Marleybones vs Wilsons Pet Food: Which Is Right for Your Dog?

At a Glance

Brand Overviews

Marleybones

Founded in London by Josephine and Mikala, and named after their golden cocker spaniel Marley, Marleybones is a female-founded, vet-backed fresh dog food brand built around the Pantry Fresh® format.

Meals are sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack, making them shelf-stable without any preservatives and ready to serve straight from the carton. Every recipe contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven functional superfoods, including chicory root, a natural prebiotic that supports gut health as standard in every meal. Recipes are complete for all life stages, including puppies. Subscribers complete a short quiz to receive a personalised plan, and recipes are also available to buy individually. Marleybones also offers a range of treats and supplements. Plastic neutral certified, Marleybones has delivered over 2 million meals and holds a 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating.

Wilsons

Wilsons is a British dog food brand, made in the UK and a member of UK Pet Food, offering both fresh and cold-pressed ranges. Its Fresh range is sealed and gently steamed in pouches that stay shelf-stable in the cupboard until opened, with no artificial preservatives.

The Fresh range runs to eight recipes, including two for puppies, across proteins such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. Recipes use freshly prepared meat with vegetables and superfoods such as chia and seaweed, and include prebiotics such as chicory. Fresh is sold in 8, 16 or 32-pouch packs by subscription or one-off, and Wilsons holds a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating from over 650 reviews.

Marleybones vs Wilsons: A Detailed Comparison

Food and Format: Two Cupboard-Fresh Approaches

Marleybones

Marleybones meals are sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack, then kept in a recyclable carton that is shelf-stable until opened. Open the carton and serve, with no prep and no freezer.

Wilsons

Wilsons Fresh is sealed and gently steamed in the pouch, and is also cupboard-stable until opened, then kept in the fridge once open. It too is ready to serve with no freezing.

Summary: Both are cooked in the pack, cupboard-fresh and free from artificial preservatives, with no freezer needed. Marleybones comes in a carton and Wilsons in a pouch.

Ingredients and Nutrition

Marleybones

Every Marleybones meal contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven functional superfoods including chicory root, chia seeds, hemp seed, linseed, quinoa, seaweed and rosemary. There are no artificial preservatives, additives or fillers, and the same superfood and prebiotic blend features in every recipe.

Wilsons

Wilsons recipes use freshly prepared meat with vegetables and superfoods such as chia and seaweed, and the meat content runs from around 60% to 74% depending on the recipe. Recipes include prebiotics such as chicory and inulin, and also contain glucosamine and chondroitin.

Summary: Both are high-meat, whole-ingredient recipes with prebiotics built in and no artificial additives. Marleybones carries the same seven-superfood blend in every recipe, while Wilsons offers eight recipes that vary in meat content and ingredients.

Personalisation

Marleybones

Marleybones subscribers take a short quiz about their dog's breed, age, weight and activity, and receive a plan built around that dog, with the right recipes, portions and delivery schedule. Recipes can also be bought on their own.

Wilsons

Wilsons Fresh is chosen by the owner: you pick recipes and a pack size of 8, 16 or 32 pouches, or a variety pack, and portion it yourself using the feeding guide. There is no personalised plan.

Summary: This is the clearest difference between the two. Marleybones builds a plan around the individual dog, while Wilsons offers a range of recipes and packs the owner chooses and portions themselves.

Price

A single Marleybones carton is £3.50 for 390g. Wilsons Fresh is sold in multipacks, working out at roughly £3.70 to £4.23 per 380g pouch depending on the pack size. Marleybones is cheaper per pack, and Marleybones subscribers get up to 25% off for life. Individual cost depends on your dog's size and portions.

Summary: Marleybones is cheaper per pack, and subscribers save up to 25% for life. What a dog costs to feed depends on its size and daily portions.

Sustainability and Packaging

Marleybones

Marleybones uses recyclable, plant-based cartons and is plastic neutral certified, removing as much plastic from the environment as it unavoidably uses.

Wilsons

Wilsons is made in the UK and packs its Fresh range in recyclable pouches.

Summary: Both brands are working on their environmental footprint. Marleybones is plastic neutral certified with a plant-based carton, and Wilsons uses a recyclable pouch and makes its food in the UK.

Availability: Where Can You Buy It?

Marleybones

Marleybones is available online via a personalised subscription and as one-off orders, and is stocked in selected retailers including Pets at Home, Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods and Co-op.

Wilsons

Wilsons is available online via subscription and one-off orders, and is stocked in Morrisons along with selected pet specialists and independent retailers.

Summary: Both are available online and in-store. Marleybones is stocked in Pets at Home, Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods and Co-op, and Wilsons in Morrisons and selected pet and independent retailers.

Customer Satisfaction

Marleybones

4.9/5 on Trustpilot from over 1,000 reviews. Common themes: fussy dogs clearing their bowls, improved digestion and coat condition, and the simplicity of a no-prep, no-freezer format.

Wilsons

4.7/5 on Trustpilot from over 650 reviews. Customers highlight fussy dogs enjoying the food, healthy digestion, and easy subscription management.

Summary: Marleybones has the higher Trustpilot rating, at 4.9/5 versus 4.7/5, and the larger review base. Both are well rated by owners, and both are praised for palatability with fussy dogs.

“Such a relief to see her enjoying her food”

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Which Is Right for You?

Marleybones may suit you better if:

• You want a personalised plan built for your dog, based on their breed, age, weight and activity
• You want a consistent seven-superfood and natural-prebiotic blend in every recipe
• You want a plastic neutral brand in a recyclable, plant-based carton
• You want to pick it up in Pets at Home, Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods or Co-op as well as online

Wilsons may suit you better if:

• You want to choose from a range of eight recipes and buy them in multipacks
• You are happy to select recipes and portion them yourself
• You want a British-made food with a longer four-day window once the pouch is open

FAQs

Does Marleybones need to be frozen?

No. Marleybones meals are Pantry Fresh® and shelf-stable, stored in a cupboard until opened, with no freezing or thawing at any point. Once open, keep any unused portion in the fridge and serve within a couple of days.

Is Marleybones or Wilsons cheaper?

A single Marleybones carton is £3.50 for 390g, while Wilsons pouches work out at around £3.70 to £4.23 per 380g pouch depending on the multipack, so Marleybones is cheaper per pack. Marleybones subscribers also get up to 25% off for life. Daily cost depends on your dog's size and portions, so it is worth checking each brand's plan for your dog.

Is Marleybones suitable for all life stages?

Yes. All Marleybones recipes are vet-developed and complete for all life stages, including puppies, with every plan portioned to the individual dog based on their weight, age and activity.

Where can I buy Marleybones?

Marleybones is available online via a personalised subscription and as one-off orders, and is stocked in selected retailers including Pets at Home, Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods and Co-op.

“A complete game changer!!”

Get 40% OFF today

Use code: FRESH40