Rover vs. Wag: Which App Is Better for Making Money?

For pet-lovers, getting paid to hang around with furry buddies may sound like a dream. But it’s truly a really actual risk. If you might have private or skilled expertise caring for animals, you may simply make money as a canine walker or sitter.

Rover and Wag, two fashionable pet-sitting and dog-walking apps, can shortly join you to paying gigs. The providers have related necessities and supply versatile schedules, however their cost particulars and caregiving alternatives differ. Here’s what to anticipate with Rover and Wag.

Rover is a web based market for pet care. The platform presents alternatives to make money as an unbiased contractor by means of dog-walking, pet-boarding, doggy day care, housesitting and drop-in providers.

First, it’s good to create a profile by means of the Rover web site or app. This contains including basic contact info, a photograph, your providers and charges. You should obtain the Rover app for those who plan to supply drop-in visits, doggy day care or dog-walking providers.

You’ll set preferences, such because the occasions you’re available and what dimension dogs you’re snug working with. Then, fill in your expertise, add images and testimonials, take Rover’s quiz and undergo a background verify. The background verify could cost a small payment, relying on which providers you supply. Most profiles are accepted inside 5 to 10 business days.

Once the appliance is accepted, pet house owners can view your profile and availability, contact you and ebook providers by means of Rover.

In order to turn into a canine walker or present different providers on Rover, you should:

• Be 18 years or older and dwell in an space the place Rover operates.

• Complete your profile and cross a background verify.

• Have the latest model of the Rover app (required for many providers).

• Live in a residence that permits pets (for those who plan to take care of dogs in your home).

Check together with your native authorities for extra necessities.

The quantity you make is determined by the service (or providers) you present and the way usually you’re employed. Those who supply in a single day canine or cat boarding could make twice as a lot as sitters who don’t, the corporate says you can even earn ideas.

Pricing performs a key function. Rover means that you can set your personal charge, however takes a 20% service payment from every reserving. Sitters with RoverGo — a premium model of the app — get charged a 25% service payment per reserving.

Your funds are available to withdraw two days after finishing a service with Rover. You receives a commission by way of direct deposit. To arrange cost, you’ll want your social safety quantity and checking account info.

Wag is one other platform for canine walking, pet sitting, boarding and drop-in gigs. You also can receives a commission for pet coaching. Wag caregivers work as unbiased contractors, not staff.

Complete an utility on-line or within the Wag app to get began. Similar to Rover, the appliance entails making a profile, sharing details about your earlier expertise with dogs, taking a five-to-10-minute quiz on canine security and care, and passing a background verify. Wag expenses a $49.95 utility processing payment.

You could contemplate getting endorsements from household or others who can vouch to your expertise to offer you extra credibility as a walker or sitter. The firm says it prioritizes candidates with essentially the most endorsements first, which suggests the extra you embrace, the quicker the method will doubtless be. Applications take a median of 14 days to course of.

After your utility will get accepted, you’ll must arrange an account on the Stripe cost platform. This entails coming into your checking account or debit card particulars, relying on the way you want to receives a commission. Then, you can begin taking over work. Pet house owners arrange bookings with occasions, dates and directions. Owners will both select you particularly to supply care, or Wag will suggest you, relying on the kind of service requested. You’ll get a notification and may verify by means of the app.

Before you submit an utility, be sure you’re eligible for Wag. You must:

• Be age 18 or older and legally licensed to work within the United States.

• Live in a metropolis the place Wag operates.

• Pass a security quiz and background verify.

• Live in a residence that permits pets (for those who plan to board dogs in your home).

• Once accepted, obtain the Wag Pet Caregiver app on an iPhone or Android. This is completely different from the common Wag app discovered within the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Earnings differ primarily based on elements just like the providers you supply, charges you set and the size of time you present care. Wag additionally permits pet dad and mom to tip caregivers, and also you’ll obtain 100% of any ideas you earn.

The common cost of a 20-minute walk is $12.75 to $19.99 for one canine, in response to Wag. To earn extra, you may do a 30-minute walk, which has a median cost of $17 to $26.99 for one canine. Hour-long walks cost a median of $25.50 to $36.99.

Dog sitters on Wag cost a median of $39 to $59 for one canine to sleep over. You can receives a commission additional if an proprietor has a couple of canine or requests recurring walks.

But right here’s the kicker: Wag takes a 40% reduce of your payout for walks, drop-ins, boardings and sittings. That’s twice as a lot as Rover’s payment. The website takes 30% for in-home and digital coaching providers. That mentioned, you may set your personal charges with Wag, so it’s potential to incorporate the 40% reduce within the value you cost pet dad and mom. 

Wag’s weekly pay interval runs from Tuesday by means of Monday. Payments are issued to your Stripe-connected checking account each Friday. You can receives a commission extra shortly utilizing the Instant Pay function, which sends your money instantly to a Stripe-connected debit card for a 3% payment, or a minimal of $1.99.

Rover and Wag function the identical providers, with a few exceptions. Both help you walk, sit or board pets for money. But you may run a doggy day care solely by means of Rover, and also you’ll have to make use of Wag to work as a coach.

Seeking work that’s available by means of both app? Rover is perhaps the way in which to go. Applications take much less time on common to get accepted, so you can begin working sooner. With Rover, you’ll additionally preserve extra of the money you earn; its 20% fee payment is considerably decrease than Wag’s 40% payment.

Remember, you’ll work as an unbiased contractor, slightly than an worker, for whichever firm you select. That means you gained’t obtain employment advantages, reminiscent of insurance coverage, or have revenue tax mechanically withheld. Consider these prices earlier than signing as much as work within the gig financial system.