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Healthcare · head to head

OpenMRS vs Updox

OpenMRS logo

OpenMRS

Healthcare

Open source electronic medical record platform for low-resource settings, with no vendor and paid implementers instead

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Updox logo

Updox

Healthcare

Healthcare communications platform for eFax, telehealth and patient reminders

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenMRS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenMRS there is no vendor and no support contract from OpenMRS itself, so a procurement that requires a named supplier with a service level must instead contract an implementer, and the quality of that implementer determines the outcome more than the software does; Updox no specific dollar amounts listed on pricing page
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenMRS and Updox actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenMRS and Updox differ
AttributeOpenMRSUpdox
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Web, WindowsWeb

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

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 OpenMRS

  • Concept dictionary
  • Modular architecture
  • Modern front end
  • FHIR support
  • Offline tolerance
  • Patient matching and registration
  • Distributions

Only in Updox

Nothing recorded that OpenMRS does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

OpenMRS

  • A ministry of health standardising HIV treatment records across hundreds of facilities where per-patient licensing would be unaffordablenot Updox
  • A hospital network in a country where no commercial vendor supports the local language, clinical forms or reporting requirementsnot Updox
  • An NGO running a tuberculosis programme that must report into DHIS2 and needs the clinical record beneath it to be modifiablenot Updox
  • A health system that wants to own its clinical data model outright rather than depend on a vendor to extend itnot Updox

Updox

  • Healthcare communication and patient engagementnot OpenMRS
  • Medical practice fax, telehealth, and SMS messagingnot OpenMRS
  • Charge capture and medical billing workflowsnot OpenMRS
  • Multi-location healthcare systemsnot OpenMRS

Where each one falls short

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

OpenMRS

  • There is no vendor and no support contract from OpenMRS itself, so a procurement that requires a named supplier with a service level must instead contract an implementer, and the quality of that implementer determines the outcome more than the software does
  • It is a framework rather than a ready product, so a deployment requires clinical content, form design, concept dictionary work and integration before a single patient is registered, and that work is months of skilled effort
  • Funding comes largely from donor programmes, which makes the pace of core development dependent on grant cycles rather than on a commercial roadmap, and priorities can shift when a funder does
  • Distribution choice, core OpenMRS against Bahmni against Ozone, locks in a different set of components and a different implementer pool, and migrating between distributions later is close to a fresh implementation
  • The people cost never goes away: a national deployment needs permanent internal informatics capacity or a permanent support contract, and organisations that budget only the zero licence fee run out of money at the point the system becomes clinically critical

Updox

  • No specific dollar amounts listed on pricing page
  • Actual costs require contacting sales team or scheduling a demo
  • Standard and Enterprise tier limits shown but no pricing transparency

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenMRS

Free
  • OpenMRSFree
    • Openly licensed, no licence fee and no seat limits
    • Community support through forums and the OpenMRS Talk platform
    • No support contract available from OpenMRS itself

Updox

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Updox review.

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenMRS if

  • You need concept dictionary.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Web, Windows.
  • You also want modular architecture.
OpenMRS review

Choose Updox if

Nothing in the data separates Updox from OpenMRS on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Updox review

Questions people ask

Is OpenMRS or Updox better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenMRS starts at Free and Updox at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenMRS or Updox?
OpenMRS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenMRS and On request for Updox.
Does OpenMRS or Updox run on more platforms?
OpenMRS runs on Linux, Web, Windows. Updox runs on Web.
Can I use OpenMRS for free?
Yes. OpenMRS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Updox starts at On request.
What is OpenMRS best used for?
OpenMRS is most often used for a ministry of health standardising hiv treatment records across hundreds of facilities where per-patient licensing would be unaffordable, a hospital network in a country where no commercial vendor supports the local language, clinical forms or reporting requirements, an ngo running a tuberculosis programme that must report into dhis2 and needs the clinical record beneath it to be modifiable, a health system that wants to own its clinical data model outright rather than depend on a vendor to extend it. Of those, a ministry of health standardising hiv treatment records across hundreds of facilities where per-patient licensing would be unaffordable and a hospital network in a country where no commercial vendor supports the local language, clinical forms or reporting requirements are not what Updox is typically brought in for.
What can OpenMRS do that Updox cannot?
OpenMRS covers Concept dictionary, Modular architecture, Modern front end, FHIR support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenMRS: Who supports OpenMRS if it breaks?

Not OpenMRS itself. Support is bought from implementers such as Mekom Solutions, which offers long-term production service level agreements for OpenMRS, Bahmni and Ozone deployments, or from regional partners.

Updox: How much does Updox cost?

Updox pricing is not published on the pricing page. The vendor offers customizable packages and directs inquiries to schedule a demo or contact the sales team for personalized pricing based on practice size and tool requirements.

Source
OpenMRS: Is it really free?

The software has no licence fee. Hosting, configuration, clinical content, integration and support are the real cost, and they are ongoing.

Updox: What is Updox's pricing model?

Updox uses a usage-based pricing model with customizable packages. Costs are tailored based on the tools selected (fax pages, telehealth sessions, patient reminders, text messages, broadcast messages) and can scale with practice benchmark data.

Source
OpenMRS: What is the difference between OpenMRS, Bahmni and Ozone?

OpenMRS is the core platform. Bahmni and Ozone are distributions that package it with billing, laboratory and inventory components. Choosing a distribution constrains your implementer options.

Updox: What limits are included in Updox's Standard tier?

Updox Standard tier includes up to 1,000 fax pages, 75 telehealth sessions, reminders for 500 appointments, 500 text messages, and 500 broadcast messages monthly, with higher limits available in Enterprise tier.

Source
OpenMRS: Does it support FHIR?

Yes. FHIR support is the standard route for integrating laboratory, pharmacy and national reporting systems.

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