Invisalign vs SmileDirectClub

The invisible aligner industry is booming, with several new companies emerging with their own unique way to make your new picture-perfect smile a reality. Invisalign is likely the most recognized name in the invisible braces industry, launching their product/service over 20 years ago. On the other hand Smile Direct Club has been around since 2014, but has shown tremendous growth by serving over 750,000 customers so far.

Many people are torn between Invisalign and Smile Direct Club. When comparing the two companies side by side, there are a few similarities, but there are also some major differences. While both companies rely on clear, plastic trays to gently move your teeth into the desired position, the treatment process and delivery are entirely different.

Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club

Invisalign is known for its innovative technology, high-quality products and trusted dentist led invisible braces treatments.

Smile Direct Club is know for its affordability, at home convenience, and short treatment time.

Below will show a side by side comparison of the key factors that make Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club different. The most notable factors include —

The average cost of each invisible braces treatment
The down payment and monthly payment requirements
The number of payment options
The average length of invisible braces treatment time
The average cost of the impression kit
The customer service ratings
The companies trustworthiness
The quality of the product

#5 Invisalign

6.6 Overall Score

4.5

(57)

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#3 SmileDirectClub

6.7 Overall Score

2.1

(75)

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Overview

Invisalign

SmileDirectClub

Down Payment

Varies

$250

Monthly Payment

Varies

$85

Contract Length

Varies

24 Months

Impression Kit

Undisclosed

$49

Cost of Additional/Replacement Retainers

Undisclosed

$99

Average Duration of Treatment

15 Months

6 Months

Number of Payment Options

Time In Business

22 Years

5 Years

Ratings

Invisalign

SmileDirectClub

Overall Score

6.6 of 10

6.7 of 10

Review Score

4.5

2.1

Value for Money

4.3

2.2

Quality of Product or Service

4.5

2.2

Customer Service

4.5

2.1

Company Trustworthiness

4.6

2.0

Likely to Recommend

8.0 of 10

2.2 of 10

Reviews

Invisalign

SmileDirectClub

Number of Reviews

Review Breakdown

4.5

65%

28%

2.1

12%

11%

61%

Reviews for Invisalign

Helpful Favorable Review

Angie Burnett

December 12th, 2019 Orem, UT DETAILS

Value for your money

Quality of product or service

Customer service

Company trustworthiness

I wanted to straighten my teeth and had adult orthodontia insurance, I went to my orthodontist and received Invisalign. The whole process was very smooth. I did have to have brackets put on my teeth during treatment. On top of that I had to do 2 refinements. But considering that they were clear and invisible I didn't mind.

Helpful Critical Review

Nancy Estrada

March 26th, 2019 DETAILS

Value for your money

Quality of product or service

Customer service

Company trustworthiness

I’m not too happy with Invisalign I wish I could rate it zero. Too expensive and little to no progress. Wish I could get a refund

Reviews for SmileDirectClub

Helpful Favorable Review

Jackie C.

November 13th, 2019 Nashville, TN DETAILS

Value for your money

Quality of product or service

Customer service

Company trustworthiness

I started nighttime only aligners which no other companies offer. It would be really difficult with my job to have to wear aligners all day so night time only is perfect. I am almost done with the plan and my teeth look INCREDIBLE!!!! The process has been really painless and the folks at the Smile shop I visited were incredibly helpful. I am just LOVING my new smile!!!! FINALLY... a solution for me that doesn't require months of ugly trays in my mouth all day. : )

Helpful Critical Review

Logan Rosselli

November 18th, 2019 Corona, CA DETAILS

Value for your money

Quality of product or service

Customer service

Company trustworthiness

Would not recommend at all. Everything was fine with my aligners, and then I had to get my retainer. They sent me the wrong one. Not a big deal - mistakes happen, I'll just let them know to resend it. So they send me a new one. It's the wrong size again. So now I'm annoyed but I get sent new ones. Wrong AGAIN. Now they have just sent me two months worth of new aligners. I don't need aligners, I need retainers! Horrible job done by a horrible company.

The Final Word

As shown in the table above, If you want to straighten your smile, both companies can make that happen. However, there are several factors you should consider before settling on one company. Below will highlight the differences the standout in the Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club face off.

1. How the average costs compare

The average Smile Direct Club cost is going to be significantly cheaper compared to the cost of Invisalign — Why?

Smile Direct Club relies solely on virtual communication, meaning there are no trips to the dentist or office visit fees. You are only paying for the product, there is no up charge to compensate for time spent one on one with a dentist. To start the entire process, you'll take a free 30-second online smile assessment. If approved, you'll get your at-home impression kit. Then a licensed dentist or orthodontist will create a treatment plan and your aligners will be shipped to your home.

Depending on how you look at it, this can be a pro or a con.

2. The quality of orthodontist treatment vs. at-home treatment

Smile Direct Club does the whole clear aligner process remote. The send supplies to your door and you consult with their professionals over the phone. While you might be thrilled at the fact that you won't ever have to visit a dentist's office again, it also means you won't be able to consult directly with your dentist if there are any problems or concerns. You'll have to rely on a stranger over the phone — who doesn't personally know you or your teeth — for advice and guidance.

Those that choose Invisalign love the trusted assurance that they get from going into their orthodontist. It brings many patients peace of mind to know that for the extra money, their misaligned teeth will receive personalized attention to ensure the straightest smile in the end possible.

Another thing to consider is the quality of impressions versus the quality of scans. Smile Direct Club has its customers take their own impressions with a putty-like substance. By having the customer make the molds themselves, this increases the likelihood of needing a second or third impression — which can delay your straightening process by several weeks. Additionally, a putty mold isn't the most reliable method for capturing exact details.

Invisalign eliminates the need for goopy putty molds and instead uses the iTero Element® scanner to get a 3D image of the patient's teeth. A high-resolution, interactive image of your teeth, taken by a professional is going to be more accurate and reliable than a putty mold.

If you prefer you can visit a SmileDirectClub SmileShop (located throughout the country) and get a 3D scan instead of making an at-home impression. This is free of charge; however, it kind of negates the convenient, do-it-from-home aspect that SmileDirectClub advertises.

3. Customer service

Lastly, before choosing a company, it's important to consider the company's customer service. The advantage Invisalign has over Smile Direct Club is the fact that people are working with their personal dentist and everything comes through them. Unfortunately, SmileDirectClub when it comes to customer service has struggled to keep up with consumer demands resulting in late shipments, mixed up orders, and other poor customer service experiences.

If you want to straighten your teeth but don't want to have to visit the dentist every few weeks, Smile Direct Club might be for you. However, keep in mind that while straightening your teeth from home is convenient, it leaves ample room for user error and complete trust in someone you've never met.

The bottom line

The cost of Invisalign's clear aligners are going to cost more. You're going to have to visit the dentist's office every few weeks since your dentist/orthodontist will be your Invisalign provider however, at least you can sleep at night knowing that if a problem occurs you have someone you know and trust who can help solve the problem. You are also more likely to get better fitted aligners that can fix your crooked teeth due to the dental in house 3D image scanner compared to the traditional putty impressions.

The cost of Smile Direct Club is thousands of dollars cheaper and, on average, treatment time is significantly shorter than Invisalign's with the average time coming in at around six months. The convenience of the remote at-home treatment can be a huge bonus for some, or turn off for others who prefer more personalized supervision during their treatment.

Both are great companies with great customer reviews. We highly recommend customers in search of straighter teeth choose the the invisible braces provider that best suites their needs. For more info and customer reviews about Smile Direct Club, Invisalign and other top clear aligners companies, compare all top clear aligner companies here.

top choice

SmileDirectClub

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