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Healthcare · head to head

Cliniko vs Covetrus Pulse

Cliniko logo

Cliniko

Healthcare

Clinic management software for health practitioners

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Covetrus Pulse logo

Covetrus Pulse

Veterinary

Veterinary operating system with pharmacy and client engagement

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cliniko has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cliniko priced in practitioner bands rather than per seat, so a clinic adding a sixth practitioner jumps from $95 to $145 a month; Covetrus Pulse ties clinical software to a supply and pharmacy relationship, which is a commercial dependency worth deciding on deliberately
  • They diverge on capability: Cliniko covers Appointment Scheduling, Covetrus Pulse covers Practice management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cliniko and Covetrus Pulse actually diverge.

Attributes where Cliniko and Covetrus Pulse differ
AttributeClinikoCovetrus Pulse
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, Cloud, iOS, Android
CategoryHealthcareVeterinary
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cliniko

  • Appointment Scheduling
  • Online Booking
  • Client Management
  • Invoicing
  • Patient Portal
  • Telehealth
  • Payment processors
  • Online forms

Only in Covetrus Pulse

  • Practice management
  • Integrated prescription management
  • Client engagement
  • Analytics

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cliniko

  • Practice management for allied health clinicsnot Covetrus Pulse
  • Appointment scheduling and online bookingsnot Covetrus Pulse
  • Clinical notes and patient recordsnot Covetrus Pulse
  • Telehealth consultationsnot Covetrus Pulse
  • Invoicing and payment tracking for a multi-practitioner clinicnot Covetrus Pulse

Covetrus Pulse

  • Practices dispensing heavily that want prescriptions filled without leaving the systemnot Cliniko
  • Groups wanting one platform across clinical, client and pharmacynot Cliniko
  • Clinics moving off legacy on-premise systems such as AVImarknot Cliniko

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cliniko

  • Priced in practitioner bands rather than per seat, so a clinic adding a sixth practitioner jumps from $95 to $145 a month
  • The top published band stops at 200 practitioners
  • SMS is charged separately at 10 cents a message
  • Telehealth requires entering card details before it unlocks, even during the trial
  • There is no free tier, only a 30 day trial

Covetrus Pulse

  • Ties clinical software to a supply and pharmacy relationship, which is a commercial dependency worth deciding on deliberately
  • Quote-only pricing with no published rates
  • Covetrus also owns older systems, and roadmap attention across a portfolio is a fair question
  • Cloud-only, so consultations depend on clinic connectivity

Pricing, plan by plan

Cliniko

Free
  • 1 Practitioner$45/month
  • 2-5 Practitioners$95/month
  • 6-8 Practitioners$145/month
  • 9-12 Practitioners$195/month

Covetrus Pulse

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Covetrus Pulse review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Cliniko if

  • You need appointment scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want online booking.
Cliniko review

Choose Covetrus Pulse if

  • You need practice management.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android.
  • You also want integrated prescription management.
Covetrus Pulse review

Questions people ask

Is Cliniko or Covetrus Pulse better?
Neither clearly leads. Cliniko starts at Free and Covetrus Pulse at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cliniko or Covetrus Pulse?
Cliniko has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cliniko and On request for Covetrus Pulse.
Does Cliniko or Covetrus Pulse run on more platforms?
Cliniko runs on Web, Mobile. Covetrus Pulse runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android.
Can I use Cliniko for free?
Yes. Cliniko has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Covetrus Pulse starts at On request.
What is Cliniko best used for?
Cliniko is most often used for practice management for allied health clinics, appointment scheduling and online bookings, clinical notes and patient records, telehealth consultations. Of those, practice management for allied health clinics and appointment scheduling and online bookings are not what Covetrus Pulse is typically brought in for.
What can Cliniko do that Covetrus Pulse cannot?
Cliniko covers Appointment Scheduling, Online Booking, Client Management, Invoicing. Covetrus Pulse covers Practice management, Integrated prescription management, Client engagement, Analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cliniko: How much does Cliniko cost for a practice?

Cliniko uses per-practitioner pricing: 1 practitioner $45/month, 2-5 practitioners $95/month, 6-8 practitioners $145/month, 9-12 practitioners $195/month, 13-25 practitioners $295/month, 26-200 practitioners $395/month.

Source
Covetrus Pulse: What does Covetrus Pulse cost?

Pricing is quoted per practice and not published.

Cliniko: Does Cliniko offer a free trial?

Cliniko is free to try for the first 30 days with no credit card required initially. A credit card is required to unlock features like Telehealth after the trial begins.

Source
Covetrus Pulse: What makes it different?

Covetrus is an animal-health distributor and pharmacy, so prescription fulfilment and home delivery sit inside the same company rather than behind an integration.

Cliniko: What is included in all Cliniko plans?

Every Cliniko subscription includes complete feature access, unlimited admin and reception users, unlimited locations, unlimited file storage, unlimited patients, 24/7 monitoring, automatic backups, regular updates, and 24/7 customer support.

Source
Covetrus Pulse: Is the supply relationship a concern?

It is worth deciding deliberately. The convenience is real, and so is tying your clinical system to a distributor you also buy from.

Cliniko: Does Cliniko charge extra for SMS and what discounts apply?

SMS messaging costs 10 cents per message (pre-paid credits required). Annual billing includes one month free every year. Charities and educational institutions qualify for free access. Cliniko commits to no feature-specific fees beyond SMS and offers no annual commitment discounts.

Source
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