Stephen at Superwild · 15 May 2026 · 7 min read
Bravecto vs NexGard vs Simparica — which UK flea and tick treatment is actually better?
All three are isoxazoline-class oral parasiticides. All three kill fleas and ticks effectively. The differences that actually matter for a UK owner are dosing frequency, worm coverage and price. Here is the honest side-by-side.
The comparison table
| Product | Active | Frequency | Fleas | Ticks | Worms | Online £/month (medium dog) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bravecto | fluralaner | Every 12 weeks | Yes | Yes | No | ~£11 |
| NexGard | afoxolaner | Monthly | Yes | Yes | No | ~£11 |
| NexGard Spectra | afoxolaner + milbemycin | Monthly | Yes | Yes | Yes (round/hook/lung/heart) | ~£15 |
| Simparica | sarolaner | Monthly | Yes | Yes | No | ~£11 |
| Simparica Trio | sarolaner + moxidectin + pyrantel | Monthly | Yes | Yes | Yes (round/hook/heart) | ~£14 |
| Credelio | lotilaner | Monthly | Yes | Yes | No | ~£11 |
When each one wins
Bravecto if you forget. One chewable every 12 weeks is the easiest schedule and the cheapest per-month over the year (around £132 for the year). The tradeoff: a slightly higher tick-attachment time before kill (8 hours vs 4-6).
NexGard Spectra or Simparica Trio if you want flea + tick + wormer in one chewable. You stop buying Milbemax separately, which almost evens out the price.
NexGard or Simparica if your dog has a mild tendency to vomit fluralaner (Bravecto). Monthly dosing is more flexible if you switch products mid-year.
Credelio for fast knockdown — fleas typically die within 4 hours, the fastest in the isoxazoline class. Useful for severe infestations and for dogs sensitive to flea-allergy dermatitis flares.
Side effects (the class signal)
All four isoxazolines have an FDA-flagged neurological signal: rare reports of tremor, ataxia or seizures in predisposed dogs. The UK SPCs carry the same warning. The absolute risk is low — these have been used on tens of millions of dogs — but if your dog already has a seizure history, discuss with the vet before starting any of them. Seresto collar (flumethrin + imidacloprid) is an isoxazoline-free alternative if you want to avoid the class entirely.
Beyond that, the common side effects across all four are mild GI upset (under 5% of dogs), usually settling within 24 hours.
Cost — vet vs online
For a medium dog (10–20 kg), per-dose pricing typical of UK vet practice and online:
- Bravecto 12-week chewable: vet £40-£55 / online £22-£28
- NexGard monthly chewable (3-pack): vet £36-£48 / online £20-£24
- NexGard Spectra monthly chewable (3-pack): vet £48-£62 / online £28-£34
- Simparica Trio monthly chewable (3-pack): vet £46-£60 / online £26-£32
Annualised for a medium dog, the typical owner pays around £180–£220 at the vet and £100–£140 online — a saving of £80–£120 a year on parasiticides alone. The CMA's 2026 Final Report names parasiticides as the single largest area of vet practice mark-up; from 23 September 2026 every practice must display its top-10 most-sold products with prices and tell clients that online is often cheaper. Full parasiticide comparison page for live numbers.
One thing the brochures do not say
UK ticks are mostly active March–November. If your dog stays out of long grass and woodland in winter, some owners switch from monthly all-year to "March–November monthly + winter break". Discuss with your vet. The lifetime saving compounds.
Save on your dog's medication
See the exact monthly saving for your dog's weight, then follow the 5-minute switch guide.
Not medical advice. Sources: SPCs for Bravecto, NexGard, NexGard Spectra, Simparica, Simparica Trio and Credelio at vmd.defra.gov.uk; CMA Final Order, March 2026.