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The short answer: Instinct Original wins by 11 points (A/90 vs B/79). Both brands have premium grain-free positioning and both incorporate freeze-dried raw into the kibble. The structural difference: Instinct Original’s formula clears the A-tier ingredient-quality threshold (cleaner supplement panel, fewer legumes in primary positions), while Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated carries three legumes (peas + lentils + chickpeas equivalent in tomato pomace #6) that drag the score to B-tier.

The scores

Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated Raw Coated Kibble Cage-Free Chicken: B (79/100) — Cage-Free Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat.

Instinct Original Grain-Free Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken: A (90/100) — Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two products:

Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated: Cage-Free Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat

Instinct Original: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat

The 11-point gap (Instinct Original wins by 11 points) shows where the v15 rubric weights ingredient breadth, protein density, and supplement depth differently.

Where Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated pulls ahead

Three named organ meats in the raw coating: Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated includes chicken liver, heart, and gizzard in the raw-coating layer — deeper organ-meat inclusion than Instinct Original’s formula. For owners specifically seeking WholePrey-style organ-meat exposure in kibble format, this is the structural edge. Shop on Amazon →

Twelve organic vegetables and fruits: The certified organic produce inclusion across positions 17–31 is the deepest in the B-tier band. Instinct Original’s formula carries fruits and vegetables but doesn’t emphasize organic certification as strongly.

Four named probiotic strains plus inulin prebiotic: The probiotic supplement depth on Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated is structurally meaningful for digestive support. Instinct includes probiotics but at slightly shallower depth.

Where Instinct Original holds its own

Cleaner supplement panel for A-tier scoring: Instinct Original’s ingredient panel is structurally cleaner than Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated in the position 3–7 range — the v15 rubric weights these middle positions heavily. The A-tier ceiling at 90 reflects this structural cleanliness. Shop on Amazon →

Raw boost approach with whole freeze-dried raw pieces: Instinct’s production method includes whole freeze-dried raw pieces mixed into the kibble — structurally similar to Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend approach, but Instinct’s formula clears the A-tier threshold while both Stella & Chewy’s products cap at B.

Wider retail distribution: Instinct is carried at most major pet retailers and many supermarkets with pet sections. Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated has narrower distribution — primarily natural pet stores, Chewy, and Amazon. For store-pickup convenience, Instinct has the distribution edge.

The bottom line

Instinct Original wins this matchup with an A/90 vs B/79 score — an 11-point gap that reflects meaningful rubric differences in the middle-position ingredient quality. Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated holds advantages in organ-meat coating density, organic produce breadth, and probiotic-strain depth, but the underlying legume-heavy structure caps it at B-tier. For owners specifically valuing the organ-meat and organic-produce density, Stella & Chewy’s remains a structurally interesting B-tier pick. For owners optimizing for rubric score within grain-free, Instinct Original is the better pick.