OpenVPM vs OpenVPMS
Similar names, different projects. OpenVPMS is an Australian veterinary system with a paid subscription license. OpenVPM is a newer, AGPLv3 open-source PIMS that is free to self-host. Here is how they actually differ.
Reviewed August 17, 2026 by Evan Gauer, OpenVPM founder. Vendor interest disclosed; primary sources linked below.
Workspace access is immediate. Live clinic use starts as a guided pilot alongside the current PIMS. See current fit and rollout limits.
OpenVPMS is a veterinary practice management system run by a non-profit in Australia, in active use since the mid-2000s, with a strong base in Australian and New Zealand practices and a partner network for hosting and support. Its source code is public, and practices can run it themselves. OpenVPM is a separate, newer AGPLv3 project with a targeted REST API and an optional configured agent. OpenVPM has no self-hosted software license fee, but it has a much shorter clinic track record and is limited to controlled, connected single-location companion-animal and house-call pilots.
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Sources reviewed
We prefer vendor-owned product, pricing, developer, support, and contract material. These links support the changeable facts above, not OpenVPM's editorial judgment.
What about your data?
Credit where due: a self-hosted OpenVPMS practice holds its own database, which is better data ownership than most closed systems offer. The difference is the license and the stack. OpenVPM's AGPLv3 license means the software itself is free to use forever, the schema is public, and export is built in, with no subscription owed for running the code.
Read: who owns your practice dataWhen OpenVPMS is the better fit
If you are in Australia or New Zealand, want a system with two decades of local track record, and have a partner or IT support to run it, OpenVPMS is a legitimate choice with real data control.
When OpenVPM is the better fit
Consider OpenVPM if the AGPLv3 license and modern web stack matter and your connected single-location companion-animal or house-call workflow passes a controlled-pilot review. OpenVPMS has the longer production track record.
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. You operate security, backups, email, messaging, payments, model providers, and production validation.
- Full source under the AGPLv3 license
- All source modules and the documented API
- Docker or Vercel deployment paths
- Bring your own database, email, SMS, and AI keys
Common questions
Is OpenVPM the same as OpenVPMS?
No. They are separate, unrelated projects with similar names. OpenVPMS (openvpms.org) is an Australian non-profit system dating to the mid-2000s. OpenVPM (openvpm.com) is a newer, independent open-source PIMS under the AGPLv3, launched in 2026.
Is OpenVPMS free and open source?
The source code is public, but OpenVPMS uses a custom license rather than an OSI-approved open-source license. Its current terms describe an annual subscription based on full-time-equivalent veterinarians, including for the Community and Professional options. OpenVPM is AGPLv3 with no self-hosted software license fee.
Can OpenVPM import data from OpenVPMS?
The accessible OpenVPMS database can make scoping easier, but OpenVPM does not offer a universal OpenVPMS connector. Its reviewed dry-run CSV path covers clients, patients, vaccination history, and visit notes; other record types require assisted mapping.
Keep reading
Open-Source vs. Closed Veterinary Practice Software: What You Need to Know
A plain-language guide for practice owners: what open-source veterinary PIMS actually means, how managed hosting changes the cost equation, and who it's for.
Read moreWhy veterinary software should be open
Every other part of the clinic is built on standards. The software that runs it shouldn't be a locked box you rent forever.
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.