Pet Grooming Software Comparison 2026: 7 Platforms Compared Honestly
Every claim about competitors comes from public pricing pages and real Capterra reviews. Every claim about BarkBook comes from capabilities verified in our codebase. Where BarkBook falls short, we say so.
You Should Not Have to Read 1,400 Reviews to Pick the Right Software
Choosing grooming software is one of the biggest decisions you will make for your business. The wrong choice means months of frustration, wasted money, and the pain of switching again later. The right choice means a tool that disappears into the background while you focus on the dogs.
We built this comparison to save you time. Every claim about competitors comes from their public pricing pages and real Capterra reviews -- not marketing spin. Every claim about BarkBook comes from capabilities verified in our codebase. Where BarkBook falls short, we say so.
The Quick Answer
If you want every feature on every plan, transparent pricing, and low processing fees, BarkBook is the strongest option. If you need mobile route optimization, MoeGo is purpose-built for that. If you want flat-rate unlimited features per facility, Groomer.io is worth considering. If you need boarding and daycare modules alongside grooming, Gingr and PetExec cover the broadest service types (though PetExec is no longer accepting new customers).
The Full Comparison
Pricing
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $39/mo | $29/mo | $105/mo | $49/mo (mobile) / $79/mo (salon) | $79/mo per facility | $105/mo + $200 onboarding | $35/mo (desktop) / $53/mo (cloud annual) |
| Top tier | $129/mo (unlimited) | $249/mo | $180/mo | $159/mo (mobile) / $239/mo (salon) | $79/mo (flat) | $155/mo | $131+/mo (cloud) |
| All features on all tiers? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Mostly | No |
| Per-employee fees | None | $9/mo extra (Deluxe) | None documented | None documented | None | None | $15/mo per extra user (cloud) |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days | None | Available | Available | Available | 14 days |
| Onboarding fee | None | None | None documented | None documented | None | $200 | None |
What the pricing numbers do not show: DaySmart's $29/month Basic plan excludes commission tracking, SMS, QuickBooks, and reputation management -- features you likely need. To get them all requires the $249/month Platinum plan. MoeGo splits pricing between mobile and salon operations, so businesses running both pay into two structures. PetExec charges a $200 onboarding fee plus $10/month for messaging add-on. BarkBook and Groomer.io are the only platforms where the advertised price includes every feature.
Processing Fees
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | $1 flat or 1% over $100 | Forced processor (reviews) | Highest in industry (reviews) | Not publicly documented | Uses Square/Clover/SignaPay | 2.7% + $0.05 (card present) + 1% gateway fee | Not integrated |
| Processor choice | Stripe Connect (your account) | DaySmart's processor pushed | Gingr's processor | MoeGo's processor | Square, Clover, or SignaPay | Stripe-based | External |
Processing fees are one of the most common complaints across all competitors. "The advertised flat-rate processing prices are high even for integrated processing standards." "Gingr has the highest credit card processing fees in the industry." BarkBook's $1 flat or 1% model is designed to address this directly.
Scheduling
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar views | Day, Week, Month, Agenda | Day, Week, Employee | Drag-and-drop calendar | Smart Schedule with calendar | Blocks, Maps, Slots | Color-coded drag-and-drop | Drag-and-drop color-coded |
| Conflict detection | Automatic: overlaps, time-off, outside hours, missing schedules | Not clearly documented | Not clearly documented | Available | Not documented | Waitlist + overbooking prevention | Not documented |
| Waitlist management | Built-in with preference matching and one-click booking | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Automatic waitlist notifications | Not documented |
| Drag-and-drop rescheduling | Yes, with undo support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Groomer availability indicator | Yes (available, has gap, busy) | Not documented | Not documented | Smart scheduling suggests | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
BarkBook's scheduling includes a groomer availability indicator during booking that shows each groomer's status (available, has gap, busy) so you make the best assignment. The waitlist includes preference matching -- when a slot opens, BarkBook finds waitlisted clients whose preferred days and times match, ranked by fit quality, and lets you book with one click.
Client and Pet Management
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household grouping | Yes -- families and all pets together | Client profiles | Client profiles | Client profiles | Customer records | Owner portal with pets | Client and pet records |
| Pet coat details | 7 textures, 4 lengths, 9 condition flags | Grooming preferences | Pet profiles | Coat condition notes | Limited fields | Pet records | Pet health tracking |
| Temperament tracking | 7 flags (multi-select) | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Behavioral notes | Behavioral attributes |
| Vaccination tracking | Date and expiration tracking | Vaccination status | Vaccination tracking | Vaccinations, allergies | Expiry warnings | Auto-reminders, scheduling restrictions | Registration, microchip, vaccination records |
| Pet photos | Before/after gallery with captions | Not documented | Photo sharing | Before/after with mood tracking | Unlimited photos | Report cards with photos | Not documented |
| Global search | Ctrl+K across clients and pets | Search | Search | Search | Quick search | Search | Search |
Notifications
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMS included | Yes, all plans | Platinum only ($249) | Included but delivery issues | 200-900/mo by tier | Unlimited | Via PetSnaps add-on ($10/mo + usage) | Included |
| Email included | Yes, all plans | 10,000/mo on Premier+ | Included | Included | Not documented | Included | Included |
| Notification types | 6: confirm, remind, cancel, pickup, thank you, waitlist | Reminders, confirmations | Reminders, notifications | Reminders, confirmations, mass text | Reminders, confirmations, re-engagement, on-your-way, pickup | Reminders, birthdays, vaccinations | Reminders, completion, birthday |
| Sent as your business | Yes | Not documented | Not documented | Only on Ultimate tier | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Customizable templates | 12 templates with variable placeholders | Not documented | Not documented | Some customization | Premade options only | Not documented | Not documented |
| Two-way texting | Not available | Platinum only ($249) | Not documented | Available | Unlimited included | PetSnaps add-on | Not documented |
Employee Management
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee roles | Manager, Groomer, Receptionist, Assistant | Staff scheduling | Staff management | Staff permissions (Ultimate) | Not documented | Employee management | Groomer scheduling |
| Granular permissions | 19 individual permissions | Not documented | Limited access control | Available on higher tiers | Not documented | Not documented | User account security |
| Commission tracking | All plans: tiered rates, service overrides | Premier ($129+) only | Not documented | Automated calculations | Payroll reporting | Commission + tip tracking | Not documented |
| Groomer splits | Flat or percentage split for shared appointments | Not documented | Not documented | Tip splitting | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Coverage calendar | Day, Week, Month, Heatmap views | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Time-off + absence workflow | Guided reassignment with available groomer suggestions | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Time clock | Built-in with missed clock-out detection | Not documented | Not documented | Clock-in tracking | Not documented | Time clock schedules | Not documented |
Payroll and Financial
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll processing | Configurable pay frequency, approval workflow, per-employee breakdown | On higher tiers | Not documented | Not documented | Payroll reporting | Commission reports | Not documented |
| QuickBooks export | IIF direct import | Platinum only ($249) | Not documented | Limited (reviews) | Not documented | "Does not work seamlessly" (reviews) | IIF export (desktop) |
| Expense tracking | Monthly tracker, recurring templates, yearly view, receipt uploads | On Premier+ | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Tax reports (Schedule C) | IRS Schedule C mapping, quarterly breakdowns, groomer-friendly + accountant-ready exports | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Tax reports available | Not documented |
| Receipt audit | Configurable threshold ($25-500), coverage percentage | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
Platform Details
| BarkBook | DaySmart Pet | Gingr | MoeGo | Groomer.io | PetExec | PetLinx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capterra rating | New | 4.2/5 (191 reviews) | 4.6/5 (209 reviews) | 4.8/5 (229 reviews) | 5.0/5 (25 reviews) | 4.6/5 (670 reviews) | 4.4/5 (100 reviews) |
| Accepting new customers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No -- directing to Gingr | Yes |
| Mobile app | Web-based responsive | Native mobile app | Browser-based | Native mobile app | Native mobile app | Native mobile app | Free mobile app |
| Route optimization | Not available | Available | Not documented | Strong (smart routes, map view, multi-van) | Map-based scheduling | Not documented | Not documented |
| Online booking portal | Not available | Available | Customer portal | 24/7 online booking + Google Maps integration | 24/7 online booking (request-based) | Owner portal + mobile app | Client portal |
| Boarding/daycare modules | Not available | Add-ons at $25/mo each | Included on Play/Stay tiers | Available | Not available | Included | Available |
| Desktop option | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (Windows/Mac) |
Where BarkBook Falls Short
Transparency matters, so here is what BarkBook does not do:
- No route optimization. If you are a mobile groomer who needs map-based scheduling and route planning, MoeGo or Groomer.io serve that need better.
- No online booking portal. BarkBook does not currently offer a client-facing booking page. You manage bookings directly. Competitors like MoeGo and DaySmart offer online booking.
- No boarding or daycare modules. BarkBook is built for grooming. If you also run boarding or daycare, Gingr, PetExec, or DaySmart cover those service types.
- No native mobile app. BarkBook is web-based. Competitors with native apps may offer a smoother mobile experience, though BarkBook's interface is responsive.
- No two-way texting. BarkBook sends notifications but does not support back-and-forth text conversations within the platform.
- New platform. BarkBook does not have years of Capterra reviews to reference. MoeGo (229 reviews), PetExec (670 reviews), and Gingr (209 reviews) have established track records.
Who Each Platform Is Best For
BarkBook is best for grooming shops that want every feature on every plan, transparent pricing with low processing fees, strong payroll and commission tracking, and tax-ready expense reports. Best for salon-based groomers, solo operators, and growing shops.
MoeGo is best for mobile groomers who need route optimization and smart scheduling. Strong if you can afford the higher tiers needed for branded identity and advanced team management.
DaySmart Pet is best for businesses that only need basic scheduling at $29/month and can live without commission tracking, SMS, or QuickBooks integration.
Gingr is best for multi-service facilities (grooming + boarding + daycare + training) that need all service types in one platform. Be prepared for high processing fees and no phone support.
Groomer.io is best for groomers who want flat-rate unlimited features at $79/month per facility with strong two-way texting and Square integration. Best for mobile groomers with its map-based scheduling.
PetExec was best for large facilities with complex needs. It is no longer accepting new customers.
PetLinx is best for businesses that want a desktop-installed option or need a modular approach (choose only the modules you need).
Make the Right Choice the First Time
Switching grooming software is painful. Every groomer who has done it talks about data migration, staff retraining, and client disruption. The best time to choose the right platform is before you commit.
BarkBook offers a 14-day free trial with full access to every feature. No credit card. No onboarding fee. No contracts. See if it fits your shop before you decide.
Start Your 14-Day Free Trial
Every feature. Every plan. No credit card required. See what your grooming software should have been giving you all along.