DaySmart Pet has been in the pet software business for years. But somewhere along the way, they decided AI chatbots were an acceptable replacement for human support, annual contracts were fine, and $149+/month with per-user fees was reasonable. Animal Friends OS was built by someone who actually runs a pet care facility — and thinks you deserve better.
When your scheduling crashes on a Saturday morning or your reports are not syncing before payroll, the last thing you need is a chatbot asking you to "describe your issue in more detail." DaySmart has increasingly funneled support through automated systems. Animal Friends OS is built by a facility operator. When you need help, you talk to someone who understands what you are going through — because they have been through it themselves.
DaySmart Pet’s base pricing starts at $149/month, but that is just the beginning. Additional staff logins cost extra. Advanced features require higher tiers. By the time you have a full team with full access, you are looking at $200–$350/month. Animal Friends OS is $45/month. Everything included. Unlimited staff.
DaySmart typically requires annual billing commitments for their best rates. If you want to try something else or if the product is not working for you, you are stuck until the contract ends. Animal Friends OS is month-to-month. Cancel anytime. No penalties. No games.
Every time you hire a new staff member with DaySmart, your software bill goes up. That is a tax on growth. Animal Friends OS charges one flat price regardless of team size. Hire 2 people or 20 — the cost does not change.
| Feature | Animal Friends OS | DaySmart Pet |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $45/mo flat | $149+/mo |
| Per-user fees | None | Yes |
| Annual contract required | No — month-to-month | Typical |
| Human customer support | Yes — real humans | AI chatbot first |
| Training module | Included | Not available |
| Built-in payroll | Included | Not available |
| Use your own payment processor | Any processor | Limited options |
| SMS from your number | Yes (BYOS) | Platform number |
| QuickBooks integration | Included | Add-on |
| Premium photo system | Watermarks, report cards | Basic |
| REST API | Full API | Not available |
"I spent 45 minutes in DaySmart’s chatbot loop trying to fix a billing issue. Switched to Animal Friends OS and got a real answer to my setup question in 10 minutes. That alone was worth the switch."
"DaySmart locked us into an annual contract and then raised prices mid-year with ‘enhanced features’ we did not ask for. Animal Friends OS is month-to-month and the price has not changed since we signed up."
"Between the base fee and per-user charges, DaySmart was costing us $280 a month for 6 staff. Animal Friends OS is $45 for unlimited staff. We are saving almost $3,000 a year."
Sign up for Animal Friends OS. Full access to every feature for 14 days. No credit card required.
Export your clients and pets from your current software. We provide free migration assistance to get everything imported.
Configure your services, staff schedules, and booking preferences. Connect your payment processor and SMS provider.
Verify everything works. Cancel your old software. Start saving money immediately.
No chatbots. No ticket queues. When you need help, you talk to someone who has actually run a pet care facility and understands the urgency.
Grooming, boarding, daycare, training, SMS, online booking, payroll, QuickBooks, photo system. One price. No tiers. No add-ons.
Month-to-month billing. Cancel anytime. If the product does not earn your business every month, you should be free to leave.
Zero per-user fees. Your team can grow without your software bill growing with it.
Use any payment processor. Animal Friends OS never sits between you and your revenue.
SMS comes from YOUR number. Two-way messaging. Automated reminders. Clients see your business name.
DaySmart Pet has increasingly relied on AI chatbots and automated support systems. Many users report difficulty reaching a human representative, especially on lower-tier plans. Animal Friends OS is built by a pet care facility operator who understands the business. When you have a question, you get a real answer from a real person.
DaySmart Pet starts at $149/month, but that base price does not include everything. Per-user fees apply for additional staff logins, and many features require higher-tier plans. With add-ons and a full team, many facilities pay $200–$350/month. Animal Friends OS is $45/month flat. Every feature, unlimited staff, no add-ons.
Most DaySmart contracts have specific cancellation terms. Review your agreement for early termination details. You can start your free 14-day trial of Animal Friends OS while your DaySmart contract winds down — there is no rush. Set everything up, import your data, and switch when you are ready.
No. Export your client and pet records from DaySmart before canceling. Animal Friends OS provides free migration assistance to import your data. Client profiles, pet information, and contact details transfer over cleanly.
No. Animal Friends OS is month-to-month. Cancel anytime with no penalty. There are no annual commitments, no setup fees, and no cancellation charges.
Animal Friends OS includes a training module, built-in payroll, a premium photo system with watermarks and report cards, Bring Your Own SMS (text from your number), Bring Your Own Payment processor, a REST API for custom integrations, and QuickBooks integration. All included in the $45/month price.
14-day free trial. No credit card required. Set up in under an hour.