PetCloud is a free-to-join technology platform that gives independent pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, trainers and pet taxi drivers a booking page, secure payments, client messaging and a mobile app, so for many solo carers it can do the job people search for as “pet sitting software”. Business-management software such as Time To Pet, Gingr or MoeGo suits a different need: running staff, rosters and facilities for clients you already have.
Two kinds of pet sitting software
When you search for the best pet sitting software, dog walker software or dog boarding software in Australia, Google mostly shows two very different kinds of product. Knowing which one you need saves you a monthly bill you might not use. If you are weighing up platforms as well, our guide to the best pet sitting platforms in Australia compares them from the owner side.
- Business-management software (subscription). Tools such as Time To Pet, Gingr, MoeGo, Petboost, KennelBooker, Revelation Pets and Pawfinity describe themselves as software for scheduling, invoicing, payments and client records for pet sitting, day care, boarding, kennel or grooming businesses. You bring your own clients and usually pay a subscription.
- Marketplace platforms with booking tools built in. PetCloud for pet carers gives you a public listing that pet owners can find, plus the booking, payment and messaging tools to run each job. It is free to join, and a commission is deducted from each booking payout instead of a monthly fee.
| What you need | Business-management software | PetCloud |
|---|---|---|
| New clients finding you | Not the main purpose | Listing in the PetCloud directory and access to the Pet Jobs Board |
| Cost model | Usually a monthly subscription | Free to join, 20% commission deducted from each booking payout |
| Payments | Card processing set up by you | Secure Stripe checkout collected before the booking, paid out after it ends |
| Reminders | Varies by product | Automatic SMS and email booking and meet and greet reminders |
| Client messaging and updates | Varies by product | Live chat with photo updates and a digital visit report card |
| Staff rosters, kennel capacity, point of sale | Often the main focus | Built for independent carers rather than multi-staff facilities |
What PetCloud gives independent pet carers
These are the provider tools listed on the PetCloud sitter page today:
- A listing that works as your own business web page, with your services, prices, photos, reviews and availability calendar
- Support for multiple services, each with its own duration and price, plus packages and recurring appointments (daily, weekly, monthly or yearly)
- Secure payments through a Stripe checkout, held before the stay, with payouts to your bank account 24 hours after the booking ends
- Automatic SMS and email reminders for meet and greets and bookings, and review requests at the end of a stay
- Live chat with clients, photo updates and a digital visit report card
- A single earnings screen showing each payment and whether it is pending or finalised
- Access to the national Pet Jobs Board, with push notifications when jobs are posted near you
- Your own promo code, a choice of refund policies, and digital verification badges on your listing
- iOS and Android apps, so you can run bookings from your phone
Which option suits your pet business?
Pet sitters, cat sitters and house sitters
If you work alone and want more bookings, a marketplace usually matters more than back-office software. You can list pet sitting, cat sitting, house sitting and home visits on one PetCloud listing and take payment through the app.
Dog walkers
Walkers mostly need recurring bookings, reminders and fast payment. PetCloud supports recurring appointments and packages, which suits regular dog walking clients. See how to become a dog walker on PetCloud.
Doggy day care and boarding from home
If you offer doggy day care or dog boarding in your own home, PetCloud lets owners book and pay online. If you run a licensed facility with staff and kennel capacity to track, dedicated kennel software such as the products above is built for that job.
Dog groomers and dog trainers
Mobile groomers and trainers can list packages of sessions and take bookings through the app. See becoming a groomer on PetCloud and becoming a dog trainer on PetCloud. Salons with several groomers and a shopfront often need point of sale and multi-groomer scheduling, which grooming software focuses on.
Pet taxi drivers
PetCloud has a separate driver app for pet taxi trips, where drivers switch availability on or off, accept jobs, update trip status and see earnings. See becoming a pet taxi driver.
Bird, puppy and small pet sitters
Specialist carers can add bird sitting, puppy sitting or guinea pig sitting as services on the same listing, so owners searching for that pet type can find you.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Will it bring me new clients, or only manage the ones I already have?
- What does it cost each month in a quiet month, and in a busy one?
- How and when do I get paid, and who chases failed payments?
- Does it send reminders and handle cancellations according to a policy I choose?
- Is there a phone app for me and for my clients?
Whatever you choose, good care is what keeps clients coming back. For prevention, the PetCloud Academy has free training and owner videos, and the Non-Urgent Web Vet offers an online video consult for questions that are not emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best software for a pet sitting business in Australia?
It depends on what you need. PetCloud is a free-to-join platform that gives independent sitters a booking page, Stripe payments, reminders, messaging and an app, and also helps new clients find you. Subscription tools such as Time To Pet, Gingr or MoeGo focus on managing staff, schedules and records for clients you already have.
Is there free pet sitting software?
PetCloud is free to join for pet carers. Instead of a monthly fee, a 20% commission is deducted from each booking payout, and you get a listing, online payments, automatic reminders, live chat and the Pet Jobs Board.
What app do dog walkers use to take bookings and payments?
Many independent walkers use a marketplace app such as PetCloud, which handles bookings, recurring walks, payments and client messaging in one place. Larger walking businesses with staff sometimes add dedicated scheduling software.
Can I use PetCloud for doggy day care or boarding?
Yes, if you care for dogs in your own home. PetCloud lets you list doggy day care and dog boarding with your own prices and availability. Facilities with staff and kennel capacity to manage usually need dedicated kennel software.
How do pet owners know a carer is trustworthy?
PetCloud strongly encourages pet owners to choose a police-checked sitter, and strongly encourages sitters to complete a biometric identity check. Owners can read reviews, check verification badges on a listing and meet the carer at a meet and greet before booking. PetCloud is a technology platform and does not attend meet and greets.
