# PetDesk vs The Barkstead

The clearest difference is ratings volume: PetDesk at 512K against The Barkstead's 9. PetDesk also leads on chart position (#109 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PetDesk against 5.0 for The Barkstead. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PetDesk has 512K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PetDesk ships an update every 4 weeks, The Barkstead every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PetDesk | The Barkstead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (512K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petdesk/id631377773/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-barkstead/id6777022327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **512K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 77.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#109** | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PetDesk, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1616576127) | [iTrust Ventures LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1317767149) |

## What reviewers say

### PetDesk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petdesk/id631377773)

**Currently charting:** #109 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Manage your pet's health and connect with local pet care professionals. Schedule appointments, track medications, and earn loyalty rewards all in one place to ensure your pet lives a longer, happier life.

**Highlights:** 24/7 appointment requests, Health reminders and to-do lists, Manage pet care provider contacts, Earn loyalty points, Request medication refills

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for managing pet information
- 👍 Efficient for scheduling appointments
- 👍 Good for ordering medications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches with scheduling and syncing
- 🐛 Inability to delete old reminders and messages
- 🐛 Limitations in adding notes and tracking pet history
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance across multiple locations
- 🐛 Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Appointment scheduling issues
- Inability to paste passwords
- Crashes during account creation
- Reminders not updating correctly

**Requested features**

- Ability to add end dates for medication reminders
- Option to archive pet profiles instead of deleting
- Improved integration with pet owners' calendars
- Expanded support for non-dog/cat pets
- More detailed pet health tracking and reporting


### The Barkstead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-barkstead/id6777022327)

Manage your pet's care with ease. Schedule appointments, receive real-time updates and photos of your pet, communicate directly with staff, and handle payments seamlessly. Experience top-tier pet services.

**Highlights:** Schedule appointments, Receive pet status updates, Get pet pictures, Chat with staff, Contactless payments, Pet care services

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PetDesk free?

PetDesk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Barkstead free?

The Barkstead is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PetDesk or The Barkstead?

The Barkstead is rated higher. PetDesk averages 4.9 out of 5 from 512K ratings, while The Barkstead averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

### Do PetDesk or The Barkstead have ads?

Neither PetDesk nor The Barkstead shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PetDesk or The Barkstead?

PetDesk ships an update every 4 weeks, and The Barkstead every 6 weeks. Most recently, PetDesk was updated on November 14, 2026 and The Barkstead on November 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*