Choosing the right pharmacy management software is critical for independent pharmacies. This comparison examines PharmaPOS and Computer-Rx (now part of Outcomes), two popular options with very different approaches to pricing, support, and market focus.
Company Background
PharmaPOS (MedSoftwares)
- Focus on developing markets (Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean)
- One-time purchase model with no subscription fees
- Offline-first architecture for unreliable internet areas
- Mobile money integrations (MTN, M-Pesa, Airtel)
- Multi-currency support
Computer-Rx (Outcomes)
- Founded 1982 by Transaction Data Systems (TDS)
- 2015: Acquired by GTCR
- 2021: Acquired by BlackRock Long Term Private Capital
- 2023: Merged with Cardinal Health's Outcomes business
- Serves 48,000+ pharmacy locations in US
- Headquarters: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Feature Comparison
Pricing Comparison
PharmaPOS Pricing (Transparent)
Support: 3 months free, then $29/month optional
Computer-Rx Pricing (Opaque)
- Custom quotes required - not publicly disclosed
- Industry average: $15,000 - $30,000 for installation and setup
- Monthly maintenance, support, and transactional fees apply
- User feedback: "the cost is high" and "costs more than its competitors"
3-Year Total Cost Comparison
Customer Support Comparison
PharmaPOS Support
- 3 months free support with purchase
- Optional $29/month continued support
- Direct, responsive support team
- Remote training included
- On-site training available (Standard+)
Computer-Rx Support (User Feedback)
Support quality is the most common complaint in user reviews:
"Horrible customer service - if your pharmacy is down you better shut down for the day"
"Can't get anyone to answer the phone"
"Taking 6 months to reply to critical tickets"
"Over a 12 year period I watched/experienced a great system erode to a terrible system"
Support Verdict
PharmaPOS wins on support responsiveness. Computer-Rx's multiple ownership changes (GTCR → BlackRock → Cardinal Health merger) have reportedly degraded service quality.
Software Stability
PharmaPOS
- Desktop application with offline-first architecture
- Works during internet outages
- Local data storage - you own your data
- Stable ownership with consistent updates
Computer-Rx
User feedback on stability:
- "Constant restarts and issues from the beginning"
- "The program is riddled with bugs"
- "At the time, the software was great and the company was privately owned. Today, neither is true"
- Quality decline attributed to multiple ownership changes
Target Market
PharmaPOS Best For:
- Independent pharmacies in developing markets
- Pharmacies in areas with unreliable internet
- Budget-conscious pharmacies seeking lifetime licenses
- African, Asian, Latin American, Caribbean markets
- Pharmacies accepting mobile money payments
- Multi-currency operations
Computer-Rx Best For:
- US-based independent pharmacies
- Pharmacies needing Clinical 360 integration
- High-volume US pharmacies
- Long-term care and specialty pharmacies
- Pharmacies with reliable internet and larger budgets
Strengths and Weaknesses
PharmaPOS Strengths
- Transparent, affordable pricing
- One-time purchase with no subscription lock-in
- 100% offline capability
- Mobile money integrations
- Multi-currency support
- Responsive customer support
- Stable ownership
PharmaPOS Weaknesses
- Less US-specific regulatory integrations
- No Clinical 360 equivalent
- Smaller US customer base
Computer-Rx Strengths
- 40+ years in business
- Large US customer base (48,000+ locations)
- Clinical 360 integration
- Comprehensive US wholesaler integrations
- DEA compliance features
Computer-Rx Weaknesses
- Poor customer support reputation
- Opaque, expensive pricing
- Software stability issues reported
- Multiple ownership changes affecting quality
- US-centric (not suitable for international markets)
- Limited offline capability
User Ratings Summary
Recommendation
Choose PharmaPOS If:
- You're outside the US or in a developing market
- You want transparent, affordable pricing
- You need offline capability
- You accept mobile money payments
- You want to avoid subscription fees
- You value responsive customer support
Choose Computer-Rx If:
- You're a US-based pharmacy with a larger budget
- You need Clinical 360 integration specifically
- You require deep US wholesaler integrations
- You're already part of the Outcomes network
Conclusion
For independent pharmacies in developing markets or those seeking affordable, transparent pricing with offline capability, PharmaPOS is the clear winner. For US-based pharmacies with larger budgets needing specific US integrations, Computer-Rx may be worth considering despite its support challenges.
Contact MedSoftwares for a free demonstration of PharmaPOS.
