Vetster review: what Vetster's own pages say about price, appointments and prescriptions
Quick answer: Vetster is a marketplace where you book a licensed veterinarian for a video appointment, 24/7. On its own published numbers there are two ways to pay - Vetster Plus at $12/month billed annually, which includes 4 same-day video appointments a year, or a single appointment starting at $102 one-time. Both options include 48-hour follow-up live messaging with your vet and prescriptions through VetsterRx. Prescribing is always the veterinarian's decision and depends on your state's rules, and Vetster states online vets are not a replacement for emergency clinics. Every figure below was read from vetster.com on 2026-09-26.
Every figure on this page was read from the brand's own official site and carries its source link and check date.
How this review is built
There is no independent score for an online vet service, and we will not invent one. This Vetster review reads only Vetster's own pages: the Vetster Plus page (price, inclusions, billing and cancellation FAQ), the VetsterRx pharmacy page (the full fee table) and Vetster's two wellness guides (how virtual care works, and how prescriptions work). Every number in the table below carries a link to the page it was read from and a check date.
Where Vetster does not publish something - for example, what a single appointment costs beyond the printed starting price, or how long a subscription has been running for a given pet - this page says not published on the official page instead of guessing.
Vetster Plus vs a single appointment - published figures only
| What we compare | Vetster Plus | Single appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Published price | $12/month, billed annually (once per year) source: vetster.com | Starting at $102 one-time, billed at marketplace rates source: vetster.com |
| Video appointments included | 4 same-day video appointments a year, plus 50% off additional bookings; up to 2 unused appointments carry over to the next billing cycle source: vetster.com | Single online veterinary appointment only source: vetster.com |
| Pets covered | All pets covered under one plan - the benefit can be shared by any pet in the home source: vetster.com | Covers one pet only source: vetster.com |
| Follow-up with the vet | 48-hour follow-up live messaging with your vet, included source: vetster.com | 48-hour follow-up live messaging with your vet, included source: vetster.com |
| Messaging with vet techs | Unlimited messaging with registered vet techs source: vetster.com | not published on the official page for the single-appointment option |
| Prescriptions | Prescriptions through VetsterRx - order online or pick up from your local pharmacy source: vetster.com | Prescriptions through VetsterRx - order online or pick up from your local pharmacy source: vetster.com |
| Pharmacy fee per order | $7 per order source: vetster.com | $14 per order (non-member rate) source: vetster.com |
| Compounding fee per medication | $10 per medication source: vetster.com | $20 per medication (non-member rate) source: vetster.com |
| Standard shipping (2-3 business days, 3pm EST cut-off) | Free source: vetster.com | Free on orders over $45 source: vetster.com |
| Express shipping (1-2 business days, 12pm EST cut-off) | $19 source: vetster.com | $19 source: vetster.com |
| Cancellation | Cancel at any time, but the membership must be canceled before it renews to avoid the next billing cycle source: vetster.com | not published on the official page - a single appointment is a one-time purchase |
| Where the visit happens | Secure video call, available in all states source: vetster.com | Secure video call, available in all states source: vetster.com |
What the numbers say side by side
The subscription and the single visit are priced on different units, so compare the units first. Vetster prints $12/month and then states in its own FAQ that billing occurs annually, once per year. A single appointment is printed as a one-time starting price of $102 and billed at whatever the chosen veterinarian's marketplace rate is - that is why the table says starting at and not costs.
The fee table is where the two options quietly diverge. The same pharmacy page prints both rates side by side: $7 vs $14 per order, $10 vs $20 per compounding, free standard shipping vs free only above $45. Express shipping is $19 either way.
Where an online vet stops
Vetster is explicit about the boundary, and a review that hides it would be useless. Its own guide says to seek immediate in-person or emergency care for seven signs: difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, collapse or seizures, severe or sudden pain, suspected poisoning, major trauma, and being unable to urinate. Its preparation guide repeats the point in different words - telehealth is not a substitute for emergency care.
Prescribing sits in the middle. Vetster's prescription guide says a valid vet-client-patient relationship is required in almost every state, that the open question is whether that relationship can be built over video, that federal guidance often expects a real exam first, and that prescribing is always the veterinarian's decision. Practical consequence for a reviewer: the appointment can end with "your pet needs to be seen in person", and that is the clinic standard, not a runaround.
Every figure in this review with its official source
| Fact | Condition to get it | Official source page | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vetster Plus costs $12/month, billed annually. | The Vetster Plus FAQ states billing occurs annually (once per year); products and related fees are not included in the subscription. | https://vetster.com/en-us/plus | 2026-09-26 |
| Vetster Plus includes 4 same-day video appointments a year, 50% off additional bookings, and up to 2 unused appointments carried over to the next billing cycle. | Listed as subscription inclusions on the Vetster Plus page; the benefit can be shared by any pet in the home. | https://vetster.com/en-us/plus | 2026-09-26 |
| A single Vetster appointment starts at $102 one-time and is billed at marketplace rates. | Printed as 'Starting at $102 one-time' in the 'Per appointment' column of the Vetster Plus page; it covers one pet only. | https://vetster.com/en-us/plus | 2026-09-26 |
| Both payment options include access to thousands of veterinarians, secure video calls with 48-hour follow-up live messaging, prescriptions through VetsterRx, medical records that stay with you, and availability in all states. | Listed under 'Both payment options include' on the Vetster Plus page. | https://vetster.com/en-us/plus | 2026-09-26 |
| Vetster Plus members pay a $7 pharmacy fee per order and a $10 compounding fee per medication; non-members pay $14 and $20. | Fee table on the VetsterRx page; Vetster states pharmacy fees cover the administrative work of coordinating prescriptions between vet and pharmacy. | https://vetster.com/en-us/vetster-rx-online-pharmacy | 2026-09-26 |
| Standard shipping (2-3 business days, 3pm EST cut-off) is free for Vetster Plus members and for non-member orders over $45; express shipping (1-2 business days, 12pm EST cut-off) costs $19 for both. | Shipping table on the VetsterRx page; refrigerated items are express-only Monday to Thursday and are excluded from standard shipping. | https://vetster.com/en-us/vetster-rx-online-pharmacy | 2026-09-26 |
| VetsterRx fulfillment is listed as available in all 50 States; compounded medications and vet approvals may add 2-5 business days, and controlled substances require a delivery signature. | Stated in the VetsterRx FAQ and shipping notes on the official pharmacy page. | https://vetster.com/en-us/vetster-rx-online-pharmacy | 2026-09-26 |
| Vetster is a marketplace, not a pharmacy: you choose where to fill each prescription and Vetster sends it directly to that pharmacy. | From Vetster's own prescription guide; a clearly labeled prescription service fee is shown before checkout. | https://vetster.com/en/wellness/online-vet-prescriptions | 2026-09-26 |
| An online vet can prescribe only when a valid vet-client-patient relationship (VCPR) exists and the condition is appropriate for virtual care; whether that relationship can be built over video depends on state rules. | Vetster's prescription guide also notes federal guidance often requires the VCPR to be grounded in a real exam or visit, and that prescribing is always the veterinarian's decision. | https://vetster.com/en/wellness/online-vet-prescriptions | 2026-09-26 |
| Online veterinarians complete the same education and licensing process as all veterinarians. | From Vetster's 'Online vet visits: how virtual veterinary care works' guide. | https://vetster.com/en/wellness/online-vet-visits-how-virtual-veterinary-care-works | 2026-09-26 |
| Vetster lists seven signs that need immediate in-person or emergency care: difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, collapse or seizures, severe or sudden pain, suspected poisoning, major trauma, and being unable to urinate. | From the 'When should you use an online vet vs. go in person?' section of Vetster's guide. | https://vetster.com/en/wellness/online-vet-visits-how-virtual-veterinary-care-works | 2026-09-26 |
| Your pet should stay on camera for as much of the appointment as possible: if the pet is not present, the vet may be unable to provide a diagnosis or prescribe medication. | From Vetster's preparation guide; having the pet on screen creates the basis for the veterinary-client-patient relationship. | https://vetster.com/en/wellness/how-to-prepare-for-your-online-vet-appointment | 2026-09-26 |
| The Vetster Plus page shows two review scores, 4.9 and 4.8, under the heading 'Pet parents say it best' with a 'See more reviews' link. | The page does not name the store or platform behind either score, so this page repeats only the numbers exactly as printed. | https://vetster.com/en-us/plus | 2026-09-26 |
| You can cancel Vetster Plus at any time, but the membership must be canceled before it renews to avoid the next billing cycle. | Stated in the cancellation FAQ on the Vetster Plus page. | https://vetster.com/en-us/plus | 2026-09-26 |
Vetster review FAQ
How much does Vetster cost?
Vetster Plus is $12/month, billed annually. Twelve months at that published price comes to $144 (12 x $12, arithmetic on Vetster's own figure) and it includes 4 same-day video appointments a year plus unlimited messaging with registered vet techs. A single appointment starts at $102 one-time at marketplace rates. Products, pharmacy fees and shipping are charged separately.
Source: https://vetster.com/en-us/plus · checked 2026-09-26
What is the difference between Vetster Plus and paying per appointment?
Vetster Plus is a yearly subscription: 4 same-day video appointments a year, 50% off additional bookings, up to 2 unused appointments carried over, unlimited messaging with registered vet techs, all pets under one plan. Paying per appointment buys one visit for one pet at marketplace rates, starting at $102 one-time, with the 48-hour follow-up messaging included.
Source: https://vetster.com/en-us/plus · checked 2026-09-26
Can a Vetster vet prescribe medication?
Yes, when a valid vet-client-patient relationship is in place and the condition can be handled safely over video. Whether that relationship can be established online depends on your state's rules, federal guidance often expects a real exam first, and prescribing is always the veterinarian's decision. The prescription is then sent to the pharmacy you choose - Vetster is not a pharmacy.
Source: https://vetster.com/en/wellness/online-vet-prescriptions · checked 2026-09-26
What are Vetster's pharmacy and shipping fees?
Pharmacy fee per order: $7 for Vetster Plus members, $14 for non-members. Compounding fee per medication: $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Standard shipping (2-3 business days) is free for members and for non-member orders over $45; express shipping (1-2 business days) is $19 for everyone.
Source: https://vetster.com/en-us/vetster-rx-online-pharmacy · checked 2026-09-26
Is Vetster available in my state?
Both payment options are listed as available in all states, and VetsterRx fulfillment is listed as available in all 50 States. Whether a vet can prescribe during an online visit still depends on your state's rules, so that is confirmed during the appointment itself.
Source: https://vetster.com/en-us/plus · checked 2026-09-26
When should I not use an online vet?
Go in person immediately for difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, collapse or seizures, severe or sudden pain, suspected poisoning, major trauma, or being unable to urinate. Vetster states online vets are not a replacement for emergency clinics and that an online vet will direct you to appropriate in-person care.
Source: https://vetster.com/en/wellness/online-vet-visits-how-virtual-veterinary-care-works · checked 2026-09-26
How long can I message my vet after the appointment?
48-hour follow-up live messaging with your vet is included in both payment options. Vetster Plus separately includes unlimited messaging with registered vet techs for help with pet health, behaviour, nutrition and urgent advice.
Source: https://vetster.com/en-us/plus · checked 2026-09-26
What does this Vetster review check, and what does it not check?
It checks only what Vetster publishes on its own pages - the subscription price, the single-appointment price, the VetsterRx fee table, the prescribing rules and the emergency list - each with its source link and check date of 2026-09-26. It does not test-drive appointments, and it does not repeat prices from third-party comparison sites.
Source: https://vetster.com/en-us/plus · checked 2026-09-26
Every brand on this site, page by page
Vetster
Vetster Plus $12/mo
Billed annually; includes 4 same-day video appointments a year, 50% off additional bookings, carry-over of up to 2 unused appointments, unlimited messaging with registered vet techs, free standard shipping and 50% off pharmacy fees. Paying per appointment instead is also available at marketplace rates.
Vetster is an online vet service with thousands of licensed veterinarians for video appointments and follow-up messaging. Its Vetster Plus subscription is $12/month billed annually and includes 4 same-day video appointments a year plus unlimited messaging with registered vet techs.
1-800-PetMeds
Free shipping on $49+
Standard delivery in 2-5 business days, as stated in the shipping banner on 1800petmeds.com; for prescription items a veterinarian's approval is required before shipment.
1-800-PetMeds sells prescription and non-prescription pet medication online. It requires a veterinarian's approval before shipping prescription items, ships free on orders over $49 with standard delivery in 2-5 business days, and gives AutoShip orders 5% off future orders.
Cosequin
Not published on the official site
Cosequin's own site lists its products and shows a Where to Buy CTA instead of prices, so the price you pay is set by the retailer you buy from.
Cosequin is Nutramax's joint supplement line for dogs, cats and horses. The brand calls itself the #1 veterinarian recommended retail joint health supplement, publishes over 25 formulas, and says more than 80 quality checks are run per batch.
Embark
Breed + Health test $139
List price shown on Embark's product page on 2026-09-25; the Breed ID Dog DNA Test and the Dog Age Test are listed at $109 each. Sales and promotions change the displayed price.
Embark's Breed + Health dog DNA test is listed at $139 and screens for 270+ genetic health conditions, traits and allergy risk scores, with results in 2-4 weeks. Shipping within the US is free with a pre-paid mailer.
Editorial review of Vetster's own published pages - not veterinary advice and not a paid endorsement. Prices, inclusions and fees change, so every figure carries its official source link and a check date of 2026-09-26; re-read the official page before you pay. Nothing here is a diagnosis: in an emergency, go to a clinic.