Looking for a DaySmart Pet Alternative? Stop Paying for Features You Cannot Access.
All features on every plan from $39/month vs DaySmart's $29–249 with heavy feature gating. See why groomers switch.
“DaySmart had become too unreliable and the support was not there anymore.”
That is a real review from a groomer who switched away. And it captures a pattern that has been building for years: reliability declining, customer service being replaced by AI, features locked behind expensive tiers, and a payment processor you did not choose being pushed on you.
You started your business to groom dogs, not to fight your software.
What DaySmart Pet Users Are Dealing With
DaySmart Pet (formerly 123Pet) has been in the market a long time. With a 4.2/5 rating from 191 Capterra reviews, it has loyal users — but also a growing list of frustrated ones:
Feature gating that punishes growth.
DaySmart has four tiers ranging from $29 to $249/month. The problem is not the starting price — it is what you cannot do until you pay more:
- Commission tracking? Only on Premier ($129/month) and above.
- SMS text messages? Only on Platinum ($249/month).
- Two-way texting? Only on Platinum ($249/month).
- QuickBooks connector? Only on Platinum ($249/month).
- Reputation management? Only on Platinum ($249/month).
- Need an extra employee on Deluxe? That is $9/month per additional person.
- Need daycare or boarding? That is $25/month per add-on module.
By the time you add the features you actually need, DaySmart’s “affordable” starting price has ballooned well beyond the sticker.
Checkout interface confusion.
Reviewers report that the checkout interface “doesn’t clearly indicate which credit card type is being used” and that it “feels like DaySmart is trying to force users to use their credit card processing company rather than alternatives like Square.” When checkout is confusing, mistakes happen — and those mistakes cost you money and client trust.
Customer service replaced by AI.
“Then they changed the tech support to AI. Tech support has gone to the pits!” Multiple reviewers report that DaySmart reduced its human support team, replacing live agents with AI chatbots. When you have a payment issue at 4 PM on a Saturday, you need a real answer — not a chatbot suggesting you restart your browser.
Recurring bugs and reliability issues.
“DaySmart had become too unreliable” is not an isolated complaint. Reviews cite late reminders arriving after appointments have already started, reminder delivery failures, and persistent software bugs that go unfixed across updates. When your reminders arrive late, your no-show rate goes up.
A steep learning curve.
For a tool that is supposed to simplify your day, reviewers consistently mention difficulty training new staff and navigating the interface. In a high-turnover industry, onboarding time matters.
How BarkBook Is Different
All features on every plan. Period.
BarkBook has three tiers — Solo ($39/month), Shop ($79/month), and Studio ($129/month). The only difference is the number of employees you can add. Commission tracking, automated notifications, conflict detection, payroll export, expense tracking — every feature is available on every plan from day one. No unlock gates. No “upgrade to access.” No surprise add-on fees.
To put it plainly: BarkBook’s $39/month Solo plan includes commission tracking and notifications. DaySmart does not offer commission tracking until $129/month or SMS until $249/month.
Visual conflict detection that prevents double-booking.
BarkBook automatically checks for overlapping appointments, time-off conflicts, scheduling outside working hours, and missing schedule definitions before you book. Conflicts are classified as hard (blocking) or warnings (informational). The Day view shows groomer-specific columns with 15-minute time slots, and drag-and-drop rescheduling includes real-time overlap warnings. DaySmart does not offer clear visual conflict prevention, which leaves you vulnerable to the double-bookings that cost you clients and credibility.
Transparent payment processing you control.
BarkBook uses Stripe Connect with a platform fee of $1 flat or 1% over $100. Payments go directly to your bank account through your own Stripe account. No forced payment processor. No checkout confusion about which card type is being used. No pressure to switch to a processor you did not pick.
Automated notifications included, not upsold.
BarkBook sends appointment confirmations, daily reminders, cancellation alerts, ready-for-pickup notifications, and thank-you messages automatically via SMS and email. All included on every plan. No 200-message limit. No “upgrade to Platinum for texting.” Every notification respects each client’s preferred communication method.
Employee management built for real shops.
BarkBook supports four employee roles — Manager, Groomer, Receptionist, and Assistant — with individual weekly schedules, schedule overrides for temporary hour changes, and time-off management with a guided absence workflow. When a groomer calls out, BarkBook shows every affected appointment and suggests available groomers to cover each one. DaySmart offers staff scheduling and payroll on higher tiers, but the comprehensive absence workflow and coverage calendar are capabilities BarkBook delivers on every plan.
A simpler interface, not a simpler product.
BarkBook uses HTMX-powered inline updates so actions happen without full page reloads. Click an empty calendar slot and the booking form opens pre-filled. Update a status from the dashboard with one button. Search clients with real-time autocomplete. The goal is fewer clicks to get the same work done — the exact opposite of the “checkout interface confusion” DaySmart reviewers describe.
BarkBook vs DaySmart Pet: Side by Side
| Feature | BarkBook | DaySmart Pet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $39/month (Solo) | $29/month (Basic) |
| All features every tier | Yes | No — heavily gated by tier |
| Commission tracking | Every plan | Premier ($129/month) and above |
| SMS notifications | Every plan, included | Platinum only ($249/month) |
| QuickBooks export | Every plan (IIF direct import) | Platinum only ($249/month) |
| Per-employee add-on fee | None — tiers set employee limits | $9/month per extra employee (Deluxe) |
| Platform/processing fees | $1 flat or 1% over $100 | Forced payment processor reported |
| Conflict detection | Automatic: overlaps, time-off, hours, missing schedules | Not clearly documented |
| Calendar views | Day, Week, Month, Agenda | Day, week, employee views |
| Employee roles | Manager, Groomer, Receptionist, Assistant | Staff scheduling on higher tiers |
| Absence workflow | Guided reassignment with available groomer suggestions | Not documented |
| Coverage calendar | Day, Week, Month, Heatmap views | Not documented |
| Customer support | — | AI replacing human agents (reviews) |
| Reminder reliability | Twilio SMS + SendGrid email | “Late reminders” and delivery failures (reviews) |
| Free trial | 14-day, full access | 14-day, no credit card |
| Capterra rating | New | 4.2/5 (191 reviews) |
The Real Cost Comparison
DaySmart’s $29/month Basic plan looks attractive until you add what most grooming shops actually need:
- Basic plan: $29/month
- Add an extra employee (Deluxe): $69/month
- Need commission tracking: upgrade to Premier at $129/month
- Need SMS and QuickBooks: upgrade to Platinum at $249/month
- Daycare or boarding module: add $25/month each
A growing grooming salon with 3 employees that needs commission tracking and text reminders is looking at $129 to $249/month with DaySmart.
BarkBook Shop plan (2–5 employees, every feature): $79/month. BarkBook Studio plan (unlimited employees, every feature): $129/month.
Same features. Less money. No upgrade treadmill.
See It for Yourself
BarkBook offers a 14-day free trial with full access to every feature. No contracts. No onboarding fees. No features locked behind a paywall.