Veterinary · head to head
IDEXX Cornerstone vs Talkatoo
IDEXX Cornerstone
Veterinary
On-premise veterinary practice management software tied to the IDEXX diagnostics ecosystem
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Talkatoo
Veterinary
Veterinary dictation that types into any practice management system without needing an integration
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: IDEXX Cornerstone the system runs on a server in the building, so the practice pays for hardware, backups and an IT provider, costs that never appear in a comparison against browser based competitors.; Talkatoo because it types into whatever field has focus, a stray click sends a paragraph of clinical notes into the wrong patient record or the wrong field entirely.
- They diverge on capability: IDEXX Cornerstone covers Medical records, Talkatoo covers Veterinary vocabulary.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which IDEXX Cornerstone and Talkatoo actually diverge.
| Attribute | IDEXX Cornerstone | Talkatoo |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Veterinary).
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 IDEXX Cornerstone
- Medical records
- Diagnostics integration
- Estimates and invoicing
- Inventory control
- Boarding and grooming
- Wellness plans
Only in Talkatoo
- Veterinary vocabulary
- Types anywhere
- Mobile dictation
- Custom shortcuts
- Ambient note drafting
- Multi-user accounts
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
IDEXX Cornerstone
- A multi-doctor general practice already running IDEXX in-house analysers that wants results in the record automaticallynot Talkatoo
- A clinic with unreliable internet where an on-site server keeps the practice working during an outagenot Talkatoo
- A practice that boards and grooms as well as treating, and wants those bookings on the same invoicenot Talkatoo
- A group needing consolidated reporting across a small number of owned locationsnot Talkatoo
Talkatoo
- A clinician finishing records after hours because typing during consultations is too slownot IDEXX Cornerstone
- A mixed or equine practice writing notes in a vehicle between farm visitsnot IDEXX Cornerstone
- A practice on an older on-premise system that no modern tool will integrate withnot IDEXX Cornerstone
- A group wanting faster record completion without replacing the practice management systemnot IDEXX Cornerstone
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
IDEXX Cornerstone
- The system runs on a server in the building, so the practice pays for hardware, backups and an IT provider, costs that never appear in a comparison against browser based competitors.
- It is Windows only with no meaningful mobile access, which rules it out for house call and ambulatory work and leaves staff tied to workstations.
- The interface is dense and dated, so training a new receptionist or technician takes materially longer than on newer systems.
- Commercial gravity runs towards IDEXX diagnostics, and a practice that later moves its laboratory work to a competitor loses the automation that justified the software.
- IDEXX is directing new customers towards its cloud products, so investment in Cornerstone is maintenance oriented and buyers should assume a migration conversation within the life of the purchase.
Talkatoo
- Because it types into whatever field has focus, a stray click sends a paragraph of clinical notes into the wrong patient record or the wrong field entirely.
- Recognition accuracy varies with accent, background noise and ward acoustics, and a busy consulting room is the worst case rather than the exception.
- It is priced per user, so a practice with locums and part-time clinicians pays for seats that dictate a handful of times a month.
- Everything it produces is free text, so nothing is captured in a discrete field and the notes do not feed reporting, recall lists or any future structured data project.
- Ambient drafting produces a record that reads as complete but may contain errors of omission, and the clinician remains responsible for a document they did not write and may not read carefully.
Pricing, plan by plan
IDEXX Cornerstone
On request- Cornerstone$undefined/year
- Licence priced by number of workstations and modules
- Annual support and maintenance charged separately
- Server hardware and IT support are the responsibility of the practice
Talkatoo
On request- Talkatoo$undefined/year
- Per-user subscription
- Ambient note drafting priced separately
- Volume pricing for multi-site groups
Which should you pick?
Choose IDEXX Cornerstone if
- You need medical records.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want diagnostics integration.
Choose Talkatoo if
- You need veterinary vocabulary.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want types anywhere.
Questions people ask
- Is IDEXX Cornerstone or Talkatoo better?
- Neither clearly leads. IDEXX Cornerstone starts at On request and Talkatoo at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, IDEXX Cornerstone or Talkatoo?
- IDEXX Cornerstone starts at On request and Talkatoo at On request.
- Does IDEXX Cornerstone or Talkatoo run on more platforms?
- IDEXX Cornerstone runs on Windows. Talkatoo runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- What is IDEXX Cornerstone best used for?
- IDEXX Cornerstone is most often used for a multi-doctor general practice already running idexx in-house analysers that wants results in the record automatically, a clinic with unreliable internet where an on-site server keeps the practice working during an outage, a practice that boards and grooms as well as treating, and wants those bookings on the same invoice, a group needing consolidated reporting across a small number of owned locations. Of those, a multi-doctor general practice already running idexx in-house analysers that wants results in the record automatically and a clinic with unreliable internet where an on-site server keeps the practice working during an outage are not what Talkatoo is typically brought in for.
- What can IDEXX Cornerstone do that Talkatoo cannot?
- IDEXX Cornerstone covers Medical records, Diagnostics integration, Estimates and invoicing, Inventory control. Talkatoo covers Veterinary vocabulary, Types anywhere, Mobile dictation, Custom shortcuts.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
IDEXX Cornerstone: Is Cornerstone cloud based?
No. It is installed on a server at the practice. IDEXX sells separate browser based products for clinics that want cloud.
Talkatoo: Does Talkatoo integrate with my practice management system?
It does not need to. It sends text to whatever field your cursor is in, which is why it works with systems that have no integration programme at all.
IDEXX Cornerstone: Does it work with laboratories other than IDEXX?
Results can be handled, but the automatic requisition and result return that make Cornerstone worth its price are built around IDEXX.
Talkatoo: Is the dictated audio stored?
Recognition is processed in the cloud. Ask specifically how long audio and transcripts are retained and where, because consultation recordings can contain client personal information.
IDEXX Cornerstone: What is the real total cost?
The licence and annual support are only part of it. Add the server, backup, workstation refreshes and an IT contract before comparing with cloud systems.
Talkatoo: Will it fill in structured fields in my records?
No. It produces free text. If you need discrete, searchable clinical data, dictation is the wrong tool for that part of the record.
IDEXX Cornerstone: Can it be accessed from home?
Only through remote desktop or similar, set up and secured by the practice IT provider.
Related pages
More on IDEXX Cornerstone
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