Already using Pawfinity?
Australian businesses save up to Similar cost, but AU-native with local support
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
1 system, 1 plan, multi-category
Grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, training. All included.
All on one plan. No add-ons.
Most actions in 1-2 clicks!
Minimal digging. No endless menus
Easy for Pet Owners
Avg. time to book less than 2 min
The Facts at a Glance
Pawfinity
www.pawfinity.com- Founded
- ~2008-2009
- Headquarters
- USA
- Focus
- Multi-vertical pet services (grooming, kennel, daycare, etc)
- Est. Customers
- Unknown (in 12 countries)
- Pricing
- Monthly subscription ($55-110 USD/month)
Double Fee Alert for Australian Businesses
- •$55-110 USD/month subscription (plus 2% FX fees for Australian payments)
- •US-based payment processing: 2.9-5%+ (vs Petboost 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee)
Australian businesses pay subscription with FX fees AND inflated payment processing
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
Card-Not-Present Rate
SMS Payment Links
Monthly Subscription
FX Fees (for AUD)
| Payment Processing | Pawfinity | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Card-Not-Present Rate | 2.9-5%+ (with intl fees) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ 1.2-1.4% Petboost + 1.7% + $0.3 Stripe |
| Monthly Subscription | $55-110 USD/month | $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) |
| FX Fees (for AUD) | 2% on subscription | $0 (AUD native) |
SMS Functionality
SMS Bundling
Included SMS Credits
Per-Message Overage
2-Way Messaging
Australian Phone Number
SMS Payment Links
Currency
Plan Cost (with SMS)
| SMS Functionality | Pawfinity | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Bundling | ✅ Bundled with pay-as-you-go beyond included credits (USD) | ✅ Included with Business Pro & Max plans |
| Included SMS Credits | Royal: 250/mo. Groom & Train / Stay & Play: fewer (unspecified) | Generous monthly credits included |
| Per-Message Overage | $0.035-$0.05 USD tiered by volume. Inbound replies free | Credit packs in AUD, never expire |
| 2-Way Messaging | ✅ Available. Conversations in dashboard | ✅ Messaging Pro add-on with dedicated AU number |
| Australian Phone Number | ⚠️ Dedicated numbers available via lease. AU availability unconfirmed | ✅ Australian number with Messaging Pro |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ One-tap payment via SMS |
| Currency | USD primary. AUD billing available with 2% FX fee | AUD native (no FX fees) |
| Plan Cost (with SMS) | $55-110 USD/mo + $0.035-$0.05/msg overage | Business Pro/Max plan (AUD) |
Consider Pawfinity only if
There are limited scenarios where Pawfinity may suit you better:
- Mobile groomers needing route optimisation (Mapping & Routes)
- Businesses wanting built-in inventory management
- Operations needing time clock and payroll features
- US-based businesses wanting local support
- QuickBooks users (native integration)
- Those who prefer fixed monthly subscription pricing
- Multi-vertical operations from day one
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 wanting to avoid monthly subscription fees
- Businesses wanting lower payment processing rates (AU Stripe)
- Owners who value granular automation control (5 settings)
- Training businesses needing native course management
- Anyone wanting SMS Payment Links (one-tap payment via SMS)
- Xero users (vs QuickBooks)
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
Pawfinity vs Petboost
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Petboost has frictionless phone-first auth; Pawfinity requires account setup
Advanced Online Booking with account creation
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering, 24/7 booking
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 appointment history
Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts, and grooming preferences
Online Booking
Customer self-service appointment scheduling
Both strong online booking systems
Advanced Online Booking
Self-service booking portal
Scheduling
Business calendar and appointment management
Both have smart scheduling capabilities
Booking Genius (AI-assisted)
Magic Availability Check + Quick Create dual modes
Payment Processing
Transaction rates
Petboost optimised for Australian rates
2.9-5%+ (with intl fees)
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe)
SMS Payment Links
One-tap payment links via SMS
Petboost differentiator: one-tap payment links via SMS
Route Optimisation
Mobile route planning with traffic
Pawfinity strength: Mapping & Routes + Precision Location
Inventory Management
Retail stock tracking and POS
Pawfinity has full inventory system
Time Clock/Payroll
Employee time tracking and payroll
Pawfinity has built-in employee management
Course Management
Training course lifecycle
Petboost has purpose-built course management
Basic (as appointments)
Native courses with templates/instances
Package Management
Prepaid package credits
Petboost more customer-friendly for package purchases
Credit packages available
Self-service 24/7 purchase + coffee-card tracking
Automation
Workflow automation levels
Petboost offers more control over automation
Standard automation
5 automation settings
SMS/Notifications
Appointment reminders and alerts
Both offer 2-way SMS; Petboost better for AU numbers with native +61 support
2-way SMS (US-focused)
AU-native SMS (+61), 2-way inbox via Messaging Pro add-on
Accounting Integration
Financial software sync
Petboost via Stripe bank feeds; Pawfinity has direct QuickBooks
QuickBooks Connect
Stripe (bank feeds to Xero)
Review Management
Customer review collection
Pawfinity has Review Booster today
Document Storage
Digital paperwork and files
Both support secure document storage
Multi-Location
Multiple business locations
Neither fully supports multi-location currently
Contact for options
Mobile App
Mobile access
Similar web-based mobile approach
Modern App (web-based)
Pet owner + business full screen web apps
Feature Comparison Pawfinity vs Petboost | P Pawfinity | P Petboost🇦🇺Australian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow for pet owners Petboost has frictionless phone-first auth; Pawfinity requires account setup | Advanced Online Booking with account creation | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering, 24/7 booking |
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 appointment history | Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts, and grooming preferences |
Online BookingCustomer self-service appointment scheduling Both strong online booking systems | Advanced Online Booking | Self-service booking portal |
SchedulingBusiness calendar and appointment management Both have smart scheduling capabilities | Booking Genius (AI-assisted) | Magic Availability Check + Quick Create dual modes |
Payment ProcessingTransaction rates Petboost optimised for Australian rates | 2.9-5%+ (with intl fees) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe) |
SMS Payment LinksOne-tap payment links via SMS Petboost differentiator: one-tap payment links via SMS | ||
Route OptimisationMobile route planning with traffic Pawfinity strength: Mapping & Routes + Precision Location | ||
Inventory ManagementRetail stock tracking and POS Pawfinity has full inventory system | ||
Time Clock/PayrollEmployee time tracking and payroll Pawfinity has built-in employee management | ||
Course ManagementTraining course lifecycle Petboost has purpose-built course management | Basic (as appointments) | Native courses with templates/instances |
Package ManagementPrepaid package credits Petboost more customer-friendly for package purchases | Credit packages available | Self-service 24/7 purchase + coffee-card tracking |
AutomationWorkflow automation levels Petboost offers more control over automation | Standard automation | 5 automation settings |
SMS/NotificationsAppointment reminders and alerts Both offer 2-way SMS; Petboost better for AU numbers with native +61 support | 2-way SMS (US-focused) | AU-native SMS (+61), 2-way inbox via Messaging Pro add-on |
Accounting IntegrationFinancial software sync Petboost via Stripe bank feeds; Pawfinity has direct QuickBooks | QuickBooks Connect | Stripe (bank feeds to Xero) |
Review ManagementCustomer review collection Pawfinity has Review Booster today | 🚧 Coming | |
Document StorageDigital paperwork and files Both support secure document storage | ||
Multi-LocationMultiple business locations Neither fully supports multi-location currently | Contact for options | 🚧 Coming 2026 |
Mobile AppMobile access Similar web-based mobile approach | Modern App (web-based) | Pet owner + business full screen web apps |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Route optimisation | Focused elsewhere | Use Google Maps or dedicated routing apps |
| Inventory management | Focused elsewhere | Use Xero or dedicated inventory software |
| Time clock/payroll | Focused elsewhere | Use Deputy, Xero, or dedicated HR software |
| Automated review requests | Considering | Manual review request tracking now available; automated sending may come later |
| Multi-location management | FY26 | Single-location focus first to nail the core experience |
| QuickBooks integration | Focused elsewhere | Xero is the Australian standard; use Xero instead |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Pawfinity 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 | Pawfinity | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Subscription | ~$983-1,967 AUD (~$660-1,320 USD) | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| Subscription FX Fees (~2%) | ~$20-39 AUD | $0 (AU-based) |
| Payment Processing (est. 2.9-5%+ with intl fees vs 1.7% on $240K) | ~$6,960 AUD | ~$4,080 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Petboost Booking Fee (on $240K GMV) | N/A (included above) | ~$3,360 (1.2-1.4%) |
| Total Annual Cost (incl. transaction fees) | ~$7,963-8,966 AUD | ~$8,220 |
You may be paying twice with Pawfinity
$55-110 USD/month subscription (plus 2% FX fees for Australian payments), 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
Pawfinity
For grooming, training, nail, or dental services
Petboost
If platform fee passed to customers: $0/mo
Annual savings: $8,030
Compared to Pawfinity Groom & Train at 100 transactions/month
Pawfinity 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 Pawfinity.
Migration Complexity
Customer Data
Standard data export; import assistance provided
Booking History
Not imported; fresh start in Petboost
Package Balances
Credit balances can be migrated
Inventory Data
Not applicable; Petboost does not have inventory. Keep in separate system (e.g., Xero)
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical; straightforward transition
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Pawfinity, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Pawfinity.
Contact us for a migration assessmentWhich Is Right for Your Business?
Pawfinity may suit you if:
- Route optimisation is essential for your mobile grooming business
- You need built-in inventory management for retail sales
- Time clock and payroll features are important
- You are US-based and want local support
- QuickBooks is your accounting software
- You prefer fixed monthly subscription pricing
- You're satisfied with your current setup and change isn't needed
Petboost?
- You're an Australian business wanting local support
- Payment processing costs matter to your bottom line
- You want to earn $0/month (waived at $7,500+) (pay only when you earn)
- You value granular automation control
- You need native course management for training
- SMS Payment Links are important for your workflow
- You prefer Xero for accounting
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.
Pawfinity 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.pawfinity.com
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Pawfinity® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pawfinity.