Purina Beyond vs Purina Beneful
Purina Beyond against Purina Beneful, measured across 9 and 9 kibble recipes: 26.6% vs 25.0% protein and 35% vs 40% starch, as fed.
Purina says Beyond pet food is no longer available (purina.com, checked October 22, 2026). The figures below are from the last labels we read.
Main Differences
- Purina says Beyond pet food is no longer available, checked October 22, 2026, while Beneful is on sale.
- Beyond averages 26.6% protein and 15.9% fat as fed, while Beneful averages 25% protein and 12.4% fat; the two lines are close on protein but Beyond runs higher on fat.
- Beyond's estimated starch averages 35%, lower than Beneful's estimated starch average of 40%. Beyond also averages 443 kcal per cup compared with Beneful's 359 kcal per cup.
- 33% of Beyond's recipes are grain-free, compared with 11% of Beneful's recipes.
- Both lines list 9 kibble recipes with 8 for adult dogs and 1 for puppies. Beyond offers 3 small breed recipes to Beneful's 2, and only Beneful has an estimated price per pound, at $1.13.
The Two Lines in Figures
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Purina Beyond | Purina Beneful | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 9 | 9 | 1,747 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 26.6%24.0% to 30.0% | 25.0%23.0% to 28.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 15.9%14.0% to 18.0% | 12.4%8.0% 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. | 35%30% to 40% | 40%36% to 43% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 443411 to 469 | 359331 to 382 | 398 |
| Grain-free recipes | 33% | 11% | |
| Life stages | Adult 8, Puppy 1 | Adult 8, Puppy 1 | |
| Breed sizes | All Breeds 9, Small Breed 3 | All Breeds 8, Small Breed 2 | |
| Price per pound, estimate | Price not availablePurina says Beyond pet food is no longer available (purina.com, checked October 22, 2026). | $1.13/lbEstimate, median of 6 of 9 recipesRecipes run $1.01 to $1.18Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None1 older, not counted | None1 older, not counted |
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
Purina Beneful
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
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
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
Who Each Line Suits
Purina Beyond
- Suited owners wanting a higher-fat kibble, averaging 15.9% fat versus Beneful's 12.4%.
- Suited small breed owners, with 3 recipes made for small breeds versus Beneful's 2.
- Suited owners wanting more grain-free recipes, with 33% grain-free versus Beneful's 11%.
Purina Beneful
- Suits owners wanting fewer calories per cup, Beneful averaging 359 versus Beyond's 443.
- Suits owners wanting the Healthy Weight recipe, made for weight management, at 331 kcal per cup.
- Suits budget-focused owners, with an estimated price per pound of $1.13.
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.
More Purina Line Comparisons
The Purina Lines
Purina 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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