Alternatives to Orijen

Alternatives to Orijen: 10 better-rated foods

Orijen averages 84/100 across 15 products on the PetFoodRate independent A–E methodology. Here are 10 better-rated foods worth considering, picked across species and food type.

In short

The best-rated alternative to Orijen in our database is Applaws Kitten (90/100, grade A), versus Orijen's 84/100 average. Below are 10 foods scored higher than Orijen, one per species + food-type pairing, ranked on our independent A–E method.

15 Orijen products graded
84/100 average score
10 better-rated alternatives

The Orijen profile across 5 criteria

Across the 15 Orijen products we graded, the brand is strongest on "Few undesirables" and weakest on "Ingredient transparency". That weakest axis is usually where the alternatives below pull ahead.

  • Protein quality A 87/100
  • Nutritional balance B 81/100
  • Few undesirables A 90/100
  • Ingredient transparency B 72/100
  • Species fit B 73/100

Average of the A–E sub-scores across every graded Orijen product. See it product by product →

Our Orijen alternative picks

  1. #1
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Orijen.

    Applaws Kitten
    90/100
  2. #2
    A

    Top dry food for dogs outside Orijen.

    Acana Wild Prairie Recipe
    90/100
  3. #3
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Orijen.

    Acana First Feast Kitten
    89/100
  4. #4
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Orijen.

    Acana Homestead Harvest Cat
    88/100
  5. #5
    A
  6. #6
    A
  7. #7
    A
  8. #8
    A
  9. #9
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Orijen.

    Acana Indoor Entrée Cat
    88/100
  10. #10
    A

How we select alternatives to Orijen

For each species + food type combination represented in the Orijen range, we identify the highest-scored product from a competing brand. The A–E score synthesises five criteria: protein quality, overall nutritional balance, absence of undesirable additives, ingredient transparency, and species fit. No sponsorship can change a product's score — the methodology is applied uniformly across the catalog.

Want to dig into a specific alternative? Each card above points to that product's dedicated /alternatives/<product>/ page, which adds cheaper-per-kg sub-rankings and other food-type options for the same species.

Full methodology →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Orijen?

In our database the best-rated alternative to Orijen is Applaws Kitten, scoring 90/100 (grade A) versus Orijen's 84/100 average. We list 10 better-graded picks in total, one for each species and food type Orijen sells.

Why look for alternatives to Orijen?

Orijen averages 84/100 on the PetFoodRate independent methodology across 15 products we've scored, and scores lowest on transparency. Buyers searching for alternatives typically want higher protein quality, fewer undesirable additives, better ingredient transparency, or a better species fit.

How are these alternatives selected?

For each food type and species in the Orijen catalogue, we pick the top-scored food from a different brand. Scoring covers five criteria: protein quality, nutritional balance, undesirables, transparency, and species adaptability. No sponsored brand ever changes its score.

Are these alternatives cheaper than Orijen?

Cheaper-per-kg picks are flagged inside each individual product alternative page. Open any product card below to see its dedicated /alternatives/<product>/ page where the cheaper-per-kg sub-list sits alongside the higher-scored picks.