AKC offers better pet insurance coverage for both dogs and cats than Trupanion, ranking first nationally while Trupanion ranks second. Research shows AKC provides more flexible deductible options and coverage adjustment policies, while both companies offer similar annual limits and reimbursement rates, though Trupanion features shorter accident waiting periods.
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance
Updated: November 3, 2025
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Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance: Key Takeaways
AKC provides more affordable pet insurance rates, with monthly premiums of $31 for middle-aged cats and $60 for middle-aged dogs, while Trupanion charges $48 and $88 respectively.
AKC ranks third nationally in customer experience for both cats and dogs, though its Trustpilot score of 3.2 out of 5.0 falls below Trupanion's rating of 4.2 stars.
AKC leads in coverage rankings, placing first nationally compared to Trupanion's second place position, with both providers offering accident coverage and wellness care options.
Is Trupanion or AKC Pet Insurance Better?
Data filtered by:
Dog
| Affordability | AKC | 5 | 6 |
| Coverage | AKC | 1 | 2 |
| Customer Experience | AKC | 3 | 5 |
| Overall Score | AKC | 2 | 6 |
Trupanion and AKC Comparison by State
Trupanion is the best pet insurance company in 27 states for cats, while AKC leads in just Oklahoma for cat coverage. For dogs, AKC ranks first in eight states: Arkansas, Indiana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Washington.
Data filtered by:
Overall Score
Dog
| Alabama | AKC | 3 | 3 |
| Alaska | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Arizona | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Arkansas | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| California | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Colorado | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Connecticut | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Delaware | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Florida | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Georgia | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Hawaii | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Idaho | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Illinois | AKC | 3 | 3 |
| Indiana | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| Iowa | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Kansas | AKC | 3 | 3 |
| Kentucky | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Louisiana | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Maine | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Maryland | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Massachusetts | AKC | 3 | 3 |
| Michigan | AKC | 4 | 2 |
| Minnesota | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Mississippi | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Missouri | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Montana | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Nebraska | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Nevada | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| New Hampshire | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| New Jersey | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| New Mexico | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| New York | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| North Carolina | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| North Dakota | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| Ohio | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Oklahoma | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| Oregon | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Rhode Island | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| South Carolina | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| South Dakota | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| Tennessee | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Texas | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Utah | AKC | 4 | 2 |
| Vermont | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Virginia | AKC | 4 | 2 |
| Washington | AKC | 1 | 5 |
| West Virginia | AKC | 2 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | AKC | 3 | 3 |
| Wyoming | AKC | 2 | 4 |
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Cost
AKC offers more affordable pet insurance than Trupanion across nearly all age groups for both cats and dogs. For middle-aged dogs, AKC costs $60 per month compared with Trupanion's $88 per month. Middle-aged cats cost $31 with AKC versus $48 with Trupanion.
Learn how much pet insurance costs across different age categories.
Data filtered by:
Select
| 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% |
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Cost by State
AKC offers the cheapest pet insurance across nearly all states and pet categories. AKC leads in 50 states for middle-aged dogs and cats, while Trupanion only provides lower rates for kittens nationwide.
Data filtered by:
Middle Aged Dogs
| 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% |
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Discounts
While both Trupanion and AKC Pet Insurance provide ways to help lower the cost of coverage, their approaches differ. AKC offers more formal pet insurance discounts, while Trupanion focuses on flexible coverage programs and immediate coverage offers for new pets. The table below outlines the main savings opportunities each provider offers.
None — Trupanion does not offer a standard multi-pet discount. | Save up to 5% when you insure more than one pet under the same policy, depending on your state. | |
Bundling | None | May provide a discount in select states for policyholders who purchase multiple AKC products. |
Annual Pay-In Full | Not available as a standard discount. | Not widely advertised and may vary by state or plan. |
Association/Club Member | Offers special “Exam Day” and “Go Home Day” programs that include short-term coverage at no cost. | Certain AKC registration offers may include free initial coverage or promotional savings for new puppy owners. |
Employer Group | Not offered as a standard employer program. | Available through select voluntary benefit programs. |
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Customer Experience
AKC delivers better customer experience than Trupanion, ranking third nationally for both dogs and cats in our analysis. While both providers maintain A+ BBB ratings, their performance varies across platforms. Trupanion earns a higher Trustpilot score of 4.2 out of 5.0 compared to AKC's 3.2, but AKC's stronger overall customer experience ranking suggests more consistent service quality.
Trupanion vs AKC Trustpilot ratings
Trupanion earns a higher Trustpilot rating at 4.2 out of 5.0 compared to AKC's 3.2 out of 5.0. Trupanion's verified customer reviews generally highlight faster claims processing, while AKC reviews show more mixed feedback on customer service responsiveness.
Trupanion vs AKC BBB ratings
Both providers maintain A+ BBB ratings, but Trupanion holds full accreditation while AKC has an A+ rating without accreditation. BBB accreditation indicates stronger commitment to complaint resolution and transparent business practices.
Trupanion vs AKC Pet Insurance Reddit sentiment
We analyzed Reddit discussions and found contrasting sentiment between the providers. AKC received 86% positive feedback from seven total comments, while Trupanion achieved 44% positive sentiment from 16 comments. The larger sample size for Trupanion provides more comprehensive user perspective despite lower positive percentage.
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Coverage
AKC offers better pet insurance coverage for dogs and cats than Trupanion, ranking sixth nationally while Trupanion ranks eighth. Both companies provide comparable options for deductibles, annual limits and reimbursement rates, but AKC has a shorter waiting period for accidents, more coverage selection flexibility and allows pet owners to change their coverage within the first 14 days of purchase.
Diagnostics | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ | |
✓ | ✓ | |
Fractures and broken bones | ✓ | ✓ |
Lacerations and bite wounds | ✓ | ✓ |
Parasite treatment | Covered for treatment; prevention requires separate care. | Covered for illness treatment; preventive care available with add-on. |
✓ | ✓ | |
Digestive illnesses | ✓ | ✓ |
Hereditary conditions | ✓ (included by default) | Optional add-on covers hereditary and congenital issues. |
Congenital conditions | ✓ | Optional add-on coverage available. |
Chronic conditions | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | Covered when hereditary add-on is selected. | |
Customizable deductible options. | $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 depending on plan. | |
Unlimited payouts for the pet’s lifetime. | Up to $10,000 or more based on plan selection. | |
Up to 90% reimbursement for eligible expenses. | 70%, 80%, or 90% depending on the chosen plan. | |
30-day waiting period waived under “Exam Day” or “Go Home Day” offers. | Waiting periods vary by state and plan; pre-existing conditions covered after one year of continuous coverage. | |
Age restrictions | No upper age limit for enrollment. | Enrollment generally open for pets eight weeks and older. |
Excluded from coverage under standard policy terms. | Covers pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage. | |
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
If you’re looking to expand your pet’s financial protection beyond accident and illness coverage, both Trupanion and AKC Pet Insurance provide add-ons that help cover wellness and preventive services.
Trupanion Pet Insurance Add-ons
AKC offers multiple optional plans that allow pet owners to customize coverage based on their needs.
- Defender Wellness plan: Covers exams, vaccines, flea/tick medication, and routine dental cleaning.
- DefenderPlus Wellness plan: Adds spay/neuter, heartworm testing, and preventive blood tests.
- Exam and office visit coverage: Covers exam fees related to illness or injury visits.
- Hereditary and congenital condition coverage: Available as an optional rider for hereditary or breed-specific health issues.
- Breeding and pregnancy coverage: Covers complications from breeding, pregnancy, or nursing.
AKC Pet Insurance Add-ons
Trupanion provides a few specialized programs designed to make coverage more flexible and immediate for pet owners.
- Exam Day and Go Home Day offers: Allow new pet owners to activate immediate short-term coverage during their first vet exam or adoption visit.
- Recovery and complementary care rider: Covers rehabilitation, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and chiropractic treatments.
- Pet owner assistance package: Provides reimbursement for third-party liability, boarding fees, and cremation or euthanasia costs after a covered event.
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance: Bottom Line
Choosing between Trupanion and AKC depends on your priorities. AKC delivers more comprehensive coverage options and better customer service, earning a 3.2 out of 5.0 Trustpilot rating and A+ BBB rating. AKC also offers competitive rates at $31 monthly for middle-aged cats and $60 for dogs. However, Trupanion provides more affordable coverage for cat owners seeking basic protection at lower costs.
Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance Comparison: FAQ
Compare Trupanion and AKC pet insurance through these common questions:
Which is cheaper: Trupanion vs AKC pet insurance?
AKC pet insurance is cheaper than Trupanion across most categories and states. AKC charges $31 monthly for middle-aged cats compared to Trupanion's $48, while middle-aged dogs cost $60 with AKC versus $88 with Trupanion. Only kittens see lower rates with Trupanion nationwide.
Which has better customer service: Trupanion vs AKC pet insurance?
AKC delivers superior customer service, ranking third nationally for customer experience compared to Trupanion's eighth-place position. AKC holds an A+ BBB rating (not accredited) and a 3.2 out of 5.0 Trustpilot score, while Trupanion maintains an A+ BBB rating with a higher 4.2 Trustpilot rating.
Which offers better coverage: Trupanion vs AKC pet insurance?
AKC pet insurance offers better coverage than Trupanion, ranking first nationally for both cats and dogs while Trupanion ranks second. AKC provides more comprehensive add-on options including wellness plans, behavioral therapy coverage, and preventive care benefits. Both insurers cover standard treatments like diagnostics, surgeries, and chronic conditions, but AKC's extensive customization options make it the superior choice for comprehensive pet protection.
Can I switch from Trupanion vs AKC pet insurance or vice versa?
Yes, you can switch between Trupanion and AKC pet insurance anytime by canceling your current policy and buying a new one. However, new waiting periods will apply: typically 14 days for illnesses and 30 days for orthopedic conditions. Any health issues your pet had under the previous policy will be considered pre-existing conditions.
Does Trupanion vs AKC cover pre-existing conditions?
Neither Trupanion nor AKC Pet Insurance covers pre-existing conditions when you first enroll your pet. However, both companies may provide coverage later for curable conditions. Trupanion covers previously curable conditions after 12 consecutive months without symptoms, treatment, or medication. AKC follows similar guidelines for non-chronic issues after symptom-free periods.
Can I get discounts with both Trupanion vs AKC pet insurance?
Both Trupanion and AKC pet insurance offer discount opportunities. Trupanion provides fewer discount options, primarily focusing on employer group benefits and veterinary hospital partnerships. AKC offers more discount variety, including 5% off for annual payments, multi-pet discounts up to 10%, and member savings through their kennel club affiliations and partnerships.
What are the age limits for Trupanion vs AKC pet insurance?
Trupanion accepts pets of any age without upper enrollment limits, making it accessible for senior animals. AKC Pet Insurance restricts enrollment for older pets, typically setting age limits between 10-14 years depending on the breed. This makes Trupanion the better option for owners with aging pets.
How We Scored Trupanion vs. AKC Pet Insurance
Evaluating Trupanion and AKC pet insurance required gathering quotes using identical pet profiles and policy terms. Both providers were assessed under the same coverage conditions to ensure fair comparison:
- $5,000 annual limit
- 80% reimbursement rate
- $500 deductible
- 6-year-old Labrador Retriever for dog coverage
- 7-year-old Ragdoll for cat coverage
MoneyGeek then scored both companies across three weighted categories:
Affordability (50% of score): We collected pricing data across multiple pet ages and coverage options to determine actual monthly costs, including available discounts that affect real premiums.
Customer Experience (30% of score): We analyzed Trustpilot ratings and online reviews to measure customer satisfaction with claims processing and support services.
Coverage (20% of score): We examined policy features, waiting periods and available add-ons to assess which provider offers more comprehensive pet health protection.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like 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.