Already using Savvy Pet?
Savvy Pet is built for UK groomers. Petboost is built for Australian pet businesses that want to grow beyond grooming.
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Why businesses choose Petboost
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
Built for Australian Businesses
Australian-owned. AUD pricing, GST-ready, AU Stripe. Local support in AEST.
More Than Grooming
Daycare, boarding, walking, training, courses, and packages all in one platform.
All on one plan. No add-ons.
Every Feature on Every Plan
Online booking, customer portal, and SMS included from day one. No feature gating by tier.
Collect Payments via SMS
One-tap SMS payment links for outstanding invoices. Automatic marking and receipts.
The Facts at a Glance
Savvy Pet
savvy.pet- Founded
- ~2018
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Focus
- Pet grooming software (salon, mobile, and home groomers)
- Est. Customers
- ~1,500 pet professionals (per website, across UK, US, AU, NZ, Europe, Canada)
- Pricing
- Monthly subscription (A$35-96/month)
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
Built for Australian Businesses
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
Payment Processing
Payment Methods
Card-Not-Present Rate
Card-Present (Terminal)
SMS Payment Links
Monthly Subscription
| Payment Processing | Savvy Pet | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Methods | PayPal, stored cards, electronic payment links, "Savvy Pay" | Stripe AU (card-present, online, SMS payment links) |
| Card-Not-Present Rate | PayPal rates (varies; typically ~2.6%+ for domestic, higher for international) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| Card-Present (Terminal) | Not confirmed (PayPal / Savvy Pay) | 1.7% + $0.1 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ 1.2-1.4% Petboost + 1.7% + $0.3 Stripe |
| Monthly Subscription | A$35-96/month | $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) |
SMS Functionality
SMS Bundling
Included SMS Credits
SMS Payment Links
Australian Phone Number
SMS Infrastructure
| SMS Functionality | Savvy Pet | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Bundling | ✅ Included in Advanced+ plans with monthly caps | ✅ Included with Business Pro & Max plans |
| Included SMS Credits | Basic: 0, Advanced: 150/mo, Extra/Salon: 350/mo | Generous monthly credits included |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ One-tap payment via SMS |
| Australian Phone Number | ❌ Not confirmed. UK-based platform with +44 default | ✅ Australian number with Messaging Pro |
| SMS Infrastructure | UK-based. AU delivery capability unconfirmed | Sinch Australia. Local infrastructure |
Consider Savvy Pet only if
There are limited scenarios where Savvy Pet may suit you better:
- UK-based grooming salons and mobile groomers wanting a grooming-specific tool with local support
- Solo or home-based groomers wanting a simple, affordable entry point from A$35/month
- Groomers wanting PayPal integration and GDPR compliance
- Businesses comfortable with UK-based support (GMT/BST timezone)
- Grooming salons wanting Gmail and iCal integration
- Businesses wanting dedicated native mobile apps for both staff and pet owners
Petboost?
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
- Australian pet businesses wanting local support and same-timezone help
- Multi-service operators (grooming + walking + daycare + training + boarding)
- Businesses wanting Australian-native software rather than a UK platform displaying AUD prices
- Owners who value granular automation control with 5+ Pro Automation settings per service
- Businesses wanting intelligent reporting with 50+ InsightCards, forecasting, and geographic intelligence
- Solo operators or small teams looking for modern software with no app download friction for pet parents
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
Savvy Pet vs Petboost
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Both offer online booking; Petboost is passwordless and frictionless, Savvy Pet requires account setup but offers a native app
Online booking with customer portal (Extra+ plans). Dedicated customer mobile app available.
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes, no app download
Pet Profiles
Pet information management
Both offer pet profiles; Petboost has a much larger structured attribute library
Customer and pet information, grooming notes, customisable pet flags
Full Petprint with 2,000+ pre-built attributes, vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts, grooming preferences
Calendar & Scheduling
Appointment calendar views
Savvy Pet has standard calendar views with external sync; Petboost offers more specialised operational views
Electronic calendar with per-groomer views. Gmail and iCal integration.
Mission Control: 7 view modes (List, Kanban, Pets, Stays, Team, Resources, Combined) + intelligence cards
Booking Engine
Appointment creation and management
Both handle bookings well. Savvy Pet gates online booking to Extra plan (~A$86/month)
Appointment management with online booking (Extra+ plans)
Magic Availability Check + Quick Create dual modes
SMS & Reminders
Automated reminders and notifications
Both include SMS. Savvy Pet caps at 150-350/month; Petboost includes generous monthly credits
Customisable SMS/email reminders. 150 SMS/month (Advanced), 350 SMS/month (Extra+). Overdue groom reminders.
AU-native SMS (+61), included in plan. 2-way inbox via Messaging Pro add-on.
Stay/Boarding Management
Multi-night boarding bookings
Savvy Pet is grooming-only; no boarding support
Purpose-built: 24-hour period billing, tiered pricing, visual occupancy, in-stay service add-ons
Daycare Management
Daily daycare operations
Savvy Pet does not support daycare; Petboost has native daycare management
Session-based daycare with capacity management, check-in/check-out, recurring bookings
Dog Walking
Walk management and tracking
Savvy Pet does not support dog walking; Petboost has native walking management with Magic Map
GPS check-in/checkout, Magic Map with photo location capture, route visualisation
Course Management
Group training programs (puppy school, obedience)
Savvy Pet does not support training courses; Petboost has purpose-built course management
Native course system: templates, instances, enrolment, per-lesson attendance, age eligibility enforcement
Payment Processing
Taking payments from customers
Savvy Pet uses PayPal and its own Savvy Pay system; Petboost uses native AU Stripe with local rates for Australian businesses
PayPal integration, stored cards, electronic payment links. "Savvy Pay" for no-show/cancellation charging.
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee via AU Stripe
SMS Payment Links
One-tap payment links via SMS
Petboost differentiator: one-tap payment links via SMS for outstanding invoices
Card on File
Saved cards for repeat payments
Both support saved/stored cards for easier checkout
Pre-Authorisation
Automatically hold funds before appointments
Petboost differentiator: reduces no-show and payment risk
Auto pre-hold funds 72 hours before appointment (Pro Automation)
No-Show Charging
Charge clients for missed appointments
Both support charging for no-shows and late cancellations
Forms & Contracts
Digital forms, signatures, and documents
Both support digital forms. Savvy Pet has a strong form/contract builder with auto-send.
Fully customisable forms and contracts with auto-send on appointment creation. Integrated T&Cs.
Digital agreements with e-signatures, customisable per service
Customer Portal
Self-service portal for pet owners
Both offer customer portals. Savvy Pet gates portal to Extra plan (~A$86/month). Petboost includes on all plans.
Customer portal with booking and account access (Extra+ plans)
Passwordless phone login, 24/7 booking and package purchases, comprehensive pet profiles
Staff Management
Team roles, scheduling, and permissions
Both handle staff management; Petboost has deeper analytics and capacity management tools
Staff rota, permission management, calendar view by groomer (Extra+ plans)
4 roles with permission matrix, capacity management, working hours, leave management, service eligibility, revenue per hour analytics
Multi-Location
Multiple business locations
Savvy Pet offers multi-location on their top-tier Salon plan; Petboost is building this
Reporting
Business analytics and intelligence
Both offer reporting; Petboost adds InsightCards, forecasting, and geographic intelligence
Analytics and reports (Advanced+ plans)
10+ tabs, 50+ InsightCards with actionable recommendations, forecasting, geographic intelligence, email summaries
Package Management
Prepaid package credits
Savvy Pet does not offer prepaid packages; Petboost has a rich self-service package experience
Self-service 24/7 purchase, coffee-card visual tracking, multi-pet sharing, auto top-up
Vaccination Tracking
Pet vaccination management and compliance
Savvy Pet does not appear to offer vaccination tracking with compliance enforcement; Petboost has automated compliance checking and booking blocking
Certificate upload, expiry tracking, 30-day warnings, service-level enforcement, automatic booking blocking
Mobile App
Mobile access
Savvy Pet has dedicated native apps; Petboost uses a PWA approach. Both work on mobile.
Native iOS and Android apps for both groomers and pet owners
Progressive web app with passwordless login, offline-capable, add-to-home-screen, no app store friction
Calendar Sync
External calendar integration
Savvy Pet integrates with Gmail and iCal; Petboost does not currently offer external calendar sync
Pro Automations
Configurable lifecycle automation per service
Petboost offers granular lifecycle automation per service; Savvy Pet has message-level automation
Auto-reminders, auto-confirmations, overdue groom reminders
5+ settings: Pre-Hold, Auto-Start, Auto-Complete, Auto-Finalise, Auto-Pay, Instant Confirm. Per-service overrides.
Referral Program
Built-in customer referral system
Petboost has a referral system; Savvy Pet does not
Recurring Appointments
Recurring booking series
Both support recurring/rebooking workflows
Rebooking options with appointment management
Full series management: daily/weekly/monthly patterns, extend/shorten, individual instance control
Feature Comparison Savvy Pet vs Petboost | S Savvy Pet | P Petboost🇦🇺Australian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow for pet owners Both offer online booking; Petboost is passwordless and frictionless, Savvy Pet requires account setup but offers a native app | Online booking with customer portal (Extra+ plans). Dedicated customer mobile app available. | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes, no app download |
Pet ProfilesPet information management Both offer pet profiles; Petboost has a much larger structured attribute library | Customer and pet information, grooming notes, customisable pet flags | Full Petprint with 2,000+ pre-built attributes, vaccinations, care notes, family pets, emergency contacts, grooming preferences |
Calendar & SchedulingAppointment calendar views Savvy Pet has standard calendar views with external sync; Petboost offers more specialised operational views | Electronic calendar with per-groomer views. Gmail and iCal integration. | Mission Control: 7 view modes (List, Kanban, Pets, Stays, Team, Resources, Combined) + intelligence cards |
Booking EngineAppointment creation and management Both handle bookings well. Savvy Pet gates online booking to Extra plan (~A$86/month) | Appointment management with online booking (Extra+ plans) | Magic Availability Check + Quick Create dual modes |
SMS & RemindersAutomated reminders and notifications Both include SMS. Savvy Pet caps at 150-350/month; Petboost includes generous monthly credits | Customisable SMS/email reminders. 150 SMS/month (Advanced), 350 SMS/month (Extra+). Overdue groom reminders. | AU-native SMS (+61), included in plan. 2-way inbox via Messaging Pro add-on. |
Stay/Boarding ManagementMulti-night boarding bookings Savvy Pet is grooming-only; no boarding support | Purpose-built: 24-hour period billing, tiered pricing, visual occupancy, in-stay service add-ons | |
Daycare ManagementDaily daycare operations Savvy Pet does not support daycare; Petboost has native daycare management | Session-based daycare with capacity management, check-in/check-out, recurring bookings | |
Dog WalkingWalk management and tracking Savvy Pet does not support dog walking; Petboost has native walking management with Magic Map | GPS check-in/checkout, Magic Map with photo location capture, route visualisation | |
Course ManagementGroup training programs (puppy school, obedience) Savvy Pet does not support training courses; Petboost has purpose-built course management | Native course system: templates, instances, enrolment, per-lesson attendance, age eligibility enforcement | |
Payment ProcessingTaking payments from customers Savvy Pet uses PayPal and its own Savvy Pay system; Petboost uses native AU Stripe with local rates for Australian businesses | PayPal integration, stored cards, electronic payment links. "Savvy Pay" for no-show/cancellation charging. | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee via AU Stripe |
SMS Payment LinksOne-tap payment links via SMS Petboost differentiator: one-tap payment links via SMS for outstanding invoices | ||
Card on FileSaved cards for repeat payments Both support saved/stored cards for easier checkout | ||
Pre-AuthorisationAutomatically hold funds before appointments Petboost differentiator: reduces no-show and payment risk | Auto pre-hold funds 72 hours before appointment (Pro Automation) | |
No-Show ChargingCharge clients for missed appointments Both support charging for no-shows and late cancellations | ||
Forms & ContractsDigital forms, signatures, and documents Both support digital forms. Savvy Pet has a strong form/contract builder with auto-send. | Fully customisable forms and contracts with auto-send on appointment creation. Integrated T&Cs. | Digital agreements with e-signatures, customisable per service |
Customer PortalSelf-service portal for pet owners Both offer customer portals. Savvy Pet gates portal to Extra plan (~A$86/month). Petboost includes on all plans. | Customer portal with booking and account access (Extra+ plans) | Passwordless phone login, 24/7 booking and package purchases, comprehensive pet profiles |
Staff ManagementTeam roles, scheduling, and permissions Both handle staff management; Petboost has deeper analytics and capacity management tools | Staff rota, permission management, calendar view by groomer (Extra+ plans) | 4 roles with permission matrix, capacity management, working hours, leave management, service eligibility, revenue per hour analytics |
Multi-LocationMultiple business locations Savvy Pet offers multi-location on their top-tier Salon plan; Petboost is building this | ✅ Salon plan (~A$96/month) | 🚧 Coming 2026 |
ReportingBusiness analytics and intelligence Both offer reporting; Petboost adds InsightCards, forecasting, and geographic intelligence | Analytics and reports (Advanced+ plans) | 10+ tabs, 50+ InsightCards with actionable recommendations, forecasting, geographic intelligence, email summaries |
Package ManagementPrepaid package credits Savvy Pet does not offer prepaid packages; Petboost has a rich self-service package experience | Self-service 24/7 purchase, coffee-card visual tracking, multi-pet sharing, auto top-up | |
Vaccination TrackingPet vaccination management and compliance Savvy Pet does not appear to offer vaccination tracking with compliance enforcement; Petboost has automated compliance checking and booking blocking | Certificate upload, expiry tracking, 30-day warnings, service-level enforcement, automatic booking blocking | |
Mobile AppMobile access Savvy Pet has dedicated native apps; Petboost uses a PWA approach. Both work on mobile. | Native iOS and Android apps for both groomers and pet owners | Progressive web app with passwordless login, offline-capable, add-to-home-screen, no app store friction |
Calendar SyncExternal calendar integration Savvy Pet integrates with Gmail and iCal; Petboost does not currently offer external calendar sync | ✅ Gmail and iCal integration (Advanced+) | |
Pro AutomationsConfigurable lifecycle automation per service Petboost offers granular lifecycle automation per service; Savvy Pet has message-level automation | Auto-reminders, auto-confirmations, overdue groom reminders | 5+ settings: Pre-Hold, Auto-Start, Auto-Complete, Auto-Finalise, Auto-Pay, Instant Confirm. Per-service overrides. |
Referral ProgramBuilt-in customer referral system Petboost has a referral system; Savvy Pet does not | ||
Recurring AppointmentsRecurring booking series Both support recurring/rebooking workflows | Rebooking options with appointment management | Full series management: daily/weekly/monthly patterns, extend/shorten, individual instance control |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Native mobile app (business) | Focused elsewhere | Petboost uses a progressive web app (PWA) approach. Works on all devices without app store download. |
| Gmail/iCal integration | Considering | External calendar sync not currently available. |
| GDPR-specific compliance tools | Focused elsewhere | Petboost follows Australian Privacy Act. GDPR compliance relevant primarily for UK/EU businesses. |
| Multi-location management | FY26 | Single-location focus first to nail the core experience |
| PayPal integration | Focused elsewhere | Petboost uses Stripe for payments with native AU rates. PayPal integration not planned. |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Savvy Pet may be better suited for your current needs.
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 | Savvy Pet | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Subscription (Advanced/Extra) | A$852-1,032/year (A$71-86/mo x 12) | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| Payment Processing (Online, on $500K GMV) | PayPal / Savvy Pay rates (exact AU rates not publicly disclosed) | ~$9,190 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Petboost Booking Fee (on $500K GMV) | N/A | ~$7,000 (1.2-1.4%) |
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.
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.
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.
💡 Consider Business Max
At 100 bookings/month, Pro would cost $45/month (including $0 in overage fees). Max costs $45/month, which is $0/month more but includes unlimited appointments.
Business Pro
Hit -/month in card payments and your monthly fee is waived
Hidden Costs of Non-Card Payments
$408/mo20 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
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 3 SMS Power-Up Packs ($45).
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 $636+ 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 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.
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 Savvy Pet.
Migration Complexity
Customer Data
Client profiles can typically be exported. Petboost provides import assistance via CSV.
Pet Profiles
Pet details can be migrated. Petboost maps to Petprint ID with 2,000+ attributes.
Booking History
Historical bookings typically not migrated. Fresh start for scheduling.
Forms & Contracts
Custom forms and contracts would need to be recreated in Petboost.
Timeline
1-2 weeks typical for grooming businesses.
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Savvy 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 Savvy Pet.
Contact us for a migration assessmentWhich Is Right for Your Business?
Savvy Pet may suit you if:
- You're a UK-based groomer and want local support with GDPR compliance
- You want a very affordable entry point for grooming-only software (from A$35/month)
- Native iOS/Android apps for both staff and pet owners are important to your workflow
- You need Gmail or iCal calendar integration
- PayPal is your preferred payment method
- You want an established grooming community with industry-experienced support staff
- You only do grooming and want the simplest possible solution
- You're comfortable with UK-based support (GMT/BST timezone)
Petboost?
- You're an Australian pet business wanting local support and same-timezone help
- Payment processing costs matter: native AU Stripe rates vs international PayPal rates
- You're a multi-service operator or plan to grow beyond grooming (daycare, boarding, walking, training)
- You want Australian-owned software with confirmed local payment processing, not a UK platform
- You need native Australian SMS (+61 numbers) that reliably deliver, included in your plan
- You want SMS payment links to collect outstanding invoices via text
- You need vaccination compliance with automatic booking blocking for expired records
- You prefer modern software where pet parents can book without downloading an app
- You value the option to waive your monthly subscription through card payment volume
- You want intelligent reporting with 50+ InsightCards, forecasting, and geographic intelligence
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.
Honest about change
The little bit of pain is generally 4 to 6 weeks. Then it clicks.
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.
Savvy Pet vs Petboost FAQs
Common questions about switching and comparing these platforms.
Explore Petboost by Service Type
Purpose-built features for every type of pet business.
Ready to see Petboost in action?
Start your 14-day free trial, then activate Business Pro for 21 days with 0% Petboost fees. Only pay Stripe processing fees.
Last verified: 31st March 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from savvy.pet
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Savvy 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 Savvy Pet.