Already using Square Appointments?
Australian businesses save up to ~$900/year (modest but consistent)
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
The Facts at a Glance
Square Appointments
squareup.com/au/en/appointments- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- USA (Block, Inc.)
- Focus
- Generic appointment scheduling
- Est. Customers
- Unknown (part of Square ecosystem)
- Pricing
- Free tier + paid plans ($0-69 AUD/month)
Petboost
Built in Sydney- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Sydney, Australia
- Focus
- Multi-vertical pet services
- AU Presence
- Native (built in Sydney)
- Pricing
- $0/mo (waived at -+) + -
Consider Square Appointments only if
There are limited scenarios where Square Appointments may suit you better:
- New pet businesses testing viability
- Businesses already invested in Square ecosystem (POS, hardware)
- Very simple operations (solo, few services)
- Those wanting familiar brand with AU presence
Petboost is the better choice if
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
- Pet businesses needing pet-specific workflows
- Multi-service operators (grooming + walking + daycare + training)
- Businesses wanting $0/month (waived at -+) with competitive transaction fees
- Operations needing pet profiles, packages, and courses
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
Square Appointments vs Petboost
Booking Engine
Appointment scheduling
Petboost understands pets
Generic scheduling
Pet-aware Magic Schedule
Pet Profiles
Pet-specific data storage
Key differentiator
Pet & Owner Profiles
Comprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork
Acuity focuses on scheduling; lacks comprehensive pet/owner profile management
Generic appointment history only
8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management
Owner/Pet Linking
Multiple pets per owner
Petboost designed for this
Package Credits
Prepaid packages
Petboost more advanced
Basic
Self-service 24/7 purchase
Course Management
Training courses
Petboost has training courses
Payment Processing (Tap)
In-person payments
Square slightly cheaper for tap
1.6% + $0.20
-
Payment Processing (Online)
Card-not-present
Petboost cheaper for online
2.2% + $0.30
-
POS Hardware
Terminal options
Square more options
🔗 Stripe Terminal
Multi-Location
Multiple locations
Square ahead currently
Yes (Premium)
Feature Comparison Square Appointments vs Petboost | S Square Appointments | P Petboost🇦🇺Australian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Booking EngineAppointment scheduling Petboost understands pets | Generic scheduling | Pet-aware Magic Schedule |
Pet ProfilesPet-specific data storage Key differentiator | ||
Pet & Owner ProfilesComprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork Acuity focuses on scheduling; lacks comprehensive pet/owner profile management | Generic appointment history only | 8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management |
Owner/Pet LinkingMultiple pets per owner Petboost designed for this | ❌ Manual | ✅ Automatic |
Package CreditsPrepaid packages Petboost more advanced | Basic | Self-service 24/7 purchase |
Course ManagementTraining courses Petboost has training courses | ||
Payment Processing (Tap)In-person payments Square slightly cheaper for tap | 1.6% + $0.20 | - |
Payment Processing (Online)Card-not-present Petboost cheaper for online | 2.2% + $0.30 | - |
POS HardwareTerminal options Square more options | ✅ Square hardware | 🔗 Stripe Terminal |
Multi-LocationMultiple locations Square ahead currently | Yes (Premium) | 🚧 Coming 2026 |
Last updated: December 2025 • 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Square POS integration | Focused elsewhere | Use Stripe Terminal instead |
| Square hardware | Focused elsewhere | Use Stripe Terminal hardware |
| Multi-location | FY26 | Square supports today |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Square Appointments may be better suited for your current needs.
Built for Australian Businesses
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
Payment Processing
In-Person (Tap)
Online
Monthly Subscription
| Payment Processing | Square Appointments | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person (Tap) | 1.6% + $0.20 | - |
| Online | 2.2% + $0.30 | - |
| Monthly Subscription | $0-69 AUD/month | $0/month (waived at -+) |
SMS Functionality
Availability
| SMS Functionality | Square Appointments | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Yes (paid tiers) | ✅ Native AU |
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 | Square Appointments | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Software (Plus tier) | $420 | $0 |
| In-person ($45K at 1.6% vs 0.0%) | ~$810 | ~$855 |
| Online ($105K at 2.2% vs 0.0%) | ~$2,625 | ~$2,100 |
| Total Annual ($150K GMV, 70% online) | ~$3,855 | ~$2,955 |
What You Keep Instead of Paying in Fees
~$900/year (modest but consistent)/year
Based on $500K GMV, 80% online transactions
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual savings may vary.
Pricing Calculator
See exactly what you'll pay with Business
-/month + - transaction fee. Hit -/month and the subscription is waived. Unlike competitors, you can pass fees to customers.
Petboost Business
Hit -/month and your monthly fee is waived
Typical Competitor
Fixed costs regardless of revenue
SMS Included
~3 SMS per appointment included (confirmation, reminder, receipt). That's 300 messages worth $72-$120 based on retail mass SMS product rates for 3-4 segment messages (non-wholesale pricing).
Smart Onboarding
Automated magic onboarding (like Gingr, MoeGo) for Customers & Pets is free. Optional guided onboarding & data cleaning starts at $0 to ~$600 depending on your data, obligation free. See our onboarding options.
Your Savings
Save $681+ per month compared to typical competitors.
* Estimates based on 100 transactions averaging $100 each. Actual costs vary based on transaction volume and average ticket size.
From solo operators to
multi-van fleets
Petboost scales with you. 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 Square Appointments.
Migration Complexity
Customer Data
Export from Square
Hardware
Square hardware won't work; need Stripe Terminal
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Square Appointments, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Square Appointments.
Contact us for a migration assessmentWhich Is Right for Your Business?
Square Appointments may suit you if:
- You're invested in Square hardware/ecosystem
- You use Square POS, banking, or other Square products
- Your operations are simple (no packages, courses, multi-pet)
- You trust the Square brand
Petboost is the better choice if:
- You need pet profiles and pet/owner relationships
- Package management is important
- You run training courses
- You want lower online payment fees
- You're Australian and want local support
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.
Square Appointments vs Petboost FAQs
Common questions about switching and comparing these platforms.
Ready to see Petboost in action?
Start your 14-day free trial, then activate Business Pro for 0 days with 0% Petboost fees. Only pay Stripe processing fees.
Last verified: 10th December 2025 | Pricing and features sourced from squareup.com/au/en/appointments
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Square Appointments® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Square Appointments.