Comparison
The EU-native Shepherd alternative
An EU-native alternative to Shepherd Veterinary Software
Shepherd is a modern, vet-built cloud PIMS popular with independent US practices that want a simple, beautiful interface. VaroVet shares the design-led philosophy but is built for European clinics — EU data residency by default, localised interfaces, and SMS reminders included instead of metered separately.
At a glance
VaroVet
EU · Founded 2025
Pick VaroVet if you are
- European clinics that want Shepherd-style design but EU hosting
- Practices outside the US looking for the same modern UX without US-only billing flows
- Clinics that need SMS reminders included, not billed separately
- Teams that want native localisation for non-English markets
Shepherd
United States · Founded 2019
Pick Shepherd if you are
- US-based independent practices already in the Shepherd ecosystem
- Clinics that prioritise the deepest US billing-code coverage
- Practices that prefer a US-hosted SaaS and US support hours
- Teams happy to pay metered SMS overage as standard
Where VaroVet is different
Where VaroVet is different
EU data residency
Patient records stay in the EU, processed under GDPR. Shepherd is US-hosted.
SMS included in every paid plan
100 SMS/month on Professional, 1,000 on Enterprise — included, not metered.
Public, transparent pricing
Every tier and price listed publicly. Shepherd typically requires a sales conversation for pricing.
Localised for Baltic & Nordic markets
Native UI for Baltic and Nordic clinics. Shepherd is English-first.
Feature comparison
Feature comparison
| Feature | VaroVet | Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | — | |
| GDPR-native by design | Partial | |
| Localised for Baltic & Nordic markets | — | |
| Cross-clinic pet history sharing | — | |
| Pet-owner portal included | Add-on | |
| Embeddable online booking | ||
| SMS reminders included | Metered | |
| Payment links on invoices | ||
| Vendor-neutral lab integrations | Limited | |
| Free data migration | Enterprise tier | Paid |
Honest counterpoint
Where Shepherd is stronger
We'd rather you pick the right tool than the wrong tool for the sake of a sale. Here's where Shepherd genuinely has the edge.
Deeper US workflow fit
Shepherd is built around US billing codes and conventions. If you operate in the US, that fit matters.
Mature mobile app
Shepherd has invested significantly in their iOS/Android client experience.
Strong US user community
Larger community of US vet adopters sharing workflows and templates.
Pricing snapshot
Pricing snapshot
VaroVet
Transparent: €39 Basic, €89 Professional, from €5,000/year Enterprise
Shepherd
Quote-based — no public per-tier pricing
Disclaimer: Pricing reflects publicly available information at time of writing. Always verify directly with the vendor.
Ready to try VaroVet?
Start a 14-day trial — no credit card required. We'll migrate your existing data for free on Enterprise.