Shepherd vs IDEXX Cornerstone
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Veterinary Practice Management Software (2026). Last verified June 29, 2026.
The short answer
Shepherd ranks higher on Top 11 (#2 vs #8) for Veterinary clinic owners and practice managers managing appointments, records, and billing. The most intuitive PIMS, designed to simplify charting and automate billing.
At a glance
| Shepherd | IDEXX Cornerstone | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #2 / The 11 Best Veterinary Practice Management Software (2026) | #8 / The 11 Best Veterinary Practice Management Software (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9 | 7.7 |
| Best for | Workflow and ease-of-use | Powerful on-premise legacy PIMS |
| Pricing | $$$ ($399 to $999/mo) | $$$ ($400 to $1200/mo) |
| HQ | Mesa, AZ, USA | Westbrook, ME, USA |
| Founded | 2016 | 1992 |
Shepherd
The most intuitive PIMS, designed to simplify charting and automate billing.
www.shepherd.vet/See full entry in The 11 Best Veterinary Practice Management Software (2026)
IDEXX Cornerstone
A feature-rich on-premise system with a dated interface and high learning curve.
www.idexx.com/en/veterinary/software-services/cornerstone-software/See full entry in The 11 Best Veterinary Practice Management Software (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.