So, you’re looking to straighten your smile. Congratulations! Choosing to get orthodontic treatment as an adult is a big step toward a healthier, happier you. And the next step is figuring out the best treatment for your unique smile.
There are more clear aligner brands on the market than ever before, and NewSmile and Invisalign are two of the most notable. We think both are more discreet and convenient than braces, but they’re totally different treatments. Which one is right for you? This comparison guide digs into all the details so you can make the right decision for your smile.
Table of Contents
Company Overviews
The battle between NewSmile and Invisalign is one of remote vs. in-office treatment. NewSmile is one of the newest clear aligner therapies to hit the market, specializing in cosmetic corrections handled completely from home, from impressions to retainers. It launched in 2020 in Vancouver, then moved to the US soon after.
Like all at-home aligners, NewSmile is limited in its scope of treatment. Unable to use attachments and without in-person supervision, it can only correct mild-to-moderate crowding and spacing in the front 6–8 teeth. In rare cases, it might be able to address small bite issues that are strictly dental in nature. Although limited, this is often the level of correction adult patients require.
Invisalign is perhaps the clear aligner industry’s most prominent innovator. They took the concept mainstream when it launched in 1998, and despite increased competition over the last two decades, it remains the most widely used clear aligner to date.
As a strictly in-office system, Invisalign includes direct oversight from a dentist or orthodontist and allows the use of attachments — so it can treat almost any condition braces can. They’ve helped perfect over 15 million smiles worldwide, partnering with over 100,000 dentists and orthodontists across 90 countries.
Our Review Methodology
Smile Prep’s reviews are prepared and presented from the perspective of a well-informed consumer. Our starting point for all of our reviews is a careful survey of a company’s marketing claims and available third party customer reviews. We rely on the accuracy of company claims and do not independently verify them. Our reviews use this information to help our readers get information about the available options in a centralized location. You can learn more about our review process by checking out our publishing principles.
Scope of Treatment Comparison
We think NewSmile and Invisalign are both solid options for adults who want to straighten their teeth. But just because they both boast lots of happy customers doesn’t mean either is a perfect fit for you. To benefit from any aligner company, your case must fall into its scope of treatment. While there is overlap between the two, Invisalign can treat a much wider range of misalignments.
NewSmile Treatment Scope
Invisalign Treatment Scope
- Treats mild-to-moderate cosmetic concerns
- Focuses primarily on the front 6–8 teeth in either arch.
- Requires bi-weekly photo check-ins.
- Treats all classes of malocclusions, including many skeletal components.
- Can move all the teeth, including the molars.
- Typically requires in-person check-ins every 4–10 weeks.
What NewSmile and Invisalign Treat
NewSmile doesn’t offer a lot of treatment scope details on their website. However, we spoke to a representative, and they told us their aligners can treat the following issues:
- Mild-to-moderate crowding
- Mild-to-moderate spacing
- Mild-to-moderate overbite and overjet
- Localized crossbite
- Limited underbite
- Limited open bites
Additionally, their representative said their aligners help stop damage caused by bruxism (aka, tooth grinding).
Invisalign was developed as an alternative to braces, and as such, the company aims to address many of the same problems. According to the company, their aligners have “demonstrated success in treating Class I, II, and III malocclusions,” including:
A NewSmile representative told us they focus its treatment on the front six teeth in each arch, up to the premolars. In limited cases, it can move more than that, but this doesn’t appear to be very common. Invisalign, on the other hand, can move all the teeth — molars included — and even expand the arch. Most of this is due to its ability to use attachments, which can improve aligner control and tooth movement.
What NewSmile and Invisalign Customers Say
Some aligner companies have thousands of online reviews, making it easy to verify their treatment scope claims. NewSmile is newer than some competitors, so there aren’t many reviews out there. Those that are out there indicate their treatment scope claims are accurate, with more people reporting mild-to-moderate crowding and spacing than bite issues.
Invisalign is the opposite. They’re the company that took clear aligners mainstream, and as a result, they’re the most prolific clear aligner provider — over 15 million people have used their system to date. That means there are a lot of reviews out there, including many patients who have shared directly with us. Based on patient feedback, there is very little Invisalign cannot treat. Invisalign has garnered plenty of four- and five-star reviews from our readers, who said they treated everything from minor spacing to complex bite issues.
Clinical Oversight
In-office aligners almost always have a wider treatment scope than remote ones. But why is that? It mostly comes down to the lack of clinic visits. These appointments allow for the use of attachments, as well as adjustments to treatment design and wear schedule. In most cases, visits are every 4–10 weeks.
NewSmile is fully remote, meaning no visits and no attachments. You use their app to upload photos of your smile every two weeks for their team to review, but that’s the extent of the monitoring. It’s a nice feature, but not as robust as in-person care.
Quality of Materials
Whether they use attachments or not, aligners get most of their strength from their plastic. NewSmile sources theirs from RaintreeEssix, a trusted manufacturer whose premium orthodontic plastics have been used in clear aligners since 2005.
Invisalign uses their proprietary SmartTrack multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane/copolyester blend. Multiple tests have demonstrated it to be safe for human use. And this isn’t just a one-off study; Invisalign and its plastic consistently perform well according to reviews of various studies and clinical data.
Affordability Comparison
Being within a company’s treatment scope is essential, but so is being able to afford treatment. At-home aligners are almost always less expensive than in-office brands, but NewSmile takes it to the next level. Not only is their treatment thousands less than Invisalign, it’s also more affordable than most other at-home options.
NewSmile Affordability
Invisalign Affordability
- $1,595 sticker price ($1,695 for their Night Aligners).
- They include one set of aftercare retainers for free.
- The sticker price also includes whitening products.
- One financing plan available, and it requires a credit check.
- Sticker price depends on your dentist, but the average cost is $3,000–$8,000.
- Aftercare retainers often cost $100–$500.
- Financing varies depending on the dentist, and may require a credit check or down payment.
Sticker Price
NewSmile has two prices: $1,595 for all-day treatment and $1,695 for nighttime-only aligners. This isn’t pocket change, but it’s affordable compared to many alternatives.
Invisalign is significantly more expensive. Most treatments cost $3,000–$8,000 because you’re paying for more intensive care, plus your dentist’s time and facilities. Since each provider sets their own rates, there is no fixed price. Schedule a consultation and your dentist or orthodontist can tell you how much you’ll end up paying.
What About Insurance?
If you have a dental policy that includes adult orthodontic benefits, you might receive some coverage for clear aligner treatment. However, not all policies are open to covering at-home treatments, and when they are, you usually have to pay for your aligners first, then apply for reimbursement. So, if NewSmile is the right treatment for you, talk to your insurance company about their coverage limits.
Most plans with orthodontic benefits will cover Invisalign, though, since it’s often used for more than simple cosmetic corrections. Just make sure you select an in-network doctor. And if you have an FSA or HSA, talk to your administrator to see if you can apply those funds to aligner treatment.
Financing Options
Financing can make big prices vastly more affordable. NewSmile offers financing directly to their customers. There’s no down payment, it starts at 0% interest, and you pay $58 a month ($61 for nighttime aligners) for 36 months.
Invisalign doesn’t offer in-house financing plans, but many dental and orthodontic offices do. If yours doesn’t, you can turn to third-party financing companies — just be careful to read the fine print, since these options typically add significant interest to your total.
Convenience Comparison
Before aligners hit the scene, orthodontic treatment meant braces — and many adults would like to avoid brackets and wires. But even though we think aligners are more convenient than fixed appliances, some are easier to use than others. At-home services like NewSmile, which don’t require a single trip to the dentist, are less time-consuming than in-office options like Invisalign, which we think provides an overall smoother and more streamlined treatment.
NewSmile Convenience
Invisalign Convenience
- They don’t have any in-person locations in the US, so you need to purchase an impression kit.
- They claim treatment usually takes 4–6 months for all-day aligners and 8–10 for nighttime-only.
- Night Aligners option allows you to only wear aligners for ten hours per day.
- They have thousands of providers across the US, and you’ll visit one for X-rays and dental scans to get started.
- Requires office visits every 4–6 weeks to monitor progress and receive new aligner sets.
- Average treatment time is 12–24 months.
- Does not have a nighttime-only option, only the all-day, 22+ hour schedule.
Getting Started
All clear aligner treatments start with diagnostics — impressions, photos, scans, and even X-rays, depending on the system you choose. NewSmile is remote all the way. There are no retail locations for scans, so you need to use an impression kit to create molds of your teeth, then send them to the company.
If you choose Invisalign, your dentist will take intraoral scans using an iTero scanner, plus photos and sometimes X-rays. They’ll send these images to Invisalign, then collaborate with their team and software to create your aligner plan.
Even though scheduling these scans might seem like another line on your to-do list, we think it’s actually much easier than making impressions on your own. Some customers struggle to create suitable impressions and need multiple tries to get it right, which can lead to a lot of back and forth with the company.
The Office Visit Trade-Off
Seeing your doctor in person increases a system’s treatment scope but also increases your time commitment. Invisalign treatment usually takes somewhere between 12 and 24 months and requires at least two visits to kick things off, one to wrap things up, and one every few weeks in between.
NewSmile and other remote options require zero in-person appointments, freeing up your time. But while no appointments means more flexibility, it also means less oversight.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
NewSmile advertises two average timelines: 4–6 months for all-day treatment or 8–10 months for nighttime-only. Invisalign tends to take somewhere between 12 and 24 months, and most treatments land somewhere around 18.
Of course, your treatment length ultimately depends on the severity of your condition. A minor case might only take a few months, while a severe one that involves a jaw misalignment might take a lot longer.
What About Nighttime-Only Treatment?
One of the only inconveniences that comes with wearing clear aligners is that you have to take them out, clean your teeth, and put them back in for every meal, snack, and drink that isn’t plain water. If you are a snacker or have a serious coffee habit, that can mean removing them — and cleaning your teeth — eight or more times a day.
Nighttime treatment lets you skip this routine. Rather than wearing your aligners all day, you’ll only wear them for ten continuous hours, mostly overnight. You cannot take them out for any reason, so no more midnight snacks. This is a fairly new approach to aligner treatment and not all companies offer it. NewSmile does, though. Invisalign doesn’t have nighttime-specific aligners, so you’ll need to wear them for 22+ hours per day.
Appearance Comparison
While there is a lot to love about clear aligners, their discreet appearance is what made them such a revolutionary treatment. We think they are pretty close to invisible. And while all clear aligners are barely noticeable, they’re not all identical. NewSmile and Invisalign aligners have some subtle differences between them, and one might appeal to your specific tastes and preferences more than the other.
NewSmile Appearance
Invisalign Appearance
- Uses smooth, transparent, shiny plastic.
- Scallops aligners to match the gum line.
- They cannot incorporate attachments, maintaining their low profile.
- Uses a frosted, textured plastic.
- Scallops their aligners to match your gum line.
- Supplemental attachments will make aligners more visible.
Aligner Material
There are a wide array of dental-grade plastics on the market, each with their own look. Since your teeth are porous and appear matte, we think textured, translucent plastics typically look the most natural, since they most closely mimic the enamel. Smooth, transparent plastics are a lot more reflective, so even though they’re clearer, in our opinion, they can also look unnaturally shiny.
Invisalign opts for textured plastic, while NewSmile goes the opposite direction, using smooth, shiny materials. We’ve found, however, that some people like shiny plastic better, since they think it gives their smile a little extra gleam. It’s just a matter of personal preference.
Aligner Cut
Trimming aligners to match each patient’s gum line, like NewSmile and Invisalign do, might slightly decrease their force transfer. But if you ask us, it also makes them less noticeable. Scalloped cuts let the edge of the aligners hide where the teeth and gums meet, making them harder to see. Aligners cut straight across the top will overlap the gums, and people might spot that overlap when you smile.
Supplemental Attachments
Supplemental attachments help to improve aligners’ control and widen their range of tooth movements, according to this 2023 study. However, they stand out from the teeth, making aligners more visible.
Attachments require direct supervision, so Invisalign can use them, but NewSmile can’t. Just keep in mind that your case may not require them, so discuss it with your doctor before beginning treatment.
Patient Experience Comparison
So far, we’ve covered everything from how well aligners work to how they look. But there are a lot of small details that fill in the gaps, such as customer service and satisfaction guarantees. These details flesh out the patient experience, and they differ significantly between in-office and at-home treatments. Customers report satisfying experiences with NewSmile, but without face-to-face care, we don’t think it can match Invisalign’s individualization and comprehensive support.
NewSmile Patient Experience
Invisalign Patient Experience
- Offers support via phone and email, will also respond to messages on social media.
- Monitors your progress by requesting photos and videos of your teeth every two weeks.
- Will provide refinement aligners if your end results don’t match your treatment preview.
- You’ll typically contact your dentist’s office by phone.
- Regular office visits give you plenty of opportunities to discuss questions or concerns with your dentist.
- Refunds and refinements depend on your dentist’s policies.
Communication Channels
In all likelihood, your treatment will go smoothly, but you might have questions or small hiccups along the way. Since your NewSmile treatment won’t include any office visits, you’ll need to contact their customer support team if anything comes up. You can reach them by phone or email Monday–Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm PST and Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm PST.
Invisalign doesn’t handle patient concerns directly; instead, you’ll take them to your doctor. Every office has its own communication channels, but you’ll typically need to call them during regular business hours. Some might also offer email, text, and web chat via their patient portal. And when you reach out, you’ll likely speak with someone who knows you and your teeth personally rather than a remote customer support representative.
Oversight
NewSmile doesn’t require in-person appointments, but they do require virtual check-ins every two weeks. You’ll upload photos and videos of your teeth to their app, and their dental team will review your progress. If anything seems off, they can adjust your aligner plan, but if you have further questions, you’ll need to ask the customer support team.
That’s pretty consistent oversight, but we don’t think it’s as robust as hands-on care. With Invisalign, you’ll meet with your dentist every 4–10 weeks on average. Though the support varies between dentists, our view is that in-person options like Invisalign providers typically offer highly personalized care. Appointments can make it easier to catch problems and even speed up treatment if things are progressing well. Plus, it gives you a chance to converse directly with your dentist and talk through your questions and concerns.
Refund & Warranty Policies
As we said above, things rarely go wrong with aligner treatment, but there are occasional cases where patients are unhappy with their results. If this happens to you, do you have any recourse?
With NewSmile, you can only get a full refund if they review your impressions and determine you are not a candidate for treatment. Beyond that, they won’t issue any refunds. But if you reach the end of your treatment and your smile doesn’t look like they promised, they’ll create refinement aligners to finish the job — assuming you carefully followed your treatment plan and completed all your required check-ins.
Each dentist and orthodontist sets their own refund and refinement policies, but most will work with you if you’re unhappy with your results. Be sure to clarify their terms before you sign on for treatment.
Which Should You Choose?
In our opinion, NewSmile and Invisalign are two great companies, but they’re also very different, and one will probably be a better fit for you than the other.
Who Should Consider NewSmile?
You might like NewSmile if:
- A low price is a high priority.
- Nighttime-only treatment sounds appealing.
- You want to complete your treatment entirely from home.
Who Should Consider Invisalign?
You might like Invisalign if:
- You have a misalignment that’s too complex for NewSmile.
- Working with the most established company is important to you.
- In-person supervision matters more to you than convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started with NewSmile or Invisalign?
With NewSmile, you need to go to their website and order an impression kit. It’s $49 if you purchase it alone, or included when you purchase a full aligner package. For Invisalign, go to their provider directory and find a local dentist or orthodontist who offers it. Then, call and schedule your consultation.
How much do NewSmile and Invisalign cost?
NewSmile costs $1,595 for all-day treatment and $1,695 for nighttime-only aligners. Invisalign’s price varies depending on the complexity of your case, how many office visits you need, and the fees your doctor charges. Most people will pay about $5,000, though it can cost as little as $3,000 or up to $8,000+.
What are NewSmile and Invisalign customers saying?
Overall, great things! Both companies’ customers are happy with their results. Those who chose NewSmile appreciate the customer service and low prices, while Invisalign’s customers love how the aligners can even tackle tough cases.
How long do NewSmile and Invisalign take?
It depends on the complexity of your case, and with NewSmile if you choose to get all-day or nighttime-only aligners. The company claims it takes 4–6 months with the all-day system (on average) and 8–10 with nighttime aligners. Invisalign usually takes 12–24 months. However, that’s often because Invisalign usually takes on more complex misalignments, which take longer to correct.
Can I wear my aligners only at night?
With NewSmile, you can, but only if you purchase the nighttime system. Invisalign doesn’t offer special aligners for nighttime use, since most doctors will recommend wearing them 22+ hours per day.
What conditions can NewSmile and Invisalign treat?
NewSmile can correct some class I malocclusions, specifically mild-to-moderate crowding and spacing in the front six to eight teeth. Invisalign can treat all three classes of malocclusions, even moving the molars and jaw.
What is the cheapest clear aligner company?
AlignerCo! They charge just $995, making them the most affordable aligner company we’ve reviewed.
Does insurance cover clear aligners?
Sometimes. If you have orthodontic coverage, check to see if it extends to adult care. If so, call your company to see what types of aligners they cover. Some will cover remote treatments like NewSmile while others only cover in-office aligners like Invisalign.
Are home aligners safe?
At-home clear aligner treatment plans are always designed and/or approved by a licensed dentist or orthodontist — as long as you’re buying from a legitimate clear aligner service.
The main concern regarding the safety of fully-remote clear aligner treatment is the lack of face-to-face care. Since you won’t be seeing a dentist in-person during treatment, you won’t receive the same level of support that you’d get with traditional in-office aligners like Invisalign or ClearCorrect. That said, a recent NIH-funded survey found the majority of at-home aligner customers were satisfied with their results, and only 6.6% experienced side effects necessitating a visit to their local dentist.
Read our guide to safe home teeth straightening treatment for more information.
Do clear aligners hurt?
On a day-to-day basis, no. However, they exert pressure on the teeth, which can cause temporary soreness. You will notice this most with your first aligners, and it might last a couple of days. After this, it will return every time you change aligners, but will typically last just a few hours.
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