A Savvy Pet alternative for UK dog groomers
Updated 16 October 2026
Savvy Pet is grooming software used by groomers in the UK and abroad. If you’re choosing between it and Pawdiary, or thinking of moving, this page sets out the main differences, using each company’s published prices at the time of writing.
Prices and contracts
At the time of writing, Savvy Pet lists four plans in pounds: Basic at £25 a month, Advanced at £38, Extra at £48 and Salon at £53, with a minimum of three months on paid plans. Check its website for current prices and terms.
Pawdiary has a free plan for up to 20 active pets, then Pro at £19 a month, Plus at £35 and Team at £49. There’s no minimum term: pay monthly and cancel any time, or pay yearly and get two months free. Every plan starts with a 14-day trial with every feature on and no card needed.
What you get at each price
The biggest difference is where online booking sits. On Savvy Pet’s published plans, online booking and the customer portal come with the Extra plan. On Pawdiary, online booking is on every plan, including Free, and the client portal is on Pro.
- Online booking: every Pawdiary plan, with real free times, prices by breed and size, and the option to approve new clients first.
- Automatic reminders and the client portal: Pro, £19 a month.
- Texts: Plus includes 300 texts or WhatsApps a month from your own UK number, with replies in one inbox.
- Several groomers: Team gives each groomer their own diary and hours, and lets clients choose who grooms their dog.
Features to compare
Both systems cover the everyday basics: a diary, client and pet records, reminders, deposits and no-show fees, and forms or terms signed before the groom. When comparing, try the things you do most often on a real week.
- Rebooking: Pawdiary shows who is due or overdue from each dog’s usual interval, what they usually spend, and lets you message them in one tap.
- Filling gaps: Pawdiary shows free time in the next two weeks and the regulars and waitlist clients who usually come then.
- Missed calls: on Plus, calls you can’t answer can be diverted to your Pawdiary number, which texts the caller your booking link.
- Mobile grooming: Pawdiary plans each day’s route with drive times, fuel costs and the cheapest petrol on the way, and logs your mileage.
- Report cards: send owners photos and notes after each groom, with a button to book the next one.
Leaving should be easy
Whichever system you pick, check you can export your clients, pets and history at any time. Pawdiary lets you download everything as a spreadsheet whenever you like, with no fee and no notice period.
Switching
Export your clients and pets from your current system as a spreadsheet, then import them into Pawdiary. You see a preview first, with any rows that need fixing. Run both side by side during the free trial and move your diary over when you’re ready.
Questions
Is there a minimum contract with Pawdiary?
No. Monthly plans can be cancelled at any time, with no notice period and no fee for leaving.
Can I move my clients from Savvy Pet to Pawdiary?
Yes. Export your client list as an Excel or CSV file and import it into Pawdiary, pets included. You can check every row before it’s saved.
Does Pawdiary have online booking on the cheapest plan?
Yes. Online booking is on every plan, including the free plan for up to 20 active pets.
More guides
- How to cut no-shows in your dog grooming businessPractical ways for dog groomers to stop no-shows and late cancellations: reminders, deposits, a clear cancellation policy and a waitlist to fill the gaps.
- How to get dog grooming clients to rebookKeep your grooming diary full by getting regulars to rebook on time: book the next groom on the day, know who is overdue and send the right nudge.
- Starting a mobile dog grooming business in the UKA practical checklist for starting a mobile dog grooming business in the UK: training, insurance, the van, pricing your round, bookings and client records.