Introduction

OpenVPMS is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by our users.
We rely on subscriptions to:

• provide world-class software and documentation for you to use
• provide a platform for you to connect with other users

Who needs to subscribe?

If you are a veterinary practice, you are free to evaluate OpenVPMS for a period of 30 days.
After this, you must purchase a subscription to use OpenVPMS in your practice and you must renew it each year.

If you are installing OpenVPMS for a practice, you must ensure that the practice purchases a subscription.

Other users are not required to purchase a subscription. Integrators and Developers who need to run OpenVPMS can obtain a key by emailing 

How do I subscribe?

You can purchase a subscription by filling out the form below .
You will be sent an email containing your subscription key, with instructions for installing it in OpenVPMS.

If you pay by PayPal then the subscription key will be issued immediately. 

If you pay by Bank Transfer or Cheque then your subscription key will be issued after the funds have been received and cleared. This can take up to 5 business days or more if you post a cheque.

How much does it cost?

Subscriptions to OpenVPMS are based on the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) veterinarians who work in your practice (which may operate from one or more locations).

A FTE is a veterinarian who is on duty for an average of 25 hours or more per week.

Add to this the number of veterinarians who work less than 25 hours per week, divided by 3, and your total FTE’s are sum of these two categories rounded to the NEAREST whole number with a minimum of 1. (The system will calculate this for you.)

The cost is $A450 plus GST per FTE veterinarian per year. (Non-Australian practices do not pay GST.)  Note that the $450 charge per FTE is made of two components, a $300 subscription component plus a $150 ‘development levy’. The Development Levy is used to fund work needed to allow OpenVPMS to use current versions of the various components that it uses (such as the MySQL database and Spring framework). The Levy may also be used to fund worthwhile projects that have not been fully funded.

Not for profit organisations

We provide discounts for not-for-profit organisations. We divide these into two types, those who have a clinic open to all (and get 50% off the subscription component but pay the full ‘development levy’), and those who do not (and pay nothing).  To arrange these discounts, before subscribing please contact

I have received a key. What do I do with it?

When you purchase a subscription, you will be emailed a key.

To update OpenVPMS with your subscription, perform the following steps:

1. Save the attachment
    Save it to a directory where it is easy to locate; you will need to upload it shortly.  NOTE: you don't need to open the attachment.

2. Log in to OpenVPMS as an administrator

3. Go to the Administration - Organisation workspace:

    1. Click Administration

    2. Click Organisation

4. Edit the Practice:

    1. Select 'Practice' in the 'Type' field

    2. Click 'Find'

    3. Select the Practice from the table

    4. Click 'Edit'

5. Upload the attachment:

    1. Select the 'Subscription' tab

    2. Click 'Upload'

    3. In the Upload window, click 'Browse'

    4. Locate the attachment in the File Upload window, and select it

    5. Back in the Upload window, click 'Send'

    6. The subscription will be displayed. Click OK

I have subscribed, but I don't have a key

If you have subscribed, but haven't received a key, please contact subscriptions@openvpms.org and provide your name and practice contact details.

What happens next year?

One month before your subscription expires, you will be sent an email reminding you to renew it. If the subscription expires, you will be sent an email saying so. Whether you renew early or late, the subscription will still expire on the anniversary date.