ASPCA vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Pumpkin offers the best pet insurance, ranking first overall, while ASPCA places third. Pumpkin has industry-leading tools and processes for buying coverage, managing policies and submitting claims that push it at the top of my analysis. It also offers rates well below the national average by 35%, making it ideal for pet owners who value excellent customer experience without paying a high premium for it.

Meanwhile, ASPCA is good at striking a balance between affordability and coverage. The company leads as the cheapest option for most medium-sized dog breeds (30 to 60 pounds) and those in the West region, plus it has more options for policy customization than Pumpkin, so it's preferable for pet owners who want flexibility to tailor their coverage while keeping costs low.

ASPCA leads ahead of Pumpkin for pet insurance coverage overall, ranking third out of 18, while Pumpkin falls behind in 12th place. ASPCA offers more flexibility with six annual limits and three reimbursement rates, while Pumpkin has four annual limits and two reimbursement rates. This gives ASPCA an advantage if you expect your budget or coverage needs to change over time as your pet ages, since you'll have more options to adjust your policy without being limited to as few plan combinations.

That said, both companies have the same underwriter, Independence American Insurance Company, so they have similar base plan inclusions beyond covering accidents and illnesses, reimbursing pet owners the cost of veterinary exam that accompanies a covered condition as well as treatments for anxiety, compulsive behaviors or aggression, or rehabilitation services like acupuncture and hydrotherapy as part of their pet's recovery.

Because ASPCA and Pumpkin have the same underwriter, their coverage terms for waiting periods, pre-existing conditions and hereditary conditions don't really differ. Pet owners can spend less time comparing eligibility rules and instead focus on the differences that can change the value of their policy, such as flexibility for policy customization and coverage for optional add-ons.

Below, I've broken down ASPCA's and Pumpkin's coverage terms and options:

Coverage varies by state and policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents to understand exact coverage terms, exclusions and limitations.

Both ASPCA and Pumpkin offer one optional coverage for routine care. However, ASPCA's add-on comes in two tiers, while Pumpkin's is packaged as a standalone pet wellness membership program with three tiers. Pumpkin's add-on also covers grooming, which ASPCA doesn't. This makes Pumpkin the stronger option for pet owners who want help budgeting for a wider range of everyday care, particularly if they expect to regularly pay for preventive services and breed-specific grooming throughout the year.

Based on my pet insurance cost analysis, ASPCA ranks first for affordability overall, with Pumpkin following closely behind. While the difference between the two is relatively small, ASPCA consistently costs about $1 to $4 less per month across every life stage for dogs and cats, translating to savings of roughly 2% to 8% depending on your pet's age.

ASPCA also provides the cheapest pet insurance for most medium-sized dog breeds (30 to 60 pounds) and pet owners in the West region, including California, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. Meanwhile, Pumpkin is the most affordable option for select cat breeds like Norwegian Forest cats, Devon Rexes and Birmans, as well as those in the Southern U.S., such as Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.

ASPCA has four pet insurance discounts, whereas Pumpkin provides two ways to save. Both companies offer savings for multi-pet households and veterinary staff, but ASPCA goes beyond by having discounts for employees joining group plans and members of certain associations.

Pumpkin outperforms ASPCA for customer experience, earning the top spot in my analysis, while ASPCA lands in 16th place for dogs and cats. Based on my team and I's testing, Pumpkin offers the best service whether you're buying coverage, managing your policy or submitting claims. Additionally, its Pumpkin Now feature expedites claim approvals and deposits reimbursements for claims over $500 submitted at the vet in less than 30 minutes for RTP-enabled bank accounts, which you can use to pay for your vet bill.

On the other hand, ASPCA's service falls in the bottom tier, with functional but basic tools for buying, policy management and claims. Its strongest areas include claims fairness and speed, but ASPCA ranks 13th for both, whereas Pumpkin places second.

Overall, Pumpkin is the better option for pet insurance than ASPCA, combining the best customer experience with affordable rates. ASPCA is more ideal if you want the lowest premiums and more options for policy customization. 

Before choosing a provider, ask yourself:

• How much can I realistically afford to spend on premiums each month?
• Do I want the most coverage flexibility or a provider with a stronger reputation for customer service?
• Am I looking for optional wellness coverage and does it include the preventive care services my pet is most likely to need?
• If my pet develops ongoing health conditions, will this policy continue to meet my needs as those costs grow?

By answering these questions, you'll be able to compare insurers based on what matters most to you rather than simply choosing the highest-rated provider, whether that's ASPCA, Pumpkin or another pet insurance company.

Compare ASPCA and Pumpkin with other major pet insurance companies to determine the best choice for your pet:

To build our ASPCA and Pumpkin rankings, my team and I analyzed more than 67,000 pet profiles across breeds, ages and states, collecting quotes, testing the buying and claims experience firsthand and reviewing policy documents line by line. Our national scores are based on a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and a 7-year-old Ragdoll, each with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate. 

For a full breakdown of how we score each category, visit our methodology page.