Hippo Manager vs NaVetor: 2026 Comparison
Hippo Manager and NaVetor are two of the most-affordable cloud PMS options for small and mid GP practices in 2026. Both target the 1-3 DVM independent SMB market that wants cloud PMS without enterprise pricing or implementation overhead.
Hippo Manager was acquired by Shepherd Veterinary Software in 2025 and pricing is in transition. Historical Hippo Manager pricing was $119/month per full-time vet; post-acquisition pricing structure is still being communicated to the market. Practices evaluating Hippo Manager in 2026 should expect Shepherd-aligned pricing or potential migration paths to Shepherd's flagship platform.
NaVetor is bundled free with Patterson Veterinary card processing. Practices running Patterson as their card processor get NaVetor at no additional PMS subscription cost. Practices not on Patterson card processing pay sales-quoted subscription rates that are typically in the $200-$400/month range for a single-location 2-DVM practice.
NaVetor relaunched in 2025 with native AI features (scribe, intake automation) as part of the Patterson Veterinary modernization push. The platform is competitive with Hippo Manager on core PMS functionality and has better recent investment in AI features.
The Verdict
Hippo Manager wins for small/mid GP practices wanting affordable cloud PMS with clean entry pricing, with the caveat that the platform is in transition under Shepherd Veterinary Software ownership. NaVetor wins for Patterson Veterinary customers who can get the PMS bundled free with Patterson card processing, making it functionally the cheapest cloud PMS in the SMB tier. Both target the same 1-3 DVM SMB market but with different economics: Hippo is direct subscription, NaVetor is Patterson-bundled. The choice typically comes down to whether the practice is willing to commit to Patterson card processing in exchange for the bundled PMS, or prefers stand-alone subscription with transition risk.
Feature Comparison
| Dimension | Hippo Manager | NaVetor |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Cloud-native | Cloud-native |
| Pricing model | Subscription (in transition) | Bundled free with Patterson card processing |
| Practice fit | 1-3 DVM independent SMB | 1-3 DVM SMB on Patterson distribution |
| AI features | Light; Shepherd transition unclear | Native AI scribe + intake (2025 relaunch) |
| Pharmacy integration | Open (Covetrus, VetSource, MWI) | Open + Patterson Veterinary native |
| Lab integration | IDEXX, Antech standard | IDEXX, Antech, Patterson labs |
| Client comms | PetDesk, Rapport integration | Patterson PetVisor + open options |
| Implementation time | 30-60 days typical | 30-60 days typical |
| Ownership status | Acquired by Shepherd 2025 | Patterson Veterinary (stable) |
| Multi-location support | Light | Light |
| Transition risk | High; Shepherd integration unclear | Low; Patterson committed |
| Reporting depth | Basic | Basic + new dashboards 2025 |
Where Hippo Manager Wins
**Subscription transparency.** Hippo Manager's historical $119/mo/FTV pricing was the cleanest direct subscription model in vet SMB cloud PMS. Practices could budget exactly without committing to Patterson card processing or negotiating bundle math. Post-acquisition pricing is still being clarified but the direct-subscription model is expected to continue.
**Independence from card processor.** Practices wanting to choose their card processor independently (CareCredit, ScratchPay, alternative merchant processors) can run Hippo Manager without forced bundle constraints. NaVetor's economics presume Patterson card processing which may not be the practice's preferred processor.
**Shepherd-backed future.** While the transition adds short-term uncertainty, Shepherd's ownership means Hippo Manager is now backed by an AI-native vet PMS vendor with clinician-led product design. Practices that prefer Shepherd's thesis (charge capture, AI-first workflow) get a less-expensive path into the Shepherd ecosystem through Hippo Manager.
**Lower commitment vendor risk.** Hippo Manager has been a long-running cloud PMS option and the underlying platform has stability. The Shepherd acquisition is a positive signal for product investment relative to platforms that have stagnated under unchanged ownership.
Where NaVetor Wins
**Bundled free with Patterson card processing.** Practices running Patterson card processing pay no PMS subscription. For a 2-DVM practice, the avoided $200-$400/month PMS cost is $2,400-$4,800/year saved against the direct-subscription competition. If Patterson's card processing rates are within market range (typically 0.05-0.15% premium over alternatives), the net savings are real.
**2025 AI relaunch.** NaVetor shipped native AI scribe and intake automation as part of the 2025 relaunch. Practices get bundled AI features at the same Patterson card processing bundle that previously delivered PMS only. The AI feature set is competitive with Scribenote and other dedicated AI scribes for routine GP scope.
**Stable vendor ownership.** Patterson Veterinary has owned NaVetor since founding and the ownership is stable. No transition risk vs. Hippo Manager's ongoing Shepherd integration. Practices that prioritize vendor stability over potential upside should default to NaVetor.
**Native Patterson Veterinary pharmacy integration.** Practices buying inventory through Patterson distribution get the deepest pharmacy workflow integration on NaVetor. The integration handles wholesale ordering, inventory replenishment, and home-delivery workflow more natively than open integrations on Hippo Manager.
Choose Hippo Manager if...
you want transparent subscription pricing independent of card processor choice, you prefer Shepherd's AI-first product direction, or you want clean vendor economics without committing to Patterson card processing.
Choose NaVetor if...
you already run Patterson card processing (or are willing to switch), you want free PMS bundled with the card processing relationship, or you prefer stable Patterson Veterinary ownership over the Shepherd transition uncertainty.
Pricing Scenario
**Solo vet, 1 DVM, $400K revenue:** Hippo Manager historical pricing $119/mo = $1,428/year direct subscription. NaVetor bundled free with Patterson card processing (assuming the practice runs $200K in card volume annually, Patterson rates are competitive). NaVetor saves $1,428/year if the practice was going to run Patterson anyway; the savings are smaller if Patterson rates are above market.
**2-DVM independent GP, $1M revenue:** Hippo Manager $238/mo = $2,856/year. NaVetor bundled free if on Patterson card processing. NaVetor saves $2,856/year minus any Patterson card-processing rate premium. Most practices in this band see net savings on NaVetor when Patterson rates are within 0.10% of alternatives.
**3-DVM GP, $2M revenue:** Hippo Manager $357/mo = $4,284/year. NaVetor bundled free if on Patterson, plus native AI scribe replaces $237-$297/mo Scribenote cost on Hippo = additional $2,844-$3,564/year saved. NaVetor wins by $7,128-$7,848/year for Patterson customers at this scale.
Integrations
**Hippo Manager:** Open integrations with IDEXX, Antech labs; major imaging modality vendors; Covetrus, VetSource, MWI pharmacy; Stripe, CareCredit, ScratchPay payments; PetDesk and Rapport client comms. Lighter integration ecosystem than ezyVet or Provet Cloud but covers the routine SMB GP stack. Shepherd-aligned integrations may expand post-acquisition.
**NaVetor:** Open integrations with IDEXX, Antech labs (plus native Patterson lab integration); imaging modality vendors; Covetrus, MWI pharmacy (plus native Patterson Veterinary distribution); Patterson card processing native, plus CareCredit; native Patterson PetVisor for client comms plus PetDesk, Rapport open integration; native AI scribe and intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the status of Hippo Manager under Shepherd ownership?
Shepherd Veterinary Software acquired Hippo Manager in 2025 and the platform is in transition. Existing Hippo Manager customers remain on the platform with continuity of service. New customers in 2026 may be directed to Shepherd's flagship platform depending on practice profile, or kept on Hippo Manager at adjusted pricing. Practices considering Hippo Manager in 2026 should ask Shepherd directly about pricing structure and roadmap.
Is NaVetor free?
Yes, when bundled with Patterson Veterinary card processing. Practices pay no PMS subscription if they commit to running Patterson card processing for their merchant transactions. Practices not on Patterson card processing pay sales-quoted PMS subscription rates typically in the $200-$400/mo range. The bundle math is the entire value proposition for NaVetor.
How do Patterson card processing rates compare to alternatives?
Patterson rates are typically within 0.05-0.15% of alternative merchant processors like Stripe, Square, or OpenEdge. For most practices the rate difference is small relative to the bundled PMS savings. Practices with high card volume or specialized payment workflows (recurring membership billing, complex split-tendering) should validate Patterson rates against alternatives before committing. The economic case for NaVetor weakens at very high card volume where small rate premiums compound meaningfully.
How good is NaVetor's 2025 AI scribe relaunch?
Competitive with Scribenote and other dedicated scribes for routine GP scope. The native AI scribe handles SOAP-note generation, charge suggestion, and template-driven documentation for standard GP visits. Specialty and ER scope is lighter; practices doing meaningful specialty work typically pair with VetRec or CoVet rather than relying on NaVetor's native scribe. For 1-3 DVM SMB GP, the native scribe is sufficient.
What is the migration path between Hippo Manager and NaVetor?
Both platforms support data export via API and structured CSV. The export covers patient records, owner records, transaction history, and SOAP notes. Template logic and configuration do not migrate cleanly. Plan 30-60 days for a single-location SMB migration with $2,000-$5,000 in implementation services. Most SMB practices migrating between these platforms cite the data migration as straightforward; the harder work is card processor switch (if moving onto or off Patterson) and staff retraining.
Which is the better long-term bet?
NaVetor, slightly, for ownership stability. Patterson Veterinary's commitment to NaVetor is clear and the 2025 AI relaunch signals continued investment. Hippo Manager under Shepherd is positive long-term but the transition adds short-term execution risk. Practices that prioritize stability should default to NaVetor; practices that prioritize AI-native product direction may prefer the Shepherd path through Hippo Manager.
How do these compare to Shepherd itself or Digitail?
Shepherd and Digitail are positioned at the next tier up: 2-5 DVM modern independent practices that want AI-native architecture and are willing to pay $500-$900/mo for the full bundle. Hippo Manager and NaVetor target the value-tier 1-3 DVM SMB market at $0-$400/mo. Practices at the boundary (3 DVM, $1.5-$2M revenue, growth-oriented) often consider both tiers; the decision usually comes down to whether the practice values the bundled AI workflow features of Shepherd or Digitail enough to pay the platform premium.
Can either platform handle multi-location growth?
Both are SMB-focused and lighter on multi-location operational support than ezyVet, Provet Cloud, or Vetspire. Practices growing to 2-3 locations can run either platform with manageable operational overhead. Practices growing to 4+ locations should plan to migrate to a multi-location platform within 2-3 years. Both Hippo Manager and NaVetor support multi-site data structures but the reporting and operational features are not built for enterprise group complexity.
Reviewed by Rome Thorndike. Last verified 2026-05-12.
Pricing, features, and ratings are based on vendor documentation, public filings, product demos, and feedback from sales teams using these tools in production. We update reviews when vendors ship major releases or change pricing.