Every dollar goes to care, not software licenses.
Shelters and nonprofit clinics run on tight budgets and big caseloads. OpenVPM is free to self-host: a full-featured PIMS with no license fees, ever.
Built for the realities of shelter & nonprofit.
The friction you know too well, and how an open, API-first PIMS clears it.
Software eats the budget
Nonprofits can't justify $400/mo per location for software. OpenVPM self-hosted is free: the full PIMS, no feature gates.
High volume, small teams
Spay/neuter days and intake surges demand fast workflows. A real-time whiteboard and quick records keep a small team moving.
Grant reporting is painful
Funders want numbers. Built-in reports and full data export make grant and impact reporting straightforward instead of a spreadsheet marathon.
The modules that matter most.
Every OpenVPM module works together. Here's where teams like yours spend their day.
Live Whiteboard
Every patient in the building, updated live.
See how it worksMedical Records
SOAP, labs, Rx, and vaccines on one record.
See how it worksPatient Management
Weight trends, allergy alerts, multi-pet households.
See how it worksReports & Analytics
Revenue, production, and utilization, exportable.
See how it worksInventory Management
Lot tracking, reorder points, auto-deduction.
See how it worksUse 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 really free for shelters?
Yes. Self-hosting the full PIMS is free under the AGPLv3 license, with no feature gates. Every dollar can go to care instead of license fees.
Can it handle high-volume days?
Yes. A real-time whiteboard and fast records keep a small team moving through spay/neuter days and intake surges.
Does it help with grant reporting?
Yes. Built-in reports and full data export make impact and grant reporting straightforward instead of a spreadsheet marathon.
Related 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 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 in your workflow.
The demo is live and loaded with real-looking data. Click around, then decide whether to self-host it free or let us run it for you.