Why pick BarnHub over EquineGenie
EquineGenie is a long-running desktop product with deep modules for breeding, training, showing, and customer management — and tier-based licenses (STABLE $349, TRAINER $399, BREEDER $449, PRO $499 plus a $199 clientGenie add-on for the web portal). It's powerful, but it expects you to be at a Windows or Mac desktop to do barn work, and it asks for a per-tier license up front. BarnHub answers a different question: what does barn management look like on the device you actually carry into the aisle?
- Mobile-native, not desktop-ported. BarnHub is built in SwiftUI for iPhone first, iPad second, Mac third. EquineGenie is built for Windows desktop with Mac compatibility — the muscle memory is keyboard-and-mouse, not touch.
- No license fee. BarnHub is free on the App Store. EquineGenie's per-tier license starts at $349 and runs to $499, plus $199 for clientGenie.
- iCloud sync, not local-machine database. Move between your iPhone in the barn and your Mac in the office without exporting a file or copying a database — the records are live on every device.
- No login or account. Apple ID is the identity. There's no EquineGenie account to manage, no password reset for a barn manager who left.
- Privacy-first. Apple's Data Not Collected label. No analytics, no third-party telemetry. Your data is yours.
- Native multi-language. English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish — built in.
What EquineGenie covers that BarnHub doesn't (yet)
EquineGenie's product breadth is its strength. If your operation is centred on one of these workflows, it's worth knowing where the gap is today:
- Breeding records. Stallion books, mare cycles, foaling logs. EquineGenie's BREEDER tier is built for this; BarnHub has no breeding records.
- Show / race / event tracking. EquineGenie has structured competition records. BarnHub does not.
- Deep training history. Training plans and skill progression across many horses. BarnHub tracks lessons (date, horse, client, notes) but not multi-stage training programs.
- Web client portal. EquineGenie's clientGenie is a remote-data-entry portal for clients and remote staff. BarnHub has no web surface — invoices and contracts are emailed as PDFs.
How BarnHub compares to EquineGenie
| Feature | BarnHub | EquineGenie |
|---|---|---|
| Native iPhone & iPad apps | ✓ SwiftUI, mobile-first | — desktop product |
| Native Mac app | ✓ SwiftUI | ✓ Mac-compatible desktop |
| Windows app | — | ✓ primary platform |
| Cloud sync between devices | ✓ iCloud / CloudKit | Local DB; clientGenie add-on for remote |
| Account / login required | — Apple ID only | ✓ |
| Horse profiles + medical / feeding records | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vet / farrier / dentist scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client / customer management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accounting / invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boarding contract PDFs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breeding / foaling records | — | ✓ BREEDER tier |
| Show / race / event tracking | — | ✓ |
| Training plans / progression | Lessons only | ✓ TRAINER tier |
| Client web portal | — | ✓ clientGenie add-on |
| Multi-language UI | ✓ 8 languages | Primarily English |
| Pricing | Free, optional one-time Pro IAP | $349–$499 per tier + $199 clientGenie |
Pricing
BarnHub
Free download with an optional one-time Pro upgrade for multi-client features. No license tiers, no per-feature add-ons. Sync runs through your iCloud.
EquineGenie
STABLE ($349), TRAINER ($399), BREEDER ($449), PRO ($499) — buy the tier that matches your operation. Add clientGenie ($199) for the remote/web portal.
Frequently asked questions
Why use BarnHub instead of EquineGenie?
EquineGenie is a desktop product (Windows and Mac) with tier-based licenses ranging from $349 to $499 plus a $199 add-on for the clientGenie web portal. BarnHub is a free native iPhone/iPad/Mac app with optional one-time Pro IAP. If your day in the barn happens on a phone or tablet, BarnHub fits the device you actually carry. If you need stallion books, mare cycles, foaling logs, or extensive training records, EquineGenie covers more ground.
Does BarnHub do breeding records like EquineGenie?
Not today. EquineGenie's BREEDER tier is built around stallion books, mare cycles, and foaling logs. BarnHub does not have those record types. If breeding is a primary workflow for your operation, EquineGenie or a dedicated breeding tool will be a better fit.
Does BarnHub track shows and competitions?
Not as a first-class feature today. EquineGenie has show, race, and event tracking modules. You can use BarnHub's reminders and notes to track entries informally, but if structured competition records are core, EquineGenie does it natively.
What about training records?
BarnHub tracks lessons (date, client, horse, notes) but not structured training plans or skill-progression records. EquineGenie has dedicated training and lesson modules with deeper history. For a single trainer running a lesson barn, BarnHub's lesson log + reminders cover the daily workflow; for a training operation tracking progression across many horses, EquineGenie does more.
Is there a web portal for boarders?
EquineGenie's clientGenie add-on provides a remote-data-entry portal. BarnHub does not have a boarder-facing web login today — invoices and contracts are emailed as PDFs.