Cloud vs local
A local alternative to cloud dental software
Cloud practice management keeps your patient records on a vendor's servers. HM Praxis keeps them encrypted on your own computers, working offline, with no per-patient fees. Same daily tools, different custody of your data.
14-day free trial. No credit card. Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Why clinics choose local-first
Records stay in your clinic
Patient data is stored on your own machines and encrypted at rest. It is never uploaded to our servers.
Works during outages
Because the app runs locally, an internet or provider outage does not stop you from seeing patients.
No per-patient pricing
One simple subscription per seat. You are not charged more as your patient list grows.
Your data is yours to keep
Export your records and back them up yourself. Cancel anytime and the local data stays with you.
What cloud software does well, and the tradeoff
Cloud dental platforms are convenient: nothing to install, automatic off-site storage, and access from any browser. For many practices that is a fair trade. The tradeoff is custody: your patient records live on infrastructure the vendor controls, billed on a subscription that often scales with usage, and reachable only while you and the vendor both have a working connection.
If that tradeoff sits uneasily with you, or your connectivity is unreliable, a local-first design solves the same daily problems without moving your patients' data off site.
How HM Praxis is different
HM Praxis is a desktop app you install on the clinic's own computers. The database lives on your machine and is encrypted at rest with SQLCipher.
- Patient records, appointments, and clinical notes are stored locally, not in a shared multi-tenant database.
- On the Pro plan, a clinic team syncs over the local network only, with no cloud relay in the middle.
- The internet is used to validate your license and download updates, never to read a patient chart.
- Automatic encrypted backups run on a schedule so a single failed disk does not lose your records.
The same tools your front desk expects
Choosing local-first does not mean giving up features. HM Praxis covers patients and history, a calendar, prescriptions, inventory with purchase orders, patient billing with a currency and tax rate you choose, and financial reports. The full dental edition adds an interactive odontogram, periodontal charting, treatment plans, and lab cases.
It runs in English and Spanish, on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and you can white-label it with your clinic's name and logo.
Cloud vs local, point by point
A fair, category-level comparison so you can decide what fits your practice.
| What matters | Typical cloud software | HM Praxis (local-first) |
|---|---|---|
| Where patient data lives | On the vendor's servers | On your own computers, encrypted at rest |
| Works without internet | Needs a connection to work | Runs fully offline |
| Per-patient or per-record fees | Often scales with patients or records | Flat per-seat subscription, no per-patient fee |
| Encryption at rest | Usually encrypted on their infrastructure | Encrypted on your device with SQLCipher |
| Keeping your data if you leave | Export depends on the vendor | Your local database stays with you |
Comparison describes the cloud model as a category, not any single product. Always confirm specifics with the vendor you are evaluating.
Frequently asked questions
Is my patient data sent to your servers?
No. HM Praxis stores patient data on your own machines, encrypted at rest. We never receive patient records. Our servers only handle your account, license, and billing.
Can a team still share patient data?
Yes, on the Pro plan. Team computers in the same clinic sync over your local network only. The patient data never passes through any server we run.
Is HM Praxis HIPAA or CFDI certified?
We do not claim any certification. HM Praxis is built around keeping patient data local and encrypted, which supports your own compliance, but you remain responsible for meeting the rules that apply in your country.
What happens to my data if I stop paying?
Your local database stays on your computer. You can keep and back it up. You will lose access to new updates and team sync, but your records are not held hostage on a server.
Keep exploring
Dental software that works offline
How HM Praxis runs fully offline, with the internet only used to validate your license.
Own your patient data
Clinical records stay encrypted on your machines. No patient data on any server, ever.
Cloud vs local: patient privacy
A plain-language look at what changes for privacy when records leave the clinic.
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