An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Pawfinity handles retail inventory, which we don't. It's US-billed, so Australian cards carry conversion and international card fees. If selling shampoo and product lines is a real part of your revenue, buy theirs. If you want Australian rates and one system for grooming, daycare and boarding, we're the closer fit.
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 with FX fees AND inflated payment processing
*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 | 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 | Pawfinity | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Bundling | ✅ Bundled with pay-as-you-go beyond included credits (USD) | ✅ Included with Business Pro, Flex & 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 | ✅ Communications Booster add-on with dedicated AU number |
| Australian Phone Number | ⚠️ Dedicated numbers available via lease. AU availability unconfirmed | ✅ Australian number with Communications Booster |
| 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) |
There are limited scenarios where Pawfinity 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.
Pawfinity vs Petboost
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
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
Customer self-service appointment scheduling
Both strong online booking systems
Advanced Online Booking
Self-service booking portal
Business calendar and appointment management
Both have smart scheduling capabilities
Booking Genius (AI-assisted)
Magic Availability Check + Quick Create dual modes
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)
One-tap payment links via SMS
Petboost differentiator: one-tap payment links via SMS
Mobile route planning with traffic
Pawfinity strength: Mapping & Routes + Precision Location
Retail stock tracking and POS
Pawfinity has full inventory system
Employee time tracking and payroll
Pawfinity has built-in employee management
Training course lifecycle
Petboost has purpose-built course management
Basic (as appointments)
Native courses with templates/instances
Prepaid package credits
Petboost more customer-friendly for package purchases
Credit packages available
Self-service 24/7 purchase + coffee-card tracking
Workflow automation levels
Petboost offers more control over automation
Standard automation
5 automation settings
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 Communications Booster add-on
Financial software sync
Petboost via Stripe bank feeds; Pawfinity has direct QuickBooks
QuickBooks Connect
Stripe (bank feeds to Xero)
Customer review collection
Both collect reviews. Pawfinity Review Booster automates the sending; Petboost review requests are sent per appointment by your team
Digital paperwork and files
Both support secure document storage
Multiple business locations
Petboost supports multi-location via Enterprise
Contact for options
Yes (Enterprise)
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 PetboostAustralian-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 Communications Booster 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 Both collect reviews. Pawfinity Review Booster automates the sending; Petboost review requests are sent per appointment by your team | ✅ Report Card star rating with private-feedback routing, plus SMS and email review requests | |
Document StorageDigital paperwork and files Both support secure document storage | ||
Multi-LocationMultiple business locations Petboost supports multi-location via Enterprise | Contact for options | Yes (Enterprise) |
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
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:
Magic Optimise in Travel orders a day's run (up to 25 stops) with per-leg drive times, an ETA window and a Get Directions hand-off. It is an optional add-on in closed beta, not a general plan feature yet
Petboost sells products as retail line items you add to an appointment invoice or sell in-store. What we do not do is stock control: no stock levels, reorder points or cost of goods. Use Xero or dedicated inventory software.
Use Deputy, Xero, or dedicated HR software
Manual review request tracking now available; automated sending may come later
Xero is the Australian standard; use Xero instead
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Route optimisation | ✅ Available | Magic Optimise in Travel orders a day's run (up to 25 stops) with per-leg drive times, an ETA window and a Get Directions hand-off. It is an optional add-on in closed beta, not a general plan feature yet |
| Inventory management | Focused elsewhere | Petboost sells products as retail line items you add to an appointment invoice or sell in-store. What we do not do is stock control: no stock levels, reorder points or cost of goods. 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 |
| QuickBooks integration | Focused elsewhere |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Pawfinity 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 | 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.
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
For grooming, training, nail, or dental services
If platform fee built into pricing: $0/mo
Annual savings: $8,030
Compared to Pawfinity Groom & Train at 100 transactions/month
Pawfinity pricing from their pricing page. Verified 2026-08-17. USD converted to AUD at current exchange rates.
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 Pawfinity.
Customer Data
Standard data export; import assistance provided
Booking History
Not migrated; you set up your own schedule (typically 2-4 hours)
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
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 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.pawfinity.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.
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.
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
| Xero is the Australian standard; use Xero instead |
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
