Is Wag! Worth it? We don’t think so and Here’s Why
If you’ve been looking for a way to earn extra income by walking dogs or pet sitting, you may have come across Wag! — a popular app that connects pet owners with pet care providers. On the surface, it sounds great: flexible work, adorable animals, and the chance to get started quickly.
But before you sign up, there’s a lot you should know. And honestly? We think you should steer clear. Here’s why.
What is Wag!?
Wag! is a popular US-based pet care app that connects pet owners with dog walkers and pet sitters. The platform lets owners book services like dog walks, drop-in visits, overnight care, and even grooming and more through a a simple app. Wag!’s claim to fame is that they are like the “Uber” of pet care, where you can find pet care, or if your sitter, book jobs quickly and easily. While it may sound like a good business model on the surface, when you take a deeper look, it quite appalling to know how they’re running things.
1. Wag!’s Business Model Encourages Unfair Pay
Wag’s business model is built on a bidding system where pet sitters and dog walkers compete to offer the lowest price for a job. How it works if a pet owner posts a job with a set price range, and sitters submit bids within that range to “win” the job. This creates a race to the bottom, where sitters often feel pressured to lower their rates just to get booked. Instead of rewarding experience, quality care, or professionalism, the platform favors whoever offers the cheapest service, which drives down earnings for everyone.
2. They Take 40% of your Earnings
Wag takes a staggering 40% cut from every booking you complete. That means if you charge $25 for a walk, you’re only keeping $15. This fee comes off the top, before taxes, gas, or any of the time you spend coordinating with the client or handling the pet's needs. For most sitters, it quickly becomes clear that you’re doing the majority of the work while Wag collects nearly half of your pay.
And because the platform is designed to reward the lowest bids, you can’t simply raise your rates to offset that 40% cut. If you try to build that commission into your pricing, someone else will underbid you—and they’ll get the job instead. The structure actively prevents you from charging what your actually worth.
3. Wag! Pro is a Scam
As if taking 40% of your earnings for doing very little wasn’t already enough, Wag also charges a $50 sign-up fee just to join the platform. That’s before you’ve booked a single job or made any money.
On top of that, they encourage you to give out “free walks” when you’re just starting out, and also try to upsell you on “Wag! Pro,” a $149 add-on that claims to boost your profile’s visibility. Most sitters say it doesn’t improve their chances of getting more bookings at all.
In the end, you’re paying extra for a feature that likely won’t help, while still handing over nearly half your earnings to the platform.
4. You Can Be Penalized for Charging What You’re Worth
Wag! will actually penalize you if you bid higher than what they deem appropriate. This even applies for specialized services, senior pets, or pet’s with more complex care needs. You will actually receive a warning from the platform, and in some cases, repeated attempts will lead to penalization or reduced visibility in search results. Instead of empowering sitters to deliver exceptional care at a rate that makes sense, Wag! pushes you toward bottom-of-the-barrel pricing, regardless of your skill, background, or the demands of the job.
5. No Insurance or Real Support
Unlike many reputable platforms, Wag doesn’t offer any insurance or protection for sitters. If something goes wrong during a sit, whether it’s a medical emergency with the pet, a lockout, or an injury, you’re pretty much expected to handle it on your own.
Although they do offer customer support, many sitters report that customer support is nearly impossible to reach. Just take a look at their Trust Pilot rating, where the lack of customer service is often the main complaint.
If you read through Wag’s reviews, you’ll see there are even reports of Wag! hiding negative reviews, which poses an obvious safety risk to pet care-givers and pet-owners!
6. Cancelled booking? You get a Whopping $5
Canceled bookings aren’t just inconvenient, they can completely throw off your earnings. You might have planned your whole schedule around that booking, turned down other clients, or even started driving miles to the job, only to have it canceled last minute. And what does Wag offer in return? Five dollars. That’s it. For many sitters, it feels less like compensation and more like an afterthought. It’s frustrating, and honestly, insulting. Your time and effort deserve more respect than that.
7. Sitters Say Reviews Are Filtered
Recently there has been an increase in reports of Wag! hiding negative reviews or manipulating ratings to favor certain profiles. This is obviously a very shady and even unsafe practice, but it also means excellent sitters may struggle to gain traction if the algorithm isn’t on their side.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve Better
Wag is easy to sign up for, but it’s not designed to help sitters succeed.
Between the low pay, steep commissions, lack of protection, and poor support, it’s not a sustainable or respectful option for people who genuinely care about animals and want to offer quality service.
We believe in platforms that let you set fair rates, choose your clients, and work on your terms, with proper support and transparency along the way.
Looking for Better Options? Pet Care Apps we Recommend
If you’re serious about pet sitting or dog walking, here are a few alternatives worth considering:
TrustedHousesitters (if you’re open to sitting in exchange for free stays)
Rover (more control over pricing, and a much lower commission rate (you keep 80% of your booking).
Pawshake currently only available in Europe but a good option!
Local Facebook groups, word of mouth, or community boards - This is honestly the best option and you will make the most money. The drawback is it takes time to get started, but the payoff is worth it!
