Already using Savvy Pet? Savvy Pet displays AUD pricing, but their payment system is country-blocked from Australia. Australian pet businesses need software with payments that actually work.
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Australian businesses have run on Petboost since 2022, including teams from Savvy Pet
The short version
Savvy Pet is cheap to start and grooming-focused. Its payment system is country-blocked from Australia, so the payments feature on the higher plans doesn't work here. If you only want a calendar with reminders, their entry plan is fine. If you want to take payment inside the software, in Australia it can't.
Why businesses choose Petboost
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
Payments That Actually Work
Savvy Pay is blocked in Australia. Petboost has native AU Stripe. Take payments from day one.
AUD
No FX
More Than an Online Calendar
Grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, training, courses, and packages. All in one platform.
Grooming
Daycare
Boarding
Walking
Training
All on one plan. No add-ons.
Included on Every Business Plan
Online booking, customer portal, payments and an SMS allowance on Business Pro, Flex and Max. Two-way SMS is the optional Communications Booster.
Others
6+ clicks
Petboost
1-2 clicks
Collect Payments via SMS
SMS payment links for outstanding invoices, marked paid automatically when the customer pays.
Pet grooming software (salon, mobile, and home groomers)
Customers
~1,500 pet professionals (per website, across UK, US, AU, NZ, Europe, Canada)
Australian presence
None for payments (UK-based company: payment system "Savvy Pay" is country-blocked from Australia as of March 2026 (pending re-confirmation). UK timezone support, +44 phone default, no AU SMS. Displays AUD pricing but online payments are inaccessible to Australian businesses.)
"Savvy Pay" payment system is country-blocked from Australia (verified March 2026, pending re-confirmation). AU businesses pay for plans advertising "Payments & Invoices" but cannot access payment processing
Australian businesses pay A$71-96/month for features they cannot fully use. Payment processing is completely unavailable from Australia.
P
Petboost
Built in Sydney
Australian
Founded
2022
Headquarters
Sydney, Australia
Focus
Multi-vertical pet services
Customers
Australian pet businesses, running since 2022
Australian presence
Native. Built in Sydney, with Australian data residency, same-timezone support and pricing in AUD.
Pricing
$65-240/mo plus a 1.2-1.4% booking fee on card payments. Subscription $0 once your card volume reaches $7,500 a month on Pro, or $20,000 on Max.
No lock-in, cancel anytime
Where Petboost Shines
Built for Australian Businesses
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
Payment Processing
Payment Methods
Savvy Pet
"Savvy Pay" country-blocked from Australia (verified March 2026, pending re-confirmation). No online payment processing available to AU businesses.
Petboost
Stripe AU (card-present, online, SMS payment links)
Businesses wanting Australian-native software rather than a UK platform displaying AUD prices
Owners who value granular automation control with automation settings you can override 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
S
Savvy Pet
Online booking with customer portal (Extra+ plans). Dedicated customer mobile app available.
P
Petboost
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering, 24/7 booking in 38 seconds for a returning customer and 56 for a new one, no app download
Pet Profiles
Pet information management
Both offer pet profiles; Petboost has a much larger structured attribute library
S
Savvy Pet
Customer and pet information, grooming notes, customisable pet flags
P
Petboost
Full Petprint with 1,600+ 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
S
Savvy Pet
Electronic calendar with per-groomer views. Gmail and iCal integration.
P
Petboost
Mission Control: up to twelve views (Workflow, Pets, List, Run Sheet, Photos, Roster, Grid, Stays, Team Members or Resources, Services, Spotlight, Courses) + intelligence cards
Booking Engine
Appointment creation and management
Both handle bookings well. Savvy Pet gates online booking to Extra plan (~A$86/month)
S
Savvy Pet
Appointment management with online booking (Extra+ plans)
Savvy Pay is inaccessible from Australia. Australian businesses paying for Advanced+ plans (which include "Payments & Invoices") cannot use the payment features.
S
Savvy Pet
Country-blocked from Australia. "Savvy Pay" returns "Country Blocked: Access to this page is forbidden" when accessed from AU (verified March 2026, pending re-confirmation).
P
Petboost
Stripe AU 1.7% + $0.30; Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4%
SMS Payment Links
SMS payment links
Petboost differentiator: SMS payment links for outstanding invoices
S
Savvy Pet
P
Petboost
Card on File
Saved cards for repeat payments
Savvy Pay is inaccessible from Australia, so stored cards do not function for AU businesses
S
Savvy Pet
Not available in Australia (Savvy Pay country-blocked)
P
Petboost
Pre-Authorisation
Automatically hold funds before appointments
Petboost differentiator: reduces no-show and payment risk
S
Savvy Pet
P
Petboost
Pre-hold funds: a hold on the card on file 72 hours before the appointment
No-Show Charging
Charge clients for missed appointments
Savvy Pay is inaccessible from Australia. No-show charging requires payment processing, which is not available to AU businesses.
S
Savvy Pet
Not available in Australia (Savvy Pay country-blocked)
P
Petboost
Forms & Contracts
Digital forms, signatures, and documents
Both support digital forms. Savvy Pet has a strong form/contract builder with auto-send.
S
Savvy Pet
Fully customisable forms and contracts with auto-send on appointment creation. Integrated T&Cs.
P
Petboost
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.
S
Savvy Pet
Customer portal with booking and account access (Extra+ plans)
P
Petboost
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
S
Savvy Pet
Staff rota, permission management, calendar view by groomer (Extra+ plans)
P
Petboost
4 roles with permission matrix, capacity management, working hours, leave management, service eligibility, revenue per hour analytics
Multi-Location
Multiple business locations
Both support multi-location; Petboost via Enterprise
S
Savvy Pet
Salon plan (~A$96/month)
P
Petboost
Yes (Enterprise)
Reporting
Business analytics and intelligence
Both offer reporting; Petboost adds InsightCards, forecasting, and geographic intelligence
Savvy Pet does not offer prepaid packages; Petboost has a rich self-service package experience
S
Savvy Pet
P
Petboost
Self-service 24/7 purchase, coffee-card visual tracking, multi-pet sharing, a Top up prompt when a pack runs low
Vaccination Tracking
Pet vaccination management and compliance
Savvy Pet does not appear to offer vaccination tracking with compliance checks; in Petboost, online bookings need a current certificate and your team sees No Vax or Expired on the appointment
S
Savvy Pet
P
Petboost
Certificate upload, expiry tracking, 30-day warnings, service-level requirements, and online bookings need a current certificate
Mobile App
Mobile access
Savvy Pet has dedicated native apps; Petboost uses a PWA approach. Both work on mobile.
S
Savvy Pet
Native iOS and Android apps for both groomers and pet owners
P
Petboost
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
S
Savvy Pet
Gmail and iCal integration (Advanced+)
P
Petboost
Automatic Actions
Configurable lifecycle automation per service
Petboost offers granular lifecycle automation per service; Savvy Pet has message-level automation
Full series management: daily/weekly/monthly patterns, extend/shorten, individual instance control
Feature comparison
Savvy Pet vs Petboost
S
Savvy Pet
United Kingdom
P
Petboost
Australian-built
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 38 seconds for a returning customer and 56 for a new one, 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 1,600+ 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: up to twelve views (Workflow, Pets, List, Run Sheet, Photos, Roster, Grid, Stays, Team Members or Resources, Services, Spotlight, Courses) + 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)
Savvy Pay is inaccessible from Australia. Australian businesses paying for Advanced+ plans (which include "Payments & Invoices") cannot use the payment features.
Country-blocked from Australia. "Savvy Pay" returns "Country Blocked: Access to this page is forbidden" when accessed from AU (verified March 2026, pending re-confirmation).
Stripe AU 1.7% + $0.30; Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4%
SMS Payment Links
SMS payment links
Petboost differentiator: SMS payment links for outstanding invoices
Card on File
Saved cards for repeat payments
Savvy Pay is inaccessible from Australia, so stored cards do not function for AU businesses
Not available in Australia (Savvy Pay country-blocked)
Pre-Authorisation
Automatically hold funds before appointments
Petboost differentiator: reduces no-show and payment risk
Pre-hold funds: a hold on the card on file 72 hours before the appointment
No-Show Charging
Charge clients for missed appointments
Savvy Pay is inaccessible from Australia. No-show charging requires payment processing, which is not available to AU businesses.
Not available in Australia (Savvy Pay country-blocked)
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
Both support multi-location; Petboost via Enterprise
Salon plan (~A$96/month)
Yes (Enterprise)
Reporting
Business analytics and intelligence
Both offer reporting; Petboost adds InsightCards, forecasting, and geographic intelligence
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, a Top up prompt when a pack runs low
Vaccination Tracking
Pet vaccination management and compliance
Savvy Pet does not appear to offer vaccination tracking with compliance checks; in Petboost, online bookings need a current certificate and your team sees No Vax or Expired on the appointment
Certificate upload, expiry tracking, 30-day warnings, service-level requirements, and online bookings need a current certificate
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
Gmail and iCal integration (Advanced+)
Automatic Actions
Configurable lifecycle automation per service
Petboost offers granular lifecycle automation per service; Savvy Pet has message-level automation
Full series management: daily/weekly/monthly patterns, extend/shorten, individual instance control
Last checked 7th September 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:
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.
PayPal integration
Focused elsewhere
Petboost uses Stripe for payments with native AU rates. PayPal integration not planned.
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.
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)
Unavailable. Savvy Pay is country-blocked from Australia. AU businesses cannot process payments through Savvy Pet.
Stripe 1.7% + $0.30
Petboost Booking Fee
N/A
1.2-1.4% on card payments
What AU businesses actually get
A$852-1,032/year for an online calendar with reminders, forms, and reports. No payment processing.
A$35-96/month subscription (AUD pricing displayed), plus "Savvy Pay" payment system is country-blocked from Australia (verified March 2026, pending re-confirmation). AU businesses pay for plans advertising "Payments & Invoices" but cannot access payment processing. With Petboost, you pay $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments), a booking fee on card payments (1.2% to 1.4% by plan), and Stripe's Australian rate as a separate Stripe charge.
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.
Business Pro starts at $65/month with 450 appointments included. Business Max at $240/month gives you unlimited appointments.
Total customer payments (all methods)
$1k$25k$50k
Appointments you expect each month
50450 (Pro)2,5005,000
Reminders and notifications sent
0500 (Pro)1,000 (Max)2,000
What percentage of payments go through card on file?
$2,000 cash/EFTPOS
80%card on file
$8,000 card
All cash/EFTPOSAll card on file
Business Pro
Subscription waived
Subscription waived. Your $65/month fee is $0.
Monthly fee$65$0
Appointments (100/month)Within limit
Team members$0
SMS (300 messages)Within 500 limit
Booking fee (1.4% on card payments)~$112
Stripe processing (card payments)~$160
Your Total Cost~$272
Hidden Costs of Non-Card Payments
$408/mo
20 of your 100 appointments are paid without card on file
Your card-on-file fee: $28/mo→Saves: $408/mo
$1 in fees saves $15 in hidden costs
Annual impact: $4,892/year in recoverable losses
Generous SMS Limits
Business Pro includes 500 SMS/month. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You're well within your limit!
When to Upgrade
At your current revenue, Business Max becomes better value at 1,000 appointments/month. You're at 100.
Your Savings
Save $569+ per month compared to typical competitors.
Quick Plan Comparison
Business Pro
• $65/month (waived at $7,500+ card payment volume)
• 450 appointments included
• $0.40/appointment after 450
• 500 SMS/month included
• 1.4% booking fee on card payments
Business Flex
• $135/month (waived at $13,500+ card payment volume)
• 650 appointments included
• $0.50/appointment after 650
• 700 SMS/month included
• 1.4% booking fee on card payments
Business Max
• $240/month (waived at $20,000+ card payment volume)
• Unlimited appointments
• No per-appointment overage fees
• 1,000 SMS/month included
• 1.2% booking fee on card payments
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.
"Within just 2 days my calendar was up and running"
Grooming
"Huge shout out to the team at Petboost. After months of wasting time and money trialling other software, dealing with endless setup issues and ongoing emails, I finally threw in the towel and gave Petboost a go. Within just 2 days, all of my client information had been transferred, services created, staff added, and my calendar was up and running. Every question I've had has been answered so quickly, and the support team has been incredible throughout the entire setup process. The software itself is so well thought out and easy to navigate. From appointments and invoicing to pet profiles, grooming notes, banking integration and automation, everything just works seamlessly. It already feels like it's saving me hours of admin, and I can't wait to keep customising it over the coming months. I'm genuinely impressed with how smooth the transition has been. If you're a pet business looking for new software, I'd absolutely recommend giving Petboost a look."
"I bought this salon in Brisbane at the start of the year with my wife Andi. I've run businesses for 35 years but never a grooming salon, so I inherited a team of groomers, a full client book & software I hadn't chosen. This salon had been through several systems over the years & nobody here had any appetite for doing it again. I was extremely reluctant. I'm very glad we did. What stands out is that Petboost is built by people who actually understand this industry. I asked them once how to handle a price rise & instead of just answering me they went & wrote a proper guide on it for the industry. When I showed them the whiteboard my team writes out & rubs off every day, they'd already seen the same board taped up in salons interstate. They moved our data properly, which is the part I dreaded most. Reception takes payment on the card reader at the counter against the booking, so nothing gets written down twice. The reporting is what changed how I run it. I can see which days are running over capacity & which aren't, & which parts of the menu are earning. That turned a decision about taking on another groomer from a gut feel into something I could actually look at. I've used a lot of software over 35 years. This is the best in its field in Australia."
Craig H
The Grooming Salon - QLD
From solo operators to multi-location groups
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.
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
Multi-space daycare and boarding, high-volume salons, and busy multi-service businesses.
Bulk operations & admin
Multi-space capacity tracking
Volume pricing available
Advanced automation rules
Petboost Enterprise
Multi-location groups and franchises running every site from one HQ dashboard.
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)
Recommended
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 want SMS sent from Australian +61 numbers, included in your plan
You want SMS payment links to collect outstanding invoices via text
You need online bookings to require a current vaccination certificate
You prefer modern software where pet parents can book without downloading an app
You want your monthly fee to disappear once you are busy, not grow
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.
Last verified: 7th September 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from savvy.pet
GST: every price on this page is what you actually pay. Where a competitor quotes before GST, we have added the 10%. Where a competitor prices in another currency, the local tax treatment is theirs to set, so check it before you compare.
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.
Petboost vs Savvy Pet | AU Pet Business Comparison | Petboost