# Maddie's Pet Assistant vs Petkey

The clearest difference is rating: Petkey at 4.8 against Maddie's Pet Assistant's 3.5. Petkey also leads on ratings volume (959 vs 69). Maddie's Pet Assistant's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). On price, review sentiment, 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.

Petkey holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Petkey has 959 ratings behind it against 69, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Maddie's Pet Assistant's written reviews are positive against 44% of Petkey's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Maddie's Pet Assistant ships an update every 6 weeks, Petkey every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Maddie's Pet Assistant | Petkey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (69 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maddies-pet-assistant/id968274332/reviews) | **[4.8 (959 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petkey/id1536342236/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 69 | **959** |
| Positive reviews | **51.4% of reviews** | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 93 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pethealth Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/386838259) | [Petkey LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536342238) |

## What reviewers say

### Maddie's Pet Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maddies-pet-assistant/id968274332)

This app offers health and behavioral support for pet caregivers, from seasoned fosters to new adopters. It provides expert advice on common pet issues, guidance for introducing new pets, and tips for managing behavioral challenges. Receive immediate responses to concerns, vaccination reminders, and track your pet's progress.

**Highlights:** Expert advice on pet health and behavior, Guidance for introducing new pets, Tips for managing pet behavioral issues, Immediate responses to pet concerns, Vaccination reminders, Pet weight tracking, Community forum for pet questions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Petkey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petkey/id1536342236)

This app connects pet owners with their lost animals through a nationwide network. Users can list missing pets or found pets on a live map to facilitate quick reunions. Create a pet profile for emergency access to vital information and receive notifications when your pet is found.

**Highlights:** Nationwide missing pet network, Live map of found pets, Create pet profiles, Virtual pet ID, Immediate notifications, Custom Petmoji creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent customer service and support
- 📱 Easy account management through app
- 🐕 Effective microchip registration and pet recovery
- 🏷️ Quality pet ID tags
- ✅ Functional website platform

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App login functionality broken or non-existent
- 🗺️ Missing or inaccurate tracking/map features
- ❌ Poor app design and user interface
- 🔄 App crashes frequently
- ♿ Not accessible for visually impaired users (no VoiceOver support)

**Reported bugs**

- App login not working despite correct credentials
- Password reset feature fails
- App crashes during lifetime registration discount selection
- Sign-up process crashes when scanning code
- Email validation loop - keeps requesting email even when filled

**Requested features**

- Real-time pet location tracking with map display
- Upload and store vaccination records and certificates
- Multiple photo uploads for lost/found pet reports
- Improved sighting report workflow (ask possession status before photos)
- Better accessibility features for screen readers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Maddie's Pet Assistant free?

Maddie's Pet Assistant is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Petkey free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Maddie's Pet Assistant or Petkey?

Petkey is rated higher. Maddie's Pet Assistant averages 3.5 out of 5 from 69 ratings, while Petkey averages 4.8 from 959 ratings.

### Do Maddie's Pet Assistant or Petkey have ads?

Neither Maddie's Pet Assistant nor Petkey shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Maddie's Pet Assistant or Petkey?

Maddie's Pet Assistant ships an update every 6 weeks, and Petkey every 5 weeks. Most recently, Maddie's Pet Assistant was updated on October 24, 2026 and Petkey on October 29, 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.*