Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice against Nutro Max, measured across 23 and 8 kibble recipes: 24.2% vs 22.8% protein and 42% vs 43% starch, as fed.
Main Differences
- Nutro Natural Choice offers 23 kibble recipes, while Nutro Max offers 8. Both cover Adult, Puppy and Senior life stages.
- Average protein is close between the lines: 24.2% as fed for Nutro Natural Choice versus 22.8% for Nutro Max. Average fat is also close, 13% versus 14%.
- Estimated starch and calories per cup are close too: starch averages 42% for Nutro Natural Choice versus 43% for Nutro Max, and calories average 340 versus 348 per cup.
- Nutro Natural Choice has 2 Small Breed recipes, a size not covered by Nutro Max, which has 2 Large Breed recipes against Nutro Natural Choice's 7.
- Neither line is grain-free (0% grain-free share for both). Nutro Natural Choice has an estimated median price of $2.67 per pound, compared to $1.76 per pound for Nutro Max.
The Two Lines in Figures
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Nutro Natural Choice | Nutro Max | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 23 | 8 | 1,747 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 24.2%20.0% to 28.0% | 22.8%20.0% to 26.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 13.0%8.0% to 16.0% | 14.0%12.0% to 16.0% | 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. | 42%37% to 49% | 43%38% to 46% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 340264 to 386 | 348334 to 380 | 398 |
| Grain-free recipes | 0% | 0% | |
| Life stages | Adult 15, Puppy 4, Senior 4 | Adult 5, Puppy 2, Senior 1 | |
| Breed sizes | All Breeds 21, Large Breed 7, Small Breed 2 | All Breeds 6, Large Breed 2 | |
| Price per pound, estimate | $2.67/lbEstimate, median of 22 of 23 recipesRecipes run $2.50 to $3.19Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | $1.76/lbEstimate, median of 8 of 8 recipesRecipes run $1.75 to $2.25Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None | 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.
Top Recipes in Each Line
Nutro Natural Choice
Best seller of the line on Amazon
Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 22%
Fat 14%
Starch 45% 343 kcal/cup
Most protein in the line, 28.0% as fed
Nutro Natural Choice Dry Dog Puppy Lamb and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 16%
Starch 37% 359 kcal/cup
Least starch in the line, about 37%
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 16%
Starch 37% 386 kcal/cup
Nutro Max
Most protein in the line, 26.0% as fed
Nutro Max Puppy Chicken Dry Dog Food
Protein 26%
Fat 16%
Starch 38% 380 kcal/cup
Least starch in the line, about 42%
Nutro Max Large Breed Puppy Chicken Dry Dog Food
Protein 24%
Fat 14%
Starch 42% 336 kcal/cup
Fewest calories in the line, 334 kcal per cup
Nutro Max Minichunks Chicken Dry Dog Food
Protein 22%
Fat 14%
Starch 44% 334 kcal/cup
Who Each Line Suits
Nutro Natural Choice
- Owners of small breed dogs, served by Nutro Natural Choice's 2 Small Breed recipes.
- Owners seeking recipes sold for weight management, such as Nutro Natural Choice's Healthy Weight recipes.
- Owners wanting more recipe variety, with Nutro Natural Choice's 23 kibble recipes across three life stages.
Nutro Max
- Owners looking for a lower estimated price per pound, at $1.76 for Nutro Max.
- Owners of large breed puppies, covered by Nutro Max's Large Breed Puppy Chicken recipe.
- Owners wanting fewer recipe choices, with Nutro Max's 8 kibble recipes to pick from.
Every Nutro Line
| Line | Kibble recipes | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | Grain-free | Price / lb, est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Choice | 23 | 24.2% | 13.0% | 42% | 340 | 0% | $2.67 |
| Ultra | 10 | 26.2% | 14.2% | 40% | 389 | 0% | $2.91 |
| Max | 8 | 22.8% | 14.0% | 43% | 348 | 0% | $1.76 |
| Limited Ingredient Diet | 6 | 20.7% | 13.8% | 46% | 432 | 100% | $4.23 |
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.
More Nutro Line Comparisons
The Nutro Lines
Nutro Against Other Brands
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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