Top 5 Pet Grooming Software Compared (2026)
The best pet grooming software for independent groomers in 2026 is GroomBoard — it includes online booking, SMS reminders, client management, and payments starting at $19/month with no add-on fees. For larger businesses, MoeGo offers the deepest feature set at a higher price point.
With dozens of options on the market, choosing the right grooming software can be overwhelming. We compared the five most popular platforms based on what independent groomers and small salons actually need: pricing, SMS, booking, and ease of use. For each platform, we break down what we like, what could be better, and who it's actually built for.
Comprehensive Comparison Table
Here's a side-by-side look at every major factor across all five platforms:
| Feature | GroomBoard | MoeGo | Gingr | PetExec | Goldie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base price | $19-39/mo | $39-250+/mo | $105-175/mo | Varies | Free-$25/mo |
| SMS reminders | Included | Add-on ($100+/mo) | Add-on | Varies | Paid plans |
| Online booking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Client & pet profiles | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic |
| Online payments | Stripe | Yes | Yes | Varies | Paid plans |
| Visual calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic |
| Multi-groomer | Salon plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Route optimization | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Boarding/daycare mgmt | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Marketing automation | No | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Revenue dashboard | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | Yes | Demo only | Demo | Free tier |
| Contract required | No | Varies | Varies | Varies | No |
| Mobile app | Web (responsive) | iOS/Android | Web | Web | iOS/Android |
| Built for | Groomers | Pet care (all) | Facilities | Facilities | Solo services |
1. GroomBoard — Best for Independent Groomers
GroomBoard was built specifically for independent groomers and small salons. Every feature a groomer needs — online booking, client and pet profiles, SMS reminders, and Stripe payments — is included in every plan. No add-ons, no tiers to unlock basic features.
- Solo plan: $19/month — for independent groomers
- Salon plan: $39/month — for teams up to 5 groomers
- SMS reminders: Included at no extra cost
- Free trial: 14 days, no credit card required
What we like
- Price transparency: Two plans, two prices, everything included. No custom quotes or sales calls needed.
- SMS included in every plan: Booking confirmations and day-before reminders are automatic and free. This alone saves groomers $100+/month compared to platforms that charge for SMS.
- Purpose-built for groomers: The interface is clean and focused on grooming workflows. No boarding modules, daycare capacity tools, or retail POS cluttering the experience.
- Fast setup: Most groomers are fully operational in under 30 minutes. The onboarding wizard walks you through services, hours, and booking page creation step by step.
- No contracts: Month-to-month billing, cancel anytime. The software has to earn your business every month.
What we'd improve
- No native mobile app: GroomBoard works in mobile browsers and is responsive, but doesn't have a dedicated iOS/Android app yet.
- No route optimization: Mobile groomers who need automated route planning will need to use Google Maps alongside GroomBoard.
- Newer platform: As a newer entrant, the feature set is focused on core grooming needs. Advanced reporting and marketing automation are not yet available.
Best for: Solo groomers and small salons who want modern, straightforward software without overpaying. If you groom dogs and want booking, SMS, and payments handled for $19/month, GroomBoard is the best value available.
2. MoeGo — Best for Large Operations
MoeGo offers the deepest feature set on the market — route optimization, advanced reporting, marketing automation, and a polished mobile app. It's the go-to choice for multi-location pet care businesses. However, the pricing reflects that depth.
- Pricing: Custom quotes, reportedly $39-250+/month
- SMS: Separate add-on (can be $100+/month)
- Strength: Route optimization, advanced analytics
What we like
- Route optimization: For mobile groomers with 8+ daily stops, MoeGo's automated route planning saves real time and fuel costs.
- Native mobile apps: Well-designed iOS and Android apps with strong reviews. Built for working on the go.
- Advanced analytics: Detailed reporting on groomer performance, service popularity, revenue trends, and client retention.
- Marketing automation: Automated rebooking reminders, review requests, and promotional campaigns built into the platform.
What we'd improve
- SMS pricing: The $100+/month SMS add-on is a significant cost that many groomers don't expect. For a solo groomer, SMS alone can cost more than GroomBoard's entire subscription.
- Pricing transparency: No public pricing on the website means you have to talk to sales to get a quote. This makes comparison shopping difficult.
- Complexity: The depth of features comes with a steeper learning curve. Solo groomers may find many features irrelevant to their daily workflow.
- Overkill for small operations: If you're a solo groomer or have 2-3 groomers, you're paying for enterprise capabilities you won't use.
Best for: Established salons with 3+ groomers, multi-location businesses, and mobile grooming fleets that need route optimization. Full MoeGo comparison → | Detailed MoeGo vs GroomBoard comparison
3. Gingr — Best for Boarding & Daycare
Gingr was built for pet care facilities — daycare, boarding, and grooming combined. It's powerful for managing reservations, facility capacity, and multi-service operations. However, it's expensive and optimized for facility management rather than grooming workflows.
- Pricing: $105-175/month (Spa/Play/Stay plans)
- SMS: Add-on cost
- Note: PE-owned since acquisition; users report rising prices and slower support
What we like
- Facility management: If you run a boarding facility, daycare, or multi-service pet care business, Gingr handles reservations, capacity management, and kennel scheduling well.
- Established platform: Gingr has been around for years and has a large user base. There's extensive documentation and a community of users.
- Integrated retail POS: For facilities that sell retail products alongside services, Gingr includes point-of-sale functionality.
What we'd improve
- Price: Starting at $105/month, Gingr is one of the most expensive options. For independent groomers, that's 5x what you'd pay for GroomBoard with the same core features.
- SMS as an add-on: Text reminders cost extra on top of the already high base price. This pushes total costs to $125-225+/month.
- PE ownership concerns: Since the private equity acquisition, groomers report rising prices, slower support, and updates that break existing workflows. Read more about why groomers are switching from Gingr.
- Enterprise focus: New features tend to target large multi-location operations rather than the independent groomers who built the original user base.
- No free trial: Gingr offers demos rather than self-serve free trials, making it harder to test the platform before committing.
Best for: Boarding and daycare facilities that also offer grooming. If grooming is your primary business, there are more affordable and focused options. Full Gingr comparison → | Best Gingr alternatives
4. PetExec — For All-in-One Facility Management
PetExec is a cloud-based platform popular with daycares and boarding facilities. It offers a self-serve owner portal and covers grooming, boarding, and daycare in one system. Pricing varies by facility size.
- Pricing: Varies by facility size and needs
- Strength: All-in-one facility management
What we like
- Client self-serve portal: Pet owners can manage their own bookings, update vaccination records, and view invoices through a dedicated portal.
- Multi-service integration: Handles grooming, boarding, daycare, and training all in one system. Good for businesses offering multiple pet care services.
- Vaccination tracking: Automated reminders for expired vaccinations, with the ability to require up-to-date records before booking.
What we'd improve
- Pricing opacity: Like MoeGo, PetExec doesn't list clear pricing publicly. You need to contact sales for a quote.
- Interface age: The user interface feels dated compared to newer platforms. It works, but it's not as intuitive or visually clean.
- Grooming as secondary: Grooming features feel like an add-on to the core boarding/daycare platform, not a first-class experience.
- Overkill for groomers: If you only offer grooming, you're paying for and navigating facility management features you don't need.
Best for: Multi-service pet care facilities that need boarding, daycare, and grooming under one roof. Full PetExec comparison →
5. Goldie — Best Free Option for Solo Groomers
Goldie is a lightweight booking app that's popular among solo groomers who want simplicity above all else. It offers a free tier with basic scheduling and client management, with paid plans unlocking SMS and payments.
- Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans up to $25/month
- Strength: Simple interface, quick setup
- Limitation: Fewer features for growing businesses
What we like
- Free tier: You can start using Goldie without paying anything. Good for testing the waters or for very new groomers with a handful of clients.
- Simplicity: The interface is clean and minimal. If you want something that takes 5 minutes to set up, Goldie delivers.
- Mobile apps: Dedicated iOS and Android apps designed for on-the-go use.
What we'd improve
- Limited free plan: The free tier is very basic. SMS, payments, and most useful features require a paid plan.
- Growth ceiling: As your business grows, you'll likely outgrow Goldie's feature set. Client profiles are basic, and there's no revenue dashboard or advanced scheduling.
- Not grooming-specific: Goldie is a general booking app used across many service industries. It doesn't have grooming-specific features like breed-based pricing or coat condition tracking.
Best for: Brand-new groomers who want something simple and free to start. Plan to upgrade to a more full-featured platform once you have 10+ regular clients.
Recommendation Matrix: Which Platform Fits Your Business?
Use this quick reference to find the right platform based on your business type:
| Business Type | Recommended Platform | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo groomer (salon or home) | GroomBoard ($19/mo) | Best value with SMS included, purpose-built for groomers |
| Small salon (2-5 groomers) | GroomBoard ($39/mo) | Multi-groomer support at a fraction of competitor pricing |
| Mobile groomer (4-6 dogs/day) | GroomBoard ($19/mo) | Core features + Google Maps handles routing at this volume |
| Mobile groomer (8+ dogs/day) | MoeGo | Route optimization saves real time at high daily volumes |
| Large salon (5+ groomers, multiple locations) | MoeGo | Advanced analytics, marketing automation, multi-location support |
| Boarding + daycare + grooming facility | Gingr or PetExec | Facility management, capacity planning, multi-service operations |
| Brand-new groomer (just starting) | Goldie (free) then GroomBoard | Start free, upgrade when you have 10+ regular clients |
| Budget-conscious groomer | GroomBoard ($19/mo) | Most affordable option with SMS included — a single prevented no-show covers the monthly cost |
Total Cost Comparison (Annual)
Base price alone doesn't tell the full story. Here's what each platform actually costs per year when you include SMS reminders:
| Platform | Base (Annual) | SMS (Annual) | Total Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| GroomBoard (Solo) | $228 | $0 | $228 |
| GroomBoard (Salon) | $468 | $0 | $468 |
| Goldie (Paid) | ~$300 | Included | ~$300 |
| MoeGo (Basic + SMS) | $468-828 | $1,200+ | $1,668-2,028+ |
| Gingr (Spa + SMS) | $1,260 | $240-600 | $1,500-1,860 |
| Gingr (Professional + SMS) | $2,100 | $240-600 | $2,340-2,700 |
The annual savings from choosing GroomBoard over Gingr or MoeGo range from $1,200 to $2,400+ — enough to cover new equipment, marketing, or simply more take-home pay. Use our free Profit Audit tool to see how software costs affect your business margins.
How We Evaluated These Platforms
We compared each platform across the criteria that matter most to independent groomers:
- Pricing and transparency — Is the total cost clear? Are there hidden add-ons?
- Core features — Does it cover booking, SMS, client management, calendar, and payments?
- Target audience — Is it built for groomers, or is grooming a secondary use case?
- Ease of use — Can you set up and start using it in under 30 minutes?
- Mobile experience — Does it work well on your phone?
- Community feedback — What are groomers saying in Facebook groups, Reddit, and review sites?
For a complete evaluation framework with a 10-point scorecard, read our Buyer's Guide to Grooming Software.
The Bottom Line
For most independent groomers, GroomBoard offers the best combination of features, pricing, and simplicity. You get everything you need at $19/month without paying for enterprise features you'll never use. If you need advanced route optimization or run a 10+ location operation, MoeGo is worth the premium. And if you primarily run a boarding or daycare facility with grooming on the side, Gingr or PetExec may be a better fit.
The best way to find out is to test it yourself. GroomBoard offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required — set up your services, test the booking flow, and see if it fits your workflow before spending a dollar.
Use our Grooming Pricing Calculator to make sure you're charging the right rates, and check the No-Show Calculator to see how much SMS reminders could save your business.