Brand Comparison
Loyal Saints vs. Open Farm
All-in on freeze-dried raw vs. a multi-format brand — what the difference means for your dog
Try Loyal Saints →The Short Answer
Open Farm is a reputable brand with a broad product line — kibble, wet food, freeze-dried, and toppers. Their freeze-dried products are good. But Loyal Saints is exclusively freeze-dried raw and holds the strictest ingredient standards across every single formula, with a founding story no competitor can replicate.
- Dedicated freeze-dried raw — one format, maximum focus, no kibble or wet compromises
- Strictest clean ingredient guarantee — no soy, no corn, no GMOs, no additives across every formula, always
- King’s standard — the founder created this exact food for her own dog, King, and holds every formula to it
- Woman-owned — founder-led, not venture-capital backed
- From ~$2–3/day as a ½-cup daily topper, with Halo Club 20% savings
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Loyal Saints | Open Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Primary format | Dedicated freeze-dried raw | Multi-format (kibble, wet, FD, toppers) |
| Human-grade across all products | ✓ every formula | Varies by product line |
| No soy / corn / GMOs / additives | ✓ every formula, always | Varies by product |
| True freeze-dried raw | ✓ every product | Freeze-dried line only |
| Refrigeration required | No | No (freeze-dried) |
| Shelf life (unopened) | Up to 24 months | 12–18 months (FD) |
| AAFCO-complete formulas | ✓ all 3 formulas | ✓ on complete lines |
| Daily cost (35 lb dog, Halo Club pricing) | ~$3/day at 25% of the bowl ~$12/day as a complete meal | ~$3–5/day (FD) |
| Subscription savings | 5% auto-delivery · 20% Halo Club | Subscription available |
| Woman-owned | ✓ founder-led | ✗ VC-backed |
| Founder story | King — the dog every formula is made for | No comparable founder story |
| Made in USA | ✓ Midwest facility | Canada-founded, multiple facilities |
One Format, Maximum Focus vs. Many Products
Open Farm has built a wide product line — dry kibble, wet food, freeze-dried raw, and topper formats. This breadth is a business advantage. It is also a formulation challenge: holding the same ingredient standards across a kibble and a freeze-dried raw product is genuinely difficult because the two formats have completely different manufacturing requirements, shelf-life constraints, and ingredient sourcing demands.
Loyal Saints does exactly one thing: premium freeze-dried raw dog food. Every formulation decision, every sourcing relationship, every facility audit applies to one format. This single-format focus allows Loyal Saints to hold its ingredient standards — no soy, no corn, no GMOs, no additives, no wheat, no fillers, no artificial preservatives — across every product it makes, without exception.
Open Farm’s freeze-dried products are good. If you are already an Open Farm freeze-dried customer and are weighing the switch, the questions worth asking are: does their freeze-dried hold the same ingredient standards as their full premium line? And does the brand’s founder have personal proof that the food works?
The Strictest Clean Ingredient Standard in Freeze-Dried Raw
Many "clean" brands make exceptions. A trace of soy in a minor ingredient they call "natural flavoring." A binder in the freeze-dried format that doesn’t appear in the kibble. One ingredient they haven’t cut yet because the price premium of removing it doesn’t pencil out for their margin targets.
Loyal Saints holds a zero-exception standard: no soy, no corn, no GMOs, no additives, no wheat, no fillers, no by-products, no artificial preservatives — across every formula, always. This is not a marketing headline. It is a founding decision Kristina Voltin made when she formulated the food for King, and it has not changed.
When you compare ingredient labels, this distinction shows up clearly. Clean label claims should be verified product-by-product, formula-by-formula. Loyal Saints' standard applies everywhere, with no exceptions to look for.
King’s Proof — A Story No Multi-Format Brand Can Tell
Open Farm was founded by entrepreneurs who identified a market opportunity in ethical sourcing and transparency. That is a legitimate business origin and they have executed it well. But the founding story does not include a sick dog and a formula that reversed that dog’s illness.
Kristina Voltin built Loyal Saints after King’s digestive sensitivities pushed her to question the ingredients, processing and nutrition behind every bowl. She researched canine nutrition, formulated a human-grade freeze-dried raw food she felt confident feeding him, and built the company around it. King is still the brand’s mascot, and every formula is still made to the standard she set for him.
No VC-backed multi-format brand can produce that kind of proof. When a customer asks "does this actually work," Loyal Saints' answer is a specific dog, a documented health history, and a founder who still feeds the same food to her dog every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Open Farm better than Loyal Saints?
Open Farm’s freeze-dried products are quality products. The comparison with Loyal Saints comes down to focus and founding proof. Loyal Saints is exclusively freeze-dried raw with the strictest clean ingredient standard applied to every formula. It was built by a dog mom who created this exact food for her own dog, King. Open Farm is a multi-format brand without a comparable founder story. For the most focused, strictest, and most personally validated freeze-dried raw option, Loyal Saints is the stronger choice.
Does Open Farm use the same ingredients as Loyal Saints?
Both brands prioritize clean sourcing and ethical supply chains. However, Open Farm’s ingredient standards vary by product line — their kibble, wet food, and freeze-dried formats have different formulation contexts and standards. Loyal Saints holds one standard — no soy, no corn, no GMOs, no additives, no wheat, no fillers, no artificial preservatives — across every single formula it makes.
Is Loyal Saints more expensive than Open Farm?
Loyal Saints freeze-dried raw costs approximately $2–3/day as a ½-cup daily topper. Open Farm freeze-dried products typically run $3–5/day for the same dog. Loyal Saints' Halo Club membership (20% off every order) further reduces the daily cost. Loyal Saints is not only the more focused product — it is typically less expensive per day than comparable freeze-dried options.
Can I switch from Open Farm to Loyal Saints?
Yes. If your dog is currently on Open Farm freeze-dried, the transition will be smooth because both are freeze-dried raw. We recommend a 5–7 day transition: start with 50% Loyal Saints and 50% Open Farm, then move to 100% Loyal Saints over a week. Dogs already on freeze-dried raw typically adapt quickly with minimal digestive symptoms.
Is Loyal Saints woman-owned?
Yes. Loyal Saints was founded by Kristina Voltin, a Minneapolis-based dog mom. The brand is woman-owned, founder-led, and not venture-capital backed. Kristina formulated the food for her dog King and launched Loyal Saints to share what she found. Open Farm is a Canadian-founded brand backed by venture capital.
The quarter-bowl rule
Big dog? Start with a quarter of the bowl.
Freeze-drying takes out the water, not the food. That is why a small scoop looks like nothing and still carries real raw nutrition — and why you do not have to replace an entire large-breed diet to change what is in it.
Feed Loyal Saints as about 25% of the bowl. Your dog gets human-grade freeze-dried raw in every meal — no fillers, no synthetic premix, no heat — at a daily cost that stays sane as your dog gets bigger.
| Your dog | Full meal per the bag | 25% of the bowl | Per day Halo Club | One bag lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculating from the label… | ||||
A quarter bowl is a starting point, not a rule — feed to body condition. Fed as a complete meal instead, the same 50 lb dog eats 3½ cups a day. We would rather tell you that than hide it.
One Format. No Exceptions. No Compromise.
Made with human-grade quality ingredients. Freeze-dried raw. No soy, no corn, no GMOs — across every formula, always. No fridge. From ~$2–3/day as a daily topper. Woman-owned. Made in the Midwest, USA. 30-day store-credit promise on your first order.
