Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Insurance Pet Insurance Spot vs. Trupanion: Pet Insurance Comparison Updated Jul 12, 2024 6-min read Written by Lauren Lee Written by Lauren Lee Expertise: Pet health, pet insurance Lauren Lee writes pet-related content for a variety of companies and clients. She worked in journalism and then as an international research and consulting firm editor before teaching language arts for 15 years. She rescues dogs and advocates for bully breeds. Learn more about Lauren Lee 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 Unlimited Benefit limit Benefit limit $2,500, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited Unlimited Deductible $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000 $0 – $1,000 Deductible Deductible $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000 $0 – $1,000 See the best pet insurance. About Spot and Trupanion Spot and Trupanion are two popular pet insurance providers, each offering distinct advantages for pet owners. Spot is known for its customizable coverage options and budget-friendly plans, appealing to those who seek flexibility in their pet insurance. Trupanion is popular for its comprehensive coverage and direct payment to veterinarians, making it an excellent choice for pet owners who want extensive protection and convenience. You’re likely looking for reliable, affordable, comprehensive insurance to ensure your pets receive the best care. Spot offers a variety of plans you can tailor to fit your budget and needs. Trupanion provides a straightforward approach with its comprehensive plan covering a wide range of medical conditions and treatments. In this comparison, we will explore the features, benefits, and potential drawbacks of each provider to help you decide which one best suits your pet’s needs and your financial situation. Table of Contents Skip to Section Does Spot or Trupanion offer better coverage?Are policies from Spot or Trupanion more affordable?Scenarios where Spot or Trupanion is better Does Spot or Trupanion offer better coverage? Spot and Trupanion both provide accident and illness policies for dogs and cats. However, Spot also offers accident-only and preventive care plans, which Trupanion does not. In comparing the accident and illness plans, we found that Spot offers broader coverage than Trupanion, including exam fees, microchipping, and behavioral issues, in addition to accidents, illnesses, and hereditary and chronic conditions. While Trupanion also covers these basics, some benefits are available only as optional add-ons. Spot does not cover experimental treatments and boarding, similar to Trupanion. For a detailed comparison, please click “coverage comparison” below. Coverage comparison ConditionSpotTrupanionAccidentsYesYesAlternative therapyYesYesBehavioral issuesYesOptional add-onBoardingNoNoBreedingNoOptional add-onCancer treatmentYesYesChronic conditionsYesYesCongenital conditionsYesYesCosmetic proceduresYesNoDental injuryYesYesEnd of life expensesYesYesExam feesYesNoExperimental treatmentNoUnknownHereditary conditionsYesYesIllnessesYesYesIV fluids and medicationsYesYesMicrochipping costsYesNoMRI, CT scans, and X-raysYesYesPre-existing conditionsNoNoPrescription foodYes*50% for up to two monthsPrescription medicationYesYesSupplementsYes*YesSurgery and hospitalizationYesYesTooth extractionYesYes (if vet recommended)* Only to treat covered conditions. Are policies from Spot or Trupanion more affordable? We compared the cost of Spot and Trupanion by using each company’s free online quote tool. To ensure a fair comparison, we reviewed four different quotes, each with the same policy term, benefit limit, reimbursement rate, and deductible. In three of the four quotes, Trupanion was the more affordable option. On average, a Trupanion policy was 6.08% less expensive than a Spot policy. Here is a full breakdown of the quotes we obtained. Dog quotes Quote 1: Takka, a 5-year-old female Weimaraner in Cornwall, Connecticut The policy details for this quote included unlimited payouts, a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $500 deductible. PolicySpotTrupanionAccident & illness$105.25$99.78*Accident-only$41.46N/AWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95N/A*The cost is $112.49 if you add the Recovery and Complementary Care package to match Spot’s behavioral issues coverage. Quote 2: Pudgy, an 8-month-old male Plott Hound in Pound Ridge, New York The policy details for this quote included unlimited payouts, a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $250 deductible. PolicySpotTrupanionAccident & illness$116.73$126.97*Accident-only$62.43N/AWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95N/A*If you add the Recovery and Complementary Care package to match Spot’s behavioral issues coverage, the cost is $143.41 Cat quotes Quote 1: Francie, a 2-year-old female American Bobtail in Fargo, North Dakota The policy details for this quote included unlimited payouts, a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $750 deductible. PolicySpotTrupanionAccident & illness$19.34$18.17*Accident-only$14.76N/AWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95N/A*If you add the Recovery and Complementary Care package to match Spot’s behavioral issues coverage, the cost is $19.70 Quote 2: Madden, an 8-year-old male Persian in Stamford, Connecticut The policy details for this quote included unlimited payouts, a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $100 deductible. PolicySpotTrupanionAccident & illness$169.70$141.12*Accident-only$51.40N/AWellness add-on$9.95 or $24.95N/A*If you add the Recovery and Complementary Care package to match Spot’s behavioral issues coverage, the cost is $159.50. Scenarios where Spot or Trupanion is better Now that we’ve examined the coverage and cost of each company’s policy, let’s see whether Spot or Trupanion would be the better option for pet owners in different situations. If you…ConsiderWant exam fees to be coveredSpotWant to be reimbursed for preventive careSpotWant an accident-only policySpotWant your insurer to pay your vet directlyTrupanionWant an annual deductible (rather than per condition)SpotWant a shorter waiting periodSpotHave multiple petsSpot Here’s a closer look at how these scenarios might affect your decision. If you want exam fees to be covered One key difference in our comparison is exam fee reimbursement. Spot covers exam fees related to conditions covered under your policy. Trupanion doesn’t cover any exam fees, even if they are for a condition covered under your policy. Winner Spot If you want to be reimbursed for preventive care Preventive care includes nutritional needs, wellness checks, microchipping, spaying or neutering, dental care, vaccinations, and parasite prevention. Spot is the clear choice for preventive care reimbursement, offering two add-on plans. Trupanion does not offer preventive care coverage. Winner Spot If you want an accident-only policy Accident-only policies cover injuries, broken bones, and toxin ingestion, making them ideal for active, accident-prone dogs. Spot offers accident-only policies, while Trupanion does not, making Spot the better choice for this type of coverage. Winner Spot If you want to pay the vet directly For urgent medical care, Trupanion stands out by paying your veterinarian at the time of service, provided they have the necessary software. Spot doesn’t offer direct vet payment, which could add to the financial stress during emergency situations. Winner Trupanion If you want an annual deductible rather than per condition Spot’s annual deductible means you only meet your deductible once per year, regardless of the number of conditions. Trupanion requires a deductible for each new condition, which could increase your out-of-pocket costs. Winner Spot If you want a shorter waiting period Spot has a 14-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses, while Trupanion’s is five days for accidents and 30 days for illnesses. For those needing faster coverage, Spot is the better option. Winner Spot If you have multiple pets Spot offers a 10% discount for each additional pet insured under the same plan, while Trupanion does not offer any multi-pet discounts, making Spot the more economical choice for multi-pet households. Winner Spot How we rated Spot and Trupanion LendEDU’s editorial rating system is designed to help readers find companies that offer the best pet insurance. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms. We compared Spot and Trupanion to several pet insurance providers, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take on each company is represented in our ratings and best-for designations, recapped below. ProductBest forOur ratingSpot pet insuranceSelection of terms4.5/5Trupanion pet insuranceDirect vet payment4.4/5