An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Time To Pet is a strong sitting and walking product with proper GPS route tracking. We capture GPS at check-in and checkout, not the whole walk. If continuous route tracking is central to what you sell, buy theirs. If you also run grooming, daycare or boarding, one system beats running two.
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 both subscription AND significantly higher payment 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 | Time To Pet | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Card Rate (estimated) | 2.9-5%+ (with intl fees) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| Monthly Subscription | $25-88+ USD/month | $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) |
| SMS Functionality | Time To Pet | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Availability in Australia | ❌ US and Canada only. Not available for Australian businesses | ✅ Native AU support with Sinch Australia infrastructure |
| SMS Add-on Cost | $10 USD/mo base fee + Solo/Team plan required ($50+ USD/mo) | Included with Business Pro, Flex & Max plans |
| Included SMS Credits | 250 texts/mo per active staff member (US/CA only) | Generous monthly credits included |
| Overage Rate | $0.025 USD/text beyond included allowance | Transparent credit packs in AUD, never expire |
| Dedicated Phone Number | ❌ US numbers only. Requires EIN/SSN to register (US IDs) | ✅ Australian number with Communications Booster |
| 2-Way Messaging | ✅ Available (US/CA only) | ✅ Communications Booster add-on with dedicated AU number |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ One-tap payment via SMS |
| SMS Infrastructure | Twilio US. A2P 10DLC registration (US carriers only) | Sinch Australia. Local infrastructure |
| Currency | USD only. No AUD billing option | AUD (no conversion fees) |
| Lite Plan SMS | ❌ Not available on Lite ($25 USD/mo) | Available on Business Pro & Max |
There are limited scenarios where Time To Pet 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.
Time To Pet vs Petboost
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Petboost eliminates registration friction; Time To Pet requires account setup
Client portal with account login
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes
What pet owners can see and manage about their pets
Petboost gives owners comprehensive view; Time To Pet focuses on visit logs
Visit history and basic pet info
Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts
Pre-built tags for allergies, grooming prefs, behavioural traits
Petboost has comprehensive library; Time To Pet focused on visit notes
Basic pet notes
2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories
Comprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork
Petboost centralises everything: packages, sales, grooming prefs, vaccinations, policy overrides & paperwork
Client cards with visit history
8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management
Online appointment scheduling
Both strong booking systems
Client portal with scheduling
Magic Availability Check + Quick Create
Online payments
Petboost better for AU businesses
Integrated (US Stripe)
AU Stripe 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee
Location tracking during visits
Both capture GPS at check-in/out. Time To Pet adds optional continuous route recording.
Check-in/out coordinates + optional continuous route tracking
GPS check-in/checkout + photo locations on Magic Map
Visit media and summaries for pet owners
Both have report cards and photo sharing. TTP adds structured visit fields. Petboost uses free-form notes with Magic Map.
Report cards with structured fields (feeding, meds, bathroom) and continuous GPS route maps
Report Cards with customer-facing notes, photos, team member details, and Magic Map location data. Auto-generated.
Appointment reminders
Petboost better for AU numbers
Yes (US-based)
AU-native SMS (+61)
Prepaid package credits
Both have packages; Petboost enables pet owner self-purchase anytime
Self-service 24/7 purchase with visual "coffee card" credit tracking
Detailed time logging
Time To Pet more advanced
Basic
Payroll preparation
Time To Pet has payroll prep
Multiple service types
Petboost more versatile
Pet sitting/walking focus
All verticals native
Structured time blocks with per-session controls
Petboost designed for groomers/daycares with per-session capacity and restrictions
Event-based visits
Schedules & Sessions
Business analytics and intelligence
Petboost adds prescriptive insights, forecasting, and geographic intelligence beyond standard reports
Good standard reports
50+ InsightCards, forecasting, geographic intelligence, marketing ideas engine
Training courses
Petboost purpose-built
Native courses
Feature Comparison Time To Pet vs Petboost | T Time To Pet | P PetboostAustralian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow for pet owners Petboost eliminates registration friction; Time To Pet requires account setup | Client portal with account login | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes |
Pet Profile Visibility (Owner)What pet owners can see and manage about their pets Petboost gives owners comprehensive view; Time To Pet focuses on visit logs | Visit history and basic pet info | Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts |
Pet Attributes LibraryPre-built tags for allergies, grooming prefs, behavioural traits Petboost has comprehensive library; Time To Pet focused on visit notes | Basic pet notes | 2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories |
Pet & Owner ProfilesComprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork Petboost centralises everything: packages, sales, grooming prefs, vaccinations, policy overrides & paperwork | Client cards with visit history | 8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management |
Booking EngineOnline appointment scheduling Both strong booking systems | Client portal with scheduling | Magic Availability Check + Quick Create |
Payment ProcessingOnline payments Petboost better for AU businesses | Integrated (US Stripe) | AU Stripe 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
GPS TrackingLocation tracking during visits Both capture GPS at check-in/out. Time To Pet adds optional continuous route recording. | Check-in/out coordinates + optional continuous route tracking | GPS check-in/checkout + photo locations on Magic Map |
Photo/Video Updates & Report CardsVisit media and summaries for pet owners Both have report cards and photo sharing. TTP adds structured visit fields. Petboost uses free-form notes with Magic Map. | Report cards with structured fields (feeding, meds, bathroom) and continuous GPS route maps | Report Cards with customer-facing notes, photos, team member details, and Magic Map location data. Auto-generated. |
SMS/NotificationsAppointment reminders Petboost better for AU numbers | Yes (US-based) | AU-native SMS (+61) |
Package ManagementPrepaid package credits Both have packages; Petboost enables pet owner self-purchase anytime | Self-service 24/7 purchase with visual "coffee card" credit tracking | |
Staff Time TrackingDetailed time logging Time To Pet more advanced | Basic | |
Pay ReportsPayroll preparation Time To Pet has payroll prep | ❌ Use payroll software | |
Multi-VerticalMultiple service types Petboost more versatile | Pet sitting/walking focus | All verticals native |
Session-Based SchedulingStructured time blocks with per-session controls Petboost designed for groomers/daycares with per-session capacity and restrictions | Event-based visits | Schedules & Sessions |
ReportingBusiness analytics and intelligence Petboost adds prescriptive insights, forecasting, and geographic intelligence beyond standard reports | Good standard reports | 50+ InsightCards, forecasting, geographic intelligence, marketing ideas engine |
Course ManagementTraining courses Petboost purpose-built | Limited | 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:
We capture GPS at check-in, checkout, and from photo EXIF data (Magic Map). We do not record the full walking route.
Time To Pet has purpose-built feeding, medication and bathroom fields on the visit report. Petboost has Report Cards with free-form notes, photos and Magic Map, plus custom fields and intake forms you can set to run every appointment, but no purpose-built visit-report fields.
Use dedicated payroll software (Xero, MYOB)
Petboost records an actual start time when a team member checks an appointment in, and check-in and check-out times on stays. Time To Pet adds GPS-stamped arrival and departure per visit, which we do not record.
Australia-first focus
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous GPS route tracking | Focused elsewhere | We capture GPS at check-in, checkout, and from photo EXIF data (Magic Map). We do not record the full walking route. |
| Structured visit fields | Considering | Time To Pet has purpose-built feeding, medication and bathroom fields on the visit report. Petboost has Report Cards with free-form notes, photos and Magic Map, plus custom fields and intake forms you can set to run every appointment, but no purpose-built visit-report fields. |
| Staff pay reports | Focused elsewhere | Use dedicated payroll software (Xero, MYOB) |
| GPS-stamped visit time logging | Focused elsewhere | Petboost records an actual start time when a team member checks an appointment in, and check-in and check-out times on stays. Time To Pet adds GPS-stamped arrival and departure per visit, which we do not record. |
| US localisation |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Time To Pet 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 | Time To Pet | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Subscription | ~$894 AUD (~$600 USD) | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| Subscription FX/Foreign Tx (~10%) | ~$89 AUD | $0 (AU-based) |
| Payment Processing (est. 2.9-5%+ with intl fees vs 1.7%) | ~$6,705 AUD | ~$2,850 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Petboost Booking Fee (on $100K GMV) | N/A (included above) | ~$1,400 (1.2-1.4%) |
| Total Annual Cost (incl. transaction fees) | ~$7,688 AUD | ~$4,250 |
You may be paying twice with Time To Pet
$25-50+ USD/month subscription (plus FX fees for Australian cards), 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 You Keep Instead of Paying in Fees
~$3,438/year
Based on $500K GMV, 80% online transactions
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual savings may vary.
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
Entry tier, $250 USD/year
If platform fee built into pricing: $0/mo
Annual savings: $7,430
Compared to Time To Pet Lite at 100 transactions/month
Time To Pet pricing from their pricing page. Verified 2026-08-17. USD converted to AUD at current exchange rates.
"Switched from a US system after 6 years. Never looked back."
"You won't regret joining…it's the best. I own a dog daycare, grooming and training. I was using an American company for 6 years, which was ok but expensive, not a great system and to get any support took days. When I came to Petboost which is Aussie owned I knew they were a small business but wanted to give them a go. I have been extremely impressed, the customer service is out of this world, they focus on what animal businesses actually need and listen to their clients. The pricing structure makes sense and is very affordable, it is very easy to use and navigate, and the way they have built the business reports and analytics is so impressive, easy to understand and personalised."
Sacha
My Dogs Daycare - QLD
"Streamlined Booking with Exceptional Support"
"I really appreciate that Petboost Business is Australian, and the owners are very hands-on, striving to make the product the best possible for my business. It has drastically reduced my admin time compared to previous systems. I love the new two-way SMS feature and the live availability calendar. The system is intuitive and easy for both my clients and staff to use without the need for extensive training. If any issues arise, they're usually fixed the same day. They're constantly rolling out new features. Petboost Business also connects to Stripe and Xero, which is a big plus. Initial setup was incredibly easy since Frazer came to our business and set it up with me."
Conor
Dogs of Melbourne - VIC
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 Time To Pet.
Customer Data
Export available; import assistance provided
Booking History
Not migrated; you set up your own schedule (typically 2-4 hours)
Package Balances
Relatively straightforward
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical, usually smooth transition
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Time To Pet, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Time To Pet.
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.timetopet.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.
Time To Pet® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Time To Pet.
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
| Australia-first focus |
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
