Best Pet Insurance Australia 2026
Updated 2026-04-22 · Independently ranked
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we'd use with our own dogs.
We reviewed every major pet insurer operating in Australia in 2026. Below is our ranked shortlist — the three we'd personally recommend depending on your dog's age, breed, and your risk tolerance.
Knose Pet Insurance
Flexible accident + illness cover with an optional routine care add-on. Underwritten by PetSure.
Best for: Most dogs under 8 years old — especially Cavoodles, Staffies, Labradors.
Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance
Long-running AU brand, easy online claims app. Underwritten by Hollard.
Best for: French Bulldogs, Pugs, Cavoodles, older dogs with mild pre-existing conditions.
Pet Insurance Australia
AU-owned, pays vet direct option available. Comprehensive accident + illness tiers.
Best for: Multi-pet households; anyone who hates out-of-pocket wait.
How we ranked them
- Claim speed — based on publicly-reported average claim turnaround (4–14 days across the market).
- Value — premium divided by annual benefit cap, adjusted for the breed-specific exclusions in the PDS.
- Flexibility — excess options, reimbursement %, optional routine care.
- Real-world reputation — ProductReview ratings above 3.8/5 and fewer than 1% AFCA complaints.
What to ignore
"Best pet insurance" articles that rank Woolworths, Coles, or big-bank-branded policies are almost always padding — these are all underwritten by PetSure with the same PDS as Knose or RSPCA Pet, just with a different front-end brand and marketing budget. Compare on price and claim experience, not the sticker.
Our pick if you just want to decide and move on
Start with a free Knose quote — flexible excess, direct online claims, and the best-balanced policy we found for dogs under 8. Takes under two minutes to price.