Comparing the Top 5 Clear Aligner Providers (Pros & Cons)

QuickSmiles (Invisalign)

With the lowest Invisalign prices in the nation, QuickSmiles has created the perfect balance between at-home clear aligners and traditional orthodontics. Thanks to their 3D Smile Scan technology, QuickSmiles is able to create the best smile plan for you using 5 million past cases to predict the proper course of action. Among the best clear aligner providers, QuickSmiles has already transformed more than 2,000 smiles with the Invisalign method.

Pricing:

$2,450 – $3,950

Offering two pricing plans, QuickSmiles bases the final cost on the level of your alignment issues. Their Express plan works for minor alignments and starts at $2,450 with payment options as low as $63 per month. The Premium plan focuses on medium to major alignments and costs $3,450 or as low as $83 per month. Adding bite correction to your treatment will cost an additional $500.

QuickSmiles is also able to accept most insurance plans, which can significantly lower your out-of-pocket cost.

Pros:

The lowest Invisalign prices in the nation.
Guaranteed clear aligner quality thanks to Align Technology creating their Invisalign trays.
QuickSmiles only works with licensed orthodontists who specialize in using Invisalign clear aligners to correct smiles.
Invisalign technology is able to handle more than 95% of all orthodontic issues.
QuickSmiles is able to limit the number of office visits thanks to their revolutionary virtual checkup process.
Treatment includes care from a local QuickSmiles orthodontist with a mixture of virtual and in-office visits. Most people only end up doing 3 – 5 in-person checkups during their treatment with the rest of them completed remotely.
Treatment includes free x-rays and an exam by the orthodontist to ensure that your teeth are safe to move.
Straighten teeth three times faster than braces for up to 60% less.
QuickSmiles accepts most major insurance providers for payment.

Cons:

May be more expensive than aligners that are shipped to you since QuickSmiles provides a local orthodontist together with the Invisalign system.
Invisalign clear aligners require dedication to wear them for a minimum of 22 hours per day but also lead to faster treatment times.

What is Invisalign?

What are Clear Aligners?

byte

Started as a company in 2017, byte was officially launched in 2019 with a goal to offer the fastest orthodontic solutions on the market. They’ve teamed up with more than 200 doctors, orthodontists, and dentists who oversee the treatment for this clear aligner provider. The process includes using an at-home impression kit that you’ll do yourself and send in for either a dentist or an orthodontist to create your treatment plan.

Pricing:

$1,895 – $3,336

To start your treatment, byte charges $95 to send over your at-home impression kit. Upon approval for their service, you’ll be able to choose between the All-Day Aligner System or the At-Night Aligner System. Their All-Day system costs $1,895 upfront or $349 down with a payment plan of $83 per month for 29 months. The Night system is $2,295 upfront or $449 down with a payment plan of $99 per month for $99 per month.

If financed, the All-Day system ends up costing a total of $2,763, while the Night system comes out to $3,336 total.

Pros:

byte claims their HyperByte device can help people fix their bite and teeth alignment issues in as little as 3 months.
Their minimum cost of $1,895 is among the lower end of pricing compared to some other clear aligner providers.
The byte At-Night Aligner System offers users the ability to only wear their aligners for 10 hours per day.
Free lifetime guarantee of new aligners if your teeth shift after your treatment is completed.

Cons:

Since byte is a newer company, their systems aren’t as time-tested as many other reputable clear aligner providers.
Patient is responsible to provide their own x-rays or check with a local orthodontist on their own to ensure their teeth are safe to move.
Without their own hired professionals, byte simply uses a network of over 200 dentists and orthodontists to oversee treatments. You could end up working with multiple individuals and may not get the specialized treatment a trained orthodontist will provide.
byte doesn’t have any physical offices or locations where patients can visit for additional assistance when needed.
The at-home impression kits used to create their clear aligners are not always an accurate way to create the correct fit. Without a professionally-trained orthodontist overseeing the actual impression process, this can lead to longer treatment times or improper treatment altogether.

SmileDirectClub

Founded in 2014, SmileDirectClub is among the earlier providers of at-home clear aligner solutions. They have affiliations with doctors, dentists, and orthodontists who virtually monitor SDC patients. Over the years, they have used their clear aligners to help more than 750,000 people correct their smiles.

Pricing:

$1,950 – $2,386

SmileDirectClub has multiple payment options, starting with their one-time, upfront cost of $1,950. Alternatively, customers can use their SmilePay™ option which requires a $250 deposit and monthly payments of $89 per month for 24 months. This financing option comes out to a total of $2,386 for the treatment.

Pros:

SmileDirectClub is one of the largest at-home clear aligner providers.
They have 300+ SmileShops where customers can go for a teeth scan instead of using an impression kit at home.
Their financing options don’t require a credit check so nearly anyone can qualify for their payment plan.

Cons:

The network of dentists and orthodontists are general providers, which means they likely won’t be specialized in overseeing clear aligner treatments.
SmileDirectClub no longer uses Align Technology (creators of Invisalign) to make their clear aligners, so you won’t be getting the industry’s highest-rated solutions for your smile.
There are no in-person visits during your treatment, so there is no guarantee your treatment plan is working correctly.
Because SDC doesn’t have Align Technology, their clear aligners don’t snap into place or have options for attachments and anchors. This makes it more difficult for a secure fit and could lead to improper shifting of your teeth.

Candid

Based out of New York, Candid was founded in 2017 by a Stanford graduate named Nick Greenfield and his partner Lilla Cosgrove. They have teamed up with more than 50 orthodontists and currently have 23 locations. Their website states they are able to correct most smiles in an average of about 6 months.

Pricing:

$2,400 – $3,143

To begin your treatment, you must either order a $95 impression kit or visit one of their locations, if they have one near you. The minimum cost for their service is $2,400 total if you can pay it upfront. Upon approval, qualified individuals can also use their payment plan with $299 down and $79 per month for 36 months. This equals out to a total cost of $3,143 for treatment.

Pros:

Candid only works with orthodontists for their treatment plans, making it more likely that customers are getting specialized monitoring.
Partnered with ClearCorrect, they use the same type of material that this company uses with their office version.
They have a handful of physical locations where you can go to get your initial smile scan instead of paying for a $95 impression kit.

Cons:

The price point of $2,400 tends to be higher than other companies with similar services that don’t offer in-office visits.
They require a credit check to qualify for their monthly payment plan so individuals with poor credit scores may not be able to take advantage of their services.
Without the option for in-office visits during the treatment, it is difficult to know whether the treatment is going exactly as it should.
Since they only have about 50 orthodontists in their network, you may end up working with more than one professional who might not know your precise situation.

AlignerCo

The team at AlignerCo started in 2019 with the desire to be the most affordable clear aligner provider on the market. They have a mixed network of general dentists and orthodontists who monitor the treatments for their customers. Offering both all-day and nighttime solutions, AlignerCo works to complete treatment in as little as 6 to 12 months.

Pricing:

$1,145 – $1,345

You’ll begin your journey with AlignerCo by paying $75 for an impression kit, unless you decide to simply pay for the entire treatment upfront, making the kit free. Once confirmed their services will work for you, the pricing plan options start with their SmileAdvantage program at $1,145 upfront. If you can pass a credit check, they also provide financing with 12 monthly payments of $110 through their SmileFlex program. Options are additionally available for those who can’t pass a credit check.

Pros:

Offer the lowest prices in the clear aligner industry.
Even with their low pricing, they still offer payment plans for those who need to break it down into payments.
Customers are pleased with their customer service.

Cons:

Their mix of general dentists and orthodontists may not specialize in providing clear aligner solutions.
No retail locations means you can only communicate with a dentist or orthodontist virtually and may not be getting the best results.
Their clear aligners are made by Raintree Essix, which is more commonly known for manufacturing dental products.
Some consumers have said AlignerCo’s impression kit process is difficult and confusing.

A Closer Look at the 5 Best Clear Aligner Providers

QuickSmiles (Invisalign)

Pricing:

$2,450 – $3,950

Pros:

Cons:

byte

Pricing:

$1,895 – $3,336

Pros:

Cons:

SmileDirectClub

Pricing:

$1,950 – $2,386

Pros:

Cons:

Candid

Pricing:

$2,400 – $3,143

Pros:

Cons:

AlignerCo

Pricing:

$1,145 – $1,345

Pros:

Cons:

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