Softabase

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 logo

Hippo Manager

7.5(480 reviews)

Affordable cloud veterinary software with intuitive interface, built-in reminders, and QuickBooks integration from $120/month.

Covetrus Pulse logo

Covetrus Pulse

7.3(950 reviews)

Cloud veterinary platform from Covetrus with integrated pharmacy, supply ordering, and practice management from $300/month.

Quick Comparison

AspectHippo ManagerCovetrus Pulse
Best ForSolo veterinarians and tiny practices where the software budget needs to be under $150/monthPractices using Covetrus for supplies that want seamless integration between software and supply chain ordering
Pricing ModelSubscriptionSubscription
Starting Price$120/mo$300/mo
Deploymentcloudcloud
PlatformsWEBWEB, IOS, ANDROID
Rating7.5/107.3/10

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

ProductPricing ModelStarting Price
Hippo Managersubscription$120/mo
Covetrus Pulsesubscription$300/mo

Our Verdict

Choose Hippo Manager if...

Solo veterinarians and tiny practices where the software budget needs to be under $150/month

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Choose Covetrus Pulse if...

Practices using Covetrus for supplies that want seamless integration between software and supply chain ordering

Learn More

Still Not Sure?

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.