Invisalign alternatives: Are less expensive providers just as good?

Invisalign is one of the most expensive products on the aligner market. Here we therefore take a closer look at cheaper Invisalign alternatives.

When people think of invisible braces, they often have Invisalign directly in mind. No wonder, after all, the provider is considered the bedrock in the field of aligner technology.

Invisalign has already recorded over 14 million completed tooth corrections. Align Technology, the company behind the brand name, has the most experience of all aligner providers.

Invisalign is based in the US state of California and has been manufacturing invisible dental trays (aligners) there since 1997.

Since 1999, the clear braces have also been available in Germany. Tooth correction is now offered by several thousand partner practices in all states.

The special thing about Invisalign: While the products from other aligner providers are only suitable for aesthetic anterior tooth corrections, Invisalign dental trays can also correct complex tooth and bite misalignments.

Invisalign is also the only company in the aligner market to offer invisible braces for children and teens.

Treatment with Invisalign Teen is possible before the eruption of all permanent teeth and from the age of 11.

The big disadvantage: Invisalign is one of the most expensive products on the aligner market. Invisalign this article, we therefore take a closer look at Invisalign alternatives. Sing cheaper providers just as well?

How much do Invisalignisible aligners cost?

A look at the Invisalign homepage makes it clear that Invisalign communicates its prices less transparently than other providers.

Instead, Invisalign pricing is completely individualized. It is based on these factors:

• the severity of the malocclusion
• the duration of treatment and the associated number of splints required
• the type of correction desired
• the individual fee of the dentist or orthodontist

Patients only find out the final price for their dental correction after the non-binding initial appointment.

However, costs are only due if you actually decide to have your teeth straightened with Invisalign. So if you don’t like the offer, you can easily decline it.

However, based on some price examples published by dentists and the experiences of former patients, we can tell you roughly what costs you should expect:

Which Invisalign alternatives offer good value for money?

If you suffer from severely misaligned teeth or jaws, Invisalign ‘s high-priced products are definitely an excellent alternative to unsightly wires and brackets in your mouth.

Because adults in particular often simply can’t imagine going through everyday life and especially professional life with fixed braces.

If, on the other hand, you would like to correct a mild to moderate malocclusion or have an esthetic anterior tooth correction performed, other providers offer better value for money.

Here we present you some recommendable Invisalign alternatives:

Alternative Invisalign: DrSmile is our price-performance recommendation

Do you only need an esthetic correction of the front teeth or do you only have a slight to moderate malocclusion?

Then we recommend the cheaper provider DrSmile. This is because the company from Germany offers very good value for money and communicates its prices transparently.

Depending on the severity (mild, moderate, or complex), prices start as low as 33 euros per month or 1790 euros for the complete treatment – payment in installments is always possible.

In this article you will learn more about DrSmile prices.

In addition to the classic crooked teeth, various tooth misalignments can also be corrected with DrSmile, as long as they are only slightly or, in some cases, moderately pronounced.

Only high-quality materials and state-of-the-art technologies are used in the production “made in Germany & USA”.

Through the app, the course of treatment is regularly monitored and kept in view by dentists and orthodontists. Regular face-to-face appointments, as with Invisalign, are not necessary.

Last but not least, DrSmile offers a satisfaction promise. If you have followed all the instructions and are still not satisfied with the result, you will receive a free refinement.

In this article, we compare the two providers in more detail: DrSmile vs. Invisalign.

Here you can find out whether your malocclusion is suitable for aligner therapy.

Did you know: I myself (the editor of this article) am currently in the middle of straightening my teeth with DrSmile.

Here you can learn more about my personal DrSmile experience. If you like, you can also watch some of my DrSmile videos, where I regularly update you on my treatment.

Smileunion is also one of the Invisalign alternatives

Another alternative to Invisalign is Smileunion. The company was founded in 2019 under the name SmartAlign. In 2020, the Wiesbaden-based company renamed itself.

Smileunion is one of the few providers that offer treatment with invisible dental trays completely from home.

So you either visit the partner practice where photos and impressions of your teeth are taken or a 3D scan is made.

Or, alternatively, you can make photos and prints at home using the starter set and send them to Smileunion.

Important to know: Dentists and orthodontists strongly warn against taking impressions on your own. We would therefore always recommend an initial appointment in the practice.

Smileunion belongs to the cheapest providers on the market. However, unlike competitors – such as DrSmile – there are currently hardly any testimonials from former or current patients on the Internet outside of the classic evaluation portals.

You can find more information about Smileunion in this article.

Alternative Invisalign: Braceless is another competitor

Braceless, based in Bad Homburg, Germany, is another alternative to Invisalign and has only been on the market for a few years. Here, too, your malocclusion is classified as mild, moderate or severe.

Braceless also offers its aligners at reasonable prices. Unlike competitors, however, two face-to-face appointments are a prerequisite for dental correction here.

Treatment begins with a free online pre-check. Here you will receive an assessment of whether you are suitable for the invisible dental splints.

The next step is to take impressions or a 3D scan in a partner practice. About ten days later, you will find out whether your deformity is classified as mild, moderate or severe. You will also receive your personal treatment plan.

A few weeks later, you will have another consultation in the practice and receive your custom-fitted dental splints.

Similar to Smileunion, it is relatively difficult to find authentic testimonials and reviews on the Internet for Braceless.

You can find more information about Braceless in this article.

A brief conclusion on the best Invisalign alternatives

For aesthetic anterior teeth straightening or the correction of mild to moderate malocclusions, we recommend the renowned provider DrSmile as an ideal alternative to Invisalign.

DrSmile offers a large network of partner practices, affordable prices and the option to pay in installments, so treatment is almost always affordable.

The first appointment (including 3D scan) is free of charge and without obligation. You can therefore first have a non-binding checkup without any problems to see whether your malocclusion is even a possibility for treatment with DrSmile.

You only have to pay when you actually decide on a treatment. DrSmile also offers a satisfaction promise with free rework (“refinement”).

Last but not least, the reviews on the Internet are also positive and I myself (the editor of the article) have had only good experiences in the course of my DrSmile treatment so far.

FAQs about Invisalign alternatives

Here we answer some frequently asked questions about Invisalign alternatives.

In our dental splint comparison you will find an overview of all aligner providers.