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Cornerstone vs Onward Vet: Which Veterinary Software Is Better in 2026?
We compared Cornerstone and Onward Vet across pricing, features, ratings, and real-world fit to help you make the right choice for your veterinary practice.
Cornerstone
Custom pricing
On-premise with cloud add-ons
Onward Vet
From $300/mo
Cloud-based
Quick Verdict
Both Cornerstone and Onward Vet are solid veterinary software options. Your choice depends on practice size, budget, and which feature priorities matter most to your team.
Cornerstone vs Onward Vet at a Glance
| Feature | Cornerstone | Onward Vet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom | $300/mo |
| Deployment | On-premise with cloud add-ons | Cloud-based |
| Rating (G2) | 3.6/5.0 | N/A |
| Rating (Capterra) | 3.7/5.0 | N/A |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Founded | 2000 | 2022 |
| Best For | IDEXX-committed practices, Large hospitals, Established multi-doctor practices | Tech-forward practices, Solo vets wanting AI assistance, Practices drowning in documentation |
| Key Features |
|
|
Cornerstone
- Starting Price
- Custom
- Deployment
- On-premise with cloud add-ons
- Rating (G2)
- 3.6/5.0
- Rating (Capterra)
- 3.7/5.0
- Free Trial
- No
- Free Plan
- No
- Founded
- 2000
- Best For
- IDEXX-committed practicesLarge hospitalsEstablished multi-doctor practices
- Key Features
-
- Deep IDEXX lab integration
- EMR
- Scheduling
- Inventory
- Controlled substance tracking
- Whiteboard
- Reporting
Onward Vet
- Starting Price
- $300/mo
- Deployment
- Cloud-based
- Rating (G2)
- N/A
- Rating (Capterra)
- N/A
- Free Trial
- Yes
- Free Plan
- No
- Founded
- 2022
- Best For
- Tech-forward practicesSolo vets wanting AI assistancePractices drowning in documentation
- Key Features
-
- AI speech-to-text
- Automated SOAP notes
- Scheduling
- Client communication
- Invoicing
- Inventory
- Seamless workflows
Overview of Both Tools
Cornerstone
Cornerstone is a on-premise with cloud add-ons veterinary practice management platform founded in 2000 and headquartered in Westbrook, ME (IDEXX). Marketed as "idexx's flagship veterinary practice management", it serves largest install base in north america and is best suited for idexx-committed practices, large hospitals, established multi-doctor practices. The platform supports Small animal, Large animal, Specialty, Emergency practice types.
Onward Vet
Onward Vet is a cloud-based veterinary software solution founded in 2022 and headquartered in USA. Described as "ai-powered pims with speech-to-text and automated soap notes", it serves early adopters and is best suited for tech-forward practices, solo vets wanting ai assistance, practices drowning in documentation. It supports Small animal, General practice practice types.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
We evaluated Cornerstone and Onward Vet across six key areas that matter most to veterinary practices.
Pricing Comparison
Cornerstone
- Starting Price
- Custom pricing
- Pricing Model
- Custom quote (typically $15,000-25,000 upfront + monthly)
- Free Trial
- No
- Free Plan
- No
Onward Vet
- Starting Price
- From $300/mo
- Pricing Model
- Per practice/month starting at $300 (independent clinics); all-inclusive; custom pricing for 10+ vets
- Free Trial
- Yes
- Free Plan
- No
Prices shown are published starting rates. Actual pricing may vary based on practice size, contract length, and negotiation. Contact each vendor for a personalized quote.
User Ratings Comparison
Aggregate ratings from G2 and Capterra, the two leading B2B software review platforms.
Cornerstone
G2 Rating
3.6Capterra Rating
3.7Based on approximately 250 reviews
Onward Vet
G2 Rating
No ratings yetCapterra Rating
No ratings yetBased on approximately 20 reviews
Who Should Choose Cornerstone?
Based on our analysis, Cornerstone is the right choice if your practice matches any of the following profiles:
- IDEXX-committed practices
- Large hospitals
- Established multi-doctor practices
Cornerstone Strengths
Pros
- Best-in-class IDEXX lab integration
- Proven reliability over decades
- Comprehensive feature set
Cons
- Server-based architecture
- Expensive upfront cost
- Dated interface
- Vendor lock-in with IDEXX
Who Should Choose Onward Vet?
Based on our analysis, Onward Vet is the right choice if your practice matches any of the following profiles:
- Tech-forward practices
- Solo vets wanting AI assistance
- Practices drowning in documentation
Onward Vet Strengths
Pros
- AI-driven note-taking saves significant time
- Modern interface
- Built specifically to reduce documentation burden
Cons
- Very new platform
- Smaller user base
- Still building out integrations
Our Recommendation
Both Cornerstone and Onward Vet are capable veterinary software platforms. We recommend evaluating both with their free trials to determine which best fits your practice's specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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