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LINE VS LINE · BLUE BUFFALO KIBBLE

Blue Buffalo Wilderness vs Blue Buffalo Freedom

Blue Buffalo Wilderness vs Blue Buffalo Freedom: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Blue Buffalo Wilderness against Blue Buffalo Freedom, measured across 39 and 12 kibble recipes: 32.0% vs 23.6% protein and 31% vs 41% starch, as fed.

39 kibble recipes reviewed 12 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Wilderness recipes average 32% protein as fed, while Freedom recipes average 23.6%, a gap of 8.4 percentage points.
  • Freedom averages 41% estimated starch as fed, higher than Wilderness's 31% estimated starch, a gap of 10 percentage points.
  • Freedom is 100% grain-free across its recipes, while Wilderness is 54% grain-free.
  • Fat levels are close, 14.2% for Wilderness and 13.5% for Freedom. Calories per cup are also close, averaging 401 for Wilderness and 376 for Freedom.
  • Wilderness has 39 recipes across Adult, Puppy and Senior stages with Large and Small Breed options, while Freedom has 12 recipes across the same stages and breed sizes. Both share an estimated price per pound of $2.87.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Blue Buffalo Wilderness Blue Buffalo Freedom Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 39 12 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 32.0%28.0% to 36.0% 23.6%18.0% to 30.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 14.2%9.0% to 16.0% 13.5%9.0% to 18.0% 14.3%
Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. 31%23% to 37% 41%31% to 49% 37%
Calories per cup 401347 to 454 376330 to 434 398
Grain-free recipes 54% 100%
Life stages Adult 29, Puppy 6, Senior 4 Adult 8, Puppy 3, Senior 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 38, Large Breed 9, Small Breed 5 All Breeds 12, Large Breed 4, Small Breed 3
Price per pound, estimate $2.90/lbEstimate, median of 34 of 39 recipesRecipes run $1.18 to $6.66Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 $2.87/lbEstimate, median of 11 of 12 recipesRecipes run $2.44 to $4.00Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026
FDA recalls, last 5 years None2 older, not counted None

Line figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that line, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Wet food, toppers and prescription diets are left out so the numbers compare like with like. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead. Why we use as fed. The price per pound is an estimate: the median of each recipe's lowest price per pound across the bag sizes and US retailers our price checks found, so a single bag can cost more or less. Shelf prices change often.

WHERE TO START

Top Recipes in Each Line

Blue Buffalo Wilderness

Blue Wilderness Puppy Chicken plus Wholesome Grains Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 36.0% as fed Blue Wilderness Puppy Chicken plus Wholesome Grains Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 36% Fat 16% Starch 27% 428 kcal/cup Blue Wilderness Adult Chicken-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 23% Blue Wilderness Adult Chicken-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 33% Fat 15% Starch 23% 422 kcal/cup Blue Wilderness Adult Large Breed Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 347 kcal per cup Blue Wilderness Adult Large Breed Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 28% Fat 9% Starch 37% 347 kcal/cup

Blue Buffalo Freedom

Blue Freedom Puppy Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 27.0% as fed Blue Freedom Puppy Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 27% Fat 16% Starch 36% 403 kcal/cup Blue Freedom Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 38% Blue Freedom Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 15% Starch 38% 380 kcal/cup Blue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Healthy Weight Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 330 kcal per cup Blue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Healthy Weight Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 20% Fat 9% Starch 45% 330 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Blue Buffalo Wilderness

  • Owners wanting higher protein kibble, since Wilderness averages 32% protein as fed.
  • Owners feeding large breed adults, since Wilderness offers 9 Large Breed recipes.
  • Owners wanting more recipe variety, since Wilderness has 39 kibble recipes across three life stages.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Blue Buffalo Freedom

  • Owners wanting an entirely grain-free line, since Freedom's grain-free share is 100%, compared to Wilderness's 54%.
  • Owners of dogs needing a weight management recipe, made for that purpose, at 330 kcal.
  • Owners of small breed puppies, since the Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe covers Small Breed puppies.
THE WHOLE RANGE

Every Blue Buffalo Line

Line Kibble recipes Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup Grain-free Price / lb, est.
Wilderness 39 32.0% 14.2% 31% 401 54% $2.90
Life Protection Formula 28 22.9% 13.0% 42% 372 11% $2.35
Basics 13 20.6% 12.6% 45% 361 54% $3.12
Freedom 12 23.6% 13.5% 41% 376 100% $2.87
Carnivora 8 42.3% 18.3% 18% 441 100% Not available
True Solutions 6 25.7% 13.8% 38% 372 0% $2.85
Blue's Stew No kibble; 2 other recipes
Delights No kibble; 5 other recipes
Natural Veterinary Diet No kibble; 12 other recipes
Veterinary diets 12 prescription recipes, fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Not compared.

Averages over each line's kibble we review, as fed. Lines with only a few recipes swing more on one bag. Price per pound is the same estimate as above.

KEEP COMPARING

More Blue Buffalo Line Comparisons

Blue Buffalo Wilderness vs Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Blue Buffalo Wilderness vs Blue Buffalo Basics Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula vs Blue Buffalo Basics Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula vs Blue Buffalo Freedom Blue Buffalo Basics vs Blue Buffalo Freedom

The Blue Buffalo Lines

All Blue Buffalo food Blue Buffalo Wilderness Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Blue Buffalo Basics Blue Buffalo Freedom Blue Buffalo Carnivora Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blue Buffalo Blue's Stew Blue Buffalo Delights Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet

Blue Buffalo Against Other Brands

Blue Buffalo vs Purina Blue Buffalo vs Hill's Blue Buffalo vs Royal Canin Blue Buffalo vs Taste of the Wild Merrick vs Blue Buffalo Wellness vs Blue Buffalo Nutro vs Blue Buffalo Natural Balance vs Blue Buffalo Rachael Ray Nutrish vs Blue Buffalo Iams vs Blue Buffalo Pedigree vs Blue Buffalo Canidae vs Blue Buffalo Fromm vs Blue Buffalo Diamond vs Blue Buffalo Instinct vs Blue Buffalo Solid Gold vs Blue Buffalo NutriSource vs Blue Buffalo Authority vs Blue Buffalo Simply Nourish vs Blue Buffalo

How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brand's own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. The written comparison is drafted from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.

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