Rover pays providers better than Wag due to lower service fees. Here's the breakdown:
- Rover: 20% provider fee + 11% pet parent fee = 31% total platform fees. Providers keep 69% of what the client pays.
- Wag: ~40% taken from provider. Providers keep ~60%.
- Tails: 10% provider fee + 5% pet parent fee = 15% total platform fees. Providers keep 85% of what the client pays (best option).
Real Earnings Examples
For a $30 dog walk (provider's listed rate):
- Rover: Client pays $33.30 (11% parent fee), you keep $24 — that's 69% of the client total
- Wag: Client pays $30, you keep ~$18 — that's ~60% of the client total
- Tails: Client pays $31.50 (5% parent fee), you keep $27 — that's 85% of the client total
Other Factors That Affect Earnings
Beyond service fees, consider booking volume (Wag has fewer clients per walker), tips (both platforms allow tipping), and repeat clients (Rover's lower fees encourage repeat bookings). If you're serious about dog walking income, Rover or Tails will maximize your earnings.
Bottom Line
Choose Rover if you want nationwide reach with fair earnings. Choose Tails if you're in Chicago and want the highest provider payout in the industry. For a full breakdown of every major platform, see our best dog walking apps guide.