Comparison
BarkBox alternative: a treats-only box from a Pennsylvania kitchen
Modified Monthly is a BarkBox alternative for owners who want treats and nothing else in the box. Every fact about BarkBox below comes from its own site, with the link and the date we read it.
Updated
Two different kinds of box
If you are searching for BarkBox alternatives, the first question is what you want to open each month. According to its own pages, BarkBox is built around toys: two toys, two bags of treats and a third item, all tied to a monthly theme. Modified Monthly is built around treats only. They are freeze-dried or air-dried in small batches in Pennsylvania, and there are no toys in the box.
Neither approach is wrong. If your dog lives for squeakers, a toy box fits that. If your dog or cat works for treats, or you want to pick the proteins that go in the bowl and the ones that stay out, a treats-only box fits that. This page lays out the facts so you can choose.
Modified Monthly and BarkBox side by side
| Modified Monthly | BarkBox | |
|---|---|---|
| What is in the box | Treats only, with a new theme each month | Two toys, two bags of treats and a third item, built around a monthly theme Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Price | First box $1, an introductory price that comes with a three shipment minimum. Regular price $50 every month after that | Their site says prices start "as low as $24 per month". That is a starting price; which plan length and box size it applies to is not shown on the pages we checked Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Plan lengths | A monthly subscription. The $1 first box needs three paid shipments | 1, 6 and 12 month plans Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Shipping | Free on every box | Free for subscribers, per their join page Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Skipping a month | Subscribers can skip or pause a month (it does not count toward the minimum) | Their site says most subscriptions can be managed online, including skipping a renewal before the next bill date Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Choosing what fits | You name proteins to skip | Their join page says boxes can be tailored to size, chew style, play style and food sensitivities Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Cats | Dog box or cat box | No cat box appeared on the pages we checked Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Where the treats are made | Made in small batches in Pennsylvania | Not stated on the pages we checked Source: bark.co, checked 2026-10-16 |
BarkBox is a trademark of its owner. Modified Monthly and Sniff and Shift are not affiliated with or endorsed by BarkBox. Details may change, so check bark.co before you buy.
The two boxes are not the same product, so the price row does not compare like for like. One has toys in it. The other is all treats. Our $1 is a first box price only, and their $24 is a starting price, so neither number is the whole cost.
BarkBox is a trademark of its owner. Modified Monthly and Sniff and Shift are not affiliated with or endorsed by BarkBox, and we use the name only to identify it. Its plans, prices and terms may have changed since 2026-10-16, so check bark.co before you decide.
What is the same
Both boxes arrive monthly with a theme, and both ship free for subscribers. Both let you manage the subscription online. That is a fair amount of common ground, so the choice comes down to what is inside and the terms you are agreeing to.
What is different
Treats only. Nothing in the box is a toy or a chew. A box of treats suits training rewards, picky eaters and owners who read labels. They are for intermittent or supplemental feeding, not a complete diet.
Dog box or cat box. We sell a box for dogs and a box for cats. On the dog box pages we checked, BarkBox did not mention a cat box, and we cannot say whether one exists elsewhere on their site. People do look for "BarkBox for cats", and if that is you, our cat box is here.
Where it is made. Ours are made in small batches in Pennsylvania.
Commitment, stated plainly
Our $1 first box comes with a minimum of three paid shipments: the first box, then two more at $50 each, plus taxes. Leaving sooner costs a one-time $49 early cancellation charge, and cancelling before your first box is fulfilled is free. After the third box you can cancel before your next billing date. The full wording is in the subscription terms.
BarkBox publishes its own plan lengths and cancellation terms, summarized in the table above. Read both sets of terms before you subscribe to either.
Want the cost side of the story first? We wrote how much BarkBox costs using only what it publishes. You can also read how Modified Monthly works or see the dog box.
BarkBox alternative questions
Is Modified Monthly like BarkBox?
They share a monthly theme and free shipping for subscribers. They differ in what is inside: BarkBox describes toys, treats and a third item, and Modified Monthly is treats only, made in small batches in Pennsylvania.
Does the box include toys?
No. Modified Monthly is treats only. If toys are what you want most, a toy-focused box suits you better.
Is there a cat box?
Yes, we sell a cat box and a dog box. On the dog box pages we checked as of 2026-10-16, BarkBox did not mention a cat box. Check their site for anything newer.
What does each cost?
Ours is $1 for the first box, then $50 every month, with free shipping and a three shipment minimum for the $1 offer. BarkBox's site says prices start "as low as $24 per month" as of 2026-10-16, which is a starting price, not the price of every plan. The boxes hold different things, so the numbers do not compare like for like.
Can I skip a month?
With Modified Monthly, subscribers can skip or pause a month; a skipped month does not count toward the minimum. BarkBox's site says most subscriptions can be managed online, including skipping a renewal before the next bill date.