifetime caps. That matters for major illnesses and surgeries.
Third, check waiting periods. Embrace says 14 days for illnesses. Spot says 14 days for accidents and illnesses as standard. Trupanion lists five days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses. Pets Best says waiting periods vary by state and coverage type.
Fourth, ask whether you can use any vet. Trupanion, Embrace, and Spot all explicitly say they allow any licensed vet within their stated coverage geographies.
Fifth, decide whether you want wellness coverage. The NAIC notes that wellness is a distinct category from accident-only and accident-and-illness coverage. Embrace and Spot both promote wellness options, which may matter if you want help budgeting routine care.
Final verdict
The best place to buy pet insurance depends on how you shop.
If you want the fastest path to compare multiple offers, start with BestMoney. If you already know you want a direct insurer, Trupanion is strongest for heavy medical coverage, Embrace is excellent for balanced protection and wellness-minded buyers, Pets Best is a smart practical choice for flexible budgeting, and Spot is especially appealing for customization and older pets.
For most readers, the smartest next step is simple: get at least three quotes, compare deductible type and waiting periods before price alone, and buy as early as possible, before a condition can become pre-existing. That is the most useful answer to where to buy pet insurance, and the best way to turn a confusing search into a confident decision.
The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
