Dog Daycare Software Comparison

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

Dog Daycare Software Comparison: At a Glance

Before diving into detailed reviews, here’s a quick snapshot of the main platforms to help you narrow down your shortlist.

Pricing correct as of February 2026. Verify current rates with vendors before purchasing.

In-Depth Look at Each Platform

PetCare.Software

Best for: Small to medium facilities wanting an intuitive, all-in-one solution without per-booking fees.

Standout feature: Vaccination tracking with automatic expiry alerts and document storage — reducing compliance risk without manual checking.

Pricing: From $49/month. No per-booking fees, which saves money as booking volume grows.

Limitation: Mobile app is in development; currently web-based only for mobile access. Newer to market than some competitors, though the feature set is comprehensive and support is highly rated.

PetCare.Software is purpose-built for UK, US, and Australian pet care businesses, with a clean interface designed for non-technical users. Most facilities are fully operational within a week of sign-up.

Gingr

Best for: Medium to large facilities with complex workflows, multi-location operations, or extensive retail/POS needs.

Standout feature: Comprehensive CRM with deep customisation options and integrated point-of-sale for retail sales alongside pet care services.

Pricing: From $125/month plus per-booking fees, which increase total cost for high-volume facilities.

Limitation: Steeper learning curve than simpler platforms. New staff typically need more training time. Customer support response times can vary during busy periods.

Gingr is a mature platform with a large user community. If you need enterprise-level reporting and are prepared to invest in the learning curve, it delivers.

DoggieDashboard

Best for: Small to medium daycare facilities looking for an affordable, focused platform.

Standout feature: Clean booking calendar and daily schedule view that makes managing a busy daycare straightforward for staff at any experience level.

Pricing: From $59/month, with no complex pricing tiers to navigate.

Limitation: Less feature-rich than larger platforms — advanced reporting and retail POS are limited. Best suited to daycare-focused businesses rather than multi-service facilities.

DoggieDashboard has built a loyal following among independent daycare owners who want something dependable without unnecessary complexity.

PawPartner

Best for: Facilities that want robust client communication tools and a polished owner-facing experience.

Standout feature: Owner portal and mobile app experience — pet parents can view photos, report cards, and vaccine status in real time, which drives loyalty and referrals.

Pricing: From $69/month with transparent pricing and no hidden booking fees.

Limitation: Some advanced management features are less developed than competitors. Works best for daycare and boarding; facilities with complex grooming or training operations may find it limiting.

Time To Pet

Best for: Facilities that combine daycare with pet sitting, dog walking, or mobile services.

Standout feature: Scheduling and route management for mobile services — genuinely useful if your business includes in-home visits or walking alongside facility-based care.

Pricing: From $40/month, making it one of the most affordable options in this category.

Limitation: Less specialised for dedicated kennel or daycare operations. Boarding features are functional but not as polished as platforms built specifically for facility-based care.

PawFinity

Best for: Growing facilities that want a scalable platform with strong automation features.

Standout feature: Automated workflow tools including custom reminder sequences, membership billing, and package management — reducing manual admin as your client list grows.

Pricing: Contact for pricing; varies by facility size and features required.

Limitation: Pricing transparency is lower than competitors — you need to request a quote rather than seeing clear tiers on the website. May be less accessible for very small operations.

Feature Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right Dog Daycare Software

The right platform depends more on your current size and growth plans than on individual features. Here’s a practical framework:

Under 10 dogs/day: Simplicity is everything. You need online booking, vaccination tracking, and automated reminders. You do not need enterprise reporting, multi-location management, or complex staff scheduling. Prioritise ease of setup and ease of daily use. Start free trials with PetCare.Software or Time To Pet.

10–30 dogs/day: Automation becomes critical. You need the system to handle reminders, report cards, and vaccination alerts without manual input — because manual input at this volume leads to errors. Look for platforms with strong automation, a good client portal, and capacity management that prevents overbooking across different playgroups.

30+ dogs/day: You need capacity management, staff permissions, advanced reporting, and ideally multi-location support if you’re planning to expand. At this scale, the operational risk of inadequate software outweighs the cost of a more capable platform.

Choose PetCare.Software if you want something easy to learn, value responsive support, and dislike per-transaction fees. Ideal for small to medium facilities.

Choose Gingr if you have complex multi-location needs, want deep retail integration, or have dedicated staff for system management. Better suited to larger operations.

Choose Time To Pet if you combine daycare with mobile pet sitting or dog walking services.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing

1. What’s the total cost? Including setup fees, per-booking fees, and add-ons
2. How long is the contract? Month-to-month is safest
3. What’s the learning curve? Ask for a demo and try it yourself
4. How’s the customer support? Check reviews specifically about support quality
5. Can I migrate my data? Important if switching from another system

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best dog daycare software for small businesses?

For small businesses, PetCare.Software and Time To Pet offer the best balance of essential features and affordable pricing. Both are easy to learn, require no long-term contracts, and offer free trials so you can test before committing. The right choice depends on whether you also offer mobile services (Time To Pet) or want a dedicated facility platform (PetCare.Software).

How much does dog daycare software cost per month?

Dog daycare software typically costs between $40 and $200 per month depending on facility size and features required. Entry-level plans start around $40–$50/month, mid-range plans run $80–$130/month, and enterprise or multi-location solutions can exceed $200/month. Watch for per-booking fees on top of monthly subscriptions — these add up quickly at high booking volumes.

Does dog daycare software integrate with QuickBooks?

Several platforms including Gingr and PetExec offer QuickBooks integration. PetCare.Software supports data export for accounting purposes. Always verify current integrations directly with the vendor before purchasing, as integration availability changes with software updates.

Can clients book online with dog daycare software?

Yes. Online booking is a core feature of all leading dog daycare platforms. Clients can view real-time availability, book specific services, pay deposits, and receive automatic confirmation — without you needing to answer the phone. Most platforms also offer an owner portal where clients manage their bookings, update pet profiles, and view report cards.

What is the easiest dog daycare software to set up?

PetCare.Software and Time To Pet are consistently rated as the easiest platforms for new users. Both offer guided onboarding, responsive customer support, and a straightforward interface that most facility owners are comfortable with within a few days of starting their free trial.

Related Articles

• Dog Daycare Software: Features, Pricing & How to Choose
• Best Dog Daycare Software
• Is Dog Daycare Software Worth It?

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.