Animal Friends Pet Insurance Review: Is It Any Good?
Animal Friends sits at the budget end of UK pet insurance, has insured over a million pets, and gives a slice of its profits to animal charities. It also ranks 5th in our guide to the best pet insurance providers in the UK. This review digs into whether the low price is a bargain or a false economy.
Our verdict
Animal Friends is one of the best value routes to proper lifetime cover in the UK, and its top-end plan carries the highest annual vet fee limit on the market at £18,000 a year. The trade-offs are real but manageable: dental illness is not covered as standard, there is no multi-pet discount, and like most budget insurers it has a reputation for premium increases as pets age or after big claims. If you want lifetime cover without a premium price tag, and your dog’s teeth are in good shape, it belongs on your shortlist.
What you get
All Animal Friends lifetime policies cover new illnesses and injuries year after year for as long as you renew. Annual vet fee limits run from £1,000 budget tiers up to the headline £18,000, so you choose the ceiling that fits. Every customer gets free unlimited video calls with a vet, 24/7, through the Joii app, which is genuinely useful at 11pm when you are not sure whether the limp is serious. Cover extends to alternative therapies and behavioural conditions, travel cover is available as an extra, and claims are handled fully online. The charity angle is not window dressing either: the company was founded in 1998 to fund animal welfare and has donated over £7 million to more than 650 charities.
What it costs
For many dogs the lower cover tiers start around £10 to £20 a month, with the £12,000 to £18,000 plans typically £25 to £35 or more depending on breed and age. That undercuts most rivals for equivalent lifetime cover. There is no multi-pet discount, but the base pricing is low enough that insuring several pets here can still beat one policy with a pricier insurer.
The catches
Three things to check before you buy. First, dental: only dental accidents are covered as standard, not dental disease, and dental treatment commonly runs £200 to £500 or more. If your breed is prone to teeth trouble, price up the dental add-on or look elsewhere. Second, renewals: some owners report steep premium rises after claims or as their dog ages. That pattern exists across the industry, but go in with your eyes open. Third, the fine print: excess levels and sub-limits on certain treatments vary by tier, so read the policy document rather than the price alone.
Should you buy it?
If your priority is genuine lifetime cover at the lowest workable price, Animal Friends is hard to argue with, and the £18,000 tier is unmatched if you want maximum protection for a breed prone to expensive conditions. If dental cover or locked-in premiums matter more to you, compare it against the other nine providers in our full UK pet insurance guide before deciding.
