You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

How to Save with Chewy Autoship

Last updated on October 09, 2025

Owning a pet is expensive. Vet bills, premium food, toys getting destroyed minutes after they arrive, those adorable outfits your dog definitely doesn't need. It adds up fast. Just when you think you've got your spending under control, you run out of something. Sound familiar?

This is where Chewy Autoship comes in. It’s a subscription service and it’s kind of like if your pet had a personal assistant, except it’ll save you money instead of costing you more. With discounts up to 35% on your first order and ongoing savings that add up over time, Autoship might just be the budget-friendly solution your wallet has been waiting for.

What is Chewy Autoship? (The Basics)

Think of Chewy Autoship as your pet supply autopilot. Instead of frantically ordering food when your dog gives you those "the bowl has been empty for five whole minutes" eyes, you set up a delivery schedule that works for your household. Chewy automatically ships your pet's essentials – food, treats, medications, litter, toys – right to your door based on the frequency you choose.

The beauty of this system? You get a reminder three days before each order by email, so it won’t be a surprise when a new shipment arrives. And if you want to skip a delivery because you've still got enough of the last batch, no problem. Want to add something new to your next shipment? Easy. The whole thing is designed to be flexible around your actual needs, not lock you into something rigid.

And here's the best part – there are no membership fees or long-term commitments. You can cancel anytime if your situation changes, making it basically risk-free to try.

The Money-Saving Breakdown

Now let's talk about why your wallet will thank you for making the switch to Autoship.

First-Time Savings That'll Make You Do a Double-Take

When you sign up for your first Chewy Autoship order, you'll score 35% off your first Autoship order. That's not a typo – we're talking about more than a third off your entire first shipment. This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on those pricier items you've been putting off, like that premium dog food or the fancy joint supplements your vet recommended.

Pro tip: Make that first order count. Load up on non-perishables and items you know you'll use regularly. Think of it as buying in bulk, but with the convenience of not having to lug 40-pound bags of dog food from the store to your car to your house.

Ongoing Savings That Keep Adding Up

After that impressive first-order discount, you don't just go back to paying full price. You'll save an extra 5% on select brands for all future autoship orders. Now, 5% might not sound like much, but let's put this in perspective.

Say you spend $60 per month on pet food through Autoship. That 5% discount saves you $3 per order, or $36 per year. Add in other essentials – treats, litter, medications – and you could easily be looking at $75-100 in annual savings just from that ongoing discount. Not life-changing money, but definitely "nice dinner out" money.

Plus, all Autoship orders over $49 ship free, which saves you the standard $4.95 shipping fee on every delivery. If you're ordering monthly, that's another $60 saved per year.

Double-Dipping on Discounts

This is where we get excited. Your Autoship discount doesn't disappear when Chewy runs sales – it actually works with them. So during their big events (think Blue Box sales in summer or Black Friday madness), you're getting the sale price plus your regular 5% Autoship savings.

We've seen people score some ridiculous deals this way. Like when that premium dog food goes on sale for 20% off, and then your Autoship kicks in another 5%. Suddenly you're saving a quarter of the regular price just because you were smart enough to automate your orders.

What You Can Actually Get Through Autoship

Most of the stuff your pet burns through regularly works with the program. Food and treats are obvious candidates – from the fancy grain-free stuff to basic kibble that keeps your dog happy.

Medications are big here too. Got a dog on joint supplements or a cat with chronic conditions? Setting up Autoship for prescriptions means you never have to worry about running out. Just make sure your vet info is current in your account.

Then there's all the other gear – toys for dogs who treat every squeaker like a personal challenge, litter for cats (because nobody wants to deal with that shortage), grooming supplies, waste bags. Pretty much anything you find yourself reordering every few months probably qualifies.

One heads up though – not every brand participates in the discount program. Most do, but some of the really premium or specialty products might not give you that 5% off. You'll know when you're shopping because they'll show the discount right on the product page.

How to Set Up Autoship for Maximum Savings

Setting up your first Autoship order is surprisingly straightforward. Here's how to do it:

Select your desired product. Select "Autoship". Click "Set up autoship", then "Start a new autoship". From there, you'll choose your delivery frequency – options typically range from every 2 weeks to every 12 weeks, depending on the product.

The key to maximizing your savings is being strategic about that first order. Since you're getting 35% off, this is the time to stock up on:

  • Non-perishable items like dry food, treats, and supplements
  • Expensive necessities you'd be buying anyway, like joint supplements or prescription medications
  • Bulk purchases of things like litter or waste bags

For delivery frequency, think realistically about your pet's consumption habits. It's better to start with a longer interval (like every 8 weeks) and adjust down than to end up with a mountain of pet food because you overestimated how quickly your cat would eat that new flavor.

Managing Your Autoship Orders

Life happens, and your pet's needs change. Maybe your dog decided they hate the food they loved last month, or you're going out of town and need to delay a delivery. Chewy makes it easy to adjust your orders on the fly.

You can change your order date up to 48 hours before your next scheduled order, which gives you plenty of flexibility to work around your schedule. Need to skip an order entirely? There's a "Skip Order" button that delays your next delivery without canceling the whole subscription.

Want to add something new to your next shipment? You can do that too, either by adding items to your existing Autoship or choosing to ship certain items just once with your next regular delivery.

The management portal is actually pretty intuitive – you can adjust quantities if your pet's appetite has changed, modify delivery frequency, update your payment method, or change your shipping address all in one place.

Canceling When You Need To

Look, sometimes Autoship stops working for you. Maybe your pet decided they hate that food they demolished for months, or your situation changed. Whatever the reason, getting out is pretty painless.

The easiest way is online – log into your account, find "Manage Autoship," pick the subscription you want to nix, and hit cancel. Done. This kills the whole recurring thing, not just the next box showing up at your door.

Phone people can call 1-800-672-4399 instead. They're around 24/7, which is nice if you're the type who remembers to do things like this at weird hours.

Just watch the timing. Once Chewy starts packing your order (usually happens about two days before it ships), you can't stop that particular shipment online. You can still cancel everything after it, but that box is coming whether you want it or not.

Pro Tips to Maximize Your Chewy Autoship Savings

Ready to take your savings game to the next level? Here are some insider strategies:

  • Time your first order strategically: Keep an eye on Chewy's major sales events and time your first Autoship order to coincide with them. Your 35% first-time discount will stack with whatever sale prices are already running.
  • Use the first discount wisely: Buy expensive items you know you’re going to use, like premium food or supplements and medications you know your pet needs.
  • Monitor your usage: After a few deliveries you'll know how quickly your pet gets through certain items. Once you know, you can set a delivery frequency that fits what you need.
  • Keep an eye on prices: The price of an item can fluctuate and sometimes you’ll get a better deal somewhere else. If you do, just pause your Autoship temporarily and jump on those savings.
  • Bear seasonal needs in mind: Your dog might need more treats when it’s in training. Your cat may go through more litter in the winter because they spend more time inside. Keep this in mind when setting your order up.

Common Autoship Questions & Troubleshooting

  • What if my payment method fails? Chewy will contact you and use any other payment methods you have on file. You will be notified before they cancel your Autoship because of lack of payment.
  • Can I return Autoship items if my pet doesn't like them? Yes, you can! Items received on an Autoship order are eligible for return, just like regular purchases are. Chewy's return policy lets you return most items up to 365 days later if your pet isn't satisfied with it.
  • What happens if prices go up? You'll get an email notification to update you on pricing before your order ships. If the new price doesn’t work for you, you can cancel or modify the order to take a particular item off.
  • How do I manage multiple pets' needs? You can either set up separate Autoships for different pets or you can combine everything into one order. Some pet parents find it simpler to manage everything in one monthly delivery and some prefer to break it up – it’s your choice.

Is Chewy Autoship Worth It?

Quick math time. Let's say you drop about $80 monthly on pet stuff. Regular shopping means full price plus shipping fees when you don't hit that $49 minimum – probably around $1,020 yearly.

With Autoship, you're looking at that big 35% first-order savings (maybe $28), ongoing 5% discounts (roughly $38 per year), plus free shipping every time (another $60 saved). We're talking about $126 in savings, and that's before you factor in any sale stacking.

Autoship makes sense if you:

  • Have predictable pet supply needs
  • Regularly buy the same brands
  • Value convenience and hate last-minute pet store runs
  • Want to take advantage of that substantial first-order discount

It might not be the best fit if you:

  • Like to frequently try new brands or products
  • Have very unpredictable pet supply needs
  • Prefer to shop sales and clearance items opportunistically
  • Don't mind the occasional emergency pet store run

Chewy Autoship is a legitimate way to save money on the pet supplies you're buying anyway, with the flexibility to adjust or cancel whenever your needs change. The 35% first-order discount alone makes it worth trying, but the ongoing 5% savings, free shipping, and the opportunity to stack sales can add up to a lot over time.

Chewy's customer-friendly policies and easy cancellation process mean there's really no downside to giving it a shot, so we say get going. Start with essentials, like food, medications, litter, and see how it works for your household. It’ll keep your pet happy and your wallet will thank you. What's not to love?

FAQ

How often can I change my delivery schedule?

You can adjust your delivery frequency anytime and skip individual orders up to 48 hours before they ship.

Do I need to commit for a certain period?

Nope – there are no contracts or minimum commitments. Cancel whenever you want.

Can I add prescription medications to Autoship?

Yep, you can add prescriptions as long as they’re valid and on file with Chewy Pharmacy.

What happens if I'm not home when the Autoship arrives?

Just like with standard shipping, your package will be left at your door or with a neighbor depending on your delivery preferences.

Can I use promo codes on Autoship orders?

Generally, promo codes work when you set up your first Autoship order, but you can't retroactively add codes to save on existing subscriptions.