Clear Aligners Cost: Comparing Major Brands

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Table of Contents
- Clear Aligner Purchase Process
- Factors that Affect Clear Aligner Costs
- At-Home Clear Aligner Brands & Costs
- In-Office Clear Aligner Brands & Costs
- Comparing your Options
- Should Pricing Matter?
- Other Factors to Consider
- Clear Aligner Cost FAQs
- References
How the Clear Aligner Purchase Process Works
Clear aligners are a lot like braces. As the American Association of Orthodontists points out, both braces and aligners move your teeth a little at a time. To work effectively, dental professionals need a clear understanding of your current smile and your dental goals.
Some dental aligner companies use an in-person assessment, while others offer impression kits you can complete at home and mail back. Dental professionals examine these tools and determine how your teeth should move.
With a clear treatment plan, dental professionals create clear aligners for your mouth. You'll wear one tray for about two weeks before swapping it for another that pushes your teeth closer to your goal.
Treatment length can vary, but most people stay in aligners for time frames measured in months — not years like braces.
The global clear aligner market is vast and growing every year. Each company offers slightly different plans, so it’s tough to make sweeping statements about pricing. Some offer monthly payment plans and full insurance coverage. Others don’t.
Factors that Affect Clear Aligner Costs
Why do some clear aligners cost more than others? Plenty of factors come into play — some you can control, and others you can't.
Your clear aligner price might be higher or lower due to the following issues:
- Brand: Some companies charge more for their products than others do.
- Length of treatment: The longer you wear aligners, the more trays you'll need. Many companies charge more accordingly.
- Aligner type: Some companies use more expensive polymers or equipment in their products, driving up the price.
- Discounts: Some companies offer price breaks for teachers, first responders, members of the military, and others.
The following three options could also lower your out-of-pocket costs:
- Insurance: Companies like MetLife will cover aligners, but limitations exist. For example, MetLife requires a licensed dentist to design and monitor your care. Choose a company without this professional expertise, and your claim could get rejected.
- Flexible spending account (FSA): Money you put into an FSA must be spent within the same year. Those dollars could help you cover your aligner costs.
- Health savings account (HSA): Your HAS funds must be applied to essential medical treatments, and aligners typically qualify.
At-Home Clear Aligner Brands & Costs
Each aligner company's costs are different, and most organizations have rules about the payment types they will and won't accept. This comparison chart can help you see those differences quickly, but keep reading for more detail about mail-in aligners.
Brand | Aligners | Impression kit | Monthly payments | Insurance |
---|---|---|---|---|
ALIGNERCO | $945 (traditional aligners); $1,145 (nighttime option) | $59.99 for impression kit only; included with aligner kit | Ranging from $79 to $100 | Traditional insurance, HSA, and FSA |
SmileDirectClub | $2,050 | $59 impression kit or free in-office scan | $250 deposit and $89/month for 26 months | Traditional insurance, HSA, and FSA |
Candid | Varies per dentist | In-office scan or impressions only; varies per dentist | Varies per dentist | Varies per dentist |
NewSmile | $1,495 | $49 or included with aligners | $55 per month for 36 months | Traditional insurance, HSA, and FSA |
SnapCorrect | $1,749 | $49 | $80.84 for 24 months | Traditional insurance, HSA, and FSA |
Byte | $1,999 | $95 (currently discounted to $29.95) | $249 down payment and $70 monthly for 36 months | Traditional insurance, HSA, and FSA |
Strayt | $1,596 | Free dental scans (not an impression kit) | $77 per month for 24 months with $248 down or $133 per month for 12 months after $199 down | Traditional insurance, HSA, and FSA |
Invisalign | Varies per dentist | In-office scan or impressions only; varies per dentist | Varies per dentist | Varies per dentist |
ClearCorrect | Varies per dentist | In-office scan or impressions only; varies per dentist | Varies per dentist | Varies per dentist |
ALIGNERCO Pricing
ALIGNERCO offers clear aligners for at-home use. Here's what you need to know about the company's pricing:
Impression/Aligner Kit Cost
ALIGNERCO offers at-home aligner treatment, and the work starts with an impression kit. You'll pay $59.99 for this tool, which includes the following:
- Impression putty and trays
- Cheek retractors
- Smile projection
You won't pay to mail this back to the team for review. A free shipping label is included.
Full Cost
Your aligner trays, printed and designed especially for your mouth, cost $945 in one payment. Choose this option, and your impression kit is included, so you'll save a little money.
If you want to wear aligners at night only, your costs will go up. Prepare for a one-time payment of $1,145 with this option in one payment.
Monthly Payments
ALIGNERCO offers plenty of payment options to help you get started. They're split into the following two categories:
- Traditional aligners: $79 to $100 per month
- Nighttime aligners: $96 to $100 per month
The shorter your loan length, the bigger your payment. Some plans require a down payment.
Discounts
Insurance
HSA/FSA Approved?
SmileDirectClub Pricing
SmileDirectClub keeps prices low with at-home aligners. But the treatment choices you make can have an impact on your overall cost.
Impression/Aligner Kit Cost
SmileDirectClub offers an at-home impression kit option for people who don't want to set foot in a professional's office. Pay $59 for a kit that includes the following:
- Dental impression trays
- Smile spreader
- Prepaid shipping label
If you're not a good candidate for treatment, you'll get your $59 back.
If you'd like to save a bit of money and work with an expert to start the process, you can skip impression kit fees and visit an in-person shop. A professional will review your teeth on the spot and tell you if you're eligible.
Full Cost
Monthly Payments
Discounts
Insurance
HSA/FSA Approved?
Candid Pricing
Candid offers clear aligners for at-home treatment, but the model is a little different than the others we've discussed. You'll work directly with a professional that offers Candid products, and that person can charge anything they'd like for their work.
Impression/Aligner Kit Cost
Full Cost
Monthly Payments
Discounts
Insurance
HSA/FSA Approved?
NewSmile Pricing
NewSmile uses an at-home aligner model supervised by dentists and orthodontists. Here's what you need to know about pricing:
Impression/Aligner Kit Cost
Pay $49 for an impression kit, which includes a sneak peek at what your teeth will look like when your program is complete. You'll get the following items in your package:
- Four dental impression trays
- Dental impression putty
- Mouth spreader
- How-to guide
If the team determines you're not a good candidate, your fees are refunded.
Full Cost
Monthly Payments
Discounts
Insurance
HSA/FSA Approved?
SnapCorrect Pricing
SnapCorrect provides at-home clear aligners with a treatment plan driven by an at-home impression kit. Here's what you need to know about the price:
Impression/Aligner Kit Cost
Full Cost
Monthly Payments
Discounts
Insurance
HSA/FSA Approved?
Strayt Pricing
Strayt is a relative newcomer to the clear aligner space, and the company offers plans for at-home treatment to straighten your smile.
Impression/Aligner Kit Cost
Full Cost
Monthly Payments
Discounts
Insurance
HSA/FSA Approved?
Byte Pricing
Byte provides doctor-directed treatment plans administered with clear aligner trays. While the technology is advanced, the cost is low.
Impression/Aligner Kit Cost
A typical Byte impression kit is $95, but a current special allows for a $29.95 kit. Your box includes the following items:
- Four impression trays
- Dental putty
- Smile expander
- Gloves
- Prepaid return shipping label
If doctors determine you're not a good candidate for Byte, you'll get your impression kit fee back.
Full Cost
Monthly Payments
Discounts
Insurance
HSA/FSA Approved?
In-Office Clear Aligner Brands & Costs
While many companies offer at-home clear aligner plans, some use a different approach. The following companies use clear aligner trays that are administered by orthodontists and dentists within their offices in a series of appointments. Here's what you need to know about their pricing:
Invisalign Pricing
Independent dental practitioners administer Invisalign. Those orthodontists and dentists set their prices, and they set up their perks and benefits for their customers. Making sweeping statements about how Invisalign works is hard because your experience and cost will vary depending on your chosen dental team.
Choose Invisalign, and you'll also have costs associated with missed work and a commute to a dental office. You'll need to go to each appointment to keep your treatment on track.
Prepare to pay up to $5,000 for your plans. Ask your dental professional about insurance, discounts, HSA, and FSA options.
ClearCorrect Pricing
ClearCorrect is administered by independent dentists. Think of these products as tools dentists can offer to their patients at prices and policies they set. It's very difficult to make predictions about how much these aligners cost, as it really depends on the dentist.
You must find a dentist willing to offer these trays, and if your local dentists don't participate, this option isn't available to you.
Costs vary significantly depending on the dentist. Ask your dentist if you can use your insurance, HSA, or FSA plans.
Comparing your Options
Your teeth are important to your health, looks, and future. You should make this decision very carefully. These links can help you dig deeper:
Should Pricing Matter when Looking for Clear Aligners?
Few people want to pay more than they must for anything, including healthcare. Pricing may be part of your research process when you’re considering aligners. It’s wise to look for methods that don’t cost more than you can afford.
But every situation is different. Some people are willing to pay more for an experience they deem more valuable. There’s no shame in choosing a more expensive product.
Ensure that you also do research concerning a company’s customer satisfaction, convenience, timeline, and more. These factors could be just as important as price.
Other Factors to Consider
Many of the companies we've mentioned work directly with consumers. These products are easy for anyone to use, even if you don't have a dentist locally that you trust. An option like this tends to be less expensive. And it comes with some perks.
You'll know how much your plan will cost upfront, as you won't have to compare dentists. And you won't have to keep in-person appointments.
Timelines can also vary quite a bit from company to company. In-office options tend to require more time, as you must keep your appointments. Missing even one appointment could add months to your schedule.
Finally, it pays to ask about guarantees. A few of the companies we've mentioned stand behind their work and will offer refunds if you follow the plan as specified, and your smile still isn’t right. But plenty of options don’t come with reassurances like this. Be sure to ask before the work is done.
Clear Aligner Cost Frequently Asked Questions
We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions people ask about clear aligner treatment:
What factors affect clear aligner pricing?
Does insurance cover the cost of clear aligners?
Are clear aligners FSA/HSA eligible?
How much does Byte cost?
References
Orthodontic Treatment With Clear Aligners. (June 2018). American Association of Orthodontists.
Considering Clear Aligners? How Dental Insurance Can Help Pay the Costs. (October 2020). MetLife.
Clear Aligners in Orthodontic Treatment. (March 2017). Australian Dental Journal.
New Orthodontic Aligner Treatment. (February 2021). British Dental Journal.
The Effects of Low-frequency Vibration on Aligner Treatment Duration: A Clinical Trial. (May–June 2022). Journal of the International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry.
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