Choosing the right dog daycare software can save you hours every week and help grow your business. Here’s our honest comparison of the top options for small to medium facilities.
What to Look For in Dog Daycare Software
Before comparing specific platforms, understand the essential features:
Must-Have Features
- Online booking - 24/7 reservations without phone calls
- Capacity management - Prevent overbooking automatically
- Vaccination tracking - Automatic expiry alerts and reminders
- Payment processing - Accept cards, process deposits
- Customer portal - Self-service for pet parents
Nice-to-Have Features
- Report cards with photos
- Staff scheduling
- Multi-location support
- Retail/POS integration
- Mobile apps for staff and clients
Top Dog Daycare Software Options
PetCare.Software
Best for: Small to medium facilities wanting simplicity without sacrificing features
Pricing: From $49/month
Pros:
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Purpose-built for UK, US, and Australian markets
- Strong vaccination tracking and reminders
- Excellent customer support
- No per-booking fees
Cons:
- Newer to market than some competitors
- Mobile app in development
Gingr
Best for: Larger facilities with complex needs
Pricing: From $125/month + per-booking fees
Pros:
- Feature-rich platform
- Good retail/POS integration
- Strong reporting
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Per-booking fees add up
- Can be overwhelming for small operations
Time To Pet
Best for: Facilities that also offer pet sitting/walking
Pricing: From $40/month
Pros:
- Great for mobile pet services
- Good scheduling features
- Affordable entry point
Cons:
- Less specialized for kennels/daycares
- Limited boarding features
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | PetCare.Software | Gingr | Time To Pet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Booking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vaccination Tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated Reminders | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Report Cards | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No Per-Booking Fees | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-Location | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Retail POS | Coming soon | ✓ | ✗ |
How to Choose
Choose PetCare.Software if:
- You want something easy to learn and use daily
- You hate per-transaction fees
- You value responsive customer support
- You’re a small to medium facility
Choose Gingr if:
- You need extensive retail integration
- You have complex multi-location needs
- You have staff dedicated to learning software
Choose Time To Pet if:
- You combine daycare with pet sitting/walking
- You’re primarily a mobile service
Questions to Ask Before Choosing
- What’s the total cost? Including setup fees, per-booking fees, and add-ons
- How long is the contract? Month-to-month is safest
- What’s the learning curve? Ask for a demo and try it yourself
- How’s the customer support? Check reviews specifically about support quality
- Can I migrate my data? Important if switching from another system
The Bottom Line
The best software is the one your team will actually use. Fancy features mean nothing if staff avoid the system because it’s complicated.
For most small dog daycare businesses, we recommend starting with PetCare.Software - it’s powerful enough to handle everything you need without the complexity or hidden fees of larger platforms.
Try it free for 14 days and see the difference good software makes.
