Best Dog Daycare Software in 2026: Top Picks Compared
The best dog daycare software in 2026 handles reservations, kennel and capacity management, vaccination records, client communication, point of sale, and staff scheduling in one system — and for most daycare and boarding operators, the leading options are Franpos, Gingr, PetExec, Kennel Connection, and Time To Pet. Which one wins for your facility depends on whether you run daycare and overnight boarding only, or also groom, sell retail, and take walk-in packages. This guide compares them on the things that actually keep kennels full and cash flowing: booking and capacity control, safety records, client communication, and getting paid.
What features matter most in dog daycare software?
Before comparing brands, get clear on the jobs a daycare-and-boarding platform has to do well. Good dog daycare software should cover all of these instead of forcing you to juggle a paper logbook, a spreadsheet, and a separate card reader:
- Online reservations with real-time capacity so daycare and boarding can't be double-booked past your kennel or run limits.
- Vaccination and record tracking that blocks check-in automatically when a rabies or Bordetella record has lapsed.
- Kennel/run assignment and belongings tracking so staff always know where a dog is and what came in with it.
- Client self-service portal and app for booking, waivers, and viewing report cards.
- Automated reminders and waitlists to keep occupancy high without a front desk making every call.
- Point of sale and integrated payments, including packages, memberships, and retail add-ons like food and treats.
- Reporting on occupancy, revenue per run, and staff productivity.
The facilities that stay full year-round aren't the ones with the best marketing — they're the ones whose software makes it effortless for a client to rebook the next stay before they've even picked up their dog.
Best dog daycare software compared
Here's how the leading options stack up for a typical daycare and boarding operation. Each is capable; the differences come down to what else you run alongside daycare and how you want to be supported.
| Software | Best for | Online reservations | Kennel/run capacity | POS & payments | Grooming | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franpos | Daycare/boarding operators who also groom, sell retail, or want one all-in-one platform | Yes | Yes | Built-in | Yes | Yes |
| Gingr | Daycare and boarding facilities wanting deep report cards and a pet-parent app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Limited |
| PetExec | Facilities wanting subscription/package control plus QuickBooks accounting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Limited |
| Kennel Connection | Facilities wanting an on-prem or hybrid option and traditional phone support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Limited |
| Time To Pet | Businesses combining pet sitting or dog walking with boarding and daycare | Yes | Facility plan | Yes | No | No |
Franpos
Franpos is an all-in-one platform: online reservations, a full cloud POS with integrated payments, memberships and packages, marketing, payroll, and retail and eCommerce. It's the strongest fit when your business is more than daycare and boarding — for example a facility that also grooms, sells food and supplies, or runs a membership program — because everything runs on one system and one login. See Franpos daycare & boarding solutions.
Gingr
Gingr is built specifically for boarding and daycare, with a pet-parent app and portal, automated report cards (photos and notes sent by text or email), and a "PreCheck" feature that lets clients finish intake forms on their phone before arriving. It's a strong fit for facilities that want polished client communication and multi-location management.
PetExec
PetExec covers boarding, daycare, grooming, and training with paperless contracts and vaccination records stored in the cloud, custom daycare packages and subscriptions, and a QuickBooks integration for accounting. It suits operators who want granular control over packages and pricing tiers.
Kennel Connection
Kennel Connection has been in the pet-care software space the longest, with more than 5,000 customers, and offers both cloud and on-prem/hybrid deployment. It includes two-way SMS, text-to-pay, and customizable tracking for feedings, medications, and exercise — a good match for facilities that want live phone support and a traditional on-site option.
Time To Pet
Time To Pet is built first for pet sitting and dog walking — GPS tracking, visit report cards, and real-time client updates — with a Facility plan layered on for boarding and daycare. It fits businesses whose core is in-home visits and walks that also offer boarding or daycare as a secondary service.
How much does dog daycare software cost?
Most dog daycare and boarding software costs between $80 and $155 per month for a single location, scaling up with add-ons, additional staff logins, or extra locations. On top of the subscription, budget for payment processing (typically a per-transaction rate) if clients pay through the system. All-in-one platforms can look pricier line by line but often cost less overall because they replace a separate booking tool, card reader, and accounting add-on. When you compare quotes, add up the subscription, payment processing, and any per-staff or per-location fees so you're comparing the true monthly cost. See Franpos pricing.
How to choose the right dog daycare and boarding software
- Map your services. Daycare and boarding only? Or also grooming, retail, or memberships? That answer narrows the field fast.
- Prioritize capacity and safety controls. Look for kennel/run limits that prevent overbooking and automatic checks against expired vaccination records.
- Check the client communication tools. Report cards, a parent app, and self-service booking cut front-desk calls and boost rebooking.
- Confirm the payments story. Integrated POS, packages, and fast payouts beat a bolted-on card reader.
- Test it at your scale — a single kennel vs. a multi-location operation need very different reporting and staff-permission depth.
Frequently asked questions
What software do most dog daycares use?
Most dog daycare and boarding facilities use a dedicated kennel-management platform or an all-in-one pet-business system such as Franpos, Gingr, PetExec, Kennel Connection, or Time To Pet. Operators who also groom, sell retail, or run memberships tend to prefer an all-in-one system so reservations, payments, and inventory live together.
Is there free dog daycare software?
A few tools offer limited free trials, but daycare and boarding businesses that take payments and manage capacity almost always need a paid plan for online reservations, vaccination checks, and integrated POS. The subscription typically pays for itself by cutting overbooking mistakes and no-shows.
What's the best software for combined daycare and boarding?
Look for a platform built for both from the ground up rather than one with boarding bolted on as an add-on. Franpos, Gingr, PetExec, and Kennel Connection all handle daycare and overnight boarding natively; Franpos additionally covers grooming and retail on the same system. See Franpos daycare & boarding solutions.
Can dog daycare software help prevent overbooking?
Yes. Real-time kennel and run capacity tracking is one of the most valuable features in modern boarding software — it stops staff from accepting more dogs than a facility can safely hold and flags conflicts before a client ever shows up.
The best dog daycare software is the one that fits how you actually operate today and can grow with you tomorrow. If you want reservations, capacity management, payments, and retail on one platform built for pet businesses, book a Franpos demo and we'll map it to your facility.
