Pawdiary

Barkway or Pawdiary? Comparing two UK dog grooming systems

Updated 20 October 2026

Barkway and Pawdiary are both built in the UK for dog groomers, both started inside working grooming businesses, and both price in pounds with no contract. They charge in different ways and are strongest in different places. This page sets out the differences fairly, using each company’s published prices at the time of writing.

How each one charges

At the time of writing, Barkway charges by how many bookings you take each month: Starter is £19 for up to 75 bookings, Growth £29 for up to 150 and Professional £39 for up to 300. Every Barkway plan has every feature, and your whole team is included. Check its website for current prices.

Pawdiary charges by what you use, never by bookings or staff logins. Free covers up to 20 active pets. Pro is £19 a month with unlimited pets and bookings, Plus is £35 and Team is £49. Pay yearly and you get two months free.

So the right one depends on your diary. If you groom a lot of dogs but don’t need card payments or texts, Pawdiary Pro at £19 has no booking cap. If you want card payments from day one on the cheapest plan, Barkway includes them on every plan, where on Pawdiary they start with Plus.

Texts and reminders

Barkway includes 50, 100 or 150 texts a month depending on the plan, with top-ups to buy, and texts go to UK mobiles only. Pawdiary Plus includes 300 texts or WhatsApps a month from your own UK number, with clients’ replies in one inbox. Email reminders are unlimited on both.

Where Pawdiary goes further

  • A free plan: carry on for free with up to 20 pets after your trial, rather than having to pay or leave.
  • Rebooking: a list of every dog who is due or overdue from their usual interval, what they usually spend, and a one-tap message to each.
  • Filling gaps: free times in the next two weeks, with the regulars and waitlist clients who usually come then.
  • Mobile grooming: each day’s route with drive times, fuel costs and the cheapest petrol on the way, set areas on set days, a mileage log for HMRC and van MOT and tax reminders.
  • Calendar sync: your bookings in Google Calendar or Apple Calendar.
  • Report cards with photos after each groom, packages, loyalty cards and email campaigns.
  • AI help: groom notes from a voice note, drafted replies to clients, and a paper diary photographed straight into your client list.
  • An Android app on Google Play, with the iPhone app coming very soon.

Where Barkway may suit you better

Barkway includes card payments and your whole team on every plan, so a small salon that only needs the basics may pay less there. Its roadmap is public and you can vote on what it builds next. If those matter most to you, it is worth a look.

Switching

Export your clients and pets as a spreadsheet and import them into Pawdiary, pets included. You see a preview first, with any rows that need fixing. If you’d rather not do it yourself, email us the export and we’ll import it for you, free. Run both side by side during the trial and move your diary over when you’re ready.

Questions

Does Pawdiary limit how many bookings I take?

No. Pawdiary never charges by bookings or staff logins. The only limit is on the Free plan, which covers up to 20 active pets.

Can I move my clients from Barkway to Pawdiary?

Yes. Export your client list as an Excel or CSV file and import it, pets included, or email it to us and we’ll do the import for you at no cost.

Are both built in the UK?

Yes. Both price in pounds, have no contract, and were started by people running grooming businesses. Pawdiary stores your data in the UK.

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