OpenEMR and OpenMRS sound alike, are both free and open source, and both keep electronic medical records, but they are built for different jobs. The short answer for a dental or small clinic: OpenEMR is usually the better fit. It is a complete practice system with scheduling, e-prescribing and US billing that you can run from one Docker image. OpenMRS is a medical record platform that implementers customise, and most clinics meet it through a distribution such as Bahmni, which packages OpenMRS with billing, lab and imaging for hospitals. None of the three has a dental chart. If you need free tooth-level charting, look at GNU Health and its dentistry package instead.
Side-by-side
| Item | OpenEMR | OpenMRS | Bahmni |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | EHR and practice management system | EMR platform with the O3 reference application | Hospital EMR distribution built on OpenMRS |
| Licence | Free, open source (GPL v3) | Free, open source (MPL 2.0 with Healthcare Disclaimer) | Free, open source (AGPL 3.0; bundled OpenMRS keeps MPL 2.0) |
| Latest version | 8.4.1 (20 September 2026) | O3 3.7.1 (13 July 2026); Platform 2.8.1 (October 2025) | Lite 2.0.0 (24 September 2026); Standard 1.0.2 (July 2026) |
| Technology | PHP with MariaDB or MySQL | Java web application with MySQL | Docker stack around OpenMRS |
| Install | Docker (recommended), Linux tarball, Windows ZIP | Standalone ZIP, Docker for O3, WAR file on Tomcat | Docker Compose from the bahmni-docker repository |
| Scheduling | Provider calendar and recalls | Appointments and service queues | Appointments |
| Billing | US medical billing, X12 claim files | Separate community billing module | Crater (Lite) or Odoo (Standard) |
| Custom forms | Layout-based forms | Form Builder | Form Builder |
| Dental chart | No | Not among its listed features | No |
| Best for | Small and mixed clinics, US practices | Organisations building their own EMR with developers or partners | Hospitals and multi-specialty clinics with a dental unit |
Getting it running
OpenEMR is the easiest to stand up. The project recommends its official Docker image with a MariaDB or MySQL container; there is also a Linux tarball and a Windows ZIP, and Mac users run it in Docker Desktop. Version 8.4.x needs PHP 8.3 or newer, so check the release notes before each upgrade.
OpenMRS offers a standalone ZIP with an embedded database and application server for first looks, a Docker setup that launches the O3 reference application with a single command, and a WAR file for an existing Tomcat and MySQL server. Getting from the reference application to a clinic-ready system means configuring forms, locations, users and modules.
Bahmni does much of that configuration for you. You clone the bahmni-docker repository, choose Lite or Standard, edit the .env file and start it. The Bahmni wiki recommends giving Docker Desktop at least 8 GB of memory, and the first start pulls many images.
Front desk and scheduling
OpenEMR has a mature appointment calendar with provider schedules, recalls, a patient portal and automated workflows, which maps well to a dental front desk. The OpenMRS O3 interface provides patient registration, appointment scheduling and service queues, which suit clinics where patients wait in queues for different services. Bahmni adds registration with photo capture, extra identifiers and appointment scheduling on top of OpenMRS.
Recording a dental visit
This is where all three are equal: none ships a graphical tooth chart or perio chart. In OpenEMR you create a “Dental exam” form in the layout editor with fields for tooth numbers, findings per tooth, periodontal notes, radiographs taken and plan. In OpenMRS and Bahmni you do the same with the Form Builder; keep FDI tooth numbers in a coded list rather than free text, so you can report on them later. The clinical workflow works, but a hygienist used to clicking surfaces on a chart will find it slower. If charting speed matters more than a shared medical record, a dental system such as Open Dental (shareware, conditionally free) is the better tool.
Billing and insurance
OpenEMR produces US medical claims (ASC X12) and has a fee sheet where you pick procedure codes at the end of the visit. You add your own dental codes and fees, because CDT codes are copyrighted by the ADA and are not shipped, and there is no dental claim form. In OpenMRS, billing is a separate community module that depends on its own backend module, so it is something you add and configure. Bahmni has billing ready: Crater in Lite, Odoo in Standard, where dental procedures become billable services with your own codes. Neither OpenMRS nor Bahmni includes US or UK insurance workflows.
Radiographs and documents
None of them views dental X-rays the way a dental imaging program does. OpenEMR stores exported images as patient documents, for example in a “Radiographs” category. Bahmni Standard links DICOM studies through its PACS integration, and in Lite you upload images as patient documents. In every case, viewing and measuring stays in your imaging software.
Support and long-term upkeep
OpenEMR is a community project with free forum support and independent vendors selling hosting and support. OpenMRS is backed by OpenMRS Inc, a US non-profit, and a global community; the project says it is used in more than 70 countries, and implementers and service providers adapt it to each health system. Bahmni is run by the Bahmni Coalition and most sites rely on an implementation partner or in-house IT. Whichever you choose, you are responsible for backups, updates, HTTPS and access control.
Which one should you use
- A small dental or mixed clinic, especially in the US: OpenEMR. One Docker install, a proper appointment book and billing, and a public demo to test first.
- A hospital or multi-specialty clinic with a dental unit: Bahmni. You get OpenMRS plus billing, lab and, in Standard, imaging, with less assembly than raw OpenMRS.
- An organisation with developers building its own EMR: OpenMRS directly, with the O3 reference application as the starting point.
- Anyone who needs a free tooth chart inside the medical record: none of these three; use GNU Health.
For a wider list, see free and open-source EHR software for dental clinics and free dental practice management software.
FAQ
Is OpenMRS free?
Yes. OpenMRS is open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 with a Healthcare Disclaimer, and the project states there are no licence fees. Your costs are hosting, configuration and support.
What is the difference between OpenMRS and Bahmni?
OpenMRS is the medical record platform. Bahmni is a distribution built on it that adds a ready clinical interface, registration, appointments, billing and optional lab and imaging systems.
Does OpenEMR or OpenMRS have a dental module?
Neither has a dental chart. OpenEMR uses layout-based forms and OpenMRS uses the Form Builder to record dental findings. Bahmni also has no dental module.
Which is easier to install for a small clinic?
OpenEMR: the official Docker image plus a database container gives you a working system in one step. Bahmni is also Docker-based but heavier. OpenMRS needs the most configuration after installation.
Is OpenEMR better than OpenMRS in the US?
Usually yes. OpenEMR is built around US billing and e-prescribing, and the project states that version 8 is ONC-certified. OpenMRS and Bahmni do not include US insurance workflows.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · DentIIT editorial team. Licence, version and platform details are checked against each developer's official documentation; none of the tools listed here should be treated as a certified medical device unless its vendor says so.
