Softwr

Veterinary · head to head

IDEXX Neo vs Onward Vet

IDEXX Neo logo

IDEXX Neo

Veterinary

Cloud practice management from IDEXX, designed around IDEXX analysers and reference laboratories

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Onward Vet logo

Onward Vet

Veterinary

Small-vendor cloud practice management sold on flat subscription with unlimited users

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IDEXX Neo the value depends on running IDEXX diagnostics, so a practice that later changes analyser or reference laboratory supplier loses the main reason it chose the software and faces two migrations instead of one.; Onward Vet the vendor is small, so support depth, release pace and the ability to absorb a serious outage are all limited compared with IDEXX, Covetrus or the larger cloud vendors.
  • They diverge on capability: IDEXX Neo covers IDEXX analyser integration, Onward Vet covers Flat practice subscription.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IDEXX Neo and Onward Vet actually diverge.

Attributes where IDEXX Neo and Onward Vet differ
AttributeIDEXX NeoOnward Vet

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 Neo

  • IDEXX analyser integration
  • Reference laboratory integration
  • Cloud hosting
  • Templated medical records
  • Scheduling and reminders
  • Invoicing and inventory

Only in Onward Vet

  • Flat practice subscription
  • Cloud hosted
  • Medical records and SOAP
  • Estimates and treatment plans
  • Client communication
  • Laboratory integration

What people use each for

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

IDEXX Neo

  • A one to three doctor small animal clinic that already runs IDEXX in-house analysersnot Onward Vet
  • A practice moving off a server-based system that wants hosting and backup to stop being its problemnot Onward Vet
  • A new clinic opening with IDEXX diagnostics that wants the laboratory workflow set up on day onenot Onward Vet
  • A practice whose staff turnover is high and which needs software simple enough to train someone on in a daynot Onward Vet

Onward Vet

  • A clinic with a large rota of part-time technicians and receptionists where per-seat pricing is disproportionatenot IDEXX Neo
  • A single-site practice leaving an ageing on-premise system that no longer wants to maintain a servernot IDEXX Neo
  • A new practice that needs a working record system quickly without a long configuration projectnot IDEXX Neo
  • A cost-sensitive clinic that wants cloud practice management without paying for integration breadth it will not usenot IDEXX Neo

Where each one falls short

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

IDEXX Neo

  • The value depends on running IDEXX diagnostics, so a practice that later changes analyser or reference laboratory supplier loses the main reason it chose the software and faces two migrations instead of one.
  • Software pricing is often folded into a diagnostics purchase agreement, which makes it hard to see what the practice management system actually costs and harder still to compare it against a neutral vendor.
  • It is designed for small single-site practices, so multi-location groups quickly hit limits in reporting, consolidated inventory and cross-site records and are steered towards Cornerstone instead.
  • Reporting and inventory management are basic by design, so a practice that wants detailed production analysis by veterinary surgeon or tight stock control will need to export and work outside the system.
  • The third-party integration surface is narrower than open cloud systems, so specialist tools for communication, imaging or wellness plans may not connect without manual work.

Onward Vet

  • The vendor is small, so support depth, release pace and the ability to absorb a serious outage are all limited compared with IDEXX, Covetrus or the larger cloud vendors.
  • The integration catalogue is short, so specialist imaging, communication or wellness plan tools that connect to ezyVet or Provet Cloud may need manual handling here.
  • Reporting is basic, so a practice that wants production analysis by veterinary surgeon, detailed inventory valuation or multi-site consolidation will be exporting data to a spreadsheet.
  • There is no on-premise option, so a clinic with an unreliable internet connection has no fallback when the link goes down and the appointment book becomes unreachable.
  • Concentration risk is real with a supplier of this size: acquisition, a change of direction or a funding problem would put your record system into other hands, so test the data export before committing.

Pricing, plan by plan

IDEXX Neo

On request
  • IDEXX Neo$undefined/year
    • Quoted per practice, frequently as part of a diagnostics agreement
    • Cloud hosting, backup and updates included
    • Data conversion charged separately

Onward Vet

On request
  • Onward Vet$undefined/year
    • Quoted as a flat monthly practice subscription
    • Unlimited user accounts
    • Cloud hosting, backup and updates included

Which should you pick?

Choose IDEXX Neo if

  • You need idexx analyser integration.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want reference laboratory integration.
IDEXX Neo review

Choose Onward Vet if

  • You need flat practice subscription.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want cloud hosted.
Onward Vet review

Questions people ask

Is IDEXX Neo or Onward Vet better?
Neither clearly leads. IDEXX Neo starts at On request and Onward Vet at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IDEXX Neo or Onward Vet?
IDEXX Neo starts at On request and Onward Vet at On request.
Does IDEXX Neo or Onward Vet run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is IDEXX Neo best used for?
IDEXX Neo is most often used for a one to three doctor small animal clinic that already runs idexx in-house analysers, a practice moving off a server-based system that wants hosting and backup to stop being its problem, a new clinic opening with idexx diagnostics that wants the laboratory workflow set up on day one, a practice whose staff turnover is high and which needs software simple enough to train someone on in a day. Of those, a one to three doctor small animal clinic that already runs idexx in-house analysers and a practice moving off a server-based system that wants hosting and backup to stop being its problem are not what Onward Vet is typically brought in for.
What can IDEXX Neo do that Onward Vet cannot?
IDEXX Neo covers IDEXX analyser integration, Reference laboratory integration, Cloud hosting, Templated medical records. Onward Vet covers Flat practice subscription, Cloud hosted, Medical records and SOAP, Estimates and treatment plans.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IDEXX Neo: Do I have to use IDEXX diagnostics?

No, but almost all the advantage of choosing Neo over a neutral cloud system comes from the IDEXX analyser and reference laboratory integration.

Onward Vet: How is it priced?

As a flat practice subscription with unlimited users, quoted rather than published, which is why it suits clinics with many part-time staff.

IDEXX Neo: How is Neo different from Cornerstone?

Cornerstone is the older on-premise product for larger and multi-site hospitals, with much deeper inventory and reporting. Neo is cloud, simpler and aimed at small practices.

Onward Vet: Is it suitable for a multi-site group?

Not really. It is built for single-site independent clinics; consolidated reporting and cross-site inventory are not its strength.

IDEXX Neo: Is pricing published?

No. It is quoted per practice and is frequently negotiated alongside diagnostics commitments, so ask for the software price as a standalone figure.

Onward Vet: What happens if the internet goes down?

You lose access to the appointment book and records. There is no on-premise fallback, so a secondary connection is a sensible precaution.

IDEXX Neo: Can I export my records if I leave?

Data extracts are available on request, but plan the extract and test it before you commit, because migration off a diagnostics-linked system is usually a bigger project than expected.

Onward Vet: Can I get my data out?

Ask for a full export during evaluation and check what format it comes in. With a small vendor this is a question to answer before you sign, not afterwards.

Share

Related pages

More on IDEXX Neo

More on Onward Vet

Keep looking

Other head to heads