An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
KennelBooker is a focused kennel and cattery product, priced by capacity rather than by staff. It's Irish, so Australian cards carry conversion fees. If you only board and want the simplest capacity-priced plan, buy theirs. If you also groom, run daycare or take classes, you'd be buying a second system.
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
AUD pricing, GST-ready, No FX Fees
Grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, training. All included.
All on one plan. No add-ons.
Minimal digging. No endless menus
Avg. time to book less than 2 min
Double Fee Alert for Australian Businesses
Australian businesses pay subscription AND separate payment processing 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 | KennelBooker | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | Varies | AU Stripe (1.70%) |
| SMS Functionality | KennelBooker | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Availability | ⚠️ Add-on credit system. SMS credits purchased in bundles of 100 | ✅ Included with Business Pro, Flex & Max plans |
| SMS Pricing | Per-credit pricing varies by country. Not publicly disclosed | Published credit packs in AUD |
| Character Limits | 160 chars per credit. Longer messages use multiple credits | Standard encoding, documented clearly |
| Australian Phone Number | ⚠️ Likely supported (pricing adapts by country) but not confirmed | ✅ Australian number with Communications Booster |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ One-tap payment via SMS |
| 2-Way Messaging | ❌ Not documented | ✅ Communications Booster add-on with dedicated AU number |
There are limited scenarios where KennelBooker may suit you better:
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
An honest look at how each platform handles key functionality.
KennelBooker vs Petboost
Pre-built tags for allergies, grooming prefs, behavioural traits
Petboost has comprehensive attribute library with colour coding and icons
Basic pet notes/fields
2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories
Comprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork
Petboost centralises packages, sales, grooming prefs, vaccinations, policy overrides & digital paperwork
Basic pet records with booking history
8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management
Appointment scheduling
Both offer online booking
Magic Availability Check + Quick Create
Transaction rates
Petboost optimised for AU
Integrated (varies)
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe)
Facility visualisation
KennelBooker more visual
Resource capacity
Beyond boarding
Petboost more versatile
Full multi-vertical
Text notifications
Petboost better for AU
International
AU-native (+61)
Training courses
Petboost has training courses
Native courses
Feature Comparison KennelBooker vs Petboost | K KennelBooker | P PetboostAustralian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet Attributes LibraryPre-built tags for allergies, grooming prefs, behavioural traits Petboost has comprehensive attribute library with colour coding and icons | Basic pet notes/fields | 2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories |
Pet & Owner ProfilesComprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork Petboost centralises packages, sales, grooming prefs, vaccinations, policy overrides & digital paperwork | Basic pet records with booking history | 8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management |
Online BookingAppointment scheduling Both offer online booking | Magic Availability Check + Quick Create | |
Payment ProcessingTransaction rates Petboost optimised for AU | Integrated (varies) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe) |
Kennel/Pen ManagementFacility visualisation KennelBooker more visual | ✅ Visual pen view | Resource capacity |
Multi-ServiceBeyond boarding Petboost more versatile | Limited | Full multi-vertical |
SMSText notifications Petboost better for AU | International | AU-native (+61) |
Course ManagementTraining courses Petboost has training courses | Native courses |
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:
Focus on service delivery first
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Visual kennel/pen view | Considering | Focus on service delivery first |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, KennelBooker 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 | KennelBooker | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | Varies | $65/mo (or $0 at $7,500+/mo) |
| Payment Processing | Varies | 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 KennelBooker
Monthly subscription (varies by region), plus separate 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
Up to 10 rooms, 10 daycare spaces. Annual: A$778.69/yr (12% off).
If platform fee built into pricing: $0/mo
Annual savings: $9,081
Compared to KennelBooker Dachshund at 100 transactions/month
KennelBooker 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 KennelBooker.
Customer Data
Export and import assistance provided
Timeline
2-4 weeks typical
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with KennelBooker, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from KennelBooker.
Contact us for a migration assessmentStill 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.kennelbooker.com
Exchange rate: AUD figures converted at 1 USD = $1.43 and 1 GBP = $1.91, the European Central Bank via Frankfurter rate as at . Rates move daily, so the AUD amounts above are indicative; we re-check them every week.
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
KennelBooker® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by KennelBooker.
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
