7 Best Affordable Invisible Braces Brands

Even aligners that you order online can run you over $2,000. If your budget is tight right now, we recommend checking out Smile Perfect. You can get a daytime aligner set for just $849 (or $54 per month) or a single aligner for $699 ($50 a month). The company also often has promotions that slice those rates considerably.

Smile Perfect works similarly to the other aligner companies on this list: You take impressions at home, send them back, receive a 3D smile preview, and once approved, you receive a customized set of aligners to wear for four to six months. You also get a whitening kit, two sets of retainers, video calls with a dentist for refinement purposes, and free shipping. There is a single arch premium plan that starts at $1,099, and the main differences with it are in-person impression modeling (or 3D scan), a dental monitoring system, and free adjustments. However, the only current location for 3D scanning is in Utah.

You can receive a refund (minus impression costs) if you’re not happy with the 3D smile preview or if the advising dentists don’t consider you to be good candidate for aligners. Our research found that customers are typically very happy with the results and say that the customer service is responsive and very helpful. There were, however, some complaints about slow shipping time, which may be frustrating when ordering from a company that claims to offer free expedited shipping. 

If you’re looking to straighten only a portion of your smile, Smileie may be worth considering. Because they offer single-arch, double-arch, and nighttime-only options, you can customize your experience based on the alignment issues you hope to correct. And you don’t have to worry about uncomfortable molds, as the company can have your aligners made via a quick in-person scan (as long as you live near one of their 22 locations). There’s also an enhanced Smileie PRO option, which includes a ScanBox dental monitoring device that lets track your progress remotely.

If you prefer to make impressions at home with a mold, there’s an option for that too. Every treatment option includes an impression kit, a teeth-whitening kit, two sets of retainers, and your aligners. However, there are no returns on impression kits or aligners. If you’re not a candidate for the aligners based on the impressions you provide, you’ll receive a refund (minus the cost of the impression kit). If you only purchased the impression kit and no aligners, you won’t be eligible for any money back.

While Smileie claims to have a results guarantee that includes a revised treatment plan, new impressions, and additional aligners if needed, it is contingent on following the treatment recommendations and wearing the aligners for 22 hours daily for daytime aligners and 8 to 10 hours nightly for nighttime aligners.

If you account for its ongoing sales and payment plans, ALIGNERCO is one of the most affordable invisible braces options. The company frequently offers promotions that lower the standard $1,095 rate even further. The process starts with a brief assessment on the website, followed by purchasing your chosen treatment. You’ll receive an impression kit to create molds of your teeth, which are used to create custom aligners. ALIGNERCO provides a specific schedule for switching to a new aligner set based on your impressions and progress pictures. The entire treatment process takes four to six months on average for all-day users and six to eight months on the NightFlex plan.

There are three payment options for all-day users, including two financing plans. The first financing plan, SmileFlex, allows you to pay for treatment starting at $70 per month over 12 months. This option is provided through the personal financing company Affirm and requires an eligibility check and approval. The second financing option, SmileFlex Easy, allows you to pay in installments of $92 monthly for seven months but requires a $395 down payment.

There is also an ALIGNERCO nighttime treatment option for those who don’t want to wear aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day. The NightOnly plan typically costs $1,295, but the company sometimes offers promotions that lower the rate. Two financing plans are available. The NightFlex plan (through Affirm) offers monthly payments starting at $87 for 12 months, while the NightFlex Easy plan (through Partial.ly) is an installment plan of $114 per month for seven months, with a $444 down payment.

While your initial aligner kit comes with one set of retainers, you’ll need to purchase the Smile Protection Plan to prevent your teeth from shifting back in the long term. Depending on the number of retainers you need, the plan can cost anywhere from $150 for one retainer to $1,200 for eight. Price-lowering promotions are sometimes available for retainers as well. Although customer reviews are mixed, the company has more overall positive reviews than its competitors on this list.

SmileSet offers aligner plans similar to the options above, but what sets it apart is its extras. Aside from the typical impression kit and aligners, you also get a whitening kit, floss picks, lip balm, a high-end case, and aligner removal. The one extra that’s not included in the $1,795 alignment kit is a retainer, which costs $199 (or $119.40 when you subscribe to receive a new set every six months). You can easily have new retainers made by shipping back a set of your most recently used aligners or retainer, or with a replica mold.

We appreciate that the company uses a patented comfort-edge technology to create aligners that follow your gumline, so you aren’t dealing with plastic cutting into your gums. Your purchase also includes the SmileSet Smile Protection Plan, which offers one complimentary touch-up within 30 days of completing treatment, as long as you’ve registered your aligners and worn them properly.

Day and nighttime aligners are available, and you can choose to pay up front or monthly (from $80.79 per month). There are also regular promotions that typically cut the up-front cost by about $500. If you’re not satisfied with your aligners, you can return them for a full refund within 30 days.

When the company first came on the scene, there was a fair amount of frustrated customers who said it was difficult to connect with a human customer service rep, or who said that they never received a refund. However, our research shows that the service has improved in recent years, and independent review scores are typically good.

NewSmile works similarly to ALIGNERCO in that you complete an online smile assessment to determine whether you’re eligible for treatment. Then you’ll purchase a treatment plan and receive a home impression kit to create molds of your teeth. After that, you send the molds back to NewSmile, where its team of experts makes a 3D treatment preview, which includes images of what your future smile could look like. If you approve it, the team creates your custom aligners.

Unfortunately, you have to purchase retainers separately, which start at $129 per set. The company recommends replacing your retainers every six months. NewSmile sometimes offers rate-lowering promotions on treatment plans and retainers.

If, after submitting your impressions, NewSmile determines that you’re not a good candidate for the aligners, the company guarantees that you’ll receive a refund. But, according to its return policy, if you’re unsatisfied with your treatment preview, impression kits are not eligible for refunds. The brand’s return policy also suggests that aligners may require buffing at home with a nail file to remove sharp edges that may cause discomfort.

NewSmile doesn’t promise any specific outcome following treatment, and if your progress achieves 85 percent of your treatment preview’s predicted look, then NewSmile counts it as a successful case. If you aren’t satisfied with your results, the brand will work with you and send refinement aligners. If a failed case results from your negligence, however, you may have to pay an additional $499 for refinements.

With Aligner32, you can purchase an impression kit for a standard price of $70 or opt to purchase a full treatment plan up front (includes the impression kit). After sending in your impressions, a dental expert will decide if you are a candidate. If not, the company will refund the entire cost of your impression kit and treatment plan. Aligner32 offers four treatment options: all-day dual-arch aligners, all-day single-arch aligners, nighttime dual-arch aligners, and nighttime single-arch aligners. Daytime treatment starts at $1,149, while nighttime treatment starts at $1,549. However, the company frequently offers promos and seasonal sales that could cut your costs by as much as 50 percent.

It’s important to note that Aligner32’s aligners aim to to address minor corrections only and will not treat severe dental issues. If you have concerns about your teeth or jaw, consult a professional before starting treatment. Also keep in mind that you’ll need a smartphone with a working camera to take progress photos and upload them to the AlignerTracker app.

Accessible customer support is one of the main draws of Aligner32. While many of its competitors offer one or two ways to contact customer service if there’s an issue, Aligner32 users can connect with customer support via phone, email, live chat, or Facebook Messenger. Our research shows that patients found Aligner32’s customer service responsive and helpful throughout their treatments.

While most of the feedback is positive, some customers reported significant problems, such as not receiving a refund after being deemed ineligible.

There’s no denying the convenience that at-home aligners offer, but the lack of in-person monitoring leaves room for errors and flawed results. This is where CandidPro sets itself apart. Users must visit a CandidPro provider for an initial consultation and in-clinic impressions, which a licensed dentist completes. Since customer reviews across brands mention difficulty with the DIY impression process, CandidPro may be a worthwhile alternative for those wanting a hybrid option.

After your in-person appointment, your aligners and ScanBox Pro (a tool to track your progress) arrive directly to your door. The rest of your appointments are done through remote monitoring using a smartphone, the ScanBox Pro, and the ProMonitoring app.

One downside of this brand is that prices aren’t as straightforward as with some competitors. Instead of paying a flat fee regardless of your treatment plan, your provider determines the price based on the complexity of your problems and estimated treatment length. Treatment takes six months on average and costs anywhere from about $1,500 to $4,000 or more. Financing options vary across providers, but some offer payment plans and accept orthodontic insurance.

Our research found that customers like the convenience of CandidPro, and while there are some limitations, such as not being able to address severe orthodontic issues, most patients report positive experiences. However, customer service can sometimes be tricky to work with, and finding an in-person provider nearby may be a challenge for some.