OpenVPM vs Hippo Manager
Hippo Manager is being retired after its acquisition by Shepherd. If you are deciding what comes next, here is how OpenVPM compares.
Hippo Manager was a cloud system popular with small and mixed-animal practices for flat per-vet pricing and free training. In 2025 it was acquired by Shepherd and is being sunset, with existing customers migrated onto Shepherd as the single platform going forward. If you came from Hippo, you are choosing your next system anyway, which is a good moment to pick one that will not put you here again. OpenVPM is open source, so future lock-in is off the table.
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 If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.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?
Hippo customers are being moved to Shepherd by default, which is one option, but not the only one. OpenVPM imports your records and keeps them in an open, exportable schema, so the next move is always yours. We wrote a full guide for practices leaving Hippo.
Read: who owns your practice dataWhen Hippo Manager is the better fit
Hippo Manager is no longer sold as a standalone product, so this is really a choice about where former Hippo practices go next.
When OpenVPM is the better fit
If you want your next system to be one you can own and never be forced off of, OpenVPM is open source and self-hostable, which is the opposite of the situation Hippo customers just lived through.
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
What happened to Hippo Manager?
Shepherd Veterinary Software acquired Hippo Manager, reported in March 2025. Hippo is being sunset as a standalone product, and existing practices are being migrated onto Shepherd.
Do I have to move to Shepherd?
No. Shepherd is the default path, but you can choose any system. Many former Hippo practices are evaluating OpenVPM specifically to avoid being moved against their will again.
Can OpenVPM import my Hippo Manager data?
Yes. OpenVPM imports your records and stores them in an open, exportable schema. Our Hippo Manager alternative guide walks through what to ask for and how to plan the move.
Keep reading
Hippo Manager Alternatives: The Honest Guide for Practices Finding a New Home
Hippo Manager was acquired by Shepherd in March 2025. Here's an honest comparison of where displaced practices are landing and what to look for in a new system.
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.