What’s the best pet insurance – Trupanion or ManyPets?
It’s a close one. One insurer, ManyPets, is much newer and not currently available in all states, but both know what they’re doing and offer great pet insurance plans with different benefits to different pet parents. After reading this comparison we hope you’ll feel confident making a call on which one comes out on top.
The decision is yours alone; it's about what's best for you and your pet. Remember that just because another pet parent chooses Trupanion doesn’t mean you shouldn’t choose ManyPets.
We strongly suggest that you also use our super-speedy pet insurance quote page and review pages, which will help you decide which pet insurance plan is best for you.
What do the plans cover?
ManyPets and Trupanion both offer accident and illness plans covering things like hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions.
Through its Recovery and Complementary Care add-on, Trupanion can cover alternative therapies for you. ManyPets' preventative care wellness add-on will cover routine treatments.
Trupanion also covers prosthetics and non-routine dental coverage and will pay for half of your furry one’s prescription foods and euthanasia fees. ManyPets covers X-rays and prescription medication, as does Trupanion, but Trupanion is alone in not covering vet exam fees. Both offer end-of-life coverage, dental accidents, and dental illness.
Like many insurers, both only offer coverage for cats and dogs, which is worth thinking about if your pet does not fall into these two furry categories.
Both plans cover many common illnesses and conditions that a pet can suffer from, such as:
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Cataracts
- Cruciate injury
- Dental disease
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Ear infections
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastroenteritis
- Kidney disease
- Limping
- Liver disease
- Lymphoma
- Pancreatitis
- Seizures
- Vomiting
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual coverage options | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible options | $0-$1,000 | $100, $250, $500, $750 |
| Reimbursement options | 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% |
| When does coverage start? | 5-30 days | 15 days |
| Maximum age at sign up | 14 years | 14 years |
| Are vet exam fees included at no extra cost? | ||
| Are dental accidents covered? | ||
| Are dental illnesses covered? | ||
| Is there a wellness plan offered? | ||
| Is there a virtual vet/telehealth service? | ||
| End of life coverage | ||
| Is there a multi-pet discount offered? | ||
| Is there a charge for paying monthly? | ||
| Is there an app to make claims? |
*Coverage is based on choosing unlimited coverage, 250 deductible and 90% reimbursement
Are there any exclusions?
Both ManyPets and Trupanion exclude pre-existing conditions. ManyPets, however, says that it only categorises something as pre-existing if it has required advice, treatment or medication in the last 18 months or is incurable.
They will include hip dysplasia in one leg even if the other has had dysplasia, provided that the newly covered leg fitted the criteria for not having a pre-existing condition. It doesn't, however, cover hip dysplasia if the pet enrolled is six years or older.
It’s always best to read the full list of exclusions before signing up for any pet insurance plan.
How expensive are Trupanion and ManyPets?
Overall, ManyPets is likely to be significantly cheaper. One reason premiums at Trupanion tend to be higher because you can only adjust your policy by changing the cost of your deductible (though this is more customizable than with any other insurer, with a range between $0 and $1,000).
Trupanion has an unlimited coverage cap, as does ManyPets, and won’t raise your premium as your pet gets older (ManyPets probably will).
Neither company charges you for paying monthly but Trupanion, unlike ManyPets, has an enrolment fee (between $25 and $35 if you live in one of the states in which it is requested).
ManyPets has more reimbursement options (70%, 80%, 90%) – not difficult, as Trupanion only has one (90%) – and with lower reimbursements come lower premiums.
Trupanion claims to be the only company that offers a lifetime per-condition deductible, meaning pets with a chronic condition would only ever incur the cost of the deductible once.
To be sure of an exact comparison for your pet, use our indispensable quote calculator – there will be examples where the difference is less significant.
 | | |
|---|---|---|
Mixed medium 3 months old in Los Angeles
| $31.79per month | N/A* |
Golden Retriever 3 years old in San Diego
| $64.34per month | $122.95per month |
Chihuahua 6 years old in New York City
| $83.11per month | $153.23per month |
Domestic Shorthair 3 months old in San Antonio
| $13.18per month | N/A* |
Domestic Shorthair 3 year old in Jacksonville
| $13.98per month | $44.47per month |
Mixed medium
3 months old in Los Angeles
$5,000 annual coverage
Golden Retriever
3 years old in San Diego
Unlimited annual coverage
Chihuahua
6 years old in New York City
Unlimited annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 months old in San Antonio
$5,000 annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 year old in Jacksonville
Unlimited annual coverage
Coverage options may vary.
Do Trupanion or ManyPets offer discounts?
ManyPets doesn't offer discounts. Trupanion only offers them to service animals.
Are the plans customizable?
Absolutely. ManyPets has a preventative care add-on to cover routine wellness costs, while Trupanion has its Recovery and Complementary Care add-on and Pet Owner Assistance Package, which covers expenses out of the vet’s office like cremation, boarding fees if you have to go to hospital, and rewards for lost pets.
At Trupanion you can’t change your reimbursement level from the standard 90% but, as mentioned above, you can customize your deductible amount to anything up to $1,000. ManyPets has three deductible amounts ($100, $250, $500).
How do I make claims?
Trupanion lets you make claims via their new app, and you can also submit a claim form on the website, via fax or by email – and if you’re unsatisfied with the outcome, you can ask your vet to appeal the decision. It claims to process 60% of claims within 24 hours. Trupanion can also pay your vet directly if they have the company’s software (around one in six vets in the US does).
ManyPets doesn’t have the option of an app but has a quick claims process with two options: calling the company or doing it online. It aims to settle claims within 48 hours.
Are they easy to contact?
They certainly are. ManyPets has myriad options: phone (888 978 5291), email, live website chat and social media. Trupanion also has a range of options: live chat, contact form, social media, a 24/7 toll-free number (888 733 2685), and email.
Customer reviews
Trupanion customers appear to be contented people, citing the customer service and efficient claims process as reasons to stay with them. Some claim that it can be difficult to procure payment from Trupanion but, on the whole, the feedback is very positive.
While ManyPets customers are glowing with praise for the company, it is impossible to ignore that there are some negative reviews that find fault with the company’s customer service. ManyPets is a young company, however, and much of this could be put down to teething problems.
Our Trupanion rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Our ManyPets rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Frequently asked questions
People ask us a lot of different questions about the pet insurance providers we work with. It’s the smart thing to do because no two insurers are the same. Here are some common questions (and the answers!).
What are the waiting periods?
ManyPets' is 15 days for illness and 15 days for accidents but if you’re switching from a different insurer, it's unique in offering to bring down those waiting periods to 24 hours in both instances. Trupanion asks you to wait five days for accidents and 30 days for illness cover to take effect.
Do the plans include behavioral treatments?
ManyPets’ plans don’t but if you take out Trupanion’s Recovery and Complementary Care Rider you’ll have them covered.
Is there a maximum age for enrolment?
At both it’s 14 years old.
Do they need my pet’s medical records?
Yes, both will. ManyPets wants medical records from the last 18 months. Trupanion needs your pet’s full medical records but makes no mention of it being only for your first claim.
Will the insurer pay the vet directly?
Trupanion will if the vet has Trupanion Express software (around one in six vets do). With ManyPets – as is the case with nearly every insurer – you'll need to pay the bill and claim the money back.
Is my pet covered in other countries?
ManyPets’ policies are only available in 36 states but will cover you across the US and on short trips to Canada. Trupanion covers your pet across the US, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Do they have a vet telehealth service?
Neither company does, unfortunately.
For more information on vet telehealth services, visit our telehealth service guide.
Final verdict: Trupanion vs ManyPets
As a company available in all the US states and with more experience than ManyPets, Trupanion may be considered a trustier pair of hands. But its less flexible policy and higher premiums may be restrictive to a lot of people.
For a lot of people, the two companies’ unlimited coverage cap is a comforting feature. What’s likely to be more relevant, though, is that ManyPets offers more customization and cheaper prices than its rival. That said, ManyPets might not be available in your state and Trupanion's lifetime deductible on conditions could save thousands of dollars over a pet's life.
Take your time making your choice. It isn't easy sometimes but we hope we have given you enough information to help you make a better choice!