PetSmart Alternatives: Comparing Pet Supply, Grooming and Delivery Options

If you're comparing options beyond PetSmart, Petco is the closest match for in-person shopping and services, while Chewy offers online ordering and recurring autoship. Beyond those two, retailers like Pet Supplies Plus, PetFlow, PetMeds, Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Petland each cover a narrower slice of the same needs — grooming, prescriptions, or convenience shopping — and Pet Valu is a Canadian-only alternative rather than a US competitor.

Choosing among pet retailers usually comes down to three questions: does the store offer the specific service you need (grooming, training, or a vet pharmacy), is it available at your local location, and does the pricing or subscription model actually save you money on the products you buy regularly. Below is a practical look at each major alternative, what they confirm on their own sites, and where you'll need to check locally before assuming a service is included.

Table Of Contents

Petco: Full-Service In-Store Alternative

Petco is generally the closest side-by-side comparison to PetSmart because both operate physical stores with in-house services. According to Petco's services page, listed offerings include grooming, training, veterinary services and pharmacy, vaccinations, and self-serve dog wash, with booking available in-store or through the app. Petco itself notes that not every service is available at every location, so it's worth confirming what your nearest store actually offers before assuming a full lineup. This overlap in services is what makes Petco a practical alternative rather than evidence that one chain is definitively larger or better than the other.

Pet Supplies Plus: Neighborhood Store Model

Pet Supplies Plus positions itself around smaller, neighborhood-format stores. Its official franchise site lists in-store grooming, self-serve dog wash, and curbside pickup as core services. Boarding and training are not confirmed as standard across all locations, so if either is a priority, check the specific store page or call ahead. The format works best as a quick, local supply run rather than a guaranteed full-service alternative.

Chewy: Online Ordering and Autoship

Chewy is an option for comparing online purchases and recurring deliveries. Its Autoship program lets you set a repeat delivery schedule, manage or cancel upcoming orders, and get discounts on eligible items — though not every product qualifies, and Autoship isn't automatically the lowest price on every SKU. For prescription items, Chewy requires a valid prescription or refill authorization, and prescription diets need veterinary sign-off, the same standard most licensed pet pharmacies follow. Chewy's model suits pet owners who want predictable deliveries without visiting a store, and the Autoship service should be evaluated separately from any in-person care services.

PetFlow: Direct Online Autoship

PetFlow is an online alternative that centers on its own AutoShip service for pet food and supplies. Per PetFlow's about page, it sells pet food and supplies online. Compare the exact brand, size, and refill cost before committing to a recurring order. It's worth treating as a niche option to check for specific brands you already buy rather than a full replacement for grooming or in-store services, which PetFlow doesn't offer.

Pet Valu: A Canadian Alternative

Pet Valu is worth mentioning specifically for shoppers in Canada rather than as a US alternative. According to Pet Valu's Canadian site, the current catalog covers dogs, cats, small pets, fish, birds, and reptiles, with grooming, self-serve dog wash, and adoption events available at participating locations. It doesn't operate as a current US retail network, so US-based pet owners comparing PetSmart alternatives should look elsewhere on this list; Canadian shoppers get a genuine local option with services that vary by store.

PetMeds: Prescription and Pharmacy Focus

1-800-PetMeds is better understood as a pharmacy comparison than a full retail replacement. Its site covers prescription and health supplies for dogs, cats, and horses alongside food, but any prescription item requires veterinary approval before it ships — the retailer doesn't diagnose or prescribe. If your main need is refilling a specific medication at a competitive price, this is a reasonable one to check; it's not a substitute for grooming, training, or a general shopping trip.

Walmart, Amazon and Target: General Retail Alternatives

These three are indirect competitors: none is a dedicated pet specialty retailer, but all sell enough pet products to be worth a price check. Walmart's pet department lists food and supplies with shipping or pickup availability depending on your location and the specific item — compare unit price and confirm the actual seller, since third-party listings aren't always the cheapest option, and grooming isn't offered chain-wide.

Amazon's official pet retail news page confirms an ongoing pet food, toy, grooming, and health-supply category alongside a recurring Amazon Pet Day promotion archive. Because Amazon runs a marketplace, check the actual seller, pack size, and return terms on each listing — not everything ships free with Prime, and confirm that any health product is appropriate for your pet.

Target's pet supplies category is confirmed as a department within a general retailer rather than a standalone pet store — useful if you're already shopping there for other household items, but not a source for grooming or vet services.

Petland: Specialty Chain With Local Variation

Petland stores carry pet supplies, but selection and services vary noticeably by location, according to Petland's official site, which directs shoppers to a store locator rather than promising a fixed lineup. Avoid assuming every location offers grooming, boarding, or training, and if the store sells live animals, treat any claims about sourcing or welfare practices as something to verify with that specific franchise rather than the chain as a whole.

How to Compare These Alternatives

Once you've narrowed down a few options, the comparison that actually matters happens at checkout and at your local store, not on a chain's homepage. A few practical checks make the difference:

Match the exact product. Compare unit price and pack size for the same brand and formula, not just the sticker price on the listing.
Confirm services locally. Grooming, training, boarding, and vet care vary by store even within the same chain — use the store locator or app booking tool before assuming availability.
Read the subscription terms. Autoship-style programs differ in cancellation flexibility, discount thresholds, and whether the discount applies to every item in your cart.
Check prescription requirements. Prescription medications and veterinary diets need the applicable prescription or vet authorization; a store selling vet supplies doesn't replace an actual veterinary visit.
Watch shipping thresholds. Free shipping minimums and delivery windows are frequently SKU- or location-dependent rather than uniform across a retailer's catalog.

Bottom Line

There isn't a single verified "biggest" PetSmart competitor to point to here — what the sources support is a practical split. Petco is the closest match for in-person shopping and services, though what's actually available depends on the specific store. Chewy offers online shopping and Autoship, with PetFlow as another option worth checking for specific brands. Pet Supplies Plus works for quick local runs, PetMeds and similar pharmacies handle prescription refills, and Walmart, Amazon, and Target are useful for general convenience shopping rather than specialty care. Pet Valu is a solid choice only if you're shopping from Canada. The right pick depends less on chain reputation and more on confirming, for your own location and order, that the service or discount you're expecting is actually there.