The scores
Nulo Freestyle: A (90/100) — Elite tier. Triple protein (salmon, turkey, fish), patented BC30 probiotic, low glycemic formula with chelated minerals.
Orijen Original: A (90/100) — Fourteen animal ingredients before the first carbohydrate, fresh organs, and a functional botanical blend.
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients reveal two very different philosophies:
Nulo: Deboned Salmon, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Whole Peas, Sweet Potato
Orijen: Fresh Chicken, Raw Turkey, Fresh Chicken Giblets, Raw Whole Herring, Raw Whole Hake
Nulo opens with three named animal proteins before hitting a carbohydrate at position four — that’s excellent by any standard. But Orijen doesn’t reach a non-animal ingredient until position thirteen. Fresh chicken, turkey, chicken giblets (liver and heart), herring, hake, eggs, turkey liver, and dehydrated chicken, turkey, mackerel, sardine, and herring — all before a single lentil appears.
It’s worth noting the difference in form. Nulo uses meals (turkey meal, fish meal) — concentrated protein that’s been pre-rendered. Orijen emphasizes fresh and raw ingredients that are processed at lower temperatures. Both approaches deliver high protein, but Orijen’s method preserves more of the original nutrient profile.
What Orijen does well
Protein diversity: Orijen packs 12 named animal ingredients before its first lentil, spanning six species — chicken, turkey, herring, hake, mackerel, and sardine, plus eggs. Nulo’s triple-protein formula (salmon, turkey, menhaden fish) is strong, but Orijen’s species count and organ meat inclusion (liver, heart, necks) provide a broader amino acid profile and naturally occurring taurine, CoQ10, and B vitamins.
Fresh/raw philosophy: Orijen’s 85% animal ingredient ratio with an emphasis on fresh and raw processing is as close to a biologically appropriate diet as kibble gets. Every animal ingredient is named, sourced, and identified by form — no generic “meat meal” anywhere in the list.
Botanical blend: Turmeric, milk thistle, burdock root, rose hips, lavender, marshmallow root, and brown kelp function as a built-in supplement stack. Nulo has dried chicory root and flaxseed, which is solid — but Orijen’s superfood list is in a different category. Shop on Amazon →
What Nulo does well
BC30 probiotic: Nulo’s patented Bacillus coagulans (BC30) is a clinically studied, spore-forming probiotic that survives the kibble manufacturing process and stomach acid. Most dog foods that include probiotics use fragile strains that may not survive processing. Nulo’s BC30 is a genuine differentiator and arguably the single most functional ingredient advantage Nulo has over Orijen.
Price: This is where Nulo wins convincingly. A 24-pound bag of Nulo runs about $65, while Orijen’s 25-pound bag costs roughly $90. For a large dog eating 3–4 cups per day, that gap compounds fast.
Shared concerns: Both formulas are grain-free with significant legume bases — peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans. The FDA’s investigation into grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) applies equally to both. Neither brand has an advantage here, and owners concerned about DCM should discuss grain-free feeding with their veterinarian regardless of which they choose. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
The scores tie at A/90, but Orijen holds real advantages in protein diversity, organ meat inclusion, and fresh/raw processing. If your budget allows $90+ per bag, Orijen earns every dollar. But this is the closest matchup in our database. Nulo at A/90 isn’t settling — it’s an elite formula with a patented probiotic that Orijen can’t match, at a price that’s sustainable for years of feeding. For most dog owners, Nulo is the smarter long-term choice. Read our full Nulo review and Orijen review for the complete ingredient breakdowns.
Corrected 2026-10-19: we removed claims we could not support; we corrected factual errors, and grades and score comparisons that did not match our current scores.