An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
Cuddles has a tidy tag system and its own integrated payments through Adyen. It's US-billed, priced per location, and caps staff on the entry plan. If you're a single US salon, it's neat. If you're Australian and adding staff or sites, the caps and the exchange rate both cost you.
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
AUD pricing, GST-ready, No FX Fees
Grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, training. All included.
All on one plan. No add-ons.
Minimal digging. No endless menus
Avg. time to book less than 2 min
Double Fee Alert for Australian Businesses
Australian businesses pay USD subscription AND international payment processing fees
*Subscription waived as a bonus reward: Pro at $7,500+/mo, Max at $20,000+/mo in card payments
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
| Payment Processing | Cuddles | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Card-Present Rate | 2.79% + $0.20 USD | 1.7% + $0.1 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| Card-Not-Present Rate | 2.79% + $0.20 USD | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ 1.2-1.4% Petboost + 1.7% + $0.3 Stripe |
| Monthly Subscription | $0-195 USD/month | $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) |
| Per-SMS Cost | $0.05/message (beyond included allowance) | Included in plan |
| SMS Functionality | Cuddles | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Reminders | ✅ Unlimited SMS reminders included in all paid plans (USD) | ✅ Included with Business Pro, Flex & Max plans |
| 2-Way Messaging | ⚠️ Paid add-on: Starter $15/mo, Premium $25/mo, Elite $35/mo (USD) | ✅ Communications Booster add-on with dedicated AU number |
| Marketing SMS | $0.05 USD per message across all tiers | ❌ Use Mailchimp integration |
| SMS Payment Links | ❌ Not available | ✅ One-tap payment via SMS |
| Australian Phone Number | ❌ Not confirmed. No mention of international support | ✅ Australian number with Communications Booster |
| Currency | USD. Plans from $59-179/mo. 2-way SMS add-on extra | AUD (no conversion fees) |
| Total SMS Cost (2-way) | $59-179/mo plan + $15-35/mo 2-way add-on + $0.05/marketing msg (USD) | Business Pro/Max plan + Communications Booster add-on (AUD) |
There are limited scenarios where Cuddles may suit you better:
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
An honest look at how each platform handles key functionality.
Cuddles vs Petboost
Day-of-operations management interface
Petboost significantly more powerful for operational management
Basic booking list with status tabs (Upcoming, Here, Completed)
Mission Control with kanban, group-by, AI summaries, flow graphs
Appointment and resource scheduling
Petboost has much deeper scheduling intelligence
Basic day calendar with two modes (Work Schedule or Multi-Slots)
Availability debugger, resource scheduling, session-based capacity, team scheduling
Training course and class scheduling
Cuddles has no course/class management
Native courses with templates and enrolment
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Petboost eliminates registration friction with phone-first auth
Online booking with basic flow
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering
Comprehensive profile management
Both solid; Petboost has more tabs and policy overrides
Good profiles with emergency contacts, authorized pickups, notification toggles
8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management
Pet-level behavioural and characteristic tags
Petboost has larger library; Cuddles has nice sentiment categorisation
Positive/negative tag system with ~20 defaults (Biter, Cage Shy, Friendly, etc.)
2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories
Card payment rates
Petboost lower rates for Australian businesses
2.79% + $0.20 USD (CuddlesPay)
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee
One-tap payment links via SMS
Petboost differentiator
Built-in SMS campaign builder
Both send marketing SMS. Cuddles adds saved templates; Petboost has no automated drip sequences
Bulk Marketing SMS with consent handling
Built-in review/feedback system
Both collect reviews. Cuddles adds an aggregated dashboard and trend reporting
Report Card star rating plus SMS and email review requests
Recurring membership billing
Both platforms offer full membership systems
Full membership system with configurable benefits, window-based usage tracking, overage handling, and Stripe billing
Promotional discount codes
Cuddles has promo codes; Petboost does not yet
Product inventory and POS
Both sell products. Cuddles adds barcode scanning and stock control on Elite
Products on invoices and in-store, no stock control
Prepaid package credits
Both have packages; Petboost enables pet owner self-purchase
Self-service 24/7 purchase with visual credit tracking
Business analytics and insights
Petboost more capable reporting
Basic Insights dashboard (Premium+)
Reporting & Intelligence with multiple report types
Multiple business locations
Both support multi-location; Petboost via Enterprise
Yes (Enterprise)
Mobile access
Both approaches have trade-offs
Native mobile app
Progressive web app with passwordless login, no download required
Built-in customer referral system
Petboost has referral system; Cuddles does not
Direct messaging with clients
Petboost has proper messaging; Cuddles relies on SMS campaigns
SMS-based only (no in-app messaging)
Feature Comparison Cuddles vs Petboost | C Cuddles | P PetboostAustralian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Dashboard / Operations ViewDay-of-operations management interface Petboost significantly more powerful for operational management | Basic booking list with status tabs (Upcoming, Here, Completed) | Mission Control with kanban, group-by, AI summaries, flow graphs |
SchedulingAppointment and resource scheduling Petboost has much deeper scheduling intelligence | Basic day calendar with two modes (Work Schedule or Multi-Slots) | Availability debugger, resource scheduling, session-based capacity, team scheduling |
Course ManagementTraining course and class scheduling Cuddles has no course/class management | Native courses with templates and enrolment | |
Pet Owner Booking ExperienceSelf-service booking flow for pet owners Petboost eliminates registration friction with phone-first auth | Online booking with basic flow | Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering |
Pet & Owner ProfilesComprehensive profile management Both solid; Petboost has more tabs and policy overrides | Good profiles with emergency contacts, authorized pickups, notification toggles | 8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management |
Pet Tags / AttributesPet-level behavioural and characteristic tags Petboost has larger library; Cuddles has nice sentiment categorisation | Positive/negative tag system with ~20 defaults (Biter, Cage Shy, Friendly, etc.) | 2,000+ pre-built attributes with 8+ categories |
Payment ProcessingCard payment rates Petboost lower rates for Australian businesses | 2.79% + $0.20 USD (CuddlesPay) | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
SMS Payment LinksOne-tap payment links via SMS Petboost differentiator | ||
SMS Marketing CampaignsBuilt-in SMS campaign builder Both send marketing SMS. Cuddles adds saved templates; Petboost has no automated drip sequences | ✅ Native with templates (Premium+) | Bulk Marketing SMS with consent handling |
Review CollectionBuilt-in review/feedback system Both collect reviews. Cuddles adds an aggregated dashboard and trend reporting | ✅ Built-in with dashboard and trends | Report Card star rating plus SMS and email review requests |
MembershipsRecurring membership billing Both platforms offer full membership systems | ✅ Full membership system with auto-billing | Full membership system with configurable benefits, window-based usage tracking, overage handling, and Stripe billing |
Promo CodesPromotional discount codes Cuddles has promo codes; Petboost does not yet | ✅ With usage and revenue tracking | |
Retail InventoryProduct inventory and POS Both sell products. Cuddles adds barcode scanning and stock control on Elite | ✅ With barcode scanning (Elite) | Products on invoices and in-store, no stock control |
Package ManagementPrepaid package credits Both have packages; Petboost enables pet owner self-purchase | Self-service 24/7 purchase with visual credit tracking | |
ReportingBusiness analytics and insights Petboost more capable reporting | Basic Insights dashboard (Premium+) | Reporting & Intelligence with multiple report types |
Multi-LocationMultiple business locations Both support multi-location; Petboost via Enterprise | ✅ Elite plan ($179/mo) | Yes (Enterprise) |
Mobile AppMobile access Both approaches have trade-offs | Native mobile app | Progressive web app with passwordless login, no download required |
Referral ProgramBuilt-in customer referral system Petboost has referral system; Cuddles does not | ||
In-App MessagingDirect messaging with clients Petboost has proper messaging; Cuddles relies on SMS campaigns | SMS-based only (no in-app messaging) | ✅ Native messaging |
Last updated: January 2026 • Based on publicly available information
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:
Bulk 1-Way SMS includes a Marketing SMS mode with consent management, opt-out handling and content analysis. Automated drip sequences and A/B testing are still out of scope.
Every Report Card carries a star rating: 4 or 5 stars routes the owner to your Google review page with a suggested template, below 4 routes them to a private feedback form that comes straight to you. Per-appointment Text and Email Review Request quick actions and a business-wide Google Review URL are also built in. An aggregated review analytics dashboard is still under consideration.
Promotional discount system under consideration.
Petboost sells products as retail line items you add to an appointment invoice or sell in-store. What we do not do is stock control: no stock levels, reorder points or cost of goods. Use Square or Shopify for stock control.
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| SMS marketing campaigns | ✅ Available | Bulk 1-Way SMS includes a Marketing SMS mode with consent management, opt-out handling and content analysis. Automated drip sequences and A/B testing are still out of scope. |
| Built-in review collection | ✅ Available | Every Report Card carries a star rating: 4 or 5 stars routes the owner to your Google review page with a suggested template, below 4 routes them to a private feedback form that comes straight to you. Per-appointment Text and Email Review Request quick actions and a business-wide Google Review URL are also built in. An aggregated review analytics dashboard is still under consideration. |
| Promo codes | Considering | Promotional discount system under consideration. |
| Retail product inventory | Focused elsewhere | Petboost sells products as retail line items you add to an appointment invoice or sell in-store. What we do not do is stock control: no stock levels, reorder points or cost of goods. Use Square or Shopify for stock control. |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Cuddles may be better suited for your current needs.
Based on typical Australian pet business transaction volumes.
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual costs may vary.
| Cost Type | Cuddles | Petboost |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Subscription (Premium) | ~$991 AUD (~$708 USD) | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| Subscription FX/Foreign Tx Fees (~10%) | ~$99 AUD | $0 (AU-based) |
| Payment Processing (Card-Present 30%) | ~$2,040 AUD (2.79% + $0.20 with intl fees) | ~$1,710 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Payment Processing (Online 70%) | ~$5,346 AUD (2.79% + $0.20 with intl fees) | ~$3,990 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Petboost Booking Fee (on $200K GMV) | N/A | ~$2,800 (1.2-1.4%) |
| Total Annual Cost (incl. transaction fees) | ~$8,476 AUD | ~$8,500 |
You may be paying twice with Cuddles
$0-195 USD/month subscription (plus FX fees for Australian cards on paid tiers), plus cuddlespay: 2.79% + $0.20 usd (vs petboost 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee). With Petboost, you pay $65/month (waived at $7,500+ volume) and competitive AU payment processing rates.
What You Keep Instead of Paying in Fees
~$500-2,000/year
Based on $500K GMV, 80% online transactions
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual savings may vary.
Enter your numbers and see
Business Pro starts at -/month with 0 appointments included. Business Max at -/month gives you unlimited appointments.
Total customer payments (all methods)
Appointments you expect each month
Reminders and notifications sent
What percentage of payments go through card on file?
Subscription waiver impact: Your total revenue ($10,000) would qualify for a subscription waiver, but only $8,000 goes through card on file. Increase card payments to $0 to unlock the waiver.
At 100 bookings/month, Business Pro would cost $45/month. Max costs $45/month, which is $0/month more but includes unlimited appointments.
20 of your 100 appointments are paid without card on file
$1 in fees saves $408 in hidden costs
Annual impact: $4,892/year in recoverable losses
Business Pro includes 0 SMS/month. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You'll need 3 SMS Power-Up Packs ($45).
Save $636+ per month compared to typical competitors.
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.
Enter your business numbers and compare total costs including international card and currency conversion fees.
See exactly what you save with Petboost
3 users per location. Cuddles Pay (Adyen): 2.79% + $0.20/txn. US merchant: int'l card + FX fees apply for AU cards.
If platform fee built into pricing: $0/mo
Annual savings: $7,714
Compared to Cuddles Starter at 100 transactions/month
Cuddles pricing from their pricing page. Verified 2026-08-24. USD converted to AUD at current exchange rates.
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.
One-person operations with streamlined scheduling and automated payments.
3-10 staff with resource management, shared calendars, and team coordination.
Multi-space daycare and boarding, high-volume salons, and busy multi-service businesses.
Multi-location groups and franchises running every site from one HQ dashboard.
It's easier than you think. Here's what to expect if you decide to move from Cuddles.
Customer Data
Export available; import assistance provided
Booking History
Not migrated; you set up your own schedule (typically 2-4 hours)
Pet Profiles
Pet data including weight, breed, and notes can be migrated
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Cuddles, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Cuddles.
Contact us for a migration assessmentFrom 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
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.
Common questions about switching and comparing these platforms.
Purpose-built features for every type of pet business.
Last verified: 24th August 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.cuddlesapp.com
Exchange rate: AUD figures converted at 1 USD = $1.4 and 1 GBP = $1.91, the European Central Bank via Frankfurter rate as at . Rates move daily, so the AUD amounts above are indicative; we re-check them every week.
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Cuddles® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cuddles.
