Quick answer
Stella & Chewy's scores higher on ingredient purity (8.5–9.5 vs 7.5–8.8) thanks to its freeze-dried single-protein formulas with minimal fillers. The Honest Kitchen is slightly more affordable and earns its human-grade certification, but some product lines carry more ingredients. Budget-focused buyers prioritizing transparency may prefer Honest Kitchen; those chasing maximum purity should lean toward Stella & Chewy's.
Stella & Chewy's vs The Honest Kitchen Dog Treats
How We Scored This
Ingredient Purity Score
40%Scored 0–10 based on protein quality, processing method, filler count, and presence of artificial additives or preservatives.
True Price Per Ounce
25%Retail price divided by product weight in ounces, enabling apples-to-apples cost comparison across different package sizes.
Protein Sourcing Transparency
20%Whether the brand names specific protein origins, avoids by-products, and publishes sourcing standards for each product line.
Processing Method
15%How the treats are processed — freeze-dried raw, dehydrated, baked, or extruded — which affects nutrient retention and ingredient integrity.
Stella & Chewy's
Best for: Dogs with sensitive stomachs or owners prioritizing raw-diet principles without full raw feeding
Price/oz
$1.80–$3.50/oz
Purity score
8.5–9.5
Pros
- +Freeze-dried raw process locks in nutrients without synthetic preservatives
- +Carnivore Crunch line uses single-protein, ≤3 ingredient formulas
- +No corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, or artificial flavors across flagship lines
- +Wide protein variety: beef, chicken, duck, salmon, turkey, rabbit, lamb
Cons
- −Premium price point — among the most expensive treats per ounce in the segment
- −Freeze-dried texture is not ideal for all dogs, particularly older dogs with dental issues
Stella & Chewy's freeze-dried raw treats earn purity scores of 8.5–9.5 on The Treat Index scale. The Carnivore Crunch line is the standout: single-protein, often three ingredients or fewer, zero artificial preservatives, and no common fillers like corn or soy. The freeze-drying process preserves amino acid profiles closer to raw meat than baking or extrusion. True price-per-ounce runs $1.80–$3.50 depending on protein and package size, making them one of the pricier options per ounce in this category. Meal Mixer variants carry slightly more ingredients and score toward the lower end of the range. Overall, Stella & Chewy's is the benchmark for purity-first treat buyers.
The Honest Kitchen
Best for: Owners who want human-grade certification and whole-food ingredients at a slightly lower price point
Price/oz
$1.20–$2.80/oz
Purity score
7.5–8.8
Pros
- +Human-grade AAFCO certification — one of few brands to meet this standard
- +Beams fish-skin treats deliver single-ingredient, high-purity formulas
- +Transparent whole-food ingredient lists with no artificial colors or flavors
- +Lower price ceiling than Stella & Chewy's on several product lines
Cons
- −Dehydrated (not freeze-dried) — slightly more processing than raw freeze-dried
- −Goodies baked line has notably longer ingredient lists, reducing purity scores
- −Purity scores vary more widely across product lines than Stella & Chewy's
The Honest Kitchen's purity scores range from 7.5 to 8.8, reflecting genuine variation across its product lines. Beams, the fish-skin treat line, hits the high end — single-ingredient, minimally processed, high purity. Pecks clusters score in the mid-range with whole-food ingredients but more components per formula. The Goodies baked line drops to the lower end due to a longer ingredient deck that includes multiple carbohydrate sources. Dehydration preserves nutrients better than baking or extrusion but not quite as fully as freeze-drying. The human-grade certification is a meaningful differentiator, covering ingredient sourcing and manufacturing standards. True price-per-ounce of $1.20–$2.80 gives budget-conscious buyers more flexibility than Stella & Chewy's on select products.
Our Verdict
Stella & Chewy's wins on raw ingredient purity — its freeze-dried single-protein formulas are hard to beat for cleanliness. The Honest Kitchen wins on accessibility: lower price ceiling, human-grade certification, and comparable transparency. Choose Stella & Chewy's for maximum purity; choose The Honest Kitchen if budget matters or you value the human-grade standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Stella & Chewy's treats raw?
Yes. Stella & Chewy's uses a freeze-drying process that removes moisture while keeping the meat in a minimally processed, raw state. This preserves proteins and enzymes more completely than baking or dehydration, which is why the brand scores at the top end of The Treat Index purity scale.
What does The Honest Kitchen's human-grade certification actually mean?
Human-grade means the ingredients and manufacturing facility meet the same legal standards required for human food production. AAFCO defines this specifically — most pet food brands cannot legally claim it. It does not guarantee a single-ingredient formula or the highest purity score, but it does signal meaningfully higher sourcing and production standards than typical pet-grade treats.
Which brand is more affordable per ounce?
The Honest Kitchen generally offers a lower price ceiling. Beams fish-skin treats and Pecks clusters often come in at $1.20–$2.00 per ounce, while Stella & Chewy's Carnivore Crunch typically runs $2.00–$3.50 per ounce. The gap narrows on larger package sizes, so calculating true price-per-ounce before buying is always worthwhile.
Which brand is better for dogs with food allergies?
Stella & Chewy's Carnivore Crunch single-protein varieties are better suited for strict elimination diets — fewer ingredients mean fewer potential allergens. The Honest Kitchen's Beams line is also a strong single-ingredient option. Avoid The Honest Kitchen's Goodies baked line for allergy-sensitive dogs, as those formulas contain multiple protein and carbohydrate sources.
Do either of these brands use artificial preservatives?
Neither brand uses artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin in their flagship treat lines. Stella & Chewy's relies on freeze-drying for preservation. The Honest Kitchen uses dehydration. Both approaches extend shelf life without synthetic preservative chemistry, which is reflected in their purity scores on The Treat Index.
How does freeze-drying differ from dehydration for dog treats?
Freeze-drying removes moisture at very low temperatures under vacuum pressure, keeping the product closer to its raw state and preserving more heat-sensitive nutrients. Dehydration uses warm air to slowly dry ingredients — it is gentler than baking but still applies more heat than freeze-drying. For purity scoring purposes, freeze-dried raw treats earn a slight advantage because the process requires fewer or no additives to stabilize the product.