Comparison

PetScan vs PetLink ACO

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PetScan

This utility app connects to compatible RFID readers for iOS devices to scan and manage pet chip information. It allows users to record scan history, modify chip memory with contact details, and assign pet owner information, including pictures. Data can be exported as spreadsheets and visualized on a map.

Highlights
  • Connects to RFID readers
  • Initiates scans from iOS device
  • Records scan history
  • Modifies RFID chip memory
  • Assigns pet owner details and photos
  • Exports data to spreadsheets
  • Visualizes scan locations on a map
Read full description

Connect your RFID reader to your iPhone® or iPad®. Supported readers : RT100, RT100M, RT-250, V8BT, V8M. Offered functionalities : • Initiate scans from your iOS device • Receive scan directly from the reader • Record reader's memory export in the database • Record history of all scans • Modify RFID chip's internal memory: write a contact name and phone number in the chip with the reader • Assign owner's name and address along with a picture of the pet to each scanned chips • Export scan history and internal database as spreadsheet files • Visualize where a scan has been made on a map

About

PetLink ACO

This app enables US animal professionals to quickly look up owner details for lost pets using microchip numbers. It facilitates submitting found pet reports and provides access to pet photos and medical information for faster reunification.

Highlights
  • Microchip number lookup via keypad or voice
  • Camera capture of microchip reader display
  • Search across PetLink, Backtrack, and AAHA databases
  • Submit found pet reports in 4 clicks
  • View pet photos and medical details
  • Facilitates pet-owner reunification
Features
Read full description

The Petlink ACO app is for Animal Professionals (ACOs, Shelter or Rescue teams) in North America to use in the field. When Animal Professionals find a lost pet, they can use Petlink ACO on their phones to look up owner details via the pet’s microchip number and submit a found pet report to PetLink. We will contact the owner to let them know their pet has been found and set up reunification. You can put the microchip number into Petlink ACO on your phone by keypad or speak the number in. You can also use the camera to capture the microchip number from the LCD display of a microchip reader. Using the camera makes it much faster to transfer the 9-, 10- or 15-microchip number from the chip reader to the search function of Petlink ACO. It also reduces typing errors. Petlink ACO will search for owner details first in PetLink, then in PetLink’s Backtrack system and finally in the AAHA Pet microchip look-up tool. Petlink ACO will help save the lives of lost animals. The quicker a pet is returned to its owner, the greater their chance of survival. Petlink ACO allows Animal Professionals in North America to contact the owners of lost pets as soon as they have read the pet’s microchip number. There is no need to call PetLink, no need to use a computer to look up details. Animal Professionals can use Petlink ACO to submit a found pet report in 4 easy clicks. We will then notify owners via SMS, phone and email, that their pet has been found and organize reunification. When an Animal Professional finds a lost pet and that pet is registered with PetLink, then Petlink ACO will show a photo of the pet, if available, to confirm identification. Petlink ACO will also show medical details, if available, for the pet, for example if a dog is diabetic and needs regular insulin, this information will be clearly shown. This will be beneficial for the health of all lost pets. PetLink - the industry standard in pet microchips for over 30 years. PetLink is an industry leader in pet microchips, pet identification and reunification, creating a lifelong link between people and pets. PetLink helps Animal Control Officers, Shelter staff and rescues return lost pets to their families and prepare adopted pets for their new homes. For the last 30 years PetLink has been making it quicker and easier for people to microchip their pets. Instead of complicated processes and annual charges, we provide lifetime support to pet parents for a simple one-time registration. PetLink is a registered trademark of Datamars Inc. www.petlink.net PetLink c/o Datamars 345 West Cummings Park Woburn, MA 01801 U.S.A.

Screenshots

PetScan4 screens
PetLink ACO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PetLink ACO at 1.8 against PetScan's 1.0. PetLink ACO also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (28 vs 2). PetScan's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PetLink ACO holds the better App Store score, 1.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PetLink ACO has 28 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 11% and 12% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PetScan ships an update every 10 months, PetLink ACO every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PetScan versus PetLink ACO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPetScanPetLink ACO
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings)1.8 (28 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.1% of reviews11.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings228 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB67 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperATRIA-TRADINGDatamars SA

Customer experience

PetScan

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.9%

PetLink ACO

All ratings28 ratings
Positive21.4%
Neutral3.6%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive11.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative85.3%

In-app purchases

None

PetScan

No in-app purchases

None

PetLink ACO

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PetScan free?
PetScan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PetLink ACO free?
PetLink ACO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PetScan or PetLink ACO?
PetLink ACO is rated higher. PetScan averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while PetLink ACO averages 1.8 from 28 ratings.
Do PetScan or PetLink ACO have ads?
Neither PetScan nor PetLink ACO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PetScan or PetLink ACO?
PetScan ships an update every 10 months, and PetLink ACO every 9 days. Most recently, PetScan was updated on September 19, 2026 and PetLink ACO on September 7, 2026.

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