An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Vagaro's own navigation lists its markets as salon, spa, medical spa, barber, tanning, nail, Pilates and mental health. Pets are not on that list. It charges per bookable calendar and puts several capabilities behind paid add-ons. If you want a marketplace listing in the beauty category, buy theirs. If you want a record per pet, capacity per kennel and one bill for the whole team, that is Petboost.
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 | Vagaro | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | Vagaro merchant services, at the rates Vagaro publishes | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe) |
| Monthly Subscription | From A$45, rising with each bookable calendar | $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) |
| SMS Functionality | Vagaro | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Text Marketing | Sold as a paid add-on | Reminders and messaging included on business plans |
| SMS Included | Depends on the add-on you buy | 500 on Business Pro, more on Flex and Max |
| Australian Number | Not advertised for Australian businesses | ✅ Australian number with the Communications Booster |
There are limited scenarios where Vagaro may suit you better:
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
An honest look at how each platform handles key functionality.
Vagaro vs Petboost
A record on the animal
Vagaro records clients, by its own product description
One owner, several animals
Client record only
Native owner to pets to service model
Expiry dates and gates
What adding staff costs
Per bookable calendar
Unlimited team members, no per-seat fee
Digital paperwork and consent
Per Vagaro's own add-on list
Sold as an add-on
Included on all business plans
Overnight care
Rooms, kennels, yards
Staff calendars
Per-resource limits enforced at booking
Puppy school and classes
Petboost gates enrolment on age and vaccination
Class bookings
Templates, enrolment, attendance per lesson
Feature Comparison Vagaro vs Petboost | V Vagaro | P PetboostAustralian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet ProfilesA record on the animal Vagaro records clients, by its own product description | ||
Multi-Pet HouseholdsOne owner, several animals | Client record only | Native owner to pets to service model |
Vaccination TrackingExpiry dates and gates | ||
Team PricingWhat adding staff costs | Per bookable calendar | Unlimited team members, no per-seat fee |
Intake FormsDigital paperwork and consent Per Vagaro's own add-on list | Sold as an add-on | Included on all business plans |
Boarding and Multi-Day StaysOvernight care | ||
Capacity ManagementRooms, kennels, yards | Staff calendars | Per-resource limits enforced at booking |
Group CoursesPuppy school and classes Petboost gates enrolment on age and vaccination | Class bookings | Templates, enrolment, attendance per lesson |
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 drive bookings to your own page, not a marketplace we own
We build for pet services only
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer marketplace listing | Focused elsewhere | We drive bookings to your own page, not a marketplace we own |
| Beauty and fitness workflows | Focused elsewhere | We build for pet services only |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Vagaro 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 | Vagaro | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Subscription (solo operator) | About A$540 (one bookable calendar) | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| Add-ons | Text marketing, forms, website and storage priced on top | Included |
| Adding a fourth groomer | Another bookable calendar on the subscription | $0 |
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.
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 Vagaro.
Customer Data
Export clients from Vagaro, we import them
Pets
Pet details usually sit in client notes and need unpicking
Services and Staff
Rebuilt from your Vagaro service menu
Timeline
Data across in about 24 hours, schedule set up by you
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Vagaro, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Vagaro.
Contact us for a migration assessmentFrom 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
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: 19th August 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.vagaro.com
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Vagaro® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Vagaro.
