An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
BusyPaws prices in Australian dollars and focuses on sitting and walking. It charges per user once you pass the seats included in your plan. Petboost is flat per business with unlimited team members. If you're solo on their entry plan, the gap is small. If you're adding staff, per-seat pricing adds up.
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
AUD pricing, GST-ready, No FX Fees
Self-service portal. No staff time needed.
All on one plan. No add-ons.
Daycare, grooming, walking & beyond. All included.
Avg. time to book less than 2 min
Double Fee Alert for Australian Businesses
Australian businesses pay expensive subscription AND higher international payment fees
*Subscription waived as a bonus reward: Pro at $7,500+/mo, Max at $20,000+/mo in card payments
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
| Payment Processing | BusyPaws | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | US-based | AU Stripe (1.70%) |
| SMS Functionality | BusyPaws | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Availability | ⚠️ Usage-based add-on. Not on Free Trial or Starter plans. Team+ only (A$150+/mo) | ✅ Included with Business Pro, Flex & Max plans |
| 2-Way Messaging | ✅ Full 2-way with dedicated number (local area code) | ✅ Communications Booster 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 A$150+/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 |
There are limited scenarios where BusyPaws may suit you better:
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
An honest look at how each platform handles key functionality.
BusyPaws vs Petboost
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
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
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
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
Primary focus
Pet sitting/walking
Multi-vertical pet services
Transaction rates
US-based (international fees)
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe)
Text notifications
US phone format
AU-native (+61)
Support hours
US timezone
AEST/AEDT
Beyond sitting/walking
Sitting/walking focus
All verticals native
Feature Comparison BusyPaws vs Petboost | B BusyPaws | P PetboostAustralian-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
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:
We capture GPS at check-in/checkout and from photo EXIF data (Magic Map). Neither BusyPaws nor Petboost offers continuous route tracking.
Neither BusyPaws nor Petboost has purpose-built feeding, medication and bathroom fields on the visit report. Petboost has Report Cards with free-form notes, photos and Magic Map, plus custom fields and intake forms you can set to run every appointment.
| 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 purpose-built feeding, medication and bathroom fields on the visit report. Petboost has Report Cards with free-form notes, photos and Magic Map, plus custom fields and intake forms you can set to run every appointment. |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, BusyPaws may be better suited for your current needs.
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.
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.
At 100 bookings/month, Business Pro would cost $45/month. Max costs $45/month, which is $0/month more but includes unlimited appointments.
20 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
Business Pro includes 0 SMS/month. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You'll need 3 SMS Power-Up Packs ($45).
Save $636+ per month compared to typical competitors.
All 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.
Enter your business numbers and compare total costs including international card and currency conversion fees.
See exactly what you save with Petboost
Single-user plan. A$79/mo flat.
If platform fee built into pricing: $0/mo
Annual savings: $4,788
Compared to BusyPaws Starter/Solo at 100 transactions/month
BusyPaws pricing from their pricing page. Verified 2026-08-17.
Petboost fits your business. Whether you're a one-person mobile groomer, running a large facility with multiple staff and spaces, or managing several locations at once.
One-person operations with streamlined scheduling and automated payments.
3-10 staff with resource management, shared calendars, and team coordination.
Multi-space daycare and boarding, high-volume salons, and busy multi-service businesses.
Multi-location groups and franchises running every site from one HQ dashboard.
It's easier than you think. Here's what to expect if you decide to move from BusyPaws.
Customer Data
Export and import assistance provided
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical
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 assessmentFrom 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
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.
Common questions about switching and comparing these platforms.
Purpose-built features for every type of pet business.
Last verified: 17th August 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.
