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.
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. The license, however, is a custom one rather than an OSI-approved open-source license: any practice using the code owes a yearly subscription of A$450 plus GST per full-time veterinarian, even when self-hosting. OpenVPM is a separate, unrelated project: a modern, API-first PIMS under the AGPLv3, free to self-host with no per-vet fees, with a documented REST API and a built-in AI agent layer.
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 If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.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?
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
If you want a genuinely free, OSI-approved open-source license, a modern web stack, a documented REST API, and no per-veterinarian subscription, OpenVPM is the open-source option built for that.
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 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 the license is a custom one rather than an OSI-approved open-source license. Practices using OpenVPMS owe a yearly subscription, publicly listed at A$450 plus GST per full-time veterinarian, even when self-hosting. OpenVPM is AGPLv3 and free to self-host with no per-vet fees.
Can OpenVPM import data from OpenVPMS?
OpenVPMS stores data in a MySQL database you can access when self-hosting, which makes migration far more tractable than leaving a closed system. OpenVPM's import tooling works from standard exports, and the open schema on both ends means nothing is locked away.
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.