OpenVPM vs Cornerstone
Cornerstone is the deep, mature system many larger hospitals grew up on. OpenVPM is the open-source option for teams that want the same depth without the lock-in.
Cornerstone, from IDEXX, is one of the most established practice management systems in the industry, with tight integration to IDEXX labs and imaging and a feature set built over decades. It has long been server-installed, and IDEXX has added a hosted Cornerstone Cloud option more recently. Practices that live inside the IDEXX ecosystem often value how everything connects. OpenVPM takes a different path: the same core workflows, an open API, and software you can run and own yourself.
Pricing for other systems is publicly reported by third parties, not official rate cards. We aim to be fair. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
What about your data?
Cornerstone runs on a proprietary database, and getting your records into another system usually means a vendor-assisted conversion. OpenVPM keeps a public schema and full export, so leaving is always your call, not a negotiation.
Read: who owns your practice dataWhen Cornerstone is the better fit
If your hospital is built around IDEXX analyzers and reference labs and you want the deepest possible integration with them, Cornerstone is a reasonable fit.
When OpenVPM is the better fit
If you want a modern, API-first system you can self-host for free, with no proprietary lock-in and your data in formats you can read, OpenVPM is built for you.
Use OpenVPM your way.
Self-host the full open-source PIMS for free, or let us run it for you. Same software, your choice.
Run OpenVPM on your own infrastructure. No billing gates, no feature limits, no hosted metering.
- Full source under the AGPLv3 license
- Every module and the complete API
- Docker or Vercel deployment paths
- Bring your own database, email, SMS, and AI keys
Common questions
Is OpenVPM a real alternative to Cornerstone?
Yes. OpenVPM covers the core practice workflows (scheduling, records, billing, inventory, communications, reporting) with an open REST API. It is open source, so you can run it yourself and see exactly how it works.
Does Cornerstone publish its price?
No. IDEXX does not publish an official price. The figures you see online, around $420 to $549 per month, come from third-party listings like Capterra and should be treated as estimates.
Can I move my Cornerstone data to OpenVPM?
Your data is yours. Cornerstone uses a proprietary database, so an export or conversion is usually involved. OpenVPM imports your records and keeps them in an open, exportable schema from then on.
Keep reading
Cornerstone Alternatives: A Practical Guide for Hospitals Ready to Move (or Not)
Cornerstone has run large hospitals for decades. When the server refresh, the training burden, or the bill finally forces the question, here are the real options, honestly compared.
Read moreThe Best Veterinary Practice Management Software in 2026 (11 Platforms, Compared Honestly)
Eleven veterinary PIMS platforms compared honestly by a vendor that is one of them: publicly reported pricing, data ownership, API openness, and who each one actually fits.
Read moreWho Owns Your Veterinary Practice's Data? (And What Happens When You Try to Leave)
The AVMA says your practice owns its data. Most PIMS contracts don't agree. A plain-language guide to exit fees, portability traps, and what open-source changes.
Read moreSee OpenVPM for yourself.
The demo is live and loaded with real-looking data. No sales call. Click around, then self-host it free or let us run it for you.