01 / 06
Consultation
Notes that keep up with you.
Clinical notes, vitals, diagnoses, observations and advice, on forms configured for your clinic and specialty.
General CARE demo · features depend on configuration.
CARE ClinicThe open-source Care platform, on your clinic’s own computer
Free clinic software. Your data. Your control.
The whole clinic on one computer. No licence fees, no subscription, and patient records on a computer your clinic controls.
Free. Open source. Built on Care.
Clinic address: care.local
Encrypted backups · your storage
Screenshots include version 0.1.8 with the earlier CARE Desktop name. Interface details vary by version; personal file paths are redacted.
₹0 for the softwareOpen source, MIT licenceWorks offline after setupEncrypted automatic backupsEvery desk on the clinic Wi-FiNo telemetryMac and Windows
The whole clinic. One computer.
CARE Clinic is free, open-source clinic management software for small clinics. One installer sets up the whole system on a clinic computer, from patient records, appointments, prescriptions and billing to the database, file storage and automatic encrypted backups. Staff connect from other computers on the clinic Wi-Fi, and the core clinic keeps working without internet after online setup, while the host stays awake, runs CARE and is reachable on the local network.
₹0 for the softwareNo licence fee. No subscription.
Records on your computerYour clinic holds the database and the backups.
Every desk connectedStaff computers join over the clinic Wi-Fi.
Works offlineAfter setup, core workflows need a running host and clinic network, not internet.
Backed up every 24 hoursWhile the backup service runs and its storage is accessible. Restore is built in.
Open sourceMIT licence. Source on GitHub.$git clone github.com/ohcnetwork/care_clinic
₹0for the software.
Free clinic management software, in the plain sense: nothing to pay to download, install or keep using. There is no licence fee, no software subscription and no trial that ends. Open Healthcare Network Foundation releases it under the MIT licence.
The software is free. A computer, backup storage, installation help, support and connected services such as SMS may cost money.
Care, in motion
From booking to bill. One record.
Every step of the visit lands on the same patient timeline, so the front desk, the consulting room and the billing counter see one record.
These are general CARE platform demos, not recordings of the default Clinic installation. Screens, forms and reports vary by version and configuration. Hospital workflows and integrations shown may need additional setup, plugins or online services.
02 / 06
Forms and questionnaires
Forms that fit your practice.
Configure questionnaires and clinical forms for your clinic and specialty, without changing Care’s core.
General CARE demo · features depend on configuration.
03 / 06
Investigations
Orders and results, on the record.
Lab orders and results linked to the visit, so a report is never lost in a drawer.
General CARE demo · features depend on configuration.
04 / 06
Pharmacy and stock
Dispense and count.
Dispensing linked to prescriptions, with stock levels, expiry review and alerts.
General CARE demo · features depend on configuration.
05 / 06
Billing
Bill at the desk.
Service charges, invoices, payments and receipts connected to the visit.
General CARE demo · features depend on configuration.
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Reports
Reports, from the same record.
Generate reports from recorded clinical data using the templates configured for your clinic. Available reports depend on your setup.
Illustration only. Choose report templates during clinic setup.
Also in the box
The front desk and the follow-up, on the same record as the consulting room.
Appointments
The day, at a glance.
Appointment slots, walk-ins and a visit queue, so reception always knows who is next.
Registration
Every patient, one record.
Demographics, identifiers, contact details and patient search, with each visit added to the same timeline.
Prescriptions
Clear and complete.
Medication requests with dosage instructions, ready to print or hand to dispensing.
Follow-up
The next visit, already planned.
Record follow-up advice and plan the next appointment. Patient SMS or push reminders need compatible plugins and configured services; they are not included by default.
CARE Clinic
CARE is the platform. CARE Clinic is how one clinic runs it.
The same open-source Care platform that hospitals and public-health programmes run, packaged for a single clinic computer, with a control panel that keeps it running, backed up and up to date.
Core care on your local network
Encrypted backups · restore built in
Add what your clinic needs.
Plugins extend CARE without changing its core. The updated catalog focuses on CARE Onboarding, enabled by default for new clinics. Manage compatible additions in the control panel’s Plugins tab.
CARE Onboarding
A guided start for your clinic.
Walks a new clinic through its location, facility, departments, staff, numbering, questionnaires and report templates.
On by default for new clinics; needs internet
CARE Onboarding is hosted online, so staff browsers need internet to load it. Connected services may have separate terms and costs. Existing saved and custom plugins are preserved, not automatically uninstalled when the catalog changes.
Release note, checked 4 October 2026: the updated source catalog contains only CARE Onboarding. The latest published release, v0.1.9, still includes the older catalog.
Beyond the catalog
The Care platform’s plugin ecosystem reaches national rails, AI documentation, labs, pharmacy, imaging, payments and messaging. A technical partner can add compatible CARE plugins as custom plugins, with the configuration, dependencies and external services they require.
Save and apply needs a healthy, running clinic. Backend changes can rebuild and restart CARE, briefly interrupting staff; frontend-only changes sync registrations for the next page load. Plugins does not ask for the CARE Clinic admin password, so restrict access to trusted staff.
Install only trusted plugins and keep backups. Recovery can restore configuration and images, but cannot undo arbitrary database migrations or changes in external services.
Updates
Choose when to make a change.
CARE software updates follow your configured backend and frontend source branches, with builds prepared in the background. Install now may interrupt staff; Later queues a prepared update for the next clinic start. Plan changes outside consultation hours.
CARE Clinic application updates are separate. The clinic can keep running while the desktop app updates, and the app may hand off to an operating-system installer. Follow its prompts and confirm the result; opening an installer is not proof that it finished.
The plugin catalog comes with the desktop app. After upgrading, catalog source changes reach existing plugin settings on the next Save and apply in Plugins. Hosted frontend bundles are fetched separately by staff browsers. There is no single update-everything action.
Read the update workflow
Your records. On your computer.
The clinic database, files and backups live on the computer you choose. Your clinic decides who has access and where the backups go. There is no Care-hosted account between your clinic and its records.
No telemetry.
CARE Clinic itself has no usage analytics or crash reporting. Installation downloads and automatic update checks use internet. Dependencies, hosted plugins and configured providers have their own network activity and privacy policies.
Encrypted across the clinic.
After device setup, staff reach CARE over HTTPS using a clinic-issued certificate. Connect only on a trusted clinic network and complete certificate approval. A web application firewall adds another layer of protection.
Backed up every 24 hours.
Backups run at a 24-hour interval while the backup service is running, not at a fixed nightly time. Keep the chosen destination accessible. Set retention, back up now or restore from a file; keep an off-device copy and test a restore.
Two recovery materials. Different jobs.
Save and verify the private PEM recovery file to decrypt backups. Six single-use codes reset the CARE Clinic admin password, not staff logins, and cannot decrypt backups. Keep both secure and separate from the host and backups. Protected settings, restore and uninstall require the admin password.
One clinic. Every desk.
Host the clinic on one computer. Reception, the consulting rooms and the billing counter connect from their own Mac or Windows computers over the clinic Wi-Fi. First find the clinic, then choose Connect and approve certificate installation and any operating-system prompts. Clients do not need Docker or Git, but do need this device setup and a trusted clinic network.
No per-user licence. Capacity depends on the host computer and the network.
Phones and tablets. “Connect phone or tablet” in the control panel shows a QR code that opens http://<clinic>.local/setup. Follow the device’s certificate installation and trust steps before opening CARE over HTTPS. Scanning the QR code alone does not establish trust.
Works when the internet doesn’t.
After setup, the core clinic runs on the local network with no internet connection while the host is awake, running CARE and reachable on the clinic LAN. Staff devices are not independent offline copies. Internet is needed to install, to update, to load hosted plugins and for the online services you switch on.
One installer sets everything up.
Download it, run setup on the clinic computer, and the wizard takes you through it. Internet is required: setup downloads prerequisites such as Git and Docker through Rancher Desktop, WSL 2 on Windows, and CARE sources, images and dependencies. Installation time varies.
01Download.
Get CARE Clinic for Mac or Windows.
02Set up the clinic computer.
Choose a clinic address and backup folder, save and verify the PEM backup recovery file, then set an admin password and save six recovery codes before installation. Setup downloads required software and builds CARE; keep the computer online and follow any permission prompts.
- 03
Connect the team.
On a trusted clinic network, choose “Connect to an existing server on the local network” and find the clinic by its address. Review it, choose Connect and approve certificate setup. Phones and tablets use the QR setup page and follow its certificate instructions.
04Set up your clinic.
With internet access, open CARE Onboarding in the CARE web app. It guides facility, department, staff, numbering, clinical form and report-template setup before you start seeing patients.
Screenshots show the supplied versions, including earlier CARE Desktop branding. The review image has its personal backup path redacted. The onboarding image shows the start of setup, not a completed clinic.
Open source. Open to you.
The full source is on GitHub under the MIT licence. Read it, change it, keep running it. That is also why the software is free. There is no licence to sell.
LICENSEgithub.com/ohcnetwork/care_clinicMIT LicenseCopyright (c) 2026 Open Healthcare Network FoundationPermission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
Under the hood
A Go and Wails desktop app with a React interface drives a Docker Compose stack: the Care backend and its workers, the Care web app, PostgreSQL, Redis, Silo for files, and Caddy with the Coraza web application firewall as the HTTPS front door. Both Care images are built on the clinic’s own computer from configured sources, with resolved commits recorded per build. Configured branches can track upstream updates; they are not fixed release-wide pins. Installer signing varies by platform.
Which Care is right for your clinic?
| Comparison | CARE Clinic | CARE, partner-deployed |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One small clinic on one computer | Clinic networks, hospitals and programmes across sites |
| Where it runs | Your clinic’s own computer | Cloud, on-premise or hybrid, run with an implementation partner |
| Software price | ₹0, MIT licence | Open source; deployment, hosting and support arranged with a partner |
| Internet | For setup, updates, hosted plugins and online services; local care needs the running host and LAN | Depends on deployment: cloud access needs internet; on-premise workflows may use a local network |
| Team access | Staff computers, phones and tablets on the clinic network | Devices and remote access depend on deployment, network and access controls |
| Backups | Encrypted backups every 24 hours while the service runs, on accessible storage you choose | Managed by the deployment |
| Get started | Choose your installer | Start a deployment conversation |
Tech specs
- Platforms
- macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows 64-bit
- Installers
- .dmg for macOS, -setup.exe for Windows. In v0.1.9: macOS notarized; Windows unsigned. Check each release’s manifest.
- Staff devices
- Mac and Windows computers running CARE Clinic in client mode; iOS and Android through the browser on the clinic network
- Network
- One clinic Wi-Fi or wired network; the clinic is reached at https://<clinic>.local
- Internet
- Installation, updates, hosted plugins and configured online services
- Backups
- Encrypted, every 24 hours while the service runs and storage is accessible; configurable retention, backup-now and restore
- Security
- HTTPS after clinic certificate setup, web application firewall, admin password, six reset codes and a separate PEM backup recovery file
- System requirements
- Recommended: 8 GB RAM, 4-core processor and 30 GB free storage.
- Telemetry
- None in CARE Clinic itself; dependencies, plugins and providers have separate policies
- Licence
- MIT
- Updates
- Separate CARE software and CARE Clinic application updates in Updates; plugin changes in Plugins
Frequently asked questions
Is CARE Clinic really free?
Yes. The CARE Clinic software is free to download and use under the MIT licence. There is no software subscription, no licence fee and no trial period that ends.
Why is it free?
CARE is built as open-source healthcare infrastructure. Open Healthcare Network Foundation releases CARE Clinic under the MIT licence so clinics and their technical partners can use and adapt the software without buying a licence.
What might still cost money?
A suitable computer, backup storage, installation help, support and external services such as SMS or email may cost money. Those costs are separate from the software. Check the terms and prices of any service you choose to add.
Where are my patient records stored?
The clinic database and files are stored on the computer that hosts CARE Clinic, and backups go to the location you choose. Your clinic manages access and backups. Services you switch on, such as SMS or email, send information to the provider you configured, so review each one before using it.
Does open source mean patient records are public?
No. Open source refers to the software’s code, which anyone can read on GitHub. Your clinic’s patient records stay on your clinic’s computer, and your clinic still needs to set up access properly and protect its computers, network and backups.
Can my whole team use it?
Yes. One computer hosts the clinic, and other staff computers connect over the clinic’s local network using CARE Clinic in client mode. Phones and tablets connect through a setup page on the clinic network and complete certificate trust. There is no per-user licence fee; capacity depends on the host computer, network and configuration.
Does CARE Clinic work without internet?
Core workflows run without internet after setup while the host is awake, running CARE and reachable over the clinic network. Staff devices are not independent offline replicas. Installation, updates, hosted plugins and configured online services need internet.
Which computers does it run on?
The host computer runs Windows 64-bit or macOS (Apple Silicon or Intel). Staff computers run the same app in client mode on Windows or macOS, and phones and tablets connect through a browser on the clinic network.
Where do I download CARE Clinic?
The Mac and Windows buttons use JavaScript and the public GitHub API to request the matching latest installer. If the API is unavailable, JavaScript is disabled or the browser blocks the download, use “Download from GitHub releases” beside the buttons and select the installer there.
Who is responsible for backups?
Your clinic or its technical partner. Encrypted backups run every 24 hours while the backup service runs and the destination is accessible, not at a fixed time of night. Keep backups and the private PEM recovery file safely off-device, separately from each other, and test a restore. Admin reset codes cannot decrypt backups.
Can I move my records to another system later?
Local access to the database, open-source code and your own backups give your clinic control over its system. Moving records into a different product is a separate migration task that depends on the formats and workflows involved.
Is CARE Clinic the same as CARE?
CARE Clinic packages the open-source CARE platform for a single clinic computer. Partner-managed CARE deployments also serve hospitals and community-care programmes. CARE Clinic brings the platform to a small clinic without a hosted account or a software licence fee; available workflows depend on configuration.
Does CARE Clinic collect usage data?
CARE Clinic itself has no telemetry, analytics or crash reporting. It makes installation downloads and automatic update checks. Dependencies, hosted frontend plugins and configured online providers have separate network activity and privacy policies; this is not a no-telemetry promise for the entire stack.
Is CARE Clinic OPD management software?
Yes, in the sense that it covers outpatient clinic work: registration, appointments, consultations, prescriptions and billing. It is built for a small clinic running on one computer. Hospitals with wards and multiple departments should look at the hosted Care platform.
What are plugins?
Plugins extend CARE. The updated source catalog contains CARE Onboarding only, enabled by default for new clinics and loaded from an internet host. The latest published release checked on 4 October 2026, v0.1.9, still has the older catalog. Previously saved and custom plugins are preserved, not automatically uninstalled. A technical partner can configure compatible plugins and their required dependencies or services.
How do updates and plugin changes work?
Updates separates CARE backend/frontend builds from CARE Clinic application releases. CARE builds follow configured source branches: Install now may interrupt staff; Later queues the prepared update for the next clinic start. App updates can leave CARE running and may open an OS installer. The plugin catalog ships with the app; after an upgrade, catalog source changes reach saved plugins on their next Save and apply. Staff browsers fetch hosted plugin bundles separately.
Free to use. Yours to run.
Get CARE Clinic for your clinic.
If JavaScript, the GitHub API or your browser’s download handoff is unavailable, use the release-page link to choose an installer.
CARE Clinic is released under the MIT licence by Open Healthcare Network Foundation. The software is free; hardware, support and external services may involve separate costs. Internet is needed for installation, updates, hosted plugins and connected services.