Choosing the right kennel management software is one of the most important decisions a boarding facility makes. The wrong software means double-booking kennels, missed feeding schedules, frustrated clients, and staff who spend more time fighting the computer than caring for animals. This guide compares every major option in 2025, with honest assessments of what each does well and where it falls short.
What Boarding Software Must Do Well
Before comparing products, let's define what actually matters for a boarding operation:
- Kennel/suite assignment grid: visual layout showing which pet is in which kennel, with availability at a glance
- Check-in/check-out workflow: streamlined process for boarding intake and release, including vaccination verification
- Feeding schedule management: per-pet feeding instructions, portion tracking, and medication administration logs
- Daily updates for pet owners: text/email updates with optional photos so clients know their pet is doing well
- Vaccination verification: automatic alerts when a pet's vaccines are expired or missing
- Multi-day stay management: handling of multi-night bookings, late checkouts, early arrivals, and mid-stay changes
- Capacity management: real-time availability dashboard to prevent overbooking
- Client CRM: pet profiles with medical notes, behavioral flags, and service history
- Automated reminders: booking confirmations, check-in reminders, and pickup notifications
- Reporting: occupancy rates, revenue per kennel, average stay length, seasonal trends
The Contenders: 2025 Kennel Software Compared
Gingr ($125+/month)
Gingr is the most well-known name in pet care software and has strong boarding features. The kennel grid is functional, check-in/check-out is smooth, and the reporting is solid. The downsides: price ($125+/month and rising), payment processing lock-in, and an interface that's starting to feel dated compared to newer entrants. Annual contracts on some plans.
PetExec ($200+/month)
PetExec is the most feature-rich option — it can handle almost anything you throw at it. The boarding module is deep, with granular kennel configuration, feeding schedules, and webcam integration. The downside: it's expensive ($200+/month with add-ons), complex to set up, and overkill for most single-location facilities. Best for large multi-location operations with dedicated admin staff.
MoeGo ($80–$120/month)
MoeGo is growing fast with a polished mobile app and clean interface. However, its boarding module was clearly built after the grooming module and feels less mature. Kennel assignment is basic, feeding schedules require workarounds, and payment processing is pushed heavily toward MoeGo's own system. Growing fast but still catching up on the boarding side.
DaySmart Pet ($100+/month)
DaySmart has been around for 20+ years and has a functional boarding module. The problem is the interface — it looks and feels like software from 2012. Navigation is clunky, the learning curve is steep, and critical features like SMS reminders cost extra. If you can tolerate the dated UX, it works. But your staff won't thank you.
Pawfinity ($20–$50/month)
Pawfinity is the budget option, and it shows. There's no dedicated boarding module. You can hack appointment types to simulate boarding stays, but there's no kennel grid, no feeding schedules, and no multi-day stay management. Fine for a solo groomer who does occasional boarding, but not for a real boarding facility.
Animal Friends OS ($45/month)
Animal Friends OS was built by an operator who runs an actual boarding facility — the same one that handles Hurricane Michael evacuees, holiday rushes, and 30+ boarding guests simultaneously. The boarding module isn't a feature that was added to appease a product roadmap. It's core to the system because it had to be.
At $45/month flat, it includes the full kennel/suite assignment grid, feeding schedule builder, medication tracking, daily update system, vaccination verification, check-in/check-out workflow, automated SMS reminders, and reporting. Plus grooming, daycare, and training calendars — because most boarding facilities offer more than just boarding.
Quick Comparison Table
- Gingr: $125+/mo, good boarding, payment lock-in, dated UI
- PetExec: $200+/mo, best features, complex, expensive, overkill for most
- MoeGo: $80–$120/mo, polished app, weak boarding, payment lock-in
- DaySmart: $100+/mo, functional but dated, SMS costs extra
- Pawfinity: $20–$50/mo, no real boarding module
- Animal Friends OS: $45/mo, operator-built boarding, everything included, use your merchant
Our Recommendation
For single-location boarding facilities and multi-service pet care businesses, Animal Friends OS offers the best combination of features, price, and usability. For large multi-location chains with complex needs and dedicated IT staff, PetExec is worth the premium.
Don't take our word for it — try Animal Friends OS free for 14 days and see how it handles your boarding operation. No credit card, no contracts, no pressure.