The Top 10 CRMs for Veterinary & Pet Services: Ensuring Strong Patient/Owner Relationships

Veterinary clinics and pet services face significant challenges. They’re tasked with providing crucial care for patients ranging from common pets like dogs and cats to more exotic animals, and often with livestock, as well. Complicating the situation is the fact that vet clinics and pet services must build relationships not just with their patients, but also with their patients’ owners. 

A customer relationship management tool (or CRM) is a vital asset in the quest to build better, stronger, more lasting relationships. In addition, the right software can enable better patient care, streamline services and treatments, and even improve patient retention over time. The challenge is determining which CRM is right for you.

CRM or PMS?

A quick glance at the available options for veterinary and pet services shows a diverse field of choices. There are leading CRMs used across multiple industries, vet/pet service-specific CRMs, and even practice management software (PMS). CRMs offer important benefits, but a PMS might be an even better option, as it delivers the capabilities of a CRM combined with additional tools designed to help you manage every aspect of your practice, from billing to patient intake.

However, it can be difficult to determine whether a CRM or PMS is the better option for your needs. It can even be hard to tell which software is a CRM and which one is focused on practice management. We’ve created a list of the top 10 CRMs and PMS options for veterinary and pet services to help you make an informed decision and gain access to the tools you need to grow, thrive, and serve your patients to the best of your abilities.

Additionally, our Live Receptionist services also integrate perfectly with most of the CRMs on our list, giving you access to not just a way to build stronger relationships, but a proven solution to streamlining communications and boosting patient/pet owner satisfaction. 

Exploring the Best CRMs for Veterinary Clinics and Pet Services

1. Daylite

Not built specifically for veterinary clinics or pet services, Daylite is nevertheless a great choice for any small practice. It offers a broad range of tools and capabilities to help build stronger relationships, manage those relationships over time, reduce attrition, and more. Not only that, but it also offers complete integration with Mac/Apple devices and the Apple ecosystem.

With Daylite, you can organization communication, details, and other important metrics all in one place. That includes patient information, owner information, allergies, preferences, and more. It also includes project management tools and integration with many other software platforms you already use. Some of the key capabilities offered by Daylite include:

• Free option? No, but there is a 30-day free trial
• Price: $24 per user per month
• Complete integration with Apple Mail, Siri, iCal, and more
• Full contact management capabilities
• Lead and pipeline management solutions
• Document management and centralization
• Calendaring and reminders
• Interaction tracking
  

2. Digitail

Digitail is purpose-built for veterinary clinics and pet services, but it is not a CRM. It is a full practice management solution that delivers a host of capabilities while empowering you to modernize your practice. This option includes an online booking system, as well as record keeping, automated communication capabilities, and so much more.

One of the most interesting aspects of this software is the Pet Portal. This is where you’ll find online appointment setting but also features like note-taking so you can record pet history and make faster, more accurate diagnoses. Reminders, access to pet health records, telemedicine capabilities – those are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Some of the most important features of Digitail include the following:

• Free option? No, but there is a 14-day free trial.
• Price: $79 per vet per month
• Create detailed patient records easily
• Access health records from a central location
• Voice-to-text functionality
• Integrates with IDEXX and Antech
• Stock management feature
• Robust “pet portal”
  

3. Agile CRM

Agile CRM offers a robust toolset and wide-ranging capabilities. However, while it blurs the lines between practice management software and customer relationship management technology, it falls squarely on the CRM side of things. 

With Agile, you and your staff can build contact profiles, share patient and owner information across different teams, manage contacts, and even dive into marketing and sales automation. It puts sales, service, and marketing all in a central location while helping ensure that you can engage in consistent messaging. Other features of note with Agile CRM include:

• Free option? Yes
• Price: $8.99
• Web engagement tools
• Custom form builder
• Web-to-lead conversion
• 2-way email integration
• Social monitoring
  

4. eVetPractice

A cloud-based practice management solution for veterinary clinics and pet services (not just a CRM), eVetPractice is mobile-friendly and offers telemedicine functionality. Pet owners can also access the system to check pet information/records, and this platform integrates directly through Covetrus North America for prescription management and even access to crucial savings on medications. 

You’ll find several other interesting features here, as well. For instance, the practice whiteboard is designed to help you model and track patient flow, as well as improve staff efficiency. You can create, store, and share electronic medical records, and even take advantage of integrated wellness plans for pets. Other important features include:

• Free option? No, but there is a free trial.
• Price: $250 per clinic per month
• Boarding module
• Referral system
• Advanced reporting and custom forms
• Lab systems integration
• Pet owner portal
• Client-facing communications suite
  

5. Keap/Infusionsoft

Previously Infusionsoft, Keap delivers a powerful yet flexible CRM solution that also incorporates marketing and sales into the mix. It’s well suited to small practices and pet services but can also work very well for larger businesses and even veterinary networks. 

Keap provides plenty of lead collection and management capabilities to help you reach and engage new pet owners. It also helps you engage those leads and move them down the funnel, encouraging them to make an appointment for their pet. Finally, it gets high marks for its ability to deliver an improved overall customer experience. Key features to consider when it comes to Keap include the following:

• Free option? No, but there is 14-day a free trial.
• Price: $56 per month for one user
• Integrates with Outlook and Gmail
• Automatic email/messaging with new clients
• Detailed owner/pet information cards
• Customizable email templates

6. PetDesk

PetDesk is an expanded CRM designed specifically for veterinary clinics and pet services. It dovetails with the most popular practice management systems out there but also brings plenty of features and capabilities in its own right. This veterinary CRM delivers tools to help you and your team save time and effort while streamlining the owner/pet experience, as well as centralizing information so that you can make more informed decisions.

One high point with PetDesk is the system’s focus on engaging clients with robust communication options. It also streamlines communication management and gives you digital marketing capabilities, as well. You’ll find telemedicine capabilities and CareCredit™ integration, as well. Features of note with this CRM include:

• Free option? No
• Pricing: Custom
• Pet Health mobile app
• Surface key client insights to inform your decision-making
• A single dashboard for easier communication
• Two-way messaging with clients
• Loyalty program capabilities
• Telemedicine capabilities
  

7. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is one of the most widely used CRMs in the world. However, because it is focused on sales pipelines, many veterinary clinics and pet services might overlook this option. That would be a mistake, as it offers some pretty powerful capabilities and can provide significant benefits for your business. 

One of the high points here is the ability to track calls, emails, and contact history when, where, and how you need them. It’s all about creating a cohesive experience for pet owners and streamlining things for them. Workflow automation also offers benefits and helps to eliminate busywork, enabling your team to focus on what really matters – caring for the pets in your charge. You also get access to a wide range of reports and vital insights, and the CRM is mobile-friendly. Some of the most important features on offer with Pipedrive include the following:

• Free option? No, but there is a free trial.
• Price: $12.50 per user per month
• Deal/lead tracking and conversion tools
• Visualized data in pipelines and reports
• Easily link people and organizations in contacts
• Track emails, phone calls, and other communications to deliver a seamless experience
• Custom forms and documents
  

8. Hippo Manager

Hippo Manager is a full practice management system that offers CRM functionality, along with a host of other features designed just for veterinary clinics and pet services. Whether you focus on equine treatments, small animals, large animals, have a multi-location practice, are a mobile veterinarian, or fill another niche in the industry, Hippo Manager delivers the tools and capabilities you need.

The online pet portal is Hippo Manager’s CRM function. Here, you automate communication with clients, get access to invoices and payments (and allow owners to pay bills), keep detailed notes for your staff to access during owner communication, and so much more. Other capabilities to know with Hippo manager include the following:

• Free option? No, but there is a free trial.
• Price: $119 per full-time vet per month
• Whiteboard functionality
• Full patient portal
• Detailed reporting
• Lab integrations
• Medical records/SOAP notes

9. Neo Software

Developed by IDEXX, so you know it integrates fully, Neo Software is a cloud-based practice management solution that includes CRM capabilities. It’s designed to be an agile, lightweight, end-to-end software solution for small practices and clinics, and offers check-in features, examination tools, treatment capabilities, and checkout/processing features, too. 

When it comes to client communication and relationship management, CRM features on offer include the ability to digitally fill out prescriptions, schedule call-backs, assign tasks to your team, set automatic reminders, and provide access to discharge instructions for pet owners, among others. Some of the most important features and benefits of Neo include:

• Free option? No
• Price: $199 per month for up to 3 users
• Cloud-based flexibility and accessibility
• Automated workflows
• Access complete pet history in one location
• One-click boarding scheduling
• Call-back scheduling
• Integrates with IDEXX and Antech 
• Real-time whiteboard

10. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign might not be designed specifically for veterinary practices or other pet services, but it does provide some substantial benefits. The platform promises to “do more than automate your email – activate your entire customer experience.” Simple but effective automation tools help nurture leads and encourage conversion through customizable contact forms, deal management options, custom email campaigns, and a lot more. 

ActiveCampaign also provides the ability to manage all your contacts in a single dashboard, view a patient’s entire history at once, record notes and comments, and more. The handy Chrome extension also offers ease of use and other benefits. The platform also integrates with Gmail and Outlook, as well as with other software your clinic already uses. Some of the key features of ActiveCampaign include the following:

• Free option? No, but there is a free trial.
• Price: $9 per month
• Email marketing and marketing automation
• Detailed audience segmentation
• Custom forms
• Custom reporting
• Automated newsletters
  

Which veterinary CRM is right for you?

As you can see from our list above, there are plenty of options out there that promise to help revolutionize customer communication, pet health management, and the overall customer experience. At Smith.ai, we understand just how critical customer communication is to establishing a thriving relationship that stands the test of time. 

We integrate with many of the CRMs in our top 10 list, augmenting your capabilities and helping your team achieve better outcomes for clients and their pets. Whether you’re a mobile vet, specialize in equine medicine, run a small practice for domestic pets, or something else, our Live Receptionist services deliver critical capabilities, ensuring that you never miss another call, that every customer is greeted by a live, friendly, knowledgeable rep, and that no opportunities to strengthen your client relationships are missed. 

If you’re ready to jumpstart your success, learn more about Smith.ai Live Chat features and our CRM integrations. You can also set up a free Live Chat consultation to discuss your needs. If you prefer, get in touch with us at hello@smith.ai, or call us directly at (650) 727-6484.