Already using PetPocketbook?
Compare how each platform handles fees: Petboost charges your business directly, while PetPocketbook adds a 5% service fee to your clients' checkout
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
The Facts at a Glance
PetPocketbook
www.petpocketbook.com- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- Boston, USA
- Focus
- Dog walking and pet sitting
- Est. Customers
- Hundreds (growing)
- Pricing
- $25 USD/month + 5% client service fee
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 PetPocketbook only if
There are limited scenarios where PetPocketbook may suit you better:
- US-based dog walkers and pet sitters
- Solo operators wanting simple, affordable software
- Businesses comfortable passing a 5% service fee to pet owners
- Companies wanting QuickBooks integration
- Operations needing continuous GPS route maps in report cards
Petboost?
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
- Australian pet businesses wanting local support and compliance
- Businesses that prefer not to pass fees onto their clients
- Multi-service operators (grooming + daycare + training + boarding)
- Businesses wanting transparent pricing where the business controls fees
- Anyone wanting proper Australian payment processing rates
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
PetPocketbook vs Petboost
Pricing Model
How costs are structured
PetPocketbook shifts payment processing costs to pet owners via a 5% checkout surcharge
$25 USD/month subscription. Pet owners pay a 5% service fee at checkout on all online payments.
$65 subscription + 1.2-1.4% booking fee + 1.7% + $0.3 card processing. Business pays directly.
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Petboost eliminates registration friction with phone-first auth
Online booking requests with approval/decline workflow
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes
Pet Profiles
Pet information management
Family profiles with contact info, pickup instructions, vaccinations, pet birthdays
Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, 2,000+ attributes, emergency contacts
Payment Processing
How payments are handled
With Petboost, the business controls fee handling. With PetPocketbook, pet owners see a 5% surcharge.
Online payments via credit/debit/bank transfer. 5% service fee charged to pet owners at checkout.
AU Stripe (1.7% + $0.3) paid by business
Invoicing
Invoice generation and management
Automated invoicing with configurable frequency and bill reminders
Automated invoicing with SMS payment links
Report Cards
Visit updates for pet owners
Both have report cards. PetPocketbook adds continuous GPS route maps. Petboost adds interactive Magic Map with check-in/checkout locations.
Report cards with photos, notes, timestamps, and continuous GPS route maps
Report Cards with customer-facing notes, photos, team member details, and Magic Map location data
Staff Management
Team scheduling and compensation
PetPocketbook has deeper staff management for walking teams
Staff-specific scheduling, approval routing, compensation tracking
Basic staff scheduling
Accounting Integration
Bookkeeping software sync
QuickBooks Online direct sync
Xero (via Stripe Bank Feeds)
Client Messaging
In-app communication
In-app client messaging
SMS and email notifications
Multi-Service
Beyond walking/sitting
Dog walking and pet sitting only
All verticals native (grooming, daycare, training, boarding)
Package Management
Pre-paid service bundles
Petboost has comprehensive package support
Not available
Coffee-card visual tracking, 24/7 self-service purchase, auto top-up, family credit sharing
Course Management
Training programs and puppy schools
Not available
Native course system
Feature Comparison PetPocketbook vs Petboost | P PetPocketbook | P Petboost🇦🇺Australian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pricing ModelHow costs are structured PetPocketbook shifts payment processing costs to pet owners via a 5% checkout surcharge | $25 USD/month subscription. Pet owners pay a 5% service fee at checkout on all online payments. | $65 subscription + 1.2-1.4% booking fee + 1.7% + $0.3 card processing. Business pays directly. |
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow for pet owners Petboost eliminates registration friction with phone-first auth | Online booking requests with approval/decline workflow | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, 24/7 booking in under 2 minutes |
Pet ProfilesPet information management | Family profiles with contact info, pickup instructions, vaccinations, pet birthdays | Full pet profile with vaccinations, care notes, family pets, 2,000+ attributes, emergency contacts |
Payment ProcessingHow payments are handled With Petboost, the business controls fee handling. With PetPocketbook, pet owners see a 5% surcharge. | Online payments via credit/debit/bank transfer. 5% service fee charged to pet owners at checkout. | AU Stripe (1.7% + $0.3) paid by business |
InvoicingInvoice generation and management | Automated invoicing with configurable frequency and bill reminders | Automated invoicing with SMS payment links |
Report CardsVisit updates for pet owners Both have report cards. PetPocketbook adds continuous GPS route maps. Petboost adds interactive Magic Map with check-in/checkout locations. | Report cards with photos, notes, timestamps, and continuous GPS route maps | Report Cards with customer-facing notes, photos, team member details, and Magic Map location data |
Staff ManagementTeam scheduling and compensation PetPocketbook has deeper staff management for walking teams | Staff-specific scheduling, approval routing, compensation tracking | Basic staff scheduling |
Accounting IntegrationBookkeeping software sync | QuickBooks Online direct sync | Xero (via Stripe Bank Feeds) |
Client MessagingIn-app communication | In-app client messaging | SMS and email notifications |
Multi-ServiceBeyond walking/sitting | Dog walking and pet sitting only | All verticals native (grooming, daycare, training, boarding) |
Package ManagementPre-paid service bundles Petboost has comprehensive package support | Not available | Coffee-card visual tracking, 24/7 self-service purchase, auto top-up, family credit sharing |
Course ManagementTraining programs and puppy schools | Not available | Native course system |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous GPS route tracking | Focused elsewhere | We capture GPS at check-in, checkout, and from photo EXIF data (Magic Map). PetPocketbook records the full walking route. |
| Structured visit fields | Considering | PetPocketbook has structured walking-specific data fields. Petboost Report Cards use free-form customer-facing notes with photos and Magic Map. |
| QuickBooks integration | Focused elsewhere | We integrate with Xero via Stripe Bank Feeds |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, PetPocketbook 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
Business Subscription
Payment Processing Model
Who Bears the Cost
Currency
GST-Inclusive Pricing
| Payment Processing | PetPocketbook | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Business Subscription | $25 USD/month (flat) | $65/mo (or $0 at $7,500+/mo) |
| Payment Processing Model | Pet owners pay a 5% service fee at checkout. Business pays $0 processing fees. | Business pays 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4%. Pet owners pay the listed service price only. |
| Who Bears the Cost | Pet owners: 5% added at checkout (e.g. $100 service = $105 at checkout) | Business: fees come from your revenue. Pet owners see transparent pricing. |
| Currency | USD | AUD (native) |
| GST-Inclusive Pricing | Not supported (US platform) | Native AU GST compliance |
SMS Functionality
Phone Format
Delivery
| SMS Functionality | PetPocketbook | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Format | US (+1) | AU (+61) native |
| Delivery | US-based messaging | AU-native SMS, reliable delivery |
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 | PetPocketbook | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | $25 USD/month (~$40 AUD/month incl. FX fees) | $65/mo (or $0 at $7,500+/mo) |
| Payment Processing (Business) | $0 (shifted to pet owners via 5% service fee) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| Cost to Pet Owners | 5% service fee at checkout (e.g. $100 service = $105 total) | $0 additional fees |
| Petboost Booking Fee | N/A (5% charged to clients instead) | 1.2-1.4% on card payments |
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 PetPocketbook.
Migration Complexity
Customer Data
Export and import assistance provided
Booking History
Historical records can be imported
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with PetPocketbook, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from PetPocketbook.
Contact us for a migration assessmentWhich Is Right for Your Business?
PetPocketbook may suit you if:
- You're US-based and want US support and QuickBooks integration
- Continuous walk route maps in report cards are essential to your client experience
- You're comfortable with your clients paying a 5% service fee at checkout
- You only need dog walking and pet sitting features
- You want dedicated staff compensation tracking
Petboost?
- You're an Australian business wanting local support and AU payment processing
- You prefer your clients to pay the listed service price without a platform surcharge
- You want to earn $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) (waived at $7,500+)
- You're multi-service or planning to expand beyond walking
- Package management and self-service pet owner experience matter to you
- You want native Australian SMS and GST compliance
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.
PetPocketbook 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 30 days with 0% Petboost fees. Only pay Stripe processing fees.
Last verified: 25th February 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.petpocketbook.com
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
PetPocketbook® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by PetPocketbook.