Hippo Manager vs Covetrus Pulse: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Hippo Manager
Affordable cloud veterinary software with intuitive interface, built-in reminders, and QuickBooks integration from $120/month.
Covetrus Pulse
Cloud veterinary platform from Covetrus with integrated pharmacy, supply ordering, and practice management from $300/month.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Hippo Manager | Covetrus Pulse |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Solo veterinarians and tiny practices where the software budget needs to be under $150/month | Practices using Covetrus for supplies that want seamless integration between software and supply chain ordering |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $120/mo | $300/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.5/10 | 7.3/10 |
Pros & Cons
Hippo Manager
Pros
- Most affordable cloud vet PIMS at $120/month — significantly cheaper than every competitor
- Surprisingly intuitive interface that new staff learn in 1-2 days without extensive training
- Native QuickBooks integration eliminates double-entry accounting for practices already using QuickBooks
- All essential features (records, scheduling, billing, inventory, reminders) included at the base price
- Cloud-based with no server costs — total cost of ownership is dramatically lower than any server-based system
Cons
- Lab integration is basic — limited in-clinic analyzer support compared to Cornerstone or eVetPractice
- Reporting depth is minimal — data-driven practice owners will need to export data for serious analysis
- No telemedicine capability and no client-facing mobile app
- Growing practices with 3+ vets will likely outgrow the feature set and need to upgrade platforms
- Mobile experience is functional but clearly not the primary design focus
Covetrus Pulse
Pros
- Integrated pharmacy and supply chain eliminates switching between software for prescriptions and supply ordering
- Cloud-based successor to Avimark brings modern architecture to practices familiar with Covetrus products
- Prescription fulfillment options include in-clinic dispensing and direct-to-client shipping through Covetrus pharmacy
- Lab integration with IDEXX and Antech delivers results to records for both reference and in-clinic labs
- Backed by Covetrus's global distribution network with dedicated support for software and supply chain
Cons
- Deepest value requires using Covetrus as your primary supply distributor — switching costs increase over time
- The software-supply bundling can feel like vendor lock-in for practices that want best-of-breed flexibility
- Not as cutting-edge in UX as Shepherd or Digitail — the interface is modern but not the newest generation
- Pricing at $300-500/month is mid-to-premium without the AI features that newer competitors offer
- Transition from Avimark to Pulse has been bumpy for some long-time Avimark users who report feature gaps
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hippo Manager | subscription | $120/mo |
| Covetrus Pulse | subscription | $300/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Hippo Manager if...
Solo veterinarians and tiny practices where the software budget needs to be under $150/month
Choose Covetrus Pulse if...
Practices using Covetrus for supplies that want seamless integration between software and supply chain ordering
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.