Since Oracle's acquisition of Cerner in 2022, many hospitals have been evaluating alternatives. Concerns about pricing changes, product direction, and support have driven healthcare facilities to explore other options. This guide compares the top Cerner alternatives available in 2026.
Why Hospitals Are Looking for Cerner Alternatives
The Oracle acquisition has raised several concerns:
- Price Uncertainty: Oracle's enterprise pricing model concerns
- Product Changes: Uncertainty about Cerner product roadmap
- Support Quality: Reports of support changes post-acquisition
- Contract Terms: New contract requirements
- Cloud Migration: Push toward Oracle Cloud infrastructure
Top Cerner Alternatives for 2026
1. HospitalOS by MedSoftwares (Best Value Alternative)
HospitalOS provides comprehensive hospital management at a fraction of Cerner's cost, making it ideal for hospitals seeking to reduce expenses while maintaining functionality.
Key Advantages Over Cerner:
- Pricing: $999-$2,999 one-time vs Cerner's $millions
- Implementation: 2-4 weeks vs 6-18 months
- No Lock-in: Own your license forever
- Offline Capable: Works without internet
- Global Support: 40+ countries, local languages
Modules Included:
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
- OPD and IPD Management
- Emergency Department
- Laboratory Information System (LIS)
- Radiology Information System (RIS)
- Pharmacy Management
- Billing and Insurance Claims
- HR and Payroll
- Telemedicine
- 25+ total modules
Best For: Hospitals of all sizes wanting dramatic cost reduction.
2. Epic Systems
The market leader often considered for Cerner replacements at large hospitals.
- Pricing: $500K - $5M+ implementation
- Market: Large health systems
- Strength: Comprehensive functionality, market leadership
- Consideration: Similar cost profile to Cerner
Best For: Large health systems with substantial budgets.
3. MEDITECH Expanse
Web-based EHR targeting community hospitals.
- Pricing: Lower than Cerner/Epic
- Target: Community and rural hospitals
- Deployment: Cloud and on-premise options
Best For: Community hospitals wanting established vendor.
4. Athenahealth
Cloud-based platform with strong RCM services.
- Pricing: Percentage of collections model
- Focus: Ambulatory and outpatient
- Strength: Revenue cycle management
Best For: Ambulatory settings, physician practices.
5. eClinicalWorks
Comprehensive EHR for ambulatory care.
- Pricing: ~$449/provider/month
- Users: 850,000+ healthcare professionals
- Features: EHR, PM, population health
Best For: Multi-specialty groups, large practices.
6. Allscripts
Healthcare IT solutions for various settings.
- Options: Sunrise (inpatient), TouchWorks (ambulatory)
- Market: Mid-size hospitals and practices
- Integration: Strong interoperability focus
Best For: Organizations prioritizing interoperability.
7. NextGen Healthcare
Specialty-focused EHR and practice management.
- Focus: Specialty practices
- Features: Specialty-specific workflows
- Market: Ambulatory specialty care
Best For: Specialty practices and ASCs.
HospitalOS vs Cerner Feature Comparison
| Feature | HospitalOS | Cerner (Oracle Health) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $999 one-time | $500,000+ |
| Annual Cost | Optional $199-499 | $100,000+ |
| Implementation | 2-4 weeks | 6-18 months |
| EMR/EHR | Yes | Yes |
| CPOE | Yes | Yes |
| Laboratory (LIS) | Included | Included |
| Radiology (RIS) | Included | Included |
| Pharmacy | Included | Included |
| Billing | Included | Included |
| Offline Mode | Yes | No |
| Global Availability | 40+ countries | Limited markets |
| Vendor Lock-in | None | High |
Migration from Cerner to HospitalOS
MedSoftwares offers comprehensive migration support:
Data Migration
- Patient demographics and records
- Historical encounters and notes
- Laboratory results
- Medication records
- Billing history
- Scheduling data
Migration Process
- Assessment: Evaluate current Cerner setup and data
- Planning: Create detailed migration plan
- Data Export: Extract data from Cerner
- Data Mapping: Map Cerner fields to HospitalOS
- Import: Load data into HospitalOS
- Validation: Verify data accuracy
- Training: Staff training on new system
- Go-Live: Transition to HospitalOS
Timeline
- Small hospital (under 50 beds): 2-4 weeks
- Medium hospital (50-150 beds): 4-8 weeks
- Large hospital (150+ beds): 8-12 weeks
Cost Savings Analysis
Typical Cerner Costs (100-bed Hospital)
- Implementation: $2,000,000
- Annual maintenance: $400,000
- 5-year total: $4,000,000
HospitalOS Costs (Same Hospital)
- License: $2,999
- Annual maintenance: $499 x 5 = $2,495
- 5-year total: $5,494
5-Year Savings: $3,994,506
Common Questions
Can HospitalOS match Cerner's functionality?
HospitalOS includes 25+ modules covering all core hospital operations. While Cerner has more specialized modules for very large health systems, HospitalOS provides all essential functionality that 95% of hospitals need.
What about interoperability?
HospitalOS supports HL7 and FHIR standards for healthcare data exchange, enabling integration with labs, insurance systems, and other healthcare applications.
Is training difficult?
HospitalOS has a modern, intuitive interface. Most users are productive within 1-2 days. Free training is included with every implementation.
Conclusion
The Oracle acquisition of Cerner has created uncertainty for many hospitals. HospitalOS offers a compelling alternative with 99.9% cost savings, faster implementation, and freedom from vendor lock-in. Whether you're a small clinic or a large hospital, HospitalOS can deliver the functionality you need at a price you can afford. Contact MedSoftwares today for a free demo and migration assessment.
