Petco’s Loyalty programs: What’s Worth it and What’s Ruff
Nothing says “loyalty” like our pets 🐕🐈, so it’s only fitting that we review Petco’s programs, which operate across over 1,500 stores in the US. There’s a free tier and a paid tier, and we dug into whether either is worth your time. Spoiler: You and your dog might be going (w)oof at the same time when reading this.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
How the programs works:
Petco has two levels: Vital Care Core (free) and Vital Care Premier (paid). This replaced the older Pal Rewards program, which honestly had a better name. “Vital Care” sounds more like a hospice plan than a pet perks club. Not off to a great start.Here is what you get with Vital Care Core:
Free to join
$25 reward promo just for signing up (as of this writing)
1 point per $1 spent
Every 167 points = $5 reward
Rewards expire after 30 days
Every 8th grooming is free
Member-only pricing and offers
Vital Care Premier (Paid):
$239.88/year or $24.99/month (but monthly ends up being $299.88 a year… 🤯)
Includes all Core benefits plus:$180 in rewards annually ($15/month, use-it-or-lose-it style)
10% off nutrition (just food—not treats or chews)
20% off grooming (dogs) or 20% off litter (cats) or 15% off supplies (other exotic animals)
Unlimited vet exams at select Petco Vetco locations or $40/year in rewards for outside vet visits
Sounds decent? Don’t wag your tail just yet.
Showing the Dog chart version.
What’s the Value?
We’ll get the free program out of the way first. The reward redemption math gives you a 3% return value. That’s not great, not terrible—better than Nordstrom’s sad 1% (we’re still bitter over this), but a far cry from the 5–10% range you’ll find at Kohl’s or Ulta. Petco does run occasional points promos, so timing your spend can give you a small bump.
Now, let’s talk about that Doberman-sized annual membership fee.
With paid programs, the math has to math. Are you saving more than you’re shelling out? Here’s what it looks like if you actually use all the benefits (this is for a large dog scenario).
| Benefit | Likely Annual Savings | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vital Care Rewards | $180 | Paid out as $15/month (expires if unused) |
| 2. 10% off Nutrition | $50 | Assumes $500/year in pet food (excludes treats) |
| 3. 20% off Grooming | $54 | Assumes 4 visits at $68/groom for large dog |
| 4. Outside Vet Exams | $40 | Requires uploading a receipt for credit |
| Total Possible Savings | $324 | |
| Membership Fee (annual) | $239.88 | |
| Net Savings (Annual Pay) | $84.12 | Not bad… if you use every benefit |
| Membership Fee (monthly pay) | $299.88 | |
| Net Savings (Monthly Pay) | $24.12 | Small savings |
Membership benefits give unlimited free exams at Petco Vet Clinics, but there are only 200 across the country, and it doesn’t include vaccinations, which is what drives up most of the cost of vet wellness visits.
🕵️♂️ But wait…the fine print!
This is where the Paid program goes from “eh” to “yikes.”
🔒 You can’t cancel the paid membership for a full year. Even if you pay monthly, you’re locked in for the full year. Auto-renewal is on by default, and you have a very narrow window to cancel. There is no pro-rated cancellation here. Buyer’s remorse? Too bad.
⏳ Rewards expire fast. Premier gets 45 days to use them but remember that $180 doles out monthly. Miss going to Petco one month? Bye-bye value.
✂️ Discounts are narrow. For example, grooming discount only applies to full-service grooms. Nutrition discount doesn’t include treats or chews.
🐾 It’s per pet, not per household. Multiple pets = multiple memberships.
Verdict & summary:
👍🏻 Vital Care Core (Free): Not wildly generous, but free is free. The 3% return value is fine, and we like how rewards are $5, so they get t issued more quickly. Plus, point expiration policy is generous (no expiration as long as you have activity once every 90 days). If you shop here even semi-regularly, it’s worth joining.
👎🏻 Vital Care Premier (Paid): Sorry, we can’t get behind this one. Too many restrictions, too little flexibility, and too easy to lose value. Even if the math looks okay on the surface, the reality is murky and unforgiving.
(And while we’re at it, can we start a petition to bring back the Pal Rewards brand?))
Free Vital Care Core Program: Rewarded ⭐ Paid Vital Care Premier program: Robbed 🚫
Leave us a comment! Do you agree or disagree? Any further tips about Petco’s programs?
