Hello Marshy and Pawshake at a glance
Finding reliable pet care should feel simple, transparent, and safe. Pet parents should understand what they are paying, feel confident in the person caring for their pet, and be able to keep every booking properly documented.
Hello Marshy is a Canadian alternative to Pawshake for pet parents in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Pet parents pay no mandatory Hello Marshy booking, service, or payment-processing fees, while sitters can keep more of their earnings through a lower-commission Free plan or a paid membership.
Pawshake adds a pet-parent service fee
Pawshake's Canadian Help Centre says it applies a service fee when a pet parent confirms a booking. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the booking cost, varies with the booking amount, and is shown in the cost breakdown before payment. Pawshake also says larger bookings are subject to a fee cap.
That means the sitter's listed rate may not be the final Pawshake total. The exact service fee depends on the booking and becomes clear before the pet parent finalizes payment.
Hello Marshy charges pet parents 0% booking and processing fees
Hello Marshy charges pet parents 0% booking fees, 0% service fees, and 0% payment-processing fees. There is no mandatory Hello Marshy platform fee added each time someone books boarding, house sitting, daycare, a drop-in visit, a walk, or pet taxi.
Pet parents pay the rates their sitter sets. Sitter-set charges for additional pets, holidays, or special services can still change the total. Optional Marshy Cares booking protection is displayed separately and added only when the pet parent chooses it.
Pawshake takes 19% from sitter bookings
Pawshake's Canadian Help Centre states that its 19% contribution is included in the price a sitter sets. If a sitter charges $50, a 19% deduction leaves $40.50 before other business expenses. To take home $50 after that deduction, the sitter would need to charge approximately $61.73.
Although this contribution is charged to the sitter, it can still matter to pet parents because sitters may account for platform costs when setting their rates.
Hello Marshy gives sitters two paths. The Free plan applies a 12% commission only when a booking is completed. Sitters can instead choose a paid membership and keep 100% of their booking earnings. Membership pricing is separate from each booking.
When sitters keep more of what they charge, there is less pressure to increase rates simply to offset platform fees. This supports more flexibility for both sitters and pet parents.
Lower fees give everyone more reason to book safely
High platform fees can make private bookings through cash, e-transfer, or text messages feel more attractive. Moving a booking off-platform, however, removes the platform record and may remove access to booking support or protection.
Hello Marshy's 0% pet-parent fees and lower sitter commission give both sides more reason to keep the booking properly documented. Keeping messages, booking details, and payment together provides:
- A record of messages and care instructions
- Confirmed booking details
- Cancellation support
- Secure online payments
- Access to Hello Marshy support
- Optional Marshy Cares booking protection
- Greater accountability if a concern arises
Pet parents should not have to choose between avoiding mandatory platform fees and keeping their pet-care booking safely documented.
Verified local sitters and more choice before booking
Every sitter searchable on Hello Marshy has completed verification. Pet parents can browse profiles, compare services and rates, message sitters directly, and arrange a meet and greet before confirming care.
That gives pet parents time to discuss routines, medications, behaviour, home arrangements, and expectations before making a decision. Verification is one part of choosing care; a detailed conversation and meet and greet can help confirm whether a sitter is the right fit for a particular pet.
Support local Canadian pet care
Hello Marshy is a Canadian pet-care startup connecting pet parents with local sitters, walkers, and boarders across Toronto and the GTA, with plans to expand into more Canadian communities.
Booking through Hello Marshy supports independent local sitters and a growing Canadian platform. The fee model is designed to help sitters keep more of what they earn while giving pet parents a straightforward way to find trusted local care.
Pawshake presents itself as a Canada-wide marketplace, so it may offer a better geographic fit outside Hello Marshy's current GTA service area. For Toronto and GTA pet parents, Hello Marshy offers a more locally focused alternative.
Hello Marshy vs Pawshake for pet parents
| Fee or feature | Hello Marshy | Pawshake |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory pet-parent booking and processing fees | 0% | A variable service fee is shown before payment |
| Sitter platform fee | 12% on completed Free-plan bookings or 0% with membership | 19% contribution included in the sitter-set price |
| Sitter pricing | Set by each sitter | Set by each sitter |
| Booking protection | Optional Marshy Cares add-on | Pawshake Guarantee coverage for eligible bookings made and paid through Pawshake |
| Canadian market reach | Currently Toronto and the GTA | Canadian marketplace with broader coverage |
| Local impact | Supports local sitters and a growing Canadian startup | Supports sitters using an established international marketplace |
Which platform is the better fit?
Pawshake may be the better fit for pet parents outside the GTA who need its broader Canadian availability, or for people who prefer Pawshake Guarantee coverage for eligible bookings made and paid through Pawshake.
For Toronto and GTA pet parents who value transparent pricing, no mandatory platform or processing fees, verified local sitters, and the choice to add booking protection separately, Hello Marshy offers a compelling Canadian alternative.
As Hello Marshy expands beyond the GTA, the goal is to bring that same fairer, more transparent model to more pet parents and sitters across Canada.
