Shepherd vs VetICare Connect: 2026 comparison

Shepherd

Shepherd Veterinary Software · Prescott, Arizona, US

Since: 2016
Runs: Cloud, in the browser
Pricing: By quote
Price: Not published

10 built in · 2 through a partner · 6 not published · 2 no

Shepherd in full

VetICare Connect

VetICare · Egypt

Since: 2020
Runs: Cloud, iOS and Android
Pricing: Monthly or yearly, by users
Price: From $52 a month

15 built in · 2 through a partner · 3 not published · 0 no

VetICare Connect in full

Key differences

Where they differ.

WhatsApp messages to ownersVetICare Connect messages owners on WhatsApp; Shepherd's website does not say.
Point of sale with shiftsVetICare Connect has a point of sale with shifts; Shepherd only in part (quick invoices for counter sales; no retail till).
Card payments processed in the softwareShepherd processes card payments itself; VetICare Connect only in part (online payment links sent on WhatsApp).
Loyalty points or promotionsVetICare Connect has loyalty points or promotions; Shepherd only in part (through mClub, AllyDVM and Greenline).
Open APIShepherd has an open API; VetICare Connect's website does not say.
Arabic interfaceVetICare Connect has an Arabic interface; Shepherd's website does not say.
Sold and supported in Egypt or the Middle EastVetICare Connect is sold and supported in the region; Shepherd does not.
Government e-invoicing (Egypt's ETA, Saudi ZATCA)VetICare Connect sends e-invoices to the tax authority, in part (Saudi ZATCA Phase 2; Egypt's ETA not mentioned); Shepherd's website does not say.
Prices published on its websiteVetICare Connect publishes its prices; Shepherd's website does not say.
Free trialVetICare Connect offers a free trial; Shepherd's website does not say.

Both have built in

Appointment calendar and online booking
Automatic reminders to owners
Client app or portal
Lab and imaging integrations
AI note-taking
Stock with batches and expiry dates
Purchase orders and suppliers
Several branches

Feature by feature

Every criterion, side by side.

Built in
In part, or through a partner
No
Not published

Criterion	Shepherd	VetICare Connect
Clients and care
Appointment calendar and online booking	A calendar, and direct booking in the pet portal	Scheduling, and online booking from the owner app
Automatic reminders to owners	Automatic texts and e-mails	Automatic, on WhatsApp
WhatsApp messages to owners		WhatsApp Business; vaccine alerts are an add-on
Client app or portal	An online pet portal	Squeak, for iOS and Android
Lab and imaging integrations	IDEXX, Antech, Heska and others	Lab analysers; imaging not mentioned
AI note-taking	TranscribeAI writes SOAP notes	An ambient AI exam scribe
Telemedicine
Front desk and stock
Point of sale with shifts	Quick invoices for counter sales; no retail till	With a cash drawer and shifts
Card payments processed in the software	Shepherd Pay	Online payment links sent on WhatsApp
Stock with batches and expiry dates	Lots, bottles and expiry dates	Batch expiry tracking and warnings
Purchase orders and suppliers	Purchase orders, received into lots	Purchase bills and suppliers
Loyalty points or promotions	Through mClub, AllyDVM and Greenline	A rewards programme and special offers
Money and management
Double-entry accounting built in	A QuickBooks journal-entry report	Financial reports listed; a general ledger not mentioned
Several branches	An admin portal for groups
Open API	An open API, a paid option	Device connections listed; no public API named
Region and buying
Arabic interface		Arabic and English
Sold and supported in Egypt or the Middle East	None found	Headquartered in Egypt
Government e-invoicing (Egypt's ETA, Saudi ZATCA)		Saudi ZATCA Phase 2; Egypt's ETA not mentioned
Prices published on its website	No prices on its current site	From $52 a month for five users
Free trial	Its current site offers demos	14 days, with every feature

Which to choose

Who each one suits.

Choose Shepherd if…

Independent small-animal clinics in the US, from one vet to four or more.
Clinics that want charges captured from the medical record.
Clinics that want card payments built into the software.

Strengths

Charge capture built around the SOAP record.
Inventory lots, bottles and expiry dates, with an expiry report, and purchase orders.
Shepherd Pay for terminals, stored cards and payments in the pet portal.
TranscribeAI ambient notes, lab integrations and an open API.

Pricing

Shepherd's current site shows no prices and offers demos.

Choose VetICare Connect if…

Clinics in Egypt and the Gulf whose team wants Arabic screens.
Clinics that want booking and reminders through an owner app and WhatsApp.
Saudi clinics that need ZATCA e-invoicing.

Strengths

Arabic screens, right to left, as well as English.
Online booking and Squeak, an app for pet owners, with reminders on WhatsApp.
An AI scribe that drafts exam notes, differential diagnoses and treatment plans.
Lab analysers connected (Boule, EDAN and others) and ZATCA Phase 2 for Saudi Arabia.

Pricing

VetICare publishes its prices: from $52 a month for five users, $8 a month for each extra user, and $20 a month for automatic WhatsApp vaccine alerts; yearly billing saves 10%, after a 14-day free trial and with a three-month minimum.

Also worth a look

Petfolio, made in Cairo

Built in, where neither Shepherd nor VetICare Connect is: double-entry accounting built in. To be fair about it: Petfolio books visits ahead but has no calendar view or online booking, no client app or lab connections, and its screens are in English.

Shepherd vs Petfolio VetICare Connect vs Petfolio

Questions

Shepherd or VetICare Connect?

What is the difference between Shepherd and VetICare Connect?

Shepherd is a cloud practice management system from Prescott, Arizona, built by vets around the medical record. VetICare Connect is a cloud system for veterinary clinics, headquartered in Egypt and founded in 2020, sold in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman. VetICare Connect messages owners on WhatsApp; Shepherd's website does not say. VetICare Connect has a point of sale with shifts; Shepherd only in part (quick invoices for counter sales; no retail till). Shepherd processes card payments itself; VetICare Connect only in part (online payment links sent on WhatsApp).

Which is cheaper, Shepherd or VetICare Connect?

Shepherd: Shepherd's current site shows no prices and offers demos. VetICare Connect: VetICare publishes its prices: from $52 a month for five users, $8 a month for each extra user, and $20 a month for automatic WhatsApp vaccine alerts; yearly billing saves 10%, after a 14-day free trial and with a three-month minimum.

Does Shepherd or VetICare Connect have an Arabic interface?

Shepherd's website does not say whether it has an Arabic interface. VetICare Connect has an Arabic interface (Arabic and English).

Which has accounting built in, Shepherd or VetICare Connect?

Shepherd relies on separate accounting software (a QuickBooks journal-entry report). VetICare Connect's website does not say whether it keeps double-entry books itself.

Can Shepherd or VetICare Connect run several branches?

Shepherd runs several branches (an admin portal for groups). VetICare Connect runs several branches.

Is Shepherd or VetICare Connect available in Egypt and the Middle East?

Shepherd has no team or partner in the region we could find (none found). VetICare Connect is sold and supported in the region (headquartered in Egypt).

Shepherd: sources

Read on 18 October 2026. Shepherd is a trademark of its owner; we are not affiliated with them.

VetICare Connect: sources

Read on 18 October 2026. VetICare Connect is a trademark of its owner; we are not affiliated with them.

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Shepherd vs VetICare Connect