Gone are the days when your only options for teeth alignment were braces or Invisalign. Today, you don’t even need to visit the dentist’s office to get a straighter smile! Companies like Wondersmile and SmilePath can deliver clear aligners straight to your front door, cutting out the middleman and lowering your costs.
Even though SmilePath and Wondersmile offer similar services, they’re vastly different companies, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. That’s why we wrote this comparison article. Is SmilePath or Wondersmile the best choice for you? Keep reading for everything you need to make a confident decision.
They’ve since resurfaced under the name Dr. Wondersmile and promised to continue serving their customers. However, given their previous struggles to deliver treatment and their poor communication regarding their shutdown, we’d still encourage readers to consider a different provider at this time.
Table of Contents
Overview and Recommendation: SmilePath Wins
Wondersmile and SmilePath both provide high-quality alignment services at reasonable rates. However, SmilePath has some significant advantages, specifically:
- Lower Prices: SmilePath has the lowest prices available in Australia for teeth alignment services. At just $1,899, their price is significantly lower than Wondersmile’s $2,900 rate.
- Financing Plans: Wondersmile offers one payment plan to make its services more affordable, but SmilePath has multiple financing options, including one that doesn’t require a credit check and another that needs no down payment. SmilePath’s alignment services are accessible for almost any budget.
- Free Retainers: As if SmilePath’s prices weren’t already low enough, they include one set of aftercare retainers for free. Meanwhile, Wondersmile charges $99 for retainers.
Is SmilePath Right for You?
SmilePath ranks third on our list of at-home aligner companies in Australia, while Wondersmile occupies the spot right behind them. SmilePath’s incredible low pricing gives them an advantage over every competitor, and they don’t sacrifice quality for affordability either.
That said, Byte is our #1 pick for home teeth alignment in Australia. They cost more than SmilePath, but their efficient treatments and individualized customer support set them apart from the crowd.
Effectiveness Comparison
SmilePath and Wondersmile don’t require any in-person appointments with a dentist or orthodontist. That might make them more convenient, but it also means they can’t correct severe misalignments like Invisalign or ClearCorrect can. Even so, they both use high-quality materials and typically deliver stunning results for anyone looking to make cosmetic dental shifts.
WonderSmile Effectiveness
SmilePath Effectiveness
- Works solely with orthodontists to design and direct treatment.
- Unclear if they have a manufacturing partner or produce their aligners in-house.
- Monthly virtual visits with your care team keep you on track.
- Cuts aligners straight across the gums, increasing their power.
- Works with a mixed team of dentists and orthodontists.
- You’ll send photos of your teeth every two weeks to check in.
- Produces aligners using plastic from Raintree Essix.
- Scallops aligners to match your gum line, decreasing their power.
Provider Network
Since you’ll never meet a dentist or orthodontist in person during treatment, you’ll probably want to know who’s responsible for designing and overseeing your aligner plan. SmilePath’s dental team consists of dentists and orthodontists, while Wondersmile only employs orthodontists. General dentists are knowledgeable experts, and they’re certainly qualified to design and implement clear aligners. However, orthodontists spend multiple years in specialized postgraduate training for dentofacial adjustments. So choose Wondersmile and you can be sure you’ll have a highly specialized professional designing your treatment.
Clinical Oversight
Remote treatment can’t fully replicate that face-to-face care that allows Invisalign to correct severe misalignments, but both companies have implemented remote monitoring systems that provide some oversight. Wondersmile requires you to email photos of your teeth once per month, and SmilePath requires it every two weeks.
This helps their team evaluate whether your teeth are moving as planned, and if not, adjust your treatment plan. If they can catch a potential issue while it’s small, it won’t derail your progress down the road.
Manufacturing Quality
SmilePath manufactures their aligners with plastic from Raintree Essix, a reputable company that first started producing clear aligners back in 2005, long before the first at-home alignment company opened its doors. Wondersmile doesn’t disclose who makes their aligners, but we can confirm that their plastics are free of BPA and phthalates, just like SmilePath.
Aligner Cut
Wondersmile cuts their aligners straight across the top, which allows them to grip the gums and exert more force on the teeth. SmilePath scallops the plastic to match each customer’s unique gum line instead. This theoretically makes their aligners less effective, but it also makes them look a bit more natural.
Affordability Comparison
For many of our readers, this is the most important part of the discussion regarding these two companies. After all, quality products and customer support don’t matter if you can’t afford their aligners! All home aligners are cheaper than in-office treatments because you don’t have to pay for a dentist’s time and facilities. But even between at-home aligner companies, prices vary significantly, and these two fall at opposite ends of the spectrum. While Wondersmile is one of the most expensive brands out there, no one can touch SmilePath’s exceptionally affordable prices.
WonderSmile Affordability
SmilePath Affordability
- $2,900 sticker price ($2,970 for night-only aligners).
- Charges an extra $99 per set of retainers.
- Charges an extra $149 for whitening kits.
- Impression kits cost $99 (refunded if you purchase aligners) and in-office scans are free.
- Financing requires a down payment but not a credit check.
- $1,899 sticker price ($1,999 for NightOnly aligners).
- Includes one free set of aftercare retainers.
- Includes a free whitening kit.
- Their impression kit costs $75, but they’ll refund it if you purchase aligners.
- Multiple financing plans available, including one with no credit check.
Sticker Price
There’s a pretty big price gap between these companies. SmilePath’s $1,899 price is $1,000 less than Wondersmile, which costs $2,900. No one else in Australia offers prices that low. If you prefer nighttime-only treatment, you’ll pay $1,999 for SmilePath or $2,970 for Wondersmile. If that wasn’t enough, SmilePath throws in a free set of retainers, while Wondersmile sells them for $99.
SmilePath also charges $75 for an impression kit, and Wondersmile charges $99 (although teeth scans at their in-person clinics are free), but either company will refund that amount if you purchase their full treatment.
Payment Plan Options
If you don’t have thousands of dollars sitting around, don’t worry! Both Wondersmile and SmilePath have financing plans that make their prices much more manageable.
SmilePath offers three different payment plans:
- The SmileFlex plan teams with Zip to provide an installment plan for 18 monthly payments of $117 with no down payment. However, this option requires a credit check. The total cost of this plan comes to $2,106.
- The SmileFlex Easy plan partners with Partial.ly and requires a $599 down payment followed by six monthly payments of $300. This plan does not require a credit check, and it costs a total of $2,399.
- The SmileFlex Pro plan is their newest financing option. It’s through Humm and requires a credit check but has low fortnightly payments.
Wondersmile only has one payment plan, called WonderPay. It requires a credit check, plus you’ll need to pay a minimum 20% deposit ($580 for All-Day aligners and $594 for NightClear). Then, you’ll make monthly payments of at least $195 ($198 for NightClear) until you reach the full amount.
Single-Arch Treatment
Some people only need treatment on either their top or bottom arch. It’s rare, because adjusting one arch without adjusting the other can affect your bite, but it happens.
Wondersmile will design single-arch aligner plans for $500 less than their standard price, which could save you some money. SmilePath might treat just one arch in rare cases, but they don’t offer separate pricing for it.
Free Extras
Some teeth alignment companies add free bonuses to sweeten the deal. For instance, SmilePath includes your first set of retainers, plus a free whitening kit, while you’ll need to pay $99 for retainers and $149 for whitening with Wondersmile.
Convenience Comparison
Every at-home clear aligner company will be more convenient than making regular in-person visits to a dental office. Just think of the time you can save without having to schedule checkups every 4–6 weeks! But office visits are just one aspect of convenience, and even though SmilePath and Wondersmile both boast more streamlined treatments than Invisalign, Wondersmile goes slightly further to make treatment incredibly easy for the customer.
WonderSmile Convenience
SmilePath Convenience
- Sells impression kits, plus has 20 office locations across Australia that provide teeth scans.
- The average treatment time is six months (nine for NightClear aligners).
- NightClear option only requires ten consecutive hours of daily wear.
- No retail locations for in-office teeth scans.
- Average treatment time is 4–6 months (or 6–8 months for the nighttime-only plan).
- NightOnly option only requires ten consecutive hours of daily wear.
Getting Started
Clear aligners make incredibly precise shifts, which means they need to fit your teeth perfectly. To design aligners with that much detail, each company needs images of your teeth. There are two ways to get them: impression kits and in-person teeth scans.
Both companies sell impression kits on their websites. SmilePath’s cost $75 while Wondersmile charges $99 — although they’ll subtract that from the total price of aligners if you proceed with treatment. These kits include trays and putty that you’ll use to make molds of your dental arches. They allow you to complete the process from home, but some customers find it fairly difficult, requiring multiple kits to create suitable molds.
That’s why Wondersmile opened clinics where professionals will take digital scans of your teeth and send them directly to the company, ensuring perfect images on the first try. If you’re interested in an in-office scan, Wondersmile is the better option, since SmilePath doesn’t have any in-person clinics.
Treatment Time
SmilePath says most customers complete standard treatment in 4–6 months, or 6–8 for NightOnly aligners, while Wondersmile typically takes around six (or nine for their nighttime plan). This is pretty standard for at-home aligners, but your treatment might take longer or shorter depending on the severity of your misalignment. The more complex the case, the longer it takes to correct.
These timelines are much shorter than in-office options, which often take 12–18 months. Just remember that Invisalign and braces take longer because they take on more severe misalignments, while at-home aligners stick to milder cases.
Nighttime-Only Option
Some people don’t want to wear clear aligners all day, every day — especially people with frequent work meetings or social gatherings. That’s why both companies offer home alignment plans that only require around ten consecutive hours of daily wear.
If you go the nighttime-only route, you’ll pop in your aligners after dinner, keep them in overnight, remove them in the morning, and go about your day. The only drawback is that these plans take slightly longer. Wondersmile’s NightClear plan takes roughly nine months to align your teeth, while SmilePath’s NightOnly plan takes 6–8 months.
Appearance Comparison
You probably don’t need us to tell you that every clear aligner brand is much more discreet than metal brackets and wires. However, you might be surprised by how much the appearance of different companies’ clear aligners can vary.
Different companies have different philosophies about what makes a good-looking aligner, and each individual has different tastes — so even though you’ll only find subtle differences between SmilePath and Wondersmile aligners, one might appeal to your unique style more than the other.
WonderSmile Appearance
SmilePath Appearance
- Uses smooth, transparent, shiny plastic.
- Cuts their aligners straight across, so they overlap the gums.
- Cannot incorporate attachments.
- The material is reasonably stain-resistant.
- Uses smooth, transparent, shiny plastic.
- Scallops aligners to match each customer’s unique gum line.
- Cannot incorporate attachments.
- The material is reasonably stain-resistant.
Aligner Material
Wondersmile and SmilePath both use smooth, transparent plastic that can gleam when light hits it. Since your teeth are porous, they’re not naturally reflective, so these aligners can make them look artificially shiny. However, some people like that extra gleam on their teeth, so it depends on your specific tastes.
The other option is a frosted, translucent plastic that more accurately mimics the matte finish of your teeth. SmileDirectClub and Invisalign both use this frosted style.
Aligner Cut
We briefly discussed this in the “Effectiveness” section, but it applies here as well. Wondersmile cuts aligners straight across the top, which is more effective, but people might also notice where they overlap your gums.
SmilePath’s scalloped style matches your gum line, and while it might not grip your teeth with as much force as straight-cut aligners, it also makes your aligners less noticeable.
Attachments
In-person treatments like Invisalign can correct severe misalignments in part because they let dentists place attachments on your teeth. They give the aligners more leverage and power, but also make them more visible. Since dentists affix these attachments during office visits, SmilePath and Wondersmile can’t use them. That might decrease their effectiveness, but it also means you won’t have any extra hardware in your mouth.
Stain Resistance
Wondersmile and SmilePath aligners are somewhat stain-resistant, but we would still never advise eating or drinking anything other than plain water while wearing them. You wouldn’t want to stain one of your aligners and still have to wear it until you’re ready for your next set!
Customer Experience Comparison
Quality materials and affordable prices are essential, but they don’t mean much if the company doesn’t have your back. You want a company that responds to your concerns, guarantees their results, and values you as a customer. This is where in-person care really shines since it’s highly individualized and hands-on, and if you’ve got a pressing concern, you’ll speak with someone who knows you personally.
Remote companies can’t always replicate that kind of support, but they generally take measures to ensure a satisfying customer experience.
WonderSmile Customer Experience
SmilePath Customer Experience
- Offers support via phone and email. You can also request a video chat or reach out on social media.
- Received excellent customer reviews up until 2022.
- Will provide refinements if your results don’t match your treatment preview and will give a full refund within 30 days of beginning treatment.
- The Wondersmile Lifetime Guarantee ensures your smile forever.
- Offers support via phone, email, and webchat, and will respond to messages on social media.
- Receives excellent customer reviews.
- Does not offer refunds. They will work with you if you’re unhappy with your results, but refinements may cost extra.
Support Options
If you’ve got a pressing question or concern, you’ll want a support team that’s ready to help, and both companies provide multiple communication avenues. You can contact SmilePath by phone, email, or webchat, while Wondersmile uses phone, an online contact form, and video chat (for help with impression kits).
Both companies require you to send photos of your teeth for regular virtual check-ins, and their teams may provide feedback. However, this isn’t a direct dialogue with their dentists. If you have questions, you’ll need to contact their support team separately.
Responsiveness and Helpfulness
When we’ve contacted SmilePath and Wondersmile, they’ve provided quick and accurate answers to all of our questions. Based on their online reviews, it seems like many customers have had the same experience with SmilePath. As for Wondersmile, things were great until 2022, when customers started complaining about unfulfilled orders and a lack of response.
Satisfaction Guarantee
Both companies offer refunds for your impression kit or teeth scan if they determine that you’re not a suitable candidate for their alignment services. Beyond that, Wondersmile will do everything they can to provide the results you want.
If you get your Wondersmile aligners and change your mind within 30 days, they’ll issue a full refund. And if you complete treatment but your smile doesn’t match your initial preview, they’ll issue free refinement aligners to make it right — as long as you wore your aligners as directed and completed your required check-ins. Plus, they put a lifetime guarantee on your new smile. So, as long as you continue replacing your retainers twice per year, they’ll create new aligners for you if your teeth ever shift again.
SmilePath’s refunds and warranties aren’t nearly as extensive. They don’t offer any refunds after you’ve placed your order, and they’ll only replace aligners that don’t fit right. If you’re not satisfied with your final results, you can apply for a refinement, but you might have to pay an extra $200.
Company Backgrounds
WonderSmile Background
SmilePath Background
- Founded in 2016 in Australia.
- Flexible, orthodontist-directed treatment options for a variety of alignment issues.
- Based in Australia, but has expanded across the globe.
- Founded in 2020
- Made a name for themselves with exceptionally low prices.
- Known as AlignerCo in the US and Straight My Teeth in the UK.
Australia-based Wondersmile started in 2016 and made their name with convenient, orthodontist-directed aligner treatment. After gaining popularity in Australia, they expanded to New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK, and now they’re one of the industry’s most well-established companies.
SmilePath is newer to the at-home aligner market, but they’ve gained popularity by offering some of the lowest prices you’ll find. They’ve also found huge success in the US under the brand name AlignerCo, and in the UK, where they’re called Straight My Teeth. So even though they don’t have an extensive track record, they’ve got experience transforming smiles across the globe.
Which Should You Choose?
Wondersmile and SmilePath are both reputable companies, and they can both align your teeth efficiently and affordably. We would understand if you’re having a hard time deciding, so let’s look at a couple of situations where you might prefer each one.
Choose WonderSmile if You Are:
Looking for the lowest prices, seeking a company that includes free aftercare retainers, or interested in whitening your teeth as you align them.
Choose SmilePath if You Are:
Interested in orthodontist-directed treatment, want to get an in-person teeth scan, or comforted by a lifetime guarantee.
We Recommend SmilePath Over WonderSmile
Thanks to their significantly lower prices, we think SmilePath is a better option than Wondersmile for most of our readers.
That said, if low prices aren’t your top priority, we recommend considering Byte. Byte is more expensive than SmilePath, but they’re highly efficient for many customers, and they’ve got excellent customer support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose SmilePath or WonderSmile?
These are both great companies, but SmilePath has the lowest prices for teeth alignment in Australia. Wondersmile doesn’t close the gap in other categories enough to match this significant SmilePath advantage.
How do I get started with SmilePath or WonderSmile?
SmilePath requires you to use an at-home impression kit to take molds of your own teeth. Wondersmile gives you the option of an impression kit or an in-office teeth scan at one of their 20 locations across Australia.
What are customers saying about SmilePath and WonderSmile?
SmilePath and Wondersmile both receive fantastic customer feedback. They each have hundreds of reviews available online and nearly all of them are positive.
What is the most effective clear aligner company?
It’s tough to beat the power and versatility of in-office options like Invisalign and ClearCorrect. With hands-on care and orthodontic attachments, a dentist can use them to treat severe misalignments and even bite issues.
How do I know which option is right for me?
We think the best way to evaluate each company is to analyze its effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer support. By carefully examining these criteria, you can find the best option for your needs.
What is the cheapest home aligner company?
At $1,899, SmilePath is the most affordable home aligner company in Australia. They also periodically offer discounts to drive their price points even lower!
Will home aligners work for me?
It depends on your specific misalignment. If you’ve got a minor case of crowding or spacing, they’ll probably work for you. Otherwise, you might be better off with an in-office treatment like Invisalign.
How do SmilePath and WonderSmile compare to Invisalign?
The big difference between at-home alignment and Invisalign is the fact that Invisalign is an in-office alignment process, while SmilePath and WonderSmile ship everything you need to your front door. This means that Invisalign’s prices are much higher, but it also means that you’ll receive a higher degree of personalized care.
Invisalign can also fix more significant alignment issues, like overbite, underbite, and crossbite.
How long does home aligner treatment take?
Most at-home aligner companies can straighten your smile within about six months, but it all depends on the severity of your condition. More severe misalignments can take longer, while minor ones might only take a few months.
What other companies should I consider?
We think Byte is always worth a look, as our favorite at-home alignment company. SmileDirectClub is also interesting, since they’re the oldest and most experienced at-home aligner company, while EZ Smile’s satisfaction guarantee is intriguing as well.
How much do home aligners cost?
SmilePath is the cheapest option, at $1,899, while Wondersmile is the most expensive, at $2,900.
Does insurance cover home aligners?
Typically, no. Insurers usually consider teeth alignment a cosmetic treatment, so you’ll probably have to pay for it out-of-pocket. That said, you might as well check with your insurance provider anyway, just to make sure.
Are home aligners safe?
Yes! We understand if you have some doubts about at-home treatment. But most employ licensed dentists and orthodontists to create and monitor your treatment plan. Millions of people have already safely straightened their smiles using at-home clear aligners.
Do home aligners hurt?
You might feel some discomfort whenever you switch to a new set of aligners, because they’ll fit tightly over your teeth. After a day or two, you’ll barely even notice them anymore.