The scores
Nulo Freestyle: A (90/100) — Multi-protein grain-free formula with deboned salmon, turkey meal, and menhaden fish meal leading the ingredient list.
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend: A (90/100) — Kibble plus freeze-dried raw pieces with chicken, chicken meal, and organ meats like liver and heart.
How the ingredients compare
These two formulas couldn’t take more different approaches to reaching the same elite score:
Nulo: Deboned Salmon, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas, Sweet Potato, Lentils…
Stella & Chewy’s: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Lentils, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat, Pea Starch, Dried Egg, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Freeze-Dried Chicken, FD Chicken Liver, FD Chicken Heart…
Nulo spreads its protein across three species — salmon, turkey, and fish — providing a broader amino acid and fatty acid profile. Stella & Chewy’s goes all-in on chicken but adds something no conventional kibble can match: actual freeze-dried raw organ meats mixed right into the bag. Both formulas rely on legumes (peas and lentils) as their primary carbohydrate source, and both include probiotics — though they take very different approaches there too.
Where Nulo pulls ahead
Protein diversity: Three animal species (salmon, turkey, menhaden fish) means a wider range of amino acids and naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids. The fish ingredients provide EPA and DHA that chicken-only formulas can’t match. For dogs with sensitivities to any single protein, Nulo’s multi-source approach reduces risk.
Lower legume load: Nulo uses peas, sweet potato, and lentils for its carbohydrate base. Stella & Chewy’s stacks four legume-derived ingredients — peas, lentils, pea protein, and pea starch — which raises the overall legume concentration. Both are grain-free with DCM considerations, but Nulo’s carb base is less concentrated in any single plant family.
Patented BC30 probiotic: Nulo includes Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 (BC30), a patented spore-forming probiotic with clinical research behind its survivability through processing and stomach acid. It’s a single strain, but it’s one of the most studied probiotic strains in pet food.
Low glycemic formula: With sweet potato and lentils as primary carbs instead of pea starch, Nulo’s formula is designed to produce a lower glycemic response — better for weight management and sustained energy. Nulo also uses chelated minerals (minerals bound to amino acids for better absorption). Shop on Amazon →
Where Stella & Chewy’s holds its own
Freeze-dried raw pieces: This is Stella & Chewy’s defining advantage. Freeze-dried chicken liver and chicken heart are whole organ meats — nutrient-dense sources of iron, B12, vitamin A, taurine, and CoQ10 that survive the freeze-drying process far better than traditional kibble cooking. No amount of added vitamins fully replicates what whole organ meats provide.
4-strain probiotic blend: While Nulo relies on a single (albeit well-researched) strain, Stella & Chewy’s includes four distinct probiotic species: Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bacillus coagulans. A multi-strain blend can colonize different areas of the gut and provide broader digestive support.
Raw nutrition in a kibble format: The freeze-dried raw pieces deliver the nutritional benefits of a raw diet — bioavailable nutrients, natural enzymes, minimally processed proteins — without the cost, inconvenience, or food safety concerns of a fully raw feeding program. It’s a practical middle ground that no traditional kibble can replicate. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
This is a rare A vs A matchup — two genuinely elite dog foods that simply prioritize different things. If protein diversity and a broader omega profile matter most to you, Nulo Freestyle delivers three animal species where Stella & Chewy’s offers only one. If raw nutrition and organ meats are your priority, Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend is the only kibble that includes actual freeze-dried liver and heart. Both are priced in the premium range ($60–$75 per bag), and both carry the same grain-free/DCM caveat. You genuinely can’t go wrong with either. Read our full reviews for ingredient-by-ingredient breakdowns of both formulas.