Already using Acuity Scheduling?
Australian businesses save up to Pet-specific features vs $656/year additional cost
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
The Facts at a Glance
Acuity Scheduling
www.acuityscheduling.com- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- USA (Squarespace)
- Focus
- Generic appointment scheduling
- Est. Customers
- Unknown (part of Squarespace)
- Pricing
- Monthly subscription ($16-49 USD/month)
Double Fee Alert for Australian Businesses
- •$16-49 USD/month subscription (plus FX fees for Australian cards)
- •Separate payment processor: 2.9-5%+ (vs Petboost 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee)
Australian businesses pay subscription AND separate payment processing fees
Petboost
Built in Sydney- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Sydney, Australia
- Focus
- Multi-vertical pet services
- AU Presence
- Native (built in Sydney)
- Pricing
- $65-240/mo + 1.2-1.4%or $0 with card volume*
*Subscription waived as a bonus reward: Pro at $7,500+/mo, Max at $20,000+/mo in card payments
Consider Acuity Scheduling only if
There are limited scenarios where Acuity Scheduling may suit you better:
- New pet businesses testing the waters
- Very simple operations (1-2 services, solo operator)
- Businesses already using Squarespace
- Those needing generic scheduling only
- International businesses without pet-specific options
Petboost?
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
- Australian pet businesses wanting local support
- Anyone needing pet-specific workflows (pet profiles, packages, courses)
- Multi-service operators (grooming + walking + daycare + training)
- Businesses wanting to earn $0/month (waived at $7,500+)
- Operations needing proper pet/owner relationship management
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
Acuity Scheduling vs Petboost
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow
Petboost understands pets and their requirements; Acuity treats all clients the same
Generic client booking (not pet-aware)
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, pet-aware eligibility filtering
Booking Engine
Online appointment scheduling
Petboost understands pets
Generic scheduling
Pet-aware Magic Schedule
Pet Profiles
Pet-specific data storage
Breed, weight, notes, history
Pet & Owner Profiles
Comprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork
Square lacks pet-specific profiles entirely; Petboost purpose-built for pets
Generic customer records (not pet-aware)
8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management
Owner/Pet Linking
Multiple pets per owner
Package Credits
Prepaid package management
Petboost fully automated
Basic
Self-service 24/7 purchase
Course Management
Training course lifecycle
Petboost purpose-built
Native courses
Payment Processing
Transaction fees
Petboost optimised for AU
2.9-5%+ (with intl fees)
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe)
SMS Reminders
Appointment notifications
Petboost better for AU
Yes (paid tier)
AU-native (+61)
Multi-Pet Booking
Book multiple pets at once
Petboost designed for this
Workarounds needed
Native
Session-Based Scheduling
Structured time blocks with per-session controls
Petboost offers per-session capacity, service restrictions, and pet eligibility
Basic calendar blocks
Schedules & Sessions
Squarespace Integration
Website integration
Acuity wins if using Squarespace
🔗 Embed widget
Multi-Location
Multiple business locations
Acuity ahead currently
Yes (higher tiers)
Feature Comparison Acuity Scheduling vs Petboost | A Acuity Scheduling | P Petboost🇦🇺Australian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow Petboost understands pets and their requirements; Acuity treats all clients the same | Generic client booking (not pet-aware) | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, pet-aware eligibility filtering |
Booking EngineOnline appointment scheduling Petboost understands pets | Generic scheduling | Pet-aware Magic Schedule |
Pet ProfilesPet-specific data storage Breed, weight, notes, history | ||
Pet & Owner ProfilesComprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork Square lacks pet-specific profiles entirely; Petboost purpose-built for pets | Generic customer records (not pet-aware) | 8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management |
Owner/Pet LinkingMultiple pets per owner | ❌ Manual workarounds | ✅ Automatic |
Package CreditsPrepaid package management Petboost fully automated | Basic | Self-service 24/7 purchase |
Course ManagementTraining course lifecycle Petboost purpose-built | Limited | Native courses |
Payment ProcessingTransaction fees Petboost optimised for AU | 2.9-5%+ (with intl fees) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU Stripe) |
SMS RemindersAppointment notifications Petboost better for AU | Yes (paid tier) | AU-native (+61) |
Multi-Pet BookingBook multiple pets at once Petboost designed for this | Workarounds needed | Native |
Session-Based SchedulingStructured time blocks with per-session controls Petboost offers per-session capacity, service restrictions, and pet eligibility | Basic calendar blocks | Schedules & Sessions |
Squarespace IntegrationWebsite integration Acuity wins if using Squarespace | ✅ Native | 🔗 Embed widget |
Multi-LocationMultiple business locations Acuity ahead currently | Yes (higher tiers) | 🚧 Coming 2026 |
Last updated: January 2026 • 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Squarespace native integration | Focused elsewhere | We offer embeddable booking widgets instead |
| Multi-location | FY26 | Acuity supports this today |
| Generic scheduling for non-pets | Focused elsewhere | We're pet-specific only |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Acuity Scheduling 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
Card Rate
Monthly Subscription
| Payment Processing | Acuity Scheduling | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Card Rate | 2.9-5%+ (with intl fees) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| Monthly Subscription | $20-61 USD/month | $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) |
SMS Functionality
Availability
AU Number Support
| SMS Functionality | Acuity Scheduling | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Yes (paid tier) | ✅ Included |
| AU Number Support | Works but US-based | Native +61 |
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 | Acuity Scheduling | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Subscription | $324 AUD (Standard plan) | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| Payment Processing ($100K GMV) | ~$3,200 AUD | ~$2,000 (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 (incl. transaction fees) | ~$3,524 AUD | ~$4,180 |
You may be paying twice with Acuity Scheduling
$16-49 USD/month subscription (plus FX fees for Australian cards), plus separate payment processor: 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 savings
Your savings depend on your business size and payment volume. Use the calculator below for a personalised estimate.
Which plan is right for you?
Enter your numbers and see
Business Pro starts at -/month with 0 appointments included. Business Max at -/month gives you unlimited appointments.
How much customers pay you via card
Appointments you expect each month
Reminders and notifications sent
💡 Consider Business Max
At 100 bookings/month, Pro would cost $15/month (including $0 in overage fees). Max costs $15/month, which is $0/month more but includes unlimited appointments.
Business Pro
Hit -/month in card payments and your monthly fee is waived
Generous SMS Limits
Pro includes 0 SMS/month, Max includes 0. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You'll need 1 SMS Power-Up Pack ($15).
When to Upgrade
At your current revenue, Business Max becomes better value at ∞ appointments/month. You're at 100. Pro includes $0 in overage fees, but is still $0 cheaper than Max.
Your Savings
Save $666+ per month compared to typical competitors.
Quick Plan Comparison
Business Pro
- • -/month (waived at -+ card payment volume)
- • 0 appointments included
- • -/appointment after 0
- • 0 SMS/month included
- • - transaction fee
Business Max
- • -/month (waived at -+ card payment volume)
- • Unlimited appointments
- • No per-appointment overage fees
- • 0 SMS/month included
- • - transaction fee
Both plans include SMS Power-Up Packs at $15 for 500 additional SMS if needed.
* Estimates based on 100 transactions averaging $100 each, 100 appointments, and 300 SMS. Actual costs vary based on transaction volume, average ticket size, appointments, and SMS usage.
From solo operators to
multi-van fleets
Petboost fits your business. 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 Acuity Scheduling.
Migration Complexity
Customer Data
Export CSV from Acuity
Appointment History
Can be imported
Package Balances
Reconcile and set up fresh
Timeline
1-2 weeks typical
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Acuity Scheduling, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Acuity Scheduling.
Contact us for a migration assessmentWhich Is Right for Your Business?
Acuity Scheduling may suit you if:
- You're just starting and testing viability
- You use Squarespace and need native integration
- Your operations are very simple (no packages, courses, multi-pet)
- You're happy with generic scheduling
Petboost?
- You need comprehensive pet & owner profiles with 8 tabs (appointments, packages, sales, grooming, vaccinations, settings, paperwork)
- You need per-customer policy overrides for cancellations and pre-authorisation
- Package management is important to your business
- You run training courses or classes
- You're Australian and want local support
- You want to earn $0/month (waived at $7,500+)
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.
Acuity Scheduling 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 30 days with 0% Petboost fees. Only pay Stripe processing fees.
Last verified: 9th January 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.acuityscheduling.com
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Acuity Scheduling® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Acuity Scheduling.