Is Optimum Worth It?
A straight answer on whether Optimum is worth the money — based on its overall score, value score and real cost per serve, with better-value alternatives if it isn't the right fit.
Overall score
0/100
Average
Value score
0/100
Average
From (per day)
$1.10
~15kg dog
Scored by the PetReviews independent review board
Independent scoring · Updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
How Optimum scores
Optimum
When Optimum is worth it
- Budget-aware feeders who shop at the supermarket
- Owners after a no-fuss everyday kibble
- Healthy adult dogs with no special needs
When to compare carefully
- You want a meat-first, low-cereal formula
- Your dog needs a prescription or grain-free diet
Optimum Adult Chicken, Rice & Vegetables 18kg
$5.50/kg· $1.45/day
Is Optimum worth it?
Optimum is a fair-value supermarket pick that wo not let you down for everyday feeding, but the cereal-forward panel and reliance on meat meals keep it below the premium brands. Buy it for convenience and price, and step up to a meat-first formula if you want better ingredient quality.
Not veterinary advice. Prices are a guide and can change — always confirm live pricing with the retailer.
Better-value alternatives to Optimum
Premium · Good
One of the safest everyday-premium picks in the index — Aussie-made, vet-recommended and with a formula for nearly every dog. The panels are good rather than exceptional and you pay a little for the big-brand reach, but for most households it's a dependable, easy-to-buy choice. Compare it on cost per day against Black Hawk and SavourLife.
Premium · Good
Fine on a discounted big bag if you choose a named-meat-first recipe, but don't assume the whole range is equal — the cheaper lines pad the panel with grain and rice, and a chunk of the price is reach and marketing rather than ingredients. Compare the specific formula on cost per kg against SavourLife and Ivory Coat.
Mid-range · Average
Leaps & Bounds is Petbarn's private-label house brand — an affordable, Australian-made everyday option you'll find in every store. It won't out-score premium national brands on ingredients, but it's perfectly reasonable value for the price. Shopping at Petbarn? Compare it on price-per-kg with the national brands on the same shelf to land on the best value for your dog.
Frequently asked questions
Optimum scores 63/100 overall and 68/100 on value in our index (average on value). Optimum is a fair-value supermarket pick that wo not let you down for everyday feeding, but the cereal-forward panel and reliance on meat meals keep it below the premium brands. Buy it for convenience and price, and step up to a meat-first formula if you want better ingredient quality.
For a ~15kg adult dog, Optimum works out from about $1.10 per day on Optimum Puppy Chicken & Rice 3kg ($9/kg). Cost per serve is the figure that matters most — compare it against alternatives before deciding.
If value is your top priority and you're feeding a large dog on a tight budget, compare Optimum carefully against Advance and Black Hawk. The right pick is the one that fits your dog and budget.
Consider Advance, Black Hawk, Leaps & Bounds. Compare them on price per kg and cost per day — a different brand may give you more for similar money.
No. PetReviews is an independent value and comparison resource, not veterinary advice. Prices are a guide and can change — always confirm the live price with the retailer before buying.