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LINE VS LINE · PURINA KIBBLE

Purina Beneful vs Purina Dog Chow

Purina Beneful vs Purina Dog Chow: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Purina Beneful against Purina Dog Chow, measured across 9 and 9 kibble recipes: 25.0% vs 23.8% protein and 40% vs 41% starch, as fed.

9 kibble recipes reviewed 9 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Protein, fat and estimated starch are close between the lines: Beneful averages 25% protein, 12.4% fat and 40% estimated starch; Dog Chow averages 23.8% protein, 11.3% fat and 41% estimated starch, all as fed.
  • Beneful recipes average 359 calories per cup (331 to 382); Dog Chow recipes average 412 calories per cup (364 to 436), a gap of 53 calories per cup.
  • Beneful's grain-free share is 11% of its recipes; Dog Chow's grain-free share is 0%, so none of its recipes are grain-free.
  • Both lines list 9 kibble recipes. Beneful includes one recipe made for puppies and two made for small breeds; Dog Chow's recipes are all made for adults, with one made for small breeds.
  • Beneful's estimated median price per pound is $1.13; Dog Chow's estimated median price per pound is $0.79.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Purina Beneful Purina Dog Chow Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 9 9 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 25.0%23.0% to 28.0% 23.8%20.0% to 27.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 12.4%8.0% to 14.0% 11.3%8.5% to 14.0% 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. 40%36% to 43% 41%30% to 47% 37%
Calories per cup 359331 to 382 412364 to 436 398
Grain-free recipes 11% 0%
Life stages Adult 8, Puppy 1 Adult 9
Breed sizes All Breeds 8, Small Breed 2 All Breeds 9, Small Breed 1
Price per pound, estimate $1.13/lbEstimate, median of 6 of 9 recipesRecipes run $1.01 to $1.18Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 $0.79/lbEstimate, median of 7 of 9 recipesRecipes run $0.54 to $1.05Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026
FDA recalls, last 5 years None1 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

Purina Beneful

Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 28.0% as fed Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog Food Protein 28% Fat 14% Starch 36% 352 kcal/cup Purina Beneful Incredibites Small Dog Chicken Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 39% Purina Beneful Incredibites Small Dog Chicken Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 14% Starch 39% 382 kcal/cup Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 331 kcal per cup Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog Food Protein 25% Fat 8% Starch 42% 331 kcal/cup

Purina Dog Chow

Purina Dog Chow High Protein Real Beef Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 27.0% as fed Purina Dog Chow High Protein Real Beef Dry Dog Food Protein 27% Fat 14% Starch 39% 436 kcal/cup Purina Dog Chow Soft Bites Smoked Chicken Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 30% Purina Dog Chow Soft Bites Smoked Chicken Dry Dog Food Protein 20% Fat 9% Starch 30% Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 364 kcal per cup Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food Protein 21% Fat 10% Starch 45% 364 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Purina Beneful

  • Puppy owners, since Beneful has one recipe made for puppies at 28% protein.
  • Owners wanting a weight-focused recipe: Beneful has one made for weight at 331 calories per cup.
  • Owners wanting a grain-free option, since 11% of Beneful's recipes are grain-free.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Purina Dog Chow

  • Owners wanting high protein, since Dog Chow has three recipes named High Protein at 27%.
  • Budget-minded owners, since Dog Chow's estimated price per pound is $0.79 versus Beneful's $1.13.
  • Owners of higher-energy dogs, since Dog Chow recipes average 412 calories per cup versus Beneful's 359.
THE WHOLE RANGE

Every Purina Line

Line Kibble recipes Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup Grain-free Price / lb, est.
Pro Plan 49 28.0% 15.3% 35% 429 0% $2.28
Purina ONE 22 28.3% 15.2% 32% 371 5% $1.81
Beneful 9 25.0% 12.4% 40% 359 11% $1.13
Beyond 9 26.6% 15.9% 35% 443 33% Not available
Dog Chow 9 23.8% 11.3% 41% 412 0% $0.79
Puppy Chow 3 27.5% 11.3% 38% 403 0% $0.91
Alpo 2 18.0% 8.5% 50% 378 0% $0.58
Bella 2 26.0% 15.5% 37% 351 0% Not available
Veterinary diets 1 prescription recipe, 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 Purina Line Comparisons

Purina Pro Plan vs Purina ONE Purina Pro Plan vs Purina Beyond Purina Pro Plan vs Purina Beneful Purina Pro Plan vs Purina Dog Chow Purina ONE vs Purina Beyond Purina ONE vs Purina Beneful Purina ONE vs Purina Dog Chow Purina Beyond vs Purina Beneful Purina Beyond vs Purina Dog Chow

The Purina Lines

All Purina food Purina Pro Plan Purina ONE Purina Beneful Purina Beyond Purina Dog Chow Purina Puppy Chow Purina Alpo Purina Bella

Purina Against Other Brands

Blue Buffalo vs Purina Purina vs Hill's Royal Canin vs Purina Iams vs Purina Pedigree vs Purina Nutro vs Purina Eukanuba vs Purina Rachael Ray Nutrish vs Purina Natural Balance vs Purina

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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