Activet vs Cornerstone — a modern cloud alternative
Cornerstone is one of the most established veterinary practice systems, but it was built for the on-premise era. If you are weighing a move to the cloud, here is an honest look at how Activet compares.
What is Cornerstone?
Cornerstone (by IDEXX) is a long-standing, feature-deep practice information management system traditionally installed on in-clinic servers. It is powerful and widely used, with pricing arranged through a sales quote.
Feature comparison
A side-by-side look at category-level positioning based on publicly available information.
Where Activet stands out
- ✓ Cloud-native — no server to buy, maintain or back up; access from any device
- ✓ Transparent public pricing with a genuinely free starting plan
- ✓ All-in-one: scheduling, SOAP records, billing, inventory, CRM, client portal and AI in one login
- ✓ Same-day self-serve setup instead of a long sales + install cycle
When Cornerstone may be the right fit
Cornerstone can suit large hospitals already invested in the IDEXX on-premise ecosystem and in-house server infrastructure.
Every practice is different — we think it is worth evaluating both. Activet's free plan lets you do that without a sales call.
Common questions
Is Activet a good Cornerstone alternative?
Activet is a strong alternative for practices looking for transparent pricing, a free starting plan, and an all-in-one cloud workflow covering records, billing, inventory, CRM, and client portal. Whether it is the right fit depends on your clinic's size and priorities — which is why Activet offers a free plan so you can evaluate it without a sales call.
Can I migrate from Cornerstone to Activet?
Activet includes a CSV data import wizard for client, patient, and appointment records. For a planned migration from another system, we recommend exporting your data, running a parallel period on Activet's free plan, and contacting our team for guidance on the cutover.
Does Activet have a free plan?
Yes. Activet's Free plan supports up to 2 vets and includes core scheduling, SOAP records, invoicing, and inventory — no credit card required. Paid plans start at $29 / month and unlock the client portal, advanced features, and higher usage limits.
What makes Activet different from other veterinary software?
Activet combines transparent public pricing, a genuinely free starting tier, cloud-native deployment (nothing to install or maintain), and an all-in-one scope — scheduling, clinical records, billing, inventory, CRM, client portal, and AI clinical tools — in a single, calm interface designed for everyday clinic work.
Compare Activet with other systems
Competitor details reflect publicly available information as of June 2026; verify current specifics on the vendor's site.
Ready to try a Cornerstone alternative?
Start Activet's free plan today — no credit card, no sales call. Scheduling, records, and billing included from day one.