Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance: Which Is Better? (2026)

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance: Key Takeaways

AKC costs less than Trupanion. Monthly premiums for middle-aged cats are $31 with AKC and $48 with Trupanion. Middle-aged dogs cost $60 monthly with AKC and $88 with Trupanion.

AKC wins against Trupanion for customer experience with an A+ BBB rating and 86% positive sentiment on Reddit for its affordable premiums and straightforward coverage options.

AKC offers broader pet insurance coverage than Trupanion, being the only provider to cover both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous enrollment.

Is Trupanion or AKC Pet Insurance Better?

According to MoneyGeek's analysis, Trupanion offers better pet insurance for cats. AKC is ideal for dogs. Your best option between these two providers varies based on your pet's needs.

Affordability: Trupanion ranks fifth nationally for cats, beating AKC by four spots, but AKC ranks fifth for dogs, outperforming Trupanion by one spot.
Customer Experience: AKC ranks third nationally for both cats and dogs, beating Trupanion by two spots across the board.
Coverage: AKC dominates with the top national ranking for both cats and dogs, while Trupanion is behind by one rank.

Data filtered by:


Cat	Trupanion	5	6
Dog	AKC	2	6

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider

All scores presented here were based on averages for experiences and pricing for a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll, with a $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit and 80% reimbursement rate.

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Trupanion and AKC Comparison by State

AKC ranks best for dog insurance in all 50 states and beats Trupanion nationwide. For cats, Trupanion wins in 28 states. AKC leads in 22 states.

Data filtered by:


Alabama	Cat	Trupanion
Alabama	Dog	AKC
Alaska	Cat	Trupanion
Alaska	Dog	AKC
Arizona	Cat	Trupanion
Arizona	Dog	AKC
Arkansas	Cat	AKC
Arkansas	Dog	AKC
California	Cat	AKC
California	Dog	AKC
Colorado	Cat	Trupanion
Colorado	Dog	AKC
Connecticut	Cat	Trupanion
Connecticut	Dog	AKC
Delaware	Cat	Trupanion
Delaware	Dog	AKC
Florida	Cat	AKC
Florida	Dog	AKC
Georgia	Cat	Trupanion
Georgia	Dog	AKC
Hawaii	Cat	AKC
Hawaii	Dog	AKC
Idaho	Cat	Trupanion
Idaho	Dog	AKC
Illinois	Cat	Trupanion
Illinois	Dog	AKC
Indiana	Cat	AKC
Indiana	Dog	AKC
Iowa	Cat	Trupanion
Iowa	Dog	AKC
Kansas	Cat	Trupanion
Kansas	Dog	AKC
Kentucky	Cat	Trupanion
Kentucky	Dog	AKC
Louisiana	Cat	AKC
Louisiana	Dog	AKC
Maine	Cat	AKC
Maine	Dog	AKC
Maryland	Cat	AKC
Maryland	Dog	AKC
Massachusetts	Cat	Trupanion
Massachusetts	Dog	AKC
Michigan	Cat	Trupanion
Michigan	Dog	AKC
Minnesota	Cat	Trupanion
Minnesota	Dog	AKC
Mississippi	Cat	AKC
Mississippi	Dog	AKC
Missouri	Cat	Trupanion
Missouri	Dog	AKC
Montana	Cat	AKC
Montana	Dog	AKC
Nebraska	Cat	Trupanion
Nebraska	Dog	AKC
Nevada	Cat	Trupanion
Nevada	Dog	AKC
New Hampshire	Cat	Trupanion
New Hampshire	Dog	AKC
New Jersey	Cat	Trupanion
New Jersey	Dog	AKC
New Mexico	Cat	AKC
New Mexico	Dog	AKC
New York	Cat	Trupanion
New York	Dog	AKC
North Carolina	Cat	AKC
North Carolina	Dog	AKC
North Dakota	Cat	AKC
North Dakota	Dog	AKC
Ohio	Cat	AKC
Ohio	Dog	AKC
Oklahoma	Cat	AKC
Oklahoma	Dog	AKC
Oregon	Cat	Trupanion
Oregon	Dog	AKC
Pennsylvania	Cat	AKC
Pennsylvania	Dog	AKC
Rhode Island	Cat	AKC
Rhode Island	Dog	AKC
South Carolina	Cat	AKC
South Carolina	Dog	AKC
South Dakota	Cat	AKC
South Dakota	Dog	AKC
Tennessee	Cat	Trupanion
Tennessee	Dog	AKC
Texas	Cat	AKC
Texas	Dog	AKC
Utah	Cat	Trupanion
Utah	Dog	AKC
Vermont	Cat	AKC
Vermont	Dog	AKC
Virginia	Cat	Trupanion
Virginia	Dog	AKC
Washington	Cat	AKC
Washington	Dog	AKC
West Virginia	Cat	Trupanion
West Virginia	Dog	AKC
Wisconsin	Cat	Trupanion
Wisconsin	Dog	AKC
Wyoming	Cat	Trupanion
Wyoming	Dog	AKC

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider by State

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Cost

Our pet insurance cost study found Trupanion costs less for kittens. You'll save 25% compared to AKC. AKC wins for all other age groups. Senior cats see the biggest savings at 62%.

Data filtered by:


Kittens	Trupanion	$16	25%
Young Cats	AKC	$25	2%
Middle Aged Cats	AKC	$31	36%
Puppies	AKC	$37	29%
Young Dogs	AKC	$45	36%
Senior Cats	AKC	$51	62%
Middle Aged Dogs	AKC	$60	32%
Senior Dogs	AKC	$102	60%

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider

All rates presented here were based on averages for pricing for Labrador Retrievers and Ragdolls from the age of less than 1 years old up to 20 years of age across 50 states.

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Cost by State

Trupanion has the cheapest pet insurance in all 50 states for kittens. AKC leads across the country for puppies, young dogs and middle-aged to senior pets.

Data filtered by:


Alabama	AKC	$44	31%
Alaska	AKC	$59	32%
Arizona	AKC	$73	32%
Arkansas	AKC	$40	32%
California	AKC	$76	32%
Colorado	AKC	$76	32%
Connecticut	AKC	$69	32%
Delaware	AKC	$60	32%
Florida	AKC	$68	32%
Georgia	AKC	$54	32%
Hawaii	AKC	$61	32%
Idaho	AKC	$60	32%
Illinois	AKC	$74	32%
Indiana	AKC	$54	32%
Iowa	AKC	$51	32%
Kansas	AKC	$55	32%
Kentucky	AKC	$48	32%
Louisiana	AKC	$48	32%
Maine	AKC	$73	32%
Maryland	AKC	$59	31%
Massachusetts	AKC	$78	32%
Michigan	AKC	$61	32%
Minnesota	AKC	$62	32%
Mississippi	AKC	$51	32%
Missouri	AKC	$47	31%
Montana	AKC	$50	32%
Nebraska	AKC	$54	32%
Nevada	AKC	$62	32%
New Hampshire	AKC	$70	32%
New Jersey	AKC	$68	32%
New Mexico	AKC	$53	32%
New York	AKC	$65	32%
North Carolina	AKC	$54	32%
North Dakota	AKC	$46	32%
Ohio	AKC	$55	32%
Oklahoma	AKC	$50	32%
Oregon	AKC	$75	32%
Pennsylvania	AKC	$63	32%
Rhode Island	AKC	$52	32%
South Carolina	AKC	$57	32%
South Dakota	AKC	$53	32%
Tennessee	AKC	$56	32%
Texas	AKC	$64	32%
Utah	AKC	$58	31%
Vermont	AKC	$56	32%
Virginia	AKC	$64	32%
Washington	AKC	$69	32%
West Virginia	AKC	$52	32%
Wisconsin	AKC	$65	32%
Wyoming	AKC	$56	32%

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider by State

All rates presented here were based on average pricing for Labrador Retrievers and Ragdolls from the age of less than 1 years old up to 20 years of age.

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Discounts

AKC offers two pet insurance discounts. Trupanion has none. AKC is the better option if you value savings. AKC provides a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet and a 10% discount for AKC Breeder of Merit or Bred with H.E.A.R.T. participants.


Multiple pets	None	Get 5% off when you insure more than one pet with AKC.
Breeder	None	AKC Breeder of Merit or Bred with H.E.A.R.T. participants access 10% discount after using the program group code when enrolling.

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Customer Experience

AKC has better customer experience than Trupanion. AKC ranks third nationally for both pets in our analysis. Trupanion ranks fifth. Both companies earn A+ ratings from the Better Business Bureau. AKC has 86% positive sentiment among Reddit users.

Trupanion vs. AKC Trustpilot ratings

Trupanion's 4.4 out of 5 Trustpilot rating beats AKC's 2.8 out of 5. Customers praise Trupanion's fast claim processing and direct payment to vets. Some complain about high premiums and denied claims. AKC customers appreciate helpful representatives but report frequent claim denials and coverage gaps. Multiple reviewers note the company denies legitimate claims as pre-existing conditions.

Trupanion vs. AKC BBB ratings

Trupanion has an A+ BBB rating, identical to AKC's A+ rating. Trupanion is BBB Accredited; AKC isn't. This means Trupanion committed to upholding BBB Standards for Trust and passed the bureau's vetting process.

Trupanion vs. AKC pet insurance Reddit sentiment

AKC has 86% positive sentiment on Reddit from seven total comments. Trupanion earns 44% positive feedback from 16 comments. Reddit users praise AKC's affordable premiums and straightforward coverage options. Trupanion receives criticism on Reddit for high monthly costs and complicated claim processes. Some users appreciate its direct payment to veterinarians.

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Coverage

AKC offers better pet insurance coverage for dogs and cats. AKC leads our national ranking. Trupanion ranks second. Trupanion pays licensed veterinarians directly for covered claims. AKC wins as the only provider to cover both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after a year of continuous enrollment.


Diagnostics	✓	✓
Procedures	✓	✓
Medications	✓	✓
Fractures and broken bones	✓	✓
Lacerations and bite wounds	✓	✓
Parasite treatment	X	Only covers prevention through optional add-on
Cancer treatment	✓	✓
Digestive illnesses	✓	✓
Hereditary conditions	✓	Only provides coverage through optional add-on
Congenital conditions	✓	Only provides coverage through optional add-on
Chronic conditions	✓	✓
Hip dysplasia	✓	Only provides coverage through optional add-on
Deductibles	$0 to $1,000; deductible applies per condition for the lifetime of the pet	$100, $200, $250, $300, $400, $500, $600, $750, $1,000
Annual limits	Unlimited	$2,500, $5,000, $7,500, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, $25,000, Unlimited
Reimbursement rates	90%	70%, 80%, 90%
Waiting periods	5 days for accidents, 30 days for illnesses in most states. These waiting periods change for the following states: CA and NH: 30 days for illnesses, no waiting period for accidents ME: No waiting period for accidents and illnesses DE, LA, MD, MS, MT, NE, OH, PA, VT and WA: 12-day delayed effective date for new accidents and illnesses	2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, 180 days for cruciate or orthopedic conditions
Age restrictions	Only insures pets below 14 years old	No upper age limits for enrollment
Pre-existing conditions	Conditions that developed before enrollment or during waiting periods are permanently excluded	Covers curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage
Direct vet payment	Pays licensed veterinarians right at checkout, as long as the vet has Trupanion's software installed	Doesn't offer direct vet payment

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

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Add-ons

Trupanion and AKC both offer optional add-ons beyond base coverage, including breeding coverage. Trupanion's other add-ons focus on therapeutic and rehabilitation support. AKC's cover routine care, exam fees and hereditary conditions.

AKC Pet Insurance Add-ons

Pet wellness coverage: Covers routine care services, such as wellness exams, vaccinations, microchipping, spaying/neutering, routine diagnostic tests, heartworm/flea/tick prevention and teeth cleaning.
Exam coverage: Reimburses vet exam fees from specialty vet visits, primary care vet visits and emergency vet visits.
Hereditary coverage: Provides coverage for hereditary congenital conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, hip dysplasia, luxating patella and diabetes.
Breeding coverage: Covers accidents, illnesses and complications during breeding, pregnancy, whelping or nursing. This includes emergency C-sections, mastitis, gestational diabetes, eclampsia, dystocia and pyometra.
Final respects coverage: Provides reimbursement for end-of-life-services such as burial and cremation.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Add-ons

Recovery and complementary care: Covers rehabilitative therapy, hydrotherapy, chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, and behavioral therapies related to eligible accidents or illnesses.
Pet owner assistance package: Reimburses additional expenses related to lost pets, boarding, travel or holiday cancellation, third-party property damage caused by your pet, or cremation or burial assistance.
Breeding: Provides coverage for illnesses and injuries related to breeding, whelping and queening.

Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance: Bottom Line

AKC is better for dog insurance. It offers lower rates, better customer service and broader coverage. AKC has 86% positive sentiment on Reddit and covers curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after a year of continuous enrollment. Trupanion is ideal for cat insurance, with cheaper rates for kittens and direct vet payment.

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Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Comparison: FAQ

Compare Trupanion and AKC pet insurance through these common questions:

What is the difference between Trupanion vs. AKC pet insurance?

Trupanion offers a per-condition deductible with direct payment to veterinarians and has a 4.4 out of 5.0 Trustpilot rating. AKC offers pet insurance discounts and covers curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage.

Which is cheaper: Trupanion or AKC pet insurance?

AKC is more affordable than Trupanion across most pet age categories, from puppies and young cats and dogs to middle-aged and senior pets. AKC offers the biggest savings for senior cats at 62% less than Trupanion, while Trupanion is cheaper for kittens by 25%.

Do Trupanion and AKC cover pre-existing conditions?

AKC is the only provider to cover both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous enrollment. Trupanion permanently excludes conditions that occur before enrollment or during waiting periods.

How do reimbursement and deductibles compare between Trupanion vs. AKC pet insurance?

Trupanion uses a per-condition deductible you pay once per illness or injury for the pet's lifetime. AKC requires an annual deductible that resets each policy year. Trupanion offers one fixed reimbursement rate at 90%. AKC lets you choose 70%, 80% or 90%.

Which is better for puppies: Trupanion or AKC pet insurance?

Both providers cover puppies from eight weeks old. AKC costs less for puppies with 29% savings compared to Trupanion. AKC offers pet insurance discounts and optional wellness plans for vaccinations, microchipping and spaying/neutering. These plans help with puppy care costs.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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