An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Square Appointments is free to start and the hardware is everywhere. It's built for human appointments, not one owner with three dogs. If you already run Square for retail and only need a basic calendar, keep it. If you need pet records, vaccination gates and real capacity limits, you'll outgrow it quickly.
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
*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 | Square Appointments | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person (Tap) | 1.6% + $0.20 | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| Online | 2.2% + $0.30 | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| Monthly Subscription | $0-69 AUD/month | $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) |
| SMS Functionality | Square Appointments | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Bundling | ✅ Bundled in all plans. No per-message charges (AUD) | ✅ Included with Business Pro, Flex & Max plans |
| 2-Way Messaging | ❌ Not available in Australia. Square Messages is US-only | ✅ Communications Booster add-on with dedicated AU number |
| SMS Customisation | ⚠️ Plus/Premium only ($40-90 AUD/mo). Free plan: reminders only | ✅ Full customisation on paid plans |
| Dedicated Phone Number | ❌ No. Sends from system sender ID. Clients cannot reply | ✅ Australian number with Communications Booster |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available via SMS | ✅ One-tap payment via SMS |
| Currency | ✅ AUD (Square AU site) | AUD |
| Pet-Specific Features | ❌ No pet profiles, attributes, or vaccination tracking | ✅ 2,000+ pet attributes, vaccination alerts |
There are limited scenarios where Square Appointments 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.
Square Appointments vs Petboost
Self-service booking flow
Petboost understands pets and their requirements; Square treats all appointments the same
Generic client booking (not pet-aware)
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, pet-aware eligibility filtering
Appointment scheduling
Petboost understands pets
Generic scheduling
Pet-aware Magic Availability Check
Pet-specific data storage
Key differentiator
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
Multiple pets per owner
Petboost designed for this
Prepaid packages
Petboost more advanced
Basic
Self-service 24/7 purchase
Training courses
Petboost has training courses
In-person payments
Square slightly cheaper for tap
1.6% + $0.20
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee
Card-not-present
Petboost cheaper for online
2.2% + $0.30
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee
Terminal options
Square more options
🔗 Stripe Terminal
Multiple locations
Both support multi-location; Petboost via Enterprise
Yes (Premium)
Yes (Enterprise)
Digital forms with e-signatures and auto-send
Petboost has purpose-built forms for pet businesses; Square requires third-party integrations
No native intake forms
Built-in form builder with sections, e-signatures, auto-send on booking, and response tracking
Feature Comparison Square Appointments vs Petboost | S Square Appointments | P PetboostAustralian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow Petboost understands pets and their requirements; Square treats all appointments the same | Generic client booking (not pet-aware) | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, pet-aware eligibility filtering |
Booking EngineAppointment scheduling Petboost understands pets | Generic scheduling | Pet-aware Magic Availability Check |
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 | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
Payment Processing (Online)Card-not-present Petboost cheaper for online | 2.2% + $0.30 | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
POS HardwareTerminal options Square more options | ✅ Square hardware | 🔗 Stripe Terminal |
Multi-LocationMultiple locations Both support multi-location; Petboost via Enterprise | Yes (Premium) | Yes (Enterprise) |
Custom Fields & Intake FormsDigital forms with e-signatures and auto-send Petboost has purpose-built forms for pet businesses; Square requires third-party integrations | No native intake forms | Built-in form builder with sections, e-signatures, auto-send on booking, and response tracking |
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:
Use Stripe Terminal instead
Use Stripe Terminal hardware
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Square POS integration | Focused elsewhere | Use Stripe Terminal instead |
| Square hardware | Focused elsewhere | Use Stripe Terminal hardware |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Square Appointments 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 | Square Appointments | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Software (Plus tier) | $420 AUD | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| In-person ($45K at 1.6% vs 1.7%) | ~$810 AUD | ~$855 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Online ($105K at 2.2% vs 1.7%) | ~$2,625 AUD | ~$2,100 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Petboost Booking Fee (on $150K GMV) | N/A (included above) | ~$2,100 (1.2-1.4%) |
| Total Annual (incl. transaction fees) | ~$3,855 AUD | ~$5,055 |
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 location, basic features
If platform fee built into pricing: $0/mo
Annual savings: $2,640
Compared to Square Appointments Free at 100 transactions/month
Square Appointments 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 Square Appointments.
Customer Data
Export from Square
Hardware
Square hardware won't work; need Stripe Terminal
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical
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 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 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.
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
