Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Insurance Pet Insurance Spot vs. Pumpkin: Which is Better? Updated Nov 29, 2023 6-min read Written by Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Written by Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Expertise: Student loans, personal loans, home loans, insurance, credit cards Jeff Gitlen, CEPF®, is the director of content operations at LendEDU. He graduated from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Learn more about Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® If your pet suffers an unexpected accident or illness, it could lead to pricey vet bills. So pricey in some cases, that treatment may be unaffordable, leaving both you and your pet in a difficult situation. To avoid these uncomfortable situations, a growing number of pet owners are turning to pet insurance. Two companies offering this type of financial protection include Spot and Pumpkin. In this Spot vs. Pumpkin comparison, you’ll find out what each company covers, which is best for different situations, and which we picked as our choice between the two. In this comparison: Spot vs. Pumpkin: At a glanceWhich offers better coverage?Which offers more affordable policies?Scenarios in which one provider is better than the otherOur choice between the two companies Spot vs. Pumpkin: At a glance 4.5 View Rates 4.4 View Rates Reimbursement 70%, 80%, or 90% 90% Reimbursement Reimbursement 70%, 80%, or 90% 90% Benefit limit $2,500, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited $7,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 Benefit limit Benefit limit $2,500, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited $7,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 Deductible $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000 $100, $250, or $500 Deductible Deductible $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000 $100, $250, or $500 See the best pet insurance. Does Spot or Pumpkin offer better coverage? Spot and Pumpkin policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. Therefore, you’ll find that the inclusions and exclusions of their policies are nearly identical. Here are some things that are and are not covered by each company. SpotPumpkinAccidentsYesYesAlternative therapyYesYesBehavioral issuesYesYesBoardingNoNoBreedingNoNoCancer treatmentYesYesChronic conditionsYesYesCongenital conditionsYesYesCosmetic proceduresYesYesDental illnessYesYesEnd of life expensesYesYesExam feesYesYesExperimental treatmentNoNoHereditary conditionsYesYesIllnessesYesYesIV fluids and medicationsYesYesMicrochip implementationYesYesMRI, CT scans, or X-raysYesYesPre-existing conditionsOnly if curableOnly if curablePrescription foodYes*Yes*Prescription medicationsYesYesSupplementsYes*Yes*Surgery and hospitalizationYesYesTooth extractionsYesYes *Only to treat covered conditions. Are policies from Spot or Pumpkin more affordable? Through each company’s free online quote tool, we received several quotes to compare the cost of different policies. When policy details are the same, the cost of coverage is identical between the two companies. The only difference is that Spot offers a broader selection of terms and an accident-only plan that can lead to cheaper policies. Here are the monthly prices for several quotes we requested. Quote one: An eight-week old male Labradoodle in New Jersey The policy details for the following quote included a $10,000 annual benefit limit, $500 annual deductible, and 90% reimbursement rate. PolicySpotPumpkinAccident & illness$46.95$46.95Accident-only$32.49Not availableWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95$18.95 Quote two: A two-year old male Golden Retriever in New Jersey The policy details for the following quote included a $10,000 annual benefit limit, $250 annual deductible, and 80% reimbursement rate. Note: Pumpkin only offers a 90% reimbursement rate, so a quote could not be given for this type of policy. PolicySpotPumpkinAccident & illness$77.26Not availableAccident-only$36.73Not availableWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95Not available Quote three: A four-year old female Persian in North Carolina The policy details for the following quote included a $7,000 annual benefit limit, $500 annual deductible, and 90% reimbursement rate. PolicySpotPumpkinAccident & illness$35.02$35.02Acident-only$14.67Not availableWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95$18.95 Quote four: A one-year old female Persian in North Carolina The policy details for the following quote included a $7,000 annual benefit limit, $500 annual deductible, and 70% reimbursement rate. Note: Pumpkin only offers a 90% reimbursement rate, so a quote could not be given for this type of policy. PolicySpotPumpkinAccident & illness$22.92Not availableAccident-only$11.21Not availableWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95Not available Scenarios in which Spot or Pumpkin are better than the other With coverage and pricing being so similar, it’s important to compare different scenarios to see which company is better than the other. Here are some scenarios where Spot and Pumpkin differ, to help you determine which is the best for your needs. If you want to customize your policyIf you want unlimited coverageIf a wellness plan is a priorityIf you want an accident-only policyIf you frequently travel to CanadaIf you value customer reviews If you want to customize your policy: Spot The ability to customize your policy is common amongst pet insurance companies, but some offer more options than others. With these two companies, Spot is the clear choice for those who want to have the most control over their policy details. One benefit of having the ability to customize your policy is that you can adjust the deductible, reimbursement rate, or coverage limit to find a price that fits your budget. If you want unlimited coverage: Spot Some pet owners enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that regardless of the cost of care required to treat their pet, they won’t reach a benefit limit that restricts the provider from continuing to reimburse the owner for those costs. This is where the benefit of having an unlimited cap on your coverage comes in. There are no set limits on the costs of care and you’ll be reimbursed at the same percentage regardless of price. Spot should be your choice in this scenario as Pumpkin does not offer this option for either dogs or cats. If a wellness plan is a priority: Pumpkin Spot and Pumpkin each offer wellness plans that can reimburse you for routine care, such as wellness exams, vaccinations, blood and fecal tests, and more. Pumpkin is our choice for those prioritizing a wellness plan because it covers the entire cost of eligible items. Other providers, like Spot, only reimburse you up to a set annual limit. If you want an accident-only policy: Spot There are two main pet insurance plans commonly offered by providers, an accident and illness policy or an accident-only policy. The primary difference between the two is that an accident-only policy does not cover veterinary care caused by illness, such as cancer, chronic conditions, and genetic conditions. Accident-only policies are also generally cheaper than accident and illness policies since they cover fewer items. If you’re interested in considering this type of plan, Spot should be your choice. This is because Pumpkin does not offer an accident-only plan. If you expect to travel to Canada: Pumpkin For U.S. residents who frequently spend time in Canada with their pets, it’s good to know that Pumpkin allows policyholders to visit any licensed veterinarian, specialist, or emergency clinic in both the United States and Canada. Spot, unfortunately, does not offer coverage in Canada. If you value customer reviews: Pumpkin With any financial product, taking note of reviews from other customers can help you better understand the company, the service it offers, and the quality of its product. If you value what customers have to say, then Pumpkin is an excellent option. As of March 16, 2022, Pumpkin has a 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Spot on the other hand has a 4.3 out of 5. Which company is our choice between Spot and Pumpkin? The customizability of terms and comparison of different scenarios led us to select Spot as our choice between these two providers. We value companies that offer maximum customization of their policies because each pet owner’s situation and needs are unique to them. So being able to adjust the terms to find a price that fits your budget is important. Interested in getting a personalized quote from Spot? Visit its website for a free quote.