Already using BusyPaws?
Australian businesses switch to Petboost for transparent, predictable pricing
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Why businesses choose Petboost
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
Built for Australian Businesses
AUD pricing, GST-ready, No FX Fees
Packages your clients buy themselves
Self-service portal. No staff time needed.
All on one plan. No add-ons.
1 system, 1 plan, multi-category
Daycare, grooming, walking & beyond. All included.
Easy for Pet Owners
Avg. time to book less than 2 min
The Facts at a Glance
BusyPaws
www.busypaws.app- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- USA
- Focus
- Pet sitting and dog walking
- Est. Customers
- Unknown
- Pricing
- $79-299 AUD/month
Double Fee Alert for Australian Businesses
- •$79-299 AUD/month subscription
- •US-based payment processing: 2.9-5%+ (vs Petboost 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee)
Australian businesses pay expensive subscription AND higher international payment fees
Petboost
Built in Sydney- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Sydney, Australia
- Focus
- Multi-vertical pet services
- AU Presence
- Native (built in Sydney)
- Pricing
- $65-240/mo + 1.2-1.4%or $0 with card volume*
*Subscription waived as a bonus reward: Pro at $7,500+/mo, Max at $20,000+/mo in card payments
Built for Australian Businesses
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
Payment Processing
Processing
| Payment Processing | BusyPaws | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | US-based | AU Stripe (1.70%) |
SMS Functionality
SMS Availability
2-Way Messaging
SMS Pricing (AU)
Cost for 500 SMS/mo
Segment Counting
SMS Payment Links
Currency
AU Overflow Rate
| SMS Functionality | BusyPaws | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Availability | ⚠️ Usage-based add-on. Not on Free Trial or Starter plans. Team+ only ($150+ USD/mo) | ✅ Included with Business Pro & Max plans |
| 2-Way Messaging | ✅ Full 2-way with dedicated number (local area code) | ✅ Messaging Pro add-on with dedicated AU number |
| SMS Pricing (AU) | ⚠️ Tiered: 1-100 segs $5, then $50 per 500-seg tier, $0.10/seg overflow. ~4x US rate | Published credit packs in AUD |
| Cost for 500 SMS/mo | ~$55 AUD (on top of $150+ USD/mo plan) | Included in plan credits |
| Segment Counting | ⚠️ 153 chars/segment. Both sent AND received count toward usage | Standard encoding. Inbound fees vary by plan |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ One-tap payment via SMS |
| Currency | AUD/USD/CAD/GBP supported | AUD |
| AU Overflow Rate | $0.10 AUD/segment (vs $0.025 USD in US, roughly 4x more expensive) | Transparent credit packs in AUD |
Consider BusyPaws only if
There are limited scenarios where BusyPaws may suit you better:
- US-based pet sitters and dog walkers
- Businesses focused purely on pet sitting/walking services
- Companies wanting dedicated pet sitting software
- Operations comfortable with US-based support
Petboost?
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
- Australian pet businesses wanting local support and compliance
- Multi-service operators or those planning to expand
- Businesses wanting $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) transparent pricing
- Owners who value modern automation
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
Where Each Platform Excels
An honest look at how each platform handles key functionality.
Feature Comparison
BusyPaws vs Petboost
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Petboost eliminates registration friction with phone-first auth
Account-based booking portal
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes
Pet Profile Visibility (Owner)
What pet owners can see and manage about their pets
Petboost gives owners comprehensive view of their pet records
Basic pet info and visit history
Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts
Pet Attributes Library
Pre-built tags for allergies, grooming prefs, behavioural traits
Petboost has comprehensive attribute library with customer self-service
Basic pet notes
2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories
Pet & Owner Profiles
Comprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork
Petboost offers complete pet identity management with integrated packages, vaccinations & paperwork
Basic client profiles
8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management
Target Market
Primary focus
Pet sitting/walking
Multi-vertical pet services
Payment Processing
Transaction rates
US-based (international fees)
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe)
SMS
Text notifications
US phone format
AU-native (+61)
Support Timezone
Support hours
US timezone
AEST/AEDT
Multi-Service
Beyond sitting/walking
Sitting/walking focus
All verticals native
Feature Comparison BusyPaws vs Petboost | B BusyPaws | P Petboost🇦🇺Australian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow for pet owners Petboost eliminates registration friction with phone-first auth | Account-based booking portal | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes |
Pet Profile Visibility (Owner)What pet owners can see and manage about their pets Petboost gives owners comprehensive view of their pet records | Basic pet info and visit history | Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts |
Pet Attributes LibraryPre-built tags for allergies, grooming prefs, behavioural traits Petboost has comprehensive attribute library with customer self-service | Basic pet notes | 2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories |
Pet & Owner ProfilesComprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork Petboost offers complete pet identity management with integrated packages, vaccinations & paperwork | Basic client profiles | 8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management |
Target MarketPrimary focus | Pet sitting/walking | Multi-vertical pet services |
Payment ProcessingTransaction rates | US-based (international fees) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe) |
SMSText notifications | US phone format | AU-native (+61) |
Support TimezoneSupport hours | US timezone | AEST/AEDT |
Multi-ServiceBeyond sitting/walking | Sitting/walking focus | All verticals native |
Last updated: January 2026 • Based on publicly available information
Our Focused Approach
We do fewer things exceptionally well rather than many things adequately. Our customers consistently tell us our design and user experience is miles ahead. Here's where we've intentionally focused elsewhere:
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous GPS route tracking | Focused elsewhere | We capture GPS at check-in/checkout and from photo EXIF data (Magic Map). Neither BusyPaws nor Petboost offers continuous route tracking. |
| Structured visit fields | Considering | Neither BusyPaws nor Petboost has structured feeding/medication/bathroom fields. Petboost has Report Cards with free-form notes, photos, and Magic Map. |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, BusyPaws may be better suited for your current needs.
Real Cost Comparison
Based on typical Australian pet business transaction volumes.
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual costs may vary.
| Cost Type | BusyPaws | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | $79-299 AUD/month | $65/mo (or $0 at $7,500+/mo) |
| Payment Processing | Standard rates | AU Stripe (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Petboost Booking Fee | N/A | 1.2-1.4% on card payments |
You may be paying twice with BusyPaws
$79-299 AUD/month subscription, plus us-based payment processing: 2.9-5%+ (vs petboost 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee). With Petboost, you pay $65/month (waived at $7,500+ volume) and competitive AU payment processing rates.
What Could You Save?
Calculate your potential savings
Your savings depend on your business size and payment volume. Use the calculator below for a personalised estimate.
Which plan is right for you?
Enter your numbers and see
Business Pro starts at -/month with 0 appointments included. Business Max at -/month gives you unlimited appointments.
Total customer payments (all methods)
Appointments you expect each month
Reminders and notifications sent
What percentage of payments go through card on file?
Subscription waiver impact: Your total revenue ($10,000) would qualify for a subscription waiver, but only $8,000 goes through card on file. Increase card payments to $0 to unlock the waiver.
💡 Consider Business Max
At 100 bookings/month, Pro would cost $45/month (including $0 in overage fees). Max costs $45/month, which is $0/month more but includes unlimited appointments.
Business Pro
Hit -/month in card payments and your monthly fee is waived
Hidden Costs of Non-Card Payments
$408/mo20 of your 100 appointments are paid without card on file
$1 in fees saves $408 in hidden costs
Annual impact: $4,892/year in recoverable losses
Generous SMS Limits
Pro includes 0 SMS/month, Max includes 0. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You'll need 3 SMS Power-Up Packs ($45).
When to Upgrade
At your current revenue, Business Max becomes better value at ∞ appointments/month. You're at 100. Pro includes $0 in overage fees, but is still $0 cheaper than Max.
Your Savings
Save $636+ per month compared to typical competitors.
Quick Plan Comparison
Business Pro
- • -/month (waived at -+ card payment volume)
- • 0 appointments included
- • -/appointment after 0
- • 0 SMS/month included
- • - transaction fee
Business Max
- • -/month (waived at -+ card payment volume)
- • Unlimited appointments
- • No per-appointment overage fees
- • 0 SMS/month included
- • - transaction fee
Both plans include SMS Power-Up Packs at $15 for 100 additional SMS if needed.
* Estimates based on $10,000 total revenue (80% card on file), 100 appointments, and 300 SMS. Hidden cost estimates use industry averages for no-show rates, cancellation losses, and admin time. Actual costs vary.
Calculate your potential savings
Enter your business numbers and compare total costs including international card and currency conversion fees.
Cost Comparison Calculator
See exactly what you save with Petboost
BusyPaws
Single-user plan
Petboost
If platform fee passed to customers: $0/mo
Annual savings: $8,366
Compared to BusyPaws Starter/Solo at 100 transactions/month
BusyPaws pricing from their pricing page. Verified 2026-03-22. USD converted to AUD at current exchange rates.
From solo operators to
multi-van fleets
Petboost fits your business. Whether you're a one-person mobile groomer or running a large facility with multiple staff and spaces.
Solo Superstars
One-person operations with streamlined scheduling and automated payments.
- 1-tap booking management
- Automated invoicing & receipts
- After-hours self-service booking
- SMS reminders on autopilot
Growing Teams
3-10 staff with resource management, shared calendars, and team coordination.
- Multi-staff scheduling
- Per-resource capacity limits
- Team permissions & roles
- Shared customer database
Large Operations
Dog walking van fleets, multi-space facilities, and high-volume businesses.
- Fleet/van management
- Multi-space capacity tracking
- Volume pricing available
- Advanced automation rules
Making the Switch
It's easier than you think. Here's what to expect if you decide to move from BusyPaws.
Migration Complexity
Customer Data
Export and import assistance provided
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with BusyPaws, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from BusyPaws.
Contact us for a migration assessmentWhich Is Right for Your Business?
BusyPaws may suit you if:
- You're US-based
- You're purely pet sitting/walking
Petboost?
- You're an Australian business
- You want to earn $0/month (waived at $7,500+)
- You're multi-service or planning to expand
- Payment processing costs matter
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
Still unsure? Book a no-pressure demo and we'll help you figure out if we're the right fit, even if that means recommending someone else.
Honest about change
The little bit of pain is generally 4 to 6 weeks. Then it clicks.
Switching to any new system is a big adjustment. Buttons are in different places, naming might be different, and the muscle memory you have built does not transfer overnight. We tell every customer the same thing: give it 4 to 6 weeks. Then, one day, you realise it is so much better.
BusyPaws vs Petboost FAQs
Common questions about switching and comparing these platforms.
Explore Petboost by Service Type
Purpose-built features for every type of pet business.
Ready to see Petboost in action?
Start your 14-day free trial, then activate Business Pro for 21 days with 0% Petboost fees. Only pay Stripe processing fees.
Last verified: 22nd March 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.busypaws.app
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
BusyPaws® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by BusyPaws.