The days of metal braces as the only avenue to straighter teeth are no more. Thanks to the innovation of clear aligner systems, often referred to as “invisible braces,” adults looking to transform their smiles now have more options than ever.
While you may already be familiar with Invisalign for teeth straightening, there are many companies offering a similar product worth considering — from traditional in-office treatment, to at-home aligners, to newer hybrid options that combine dentist-led care with remote monitoring. Each company listed here is best-suited for different types of patients — the right treatment for you depends on your unique circumstances, priorities, and goals. Read on as we discuss the six best clear aligners on the market.
Table of Contents
Best Clear Aligners: At a Glance
If you’re looking for quick info, here’s an overview of the best clear aligner brands, starting with Linea, our top pick. Keep in mind that there are some pretty significant differences between each of these providers. Further down this page we go into much more detail and break down key differences and things to consider, including special promotions that can help you save on your treatment.
How we Select and Review Clear Aligner Companies
Smile Prep has reviewed a total of 12 clear aligner brands in-depth. Review candidates include not only the most popular brands, but also several lesser known options that, in our view, have something unique to offer.
Smile Prep’s reviews offer the perspective of a well-informed consumer. This means that our views are not professional opinions, and we do not independently verify the claims the manufacturers make about their products. Instead, the value that we offer is to collect the claims that clear aligner companies make about their products and compare them for your convenience. We also analyze customer perspectives, including hundreds of reviews that we gathered directly from Smile Prep’s visitors. In many cases, we have also corresponded directly with company representatives and/or sampled products or impression kits first hand. You can learn more about our review process by checking out our publishing principles.
At-Home, In-Office, or Hybrid: What’s the Difference?
Before we dig into the individual companies, it’s worth understanding the three categories they fall into: at-home treatment (like AlignerCo), in-office treatment (like Invisalign), and hybrid treatment (like Linea, our top pick), which combines elements of both. All three use the same basic technology — a series of clear plastic trays that gradually shift your teeth. The real difference is how much of a dentist’s care and oversight you get along the way, and what you pay for it.
With at-home brands, you make molds of your own teeth with a mail-order kit, and everything is managed by mail and app. With in-office treatment, a dentist runs your care through regular appointments. Hybrid treatment covers the critical steps in person and monitors your progress between visits through an app. Here’s how to tell which is the best fit for you:
Choose at-home aligners if…
- You have a relatively mild misalignment.
- You’re on a tight budget.
- You’d rather not visit a dentist’s office at all.
Choose in-office aligners if…
- You have a severe misalignment or bite issue.
- You don’t mind paying more for treatment.
- You’d feel better with hands-on care at every step.
Choose hybrid aligners if…
- You want to meet the dentist behind your treatment plan.
- You’d rather keep office visits to a minimum.
- You want comprehensive treatment without in-office prices.
Each category has solid options. Just note that an exam and X-rays are how a dentist confirms aligners will work safely for you — and at-home companies can’t provide them, so see a dentist for a check-up before going that route. Both hybrid and in-office treatment build that exam into step one; hybrid simply delivers it at a much lower price, which is a big reason it’s our top pick for most people.
The 6 Best Clear Aligners
Linea: Best Overall Value & Quality Oversight
Linea offers a hybrid treatment that combines hands-on care from a local dentist with the convenience of checking in from your phone (“remote monitoring”) — much of the oversight you’d get with Invisalign, at prices closer to the at-home end of the market. And while Linea is new to the US, they aren’t new at this: founded by dentists in Australia, they were among the first companies built around the hybrid model, and they’ve successfully treated more than 5,000 patients worldwide.
Unlike most competitors, Linea publishes flat-rate pricing: depending on how many aligners your case requires, treatment costs $1,995, $2,995, or $3,995 — often around half the price of Invisalign — and you’ll see your exact price before you commit. Payment plans are available too, including a 12-month interest-free option for qualifying customers. After an initial consultation and fitting with a local Linea partner dentist, most of your treatment happens from home.
PROS
- Your treatment starts with real diagnostics: a Linea partner dentist examines your teeth, takes X-rays and 3D scans, and confirms you’re a good candidate before you pay for treatment. Every case is then planned by Linea’s experienced orthodontic team, working with your local dentist.
- Once you approve your treatment plan, Linea’s flat price covers everything the plan calls for — your aligners, standard in-person visits, and extras like retainers and professional-grade whitening that often cost more with other brands.
- Because a dentist is involved in person, your plan can include attachments — small tooth-colored grips that help aligners make more complex movements, according to this 2023 study — letting Linea make corrections that fully remote brands can’t, helping ensure your final results match your goals.
- Unlike most home aligner brands, Linea doesn’t make all your aligners upfront: partway through, your dentist re-scans your teeth, and the remaining aligners are made from that fresh scan. That helps deliver more accurate results, with less need for refinements at the end.
- Customer feedback has been outstanding: Linea holds a 4.8/5 rating across 300+ Trustpilot reviews, with patients most often praising their dentists’ attentiveness and responsive, seven-day support.
- If you finish your treatment plan but your teeth still need more adjustments, Linea will provide extra aligners at no extra charge.
CONS
- Linea is still expanding in the US, and is currently available in Arizona, Florida, and New York, with more regions on the way.
- The initial appointment with a Linea dentist (exam, X-rays, and 3D scans) comes with a separate $200 fee that isn’t part of the flat treatment pricing, so factor it into your total cost.
- Though Linea can treat more complex cases than fully remote brands, it isn’t suitable for the most severe misalignments or issues rooted in the jawbone. Cases like those typically call for Invisalign or braces, sometimes in tandem with oral surgery.
Linea - Our Recommendation
If you want the quality and accountability of dentist-led treatment without in-office prices, we think Linea offers the most well-rounded clear aligner treatment available today. Their hybrid approach strikes an excellent balance of convenience, affordability, safety, and results.
Special Offer: Get $150 off treatment by completing Linea's quiz and booking a consultation within 2 weeks
Invisalign: Best for Complex Cases In-Office Treatment
Famous for producing the world’s first widely available clear, removable teeth aligners, Invisalign is the most established and prolific clear aligner brand in the U.S. For over more than two decades, they’ve helped patients achieve the smiles they’ve always wanted.
Administered by a dentist during regular office visits, Invisalign supports attachments, which help aligners make complex dental movements — plus a deeper set of add-ons than any competitor, from elastics and bite ramps to appliances that can guide jaw position. That toolkit lets Invisalign correct severe crowding, spacing, and bite issues that simpler systems can’t, though it comes with more cost and more chair time.
PROS
- Invisalign treatment achieves the same impressive, powerful results as traditional braces, but without a single metal bracket, and for approximately the same price.
- With more than two decades of successful smile transformations under their belt, Invisalign is the oldest and most experienced clear aligner producer.
- Treatment can be administered by a general dentist (rather than an orthodontist) and they have more providers than any other in-office clear aligner brand.
- Invisalign is widely available in most areas of the USA, as most cities and towns have one or more dental offices offering this option.
- Dentists can add Invisalign’s proprietary Smartforce attachments, elastics, and other dental appliances to your treatment plan to correct more complex conditions (including moderate-to-severe teeth crowding and a variety of bite misalignments).
CONS
- Invisalign treatment is expensive — typically around $5,500 on average. Align Technology charges dentists substantial fees on every case, and many practices add a premium on top, so you can end up paying flagship prices even when your case doesn’t require Invisalign’s full toolkit.
- Treatment with Invisalign requires regular office visits, so it’s a more substantial time commitment than at-home and hybrid treatments.
- Invisalign’s 12–18 month average treatment time is usually significantly longer than home aligner treatment. However, that’s because Invisalign providers typically accept more complicated cases.
AlignerCo: Proven and Affordable At-Home Treatment
AlignerCo has been delivering exceptionally affordable at-home treatment for years. What sets them apart isn’t just their competitive pricing at $1,095, but their reputation for quality service and results. With over 3,000 verified reviews on Trustpilot and a number of positive customer testimonials collected by Smile Prep, they’ve established themselves as a reliable provider in the at-home clear aligner market.
Like other at-home aligner services, AlignerCo’s treatment is fully remote—you’ll take impressions at home and receive your aligners by mail. Their comprehensive package includes your impression kit, all aligners, and your first set of retainers, plus they frequently run promotions that make their already competitive pricing even more affordable.
PROS
- AlignerCo’s $1,095 price point is among the most competitive in the industry—potentially saving patients thousands compared to in-office options and hundreds compared to many other at-home aligners. They also frequently offer promotional discounts.
- AlignerCo provides two different financing options, including one plan that doesn’t require a credit check, so everyone qualifies regardless of credit history.
- Every two weeks, AlignerCo’s dental team reviews photos of your teeth to ensure your treatment is progressing as planned, offering more consistent oversight than some competitors.
- Their nighttime-only option only requires 10+ hours of daily wear (mostly while sleeping), offering a more convenient alternative to all-day treatment.
- AlignerCo uses quality materials from Essix, a respected dental supplier, ensuring durability and comfort throughout your treatment.
- With a well-established track record and thousands of positive reviews, AlignerCo has proven itself to be a reliable option in the at-home aligner market.
CONS
- AlignerCo doesn’t have physical locations for intraoral scans, so you’ll need to use their impression kit, which some customers find challenging.
- If your results don’t match your treatment preview, refinements cost $200 each, which isn’t covered in the initial price.
- Like all at-home aligners, AlignerCo can only treat mild-to-moderate misalignments and can’t correct severe cases or significant bite issues.
AlignerCo - Our Recommendation
If you’re looking for a highly affordable clear aligner treatment from an established provider and have been confirmed by your dentist as a good candidate for at-home treatment, AlignerCo offers exceptional value without compromising quality.
Special Offer: Fourth of July Sale: Save $370
ClearCorrect: The Closest Alternative to Invisalign In-Office Treatment
Even though it hasn’t been around as long as Invisalign, ClearCorrect still boasts a strong track record of results. They’re one of the largest clear aligner producers in the U.S. Their products are extremely similar in appearance and application to Invisalign, and they’ve been FDA-approved since 2009.
Like other in-office aligners, they require regular office visits and boast more power than at-home alternatives, with the ability to treat even complex misalignments. They don’t have as many providers as Invisalign, but they often cost less.
PROS
- ClearCorrect’s in-office application allows for the addition of Engagers — tiny, tooth-colored shapes that assist with complex tooth movements, similar to Invisalign’s Smartforce attachments. This means that ClearCorrect can treat a variety of severe dental and jaw misalignments.
- ClearCorrect charges dentists less for their aligners and lab fees than Invisalign, encouraging dentists to pass along these savings to their patients.
- ClearCorrect’s parent company, Straumann, says their ClearQuartz plastic retains 10X more of its initial force than its competitors.
- ClearCorrect has multiple pricing models—including one where you pay per aligner—so your dentist can choose the one that best suits your condition.
CONS
- Treatment with ClearCorrect usually takes at least one year, which is significantly longer than home aligner treatment.
- Even though it could be less expensive than Invisalign, at $3,500–$7,000 ClearCorrect is significantly pricier than home aligners and hybrid options like Linea.
- Like Invisalign, ClearCorrect’s frequent office visits can be time-consuming.
Smileie: Lowest-Price Option At-Home Treatment
Smileie is the newest at-home brand on this list and the lowest-priced: standard treatment costs $849 for both arches, single-arch plans start at $699, and nighttime-only treatment is $999.
What sets them apart from other budget brands is flexibility. If you live near one of their 22 partner dental offices (across 13 states), you can start with a professional digital scan instead of taking your own molds (a $200 add-on) — though the scan replaces the DIY impressions, not a dental exam or X-rays. They also market Smileie Pro, a higher-priced tier that adds some in-person elements, though it remains a lighter-touch take on the hybrid approach. Financing is available through Affirm, including interest-free options.
PROS
- At $849 — or $699 if you only need one arch treated — Smileie undercuts every other option on this list, including AlignerCo.
- Patients near one of their 22 partner offices can opt for a professional in-office scan (a paid add-on) instead of using an at-home impression kit, which is rare among budget brands.
- Their nighttime-only plan costs $999, making limited-wear treatment available at a lower price than most competitors charge for it.
- You’ll check in with photos every two weeks so their dental team can track your progress.
- Early customer feedback has been positive, with reviewers frequently praising their responsive support team.
CONS
- Smileie is a newer company with a shorter track record than more established at-home options like AlignerCo.
- Some customers report difficulties with the impression process and challenges getting refunds — issues worth keeping in mind.
- Retainers aren’t included in the base price, so expect to pay $99+ for your first set after treatment.
Smileie - Our Recommendation
If you want the lowest possible price on aligner treatment — and your dentist has confirmed you’re a good candidate for at-home care — Smileie delivers real value, with a professional scan option if you live near one of their partner offices.
Special Offer: Save $150 + Free Impression Kit, Retainers & Whitening
Motto: Easiest to Get Started Hybrid Treatment
Aspen Dental, the largest network of dental providers in the Unites States, launched Motto Clear Aligners in 2021 in an effort to compete on price and convenience with popular at-home services, while also providing in-person oversight by a local dentist.
To get started with Motto, you’ll need to visit an Aspen Dental office location. With over 1,100 Aspen Dental locations across the U.S., there’s a good chance you can find one nearby. And thanks to MottoMonitoring — a remote monitoring service Motto offers with its treatment plans, using photos you submit through their mobile app — follow-up office visits are infrequent (typically once every 10 weeks).
PROS
- Aspen Dental has more than 1,100 locations throughout the U.S., making Motto treatment easily accessible. You can make an appointment for the same day if you’re in a hurry.
- Get started in-person with a 3D scan of your smile and minimize the number of future appointments by checking in using Motto’s app throughout your treatment.
- Motto is costlier than leading at-home aligner brands, but considerably more affordable than competing in-office treatment options.
- Treatment can be financed through CareCredit for rates as low as $68 per month. Motto says that 9/10 applicants are approved for this form of financing.
- Retainers and whitening are included.
CONS
- Aspen Dental patients have reported poor customer service, unexpected outcomes, and seeing assistants rather than the doctor at certain practices. We recommend checking online reviews for your local practice.
- Motto’s advertised pricing is hard to pin down: their pages variously promote plans “starting at $1,895” and a “$2,999” price for mild-to-moderate cases, fine print notes that advanced cases may require additional charges, and Aspen says individual offices may charge different prices than those listed. There’s no published price list, so it’s difficult to know the potential range of costs going in.
- Motto’s free refinement aligners must be requested within 30 days of finishing your last aligner step — a tighter window than some competitors offer.
- While Aspen Dental says that it has treated tens of thousands of Motto patients since 2021, there are not as many online reviews documenting patient experiences compared to Invisalign.
Our Recommendation
Which Clear Aligner Option is Best for You?
We totally understand if seeing all these options feels overwhelming, especially since they look so similar at first glance. At the end of the day, we believe that three clear aligner services stand out: Linea, Invisalign, and AlignerCo.
Choose Linea if:
You want dentist-led treatment — a real exam, X-rays, and a local dentist accountable for your case — without in-office prices or constant office visits. With flat published pricing, included retainers and whitening, and a model proven across 5,000+ patients worldwide, we think Linea is the best overall value in clear aligners today (currently available in Arizona, Florida, and New York).
Choose Invisalign if:
You have more complex misalignments, or you’d prefer to have robust, in-person oversight throughout your treatment. Invisalign is widely available in most areas of the country and has the longest track record of success for in-office aligners.
Choose AlignerCo if:
A dentist has examined your teeth and confirmed you’re a good candidate for at-home treatment, and you’re looking for an affordable option with a proven track record. AlignerCo offers some of the most competitive pricing in the industry while still providing quality treatment and remote oversight.
A note on fully remote aligners — and what we learned from SmileDirectClub and Byte
Two of the biggest names in at-home aligners are no longer around: SmileDirectClub went bankrupt in December 2023, and Byte — previously our top at-home pick — was taken off the market by its parent company in 2024 amid concerns about patient screening. We still think at-home aligners are a legitimate option for the right candidate at the right price. But these events pushed us toward a more cautious view: treatment that begins with a real dental exam and X-rays — whether in-office or hybrid — gives you meaningfully more protection against the most common causes of disappointing results. It’s a big part of why a hybrid option now tops our rankings, and why we recommend a dental check-up before starting any at-home treatment.
Other Clear Aligners Worth Considering
If you’ve searched for clear aligner companies online, you know that there are plenty more out there. Just because they aren’t in our top six doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider them. The companies above are great options, but other providers offer unique perks that might make an even better match for your specific circumstances. Below are a few more we think are worth your time.
Candid: Candid helped popularize hybrid treatment — they started as a fully remote, at-home aligner brand before evolving into CandidPro, an in-office product you purchase through a local dentist, with remote monitoring built in. Their scan-box monitoring system is one of the best in the industry, but the system doesn’t incorporate attachments, availability depends on their 300+ provider network, and pricing is set by each practice rather than published — most patients pay somewhere around $4,000.
NewSmile: NewSmile is one of the more established at-home providers, with a proven track record and financing that accepts everyone. At $1,795, they’re a touch more expensive than some of the at-home options on this list — though still far less than in-office treatment — and their nighttime-only plan is a solid choice if you’d rather wear aligners mostly while you sleep.
SureSmile: SureSmile is one of the oldest clear aligner companies on the market. They got their start making intuitive archwires for lingual braces before releasing aligners in 2007, and even though they come with the same in-person care as Invisalign, their aligners often cost slightly less. Plus, they give dentists more ways to customize your treatment, and they don’t force doctors to use a specific intraoral scanner, making their treatment more accessible.
3M Clarity Aligners: 3M is probably better known for home and office supplies than orthodontics, but their Clarity Aligners boast incredible teeth-moving power, thanks to the unique way they can incorporate attachments and two different premium plastics. Plus, 3M produces Clarity Clear Braces, so they can offer combination treatment for the limited number of cases their aligners cannot address on their own. They’re one of the priciest options on the market, but many customers think their power and orthodontist oversight is worth it.
Six Month Smiles: If you like at-home aligners’ six-month time frame but prefer one-on-one care from a dentist, take a look at Six Month Smiles. Like Invisalign and ClearCorrect, it’s administered and monitored in-person by a dentist. The average cost is $3,500–$5,000, but varies depending on the dentist. The company offers clear aligners for simple crowding and spacing, and clear braces for more complex movements. Both the aligners and braces wrap up treatment within six months. Even with their clear braces, treatment isn’t quite as robust as in-office clear aligners like Invisalign.
Final Thoughts
You’re on a journey to reach your smile goals, and this is just the beginning. Having read this guide, you have a great foundation on which to make a well-informed decision.
If you want our opinion, Linea is the most well-rounded option out there: the safety and reliability of dentist-led care, the convenience of remote monitoring, and flat pricing you can see before you ever book an appointment. But every treatment on this list is best for somebody — severe cases belong with Invisalign or ClearCorrect, and dentist-confirmed simple cases can do well with an affordable at-home option. And if Linea sounds like your fit, their team can help you find a partner dentist in your area.
We encourage you to analyze the pros and cons of all the clear aligner options discussed above, and as previously mentioned, consult a dentist for a professional opinion. This way, you can confidently enter treatment knowing that by the end, you’ll get to see and feel the exact results you were hoping for!
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