The short version
PetLinx is one of the few grooming tools with a genuine one-time license (its desktop version starts around $299), which is why cost-conscious groomers land on it. The trade-off is the shape of it: the pay-once option is desktop software tied to a computer, with a classic interface and no built-in card-on-file no-show enforcement or automated reviews. To get cloud access, you move to PetLinx's monthly plans.
SmartGroom keeps the one-time price but is cloud-native — nothing to install, works on mobile, and no-show protection plus Google reviews are built in, not bolted on.
SmartGroom vs. PetLinx
| PetLinx | SmartGroom | |
|---|---|---|
| One-time payment option | Yes (desktop, ~$299) | Yes ($599, then $799) |
| Cloud-based / any device | Desktop for one-time; cloud is monthly | Fully cloud, one-time |
| Mobile booking page | Limited | 0.5-second mobile page |
| Card-on-file no-show charge | Not built in | One-click |
| Automated Google reviews | No | Built in |
| Domain, hosting, email | Not included | 1 year included |
| Data export / ownership | Yes (local) | Full export, any time |
Where PetLinx is genuinely good
If you want software that runs entirely on your own computer with no reliance on the internet, and a proven one-time desktop license at a low price, PetLinx delivers exactly that. For a groomer who prefers offline, local software and doesn't need mobile booking or automated no-show charging, it's a reasonable pick.
Where SmartGroom fits better
- You want pay-once AND cloud access — book and run the salon from any phone, no desktop tether.
- No-shows are your top pain — card on file, one-click charge, no manual chasing.
- You want reviews on autopilot — every appointment asks for a Google review automatically.
- You'd rather not stand up a domain and hosting yourself — it's included for a year.
The three-year math
If you move to a cloud-based monthly tool, it adds up quickly. Over 3 years, typical cloud software costs $1,500+. SmartGroom's lifetime cost is just $599 once.
Switching from PetLinx
If you're tired of running Windows updates or paying a monthly fee for cloud access, migration is seamless with our 1-click data import promise. We can bring your client and pet list across, and most salons are live in under 2 hours. See what you'd recover first with the no-show calculator, read the full pet grooming software guide, or compare other no-monthly-fee options.
Pay once. Skip the desktop.
Cloud grooming software with no-show protection and reviews built in — one payment of $599 (first 20 salons). 30-day money-back guarantee.
Own My Salon — $599 Once