Choosing pet business software often comes down to budget. Here’s every major platform compared on price, so you can make an informed decision without visiting 10 different websites. For more on this topic, see our guide on Cloud vs Desktop Pet Business Software (2026). For more on this topic, see our guide on Best Pet Business Software Under $50/Month (2026). For more on this topic, see our guide on Best Accounting Software for Pet Businesses (2026).
We’ve researched current pricing as of early 2026, verified across official websites and confirmed with user reports. Prices can change — always check the platform’s website for the latest.
Complete Pricing Table (2026)
| Software | Solo/Basic | Team/Mid | Premium/Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Appointments | FREE | $29/mo | $69/mo |
| Pawfinity | $25/mo | $50/mo | $75/mo |
| GrooMore | $39/mo | $59/mo | $79/mo |
| DaySmart Pet | $75/mo | $105/mo | $155/mo |
| MoeGo | $79/mo | $149/mo | $249/mo |
| Time To Pet | $25/mo | $50/mo | $80/mo |
| Gingr | $115/mo | $175/mo | Custom |
| PetExec | $99/mo | $149/mo | $199/mo |
What Each Platform Is Built For
Understanding the target market helps you avoid paying for features you don’t need:
Square Appointments — Generic scheduling tool. Not pet-specific at all. Works for any service business. The free tier is genuinely free with no hidden catches for solo users.
Pawfinity — Built specifically for pet groomers. The most affordable dedicated grooming software. Covers scheduling, pet profiles, vaccination tracking, and basic business management.
GrooMore — Grooming-specific with a focus on modern UX and photo documentation. Slightly more polished than Pawfinity at a modest price premium.
DaySmart Pet — Enterprise-grade pet business software with 20+ years of development. Strong reporting, employee management, and multi-location support. Designed for established salons.
MoeGo — The premium grooming platform with the best mobile app, two-way texting, route optimization, and modern design. The industry’s fastest-growing platform.
Time To Pet — Purpose-built for pet sitters and dog walkers. Handles scheduling, GPS tracking, invoicing, and client communication for service businesses that go to the client.
Gingr — Facility management for boarding, daycare, and multi-service operations. Report cards, webcam integration, and vaccination compliance. Overkill for grooming-only businesses.
PetExec — Data-focused facility management with the deepest financial analytics in the industry. Revenue per kennel, occupancy tracking, and advanced business intelligence.
Best Value by Business Type
Solo groomer (tight budget): Square Appointments — $0/month You get scheduling, online booking, reminders, and payment processing for free. No pet profiles or grooming-specific features, but you can manage pet info in appointment notes. Best for: groomers who are just starting and need to minimize expenses.
Solo groomer (wants pet features): Pawfinity — $25/month The cheapest way to get proper pet profiles, vaccination tracking, grooming notes, and automated reminders in a dedicated grooming platform. Best for: solo groomers who want real grooming software without premium pricing.
Solo groomer (best experience): MoeGo Essential — $79/month The best mobile app, two-way client texting, smart scheduling, and polished online booking. Everything feels purposefully designed for groomers. Best for: groomers who value time savings, communication quality, and a premium experience.
Mobile groomer: MoeGo Essential — $79/month (only option with route optimization) Route optimization saves 30-60 minutes of drive time per day. No other grooming software offers this feature. The fuel and time savings alone cover the monthly cost. Best for: any mobile groomer, regardless of business size.
Multi-groomer salon: DaySmart Pro ($105/mo) or MoeGo Growth ($149/mo) Both handle multi-staff scheduling, employee management, and detailed reporting. DaySmart has deeper analytics; MoeGo has a better mobile experience. Best for: salons with 2-5 groomers.
Pet sitter: Time To Pet — $25/month Purpose-built for pet sitting operations with GPS tracking, automated invoicing, and client portals. Best for: pet sitters and dog walkers who need industry-specific tools.
Boarding/daycare: Gingr — $115-$175/month Full facility management with report cards, vaccination compliance automation, webcam integration, and multi-service scheduling. Best for: facilities offering boarding, daycare, and grooming under one roof.
Dog trainer: Acuity Scheduling — $20-$34/month Clean scheduling with class management, package tracking, and intake forms. Not pet-specific but handles the scheduling needs of training businesses well.
Annual Cost Comparison
| Software | Monthly | Annual (monthly billing) | Annual (annual billing)* | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Pawfinity Solo | $25 | $300 | ~$252 | ~$756 |
| GrooMore Basic | $39 | $468 | ~$396 | ~$1,188 |
| DaySmart Basic | $75 | $900 | ~$756 | ~$2,268 |
| MoeGo Essential | $79 | $948 | ~$804 | ~$2,412 |
| Gingr Starter | $115 | $1,380 | ~$1,164 | ~$3,492 |
| PetExec Basic | $99 | $1,188 | ~$1,008 | ~$3,024 |
*Annual billing typically saves 15-20%
Perspective check: For a grooming business generating $100,000-$200,000/year, even the most expensive solo-tier software (MoeGo at $948/year) is less than 1% of revenue. The ROI from automated reminders, online booking, and reduced no-shows far exceeds any platform’s cost.
Features Per Dollar
The best way to evaluate value isn’t just price — it’s what you get per dollar.
| Software | Monthly Cost | Key Features Included | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | $0 | Scheduling, booking, reminders, payments | ★★★★★ |
| Pawfinity | $25 | Above + pet profiles, vaccination tracking, inventory | ★★★★★ |
| GrooMore | $39 | Above + before/after photos, better UX | ★★★★ |
| MoeGo | $79 | Above + route optimization, two-way text, best app | ★★★★ |
| DaySmart | $75 | Scheduling, pets, advanced reporting, employee mgmt | ★★★★ |
| Gingr | $115 | Full facility management, report cards, webcams | ★★★★ |
| PetExec | $99 | Facility management, best-in-class financial analytics | ★★★★ |
Every platform on this list provides value that exceeds its cost for the right business type. The question isn’t “which is cheapest?” — it’s “which gives me the best return for MY business?”
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Payment Processing Fees
Every platform charges payment processing fees on card transactions (typically 2.6-2.9% + $0.10-$0.30 per transaction). On $10,000/month in card revenue, that’s $260-$320/month in processing fees regardless of which platform you use. These fees are comparable across platforms.
SMS/Text Message Costs
Some platforms include a monthly allotment of text messages and charge extra beyond that limit. High-volume salons sending hundreds of reminders monthly should verify SMS limits and overage rates.
Add-On Features
Some platforms charge extra for features that seem like they should be included: marketing automation, advanced reporting, additional integrations, or premium support. Read the feature list for each tier carefully.
Data Migration Costs
Switching platforms may involve data export/import, which some platforms charge for or offer as a premium service. MoeGo provides free migration support; others may not.
The Upgrade Path Most Groomers Follow
Based on patterns we see in the grooming community, here’s the typical software journey:
Stage 1: Starting out ($0-$5,000/month revenue) Square Appointments (free) or paper/spreadsheets. Every dollar matters, so free tools make sense.
Stage 2: Getting serious ($5,000-$10,000/month revenue) Pawfinity Solo ($25/month). You need pet profiles, vaccination tracking, and automated reminders. The cost is negligible relative to revenue.
Stage 3: Growing ($10,000-$20,000/month revenue) MoeGo Essential ($79/month). You want the best mobile app, two-way texting, and professional online booking. At this revenue level, the premium is easily justified.
Stage 4: Scaling ($20,000+/month revenue) MoeGo Growth ($149/month) or DaySmart Pro ($105/month). Multi-staff management, advanced reporting, and operational efficiency become critical.
Not everyone follows this exact path, and there’s nothing wrong with jumping straight to MoeGo if your budget allows. But if money is tight, start free and upgrade as your business grows.
My Recommendation
Start at the price point your budget allows. Every software here is better than no software. Upgrade when your business growth justifies the cost. The path most groomers follow: Free (Square) → $25/month (Pawfinity) → $79/month (MoeGo) as their business matures.
Don’t let software cost be the reason you avoid technology. Even free Square Appointments with its basic scheduling and reminders will save you hours per week and prevent costly no-shows. The best software is the one you’ll actually use consistently. For more on this topic, see our guide on Best Free Software for Pet Businesses (2026). For more on this topic, see our guide on Best All-in-One Pet Business Platforms (2026 Comparison).