Providers with their own enquiries who want bookings, care records, owner consents and England-focused licensing evidence in one system.
All comparisons
DogBoarder vs Rover for home boarders, day-care providers and dog walkers
Rover is a marketplace that can introduce pet owners and handle marketplace bookings. DogBoarder is an operating and record-keeping system for providers who manage their own client relationships. The right choice depends on whether discovery or running the work is the main gap.
Details checked against the linked sources on 10 October 2026.
Providers who want marketplace customer discovery, Rover support and the Rover Guarantee around eligible marketplace bookings.
DogBoarder compared with Rover
Primary job
- DogBoarder
- Run bookings, client records, daily care and inspection evidence.
- Rover
- Connect pet owners with sitters and walkers and manage marketplace bookings.
How the provider pays
- DogBoarder
- £15 a month or £150 a year for the Licensed plan; no booking commission.
- Rover
- A percentage service fee applies. Rover’s UK help pages describe 15% for standard bookings and 5% for eligible weekly recurring care; the provider should confirm the rate shown in their own account.
Customer discovery
- DogBoarder
- Not a marketplace. The provider brings their own customers and keeps the relationship.
- Rover
- Marketplace profile, search and advertising can introduce new pet owners.
England licensing records
- DogBoarder
- Statutory-register fields, care logs, consents and an annual-plan inspection pack are built around day-to-day records.
- Rover
- Marketplace records may help, but providers should check their own licence and local-authority requirements and keep any additional records they need.
Payments
- DogBoarder
- Invoices and payment records sit with the provider; customer-booking payments are not routed through a DogBoarder marketplace.
- Rover
- Rover charges the owner and releases the provider payment after the service under its published payment process.
Using both
- DogBoarder
- Can hold the operational record for work from the provider’s permitted channels.
- Rover
- Rover’s published sitter guidance says stays sourced through Rover should continue to be booked through Rover.
Fee calculator
What a marketplace fee would cost on your own clients.
Clients who find you through your website or word of mouth don't need a marketplace. Move the slider to see what a percentage fee would cost on those bookings, compared with DogBoarder's fixed Licensed subscription.
Estimated difference over 12 months
£2,100
less in percentage service fees after the DogBoarder subscription
Rover's sitter guide says stays with owners you met through Rover, new or repeat, are booked through Rover. This figure is for your own clients, not those.
The calculation
- Marketplace fee each month
- £187.50
- DogBoarder monthly equivalent
- £12.50
- Break-even monthly bookings
- £83.34
Illustration only. Excludes VAT, card-processing costs and the value of marketplace discovery, guarantees or support. Fee structures vary by service and booking type; check your current terms before making a decision.
Sources and limits
Check the current terms before switching
This page compares published information, not every configuration or contract. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rover. Product features, prices and terms can change.