Teddy vs Gingr: Complete Comparison [2026]

Teddy and Gingr serve very different types of pet care businesses. Understanding this upfront will save you time and money.

Teddy is built for independent groomers who want simple, affordable software with unlimited messaging. Gingr is enterprise-grade software designed for full-service pet care facilities offering grooming, boarding, and daycare.

Let’s break down exactly where each platform shines.

Quick Comparison

Pricing Comparison

Teddy Pricing

• Single plan: Competitive pricing
• SMS: Unlimited included
• No per-user fees
• 14-day free trial

Gingr Pricing

• Essential: $99/month
• Professional: $149/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
• SMS: Additional cost per message
• Demo available (no standard free trial)

Total Cost Analysis

For grooming-only businesses, Teddy can save $50+ per month and won’t burden you with features you’ll never use.

Core Feature Comparison

Scheduling

Teddy:

• Clean calendar for grooming appointments
• Day/week/month views
• Multi-groomer scheduling
• Drag-and-drop management
• Recurring appointments

Gingr:

• Complex scheduling across services
• Grooming, boarding, and daycare calendars
• Kennel/room management
• Staff scheduling integration
• Capacity planning tools
• Reservation management

Verdict: Gingr’s scheduling is more powerful but designed for multi-service complexity. Teddy handles grooming scheduling efficiently without the overhead.

Communication

Teddy:

• Unlimited two-way SMS
• Automated reminders
• Message templates
• Full conversation history
• No per-text fees

Gingr:

• SMS messaging (paid add-on)
• Automated notifications
• Email communication
• Report card features (photos to owners)
• Boarding stay updates

Verdict: Teddy wins on messaging value. Gingr’s report card feature is great for boarding but less relevant for grooming-only shops.

Online Booking

Teddy:

• Request-based booking system
• Service selection
• New client forms integrated
• Simple booking widget
• Approval required before confirmation

Gingr:

• Client portal for all services
• Reservation management
• Package purchasing
• Daycare enrollment
• Multiple service booking

Verdict: Gingr’s portal handles more service types. Teddy’s approach is simpler and gives you more control for grooming appointments.

Client & Pet Management

Teddy:

• Client profiles
• Pet profiles with grooming notes
• Service history
• Digital intake forms
• Service agreements

Gingr:

• Comprehensive client database
• Detailed pet health records
• Vaccination tracking with compliance
• Feeding and medication schedules
• Emergency contact management
• Behavioral notes

Verdict: Gingr has more depth for facilities managing pet stays. Teddy covers what grooming businesses actually need.

Boarding & Daycare Features

Teddy:

• Not available
• Grooming-focused platform

Gingr:

• Full kennel management
• Room/kennel assignments
• Daycare roster management
• Feeding schedules
• Medication tracking
• Daily activity logging
• Pet report cards with photos

Verdict: If you need boarding or daycare management, Gingr is the clear choice. Teddy doesn’t compete here—it’s not designed to.

Payments & POS

Teddy:

• Square integration
• Invoice generation
• Payment tracking
• Tip management

Gingr:

• Built-in payment processing
• Package sales
• Retail/product sales
• Gift cards
• Loyalty programs
• Detailed financial reporting

Verdict: Gingr offers more payment options suited for larger operations with retail and service packages.

Reporting

Teddy:

• Revenue reports
• Appointment analytics
• Client metrics
• Basic business insights

Gingr:

• Comprehensive business intelligence
• Occupancy reports (boarding)
• Staff productivity metrics
• Revenue by service, staff, and location
• Custom report builder
• Financial dashboards

Verdict: Gingr’s reporting is enterprise-grade. Teddy provides what small operations need—without unnecessary complexity.

The Fundamental Difference

Here’s what it comes down to:

Gingr is built for pet care facilities. Think boarding kennels with grooming services, doggy daycare centers, or full-service pet resorts. The software assumes you’re managing pet stays—not just appointments.

Teddy is built for groomers. Independent stylists, mobile groomers, and small salon teams. The software focuses on scheduling, communication, and client management for grooming-specific workflows.

If you’re grooming-only, Gingr’s boarding and daycare features become wasted cost and added complexity.

Pros and Cons

Teddy

Pros:

• Unlimited SMS messaging included
• Lower monthly cost
• Simple, grooming-focused interface
• Quick setup and learning curve
• No feature bloat

Cons:

• No boarding or daycare features
• Limited multi-location support
• Fewer integrations
• Smaller company

Gingr

Pros:

• Handles grooming, boarding, and daycare
• Enterprise-grade reporting
• Multi-location support
• Robust integrations
• Comprehensive pet health tracking

Cons:

• Expensive for grooming-only businesses
• Steep learning curve
• SMS costs extra
• Complex interface
• Overkill for simple operations

Who Should Choose Teddy?

Teddy is right for you if:

• You run a grooming-only business
• You’re a solo groomer or small team
• Unlimited SMS is central to your workflow
• You want simple, affordable software
• You don’t need boarding or daycare features
• You value ease of use over enterprise complexity

Example: An independent groomer with 80 regular clients who constantly texts about appointments and wants predictable monthly costs.

Who Should Choose Gingr?

Gingr is right for you if:

• You offer boarding or daycare alongside grooming
• You manage a large facility with complex operations
• You operate multiple locations
• You need detailed occupancy and revenue reporting
• You run a full-service pet resort

Example: A pet care facility with 20 boarding kennels, daily daycare, and a grooming salon—all requiring coordinated scheduling and management.

The Honest Assessment

For most independent groomers, Gingr is overkill.

You’ll pay more for software designed for facilities with kennels and day camps. You’ll navigate an interface built for operations you don’t have. You’ll spend time learning features you’ll never use.

That said, if you’re planning to add boarding or daycare, starting with Gingr can make sense. Switching software later is painful.

If you’re grooming-only and plan to stay that way, Teddy (or similar grooming-focused software) is typically the smarter investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gingr good for grooming-only businesses?

It can work, but it’s not optimized for grooming-only operations. You’ll pay for and navigate features designed for boarding and daycare that don’t apply to your business.

Does Teddy have boarding features?

No. Teddy is designed specifically for grooming businesses and doesn’t include boarding or daycare management.

Which has better SMS?

Teddy includes unlimited SMS in the base price. Gingr charges per message as an add-on.

Can I switch from Gingr to Teddy?

Yes, if you’re grooming-only and find Gingr too complex. You can export client data and import it into Teddy.

Which is easier to learn?

Teddy has a much shorter learning curve (hours vs. weeks). Gingr’s comprehensive feature set requires more training time.

The Verdict

Choose Teddy if: You’re a grooming-only business that wants simple, affordable software with unlimited messaging.

Choose Gingr if: You run a multi-service pet care facility with boarding, daycare, and grooming under one roof.

This isn’t about which platform is “better”—it’s about which one matches your business model.

Test Your Options

Teddy: 14-day free trial at tryteddy.com
Gingr: Request a demo at gingr.com

Spend time with each platform in the context of your actual business. The right choice will become clear.