
For decades, people who wanted straighter teeth only had two options: braces or Invisalign. Thankfully, that’s not the case anymore, because companies like EZ Smile and SmilePath can send clear aligner treatment straight to your home — no office visits required.
EZ Smile and SmilePath have a lot in common. They both make quality products and can deliver stunning smile transformations. But they’re two completely different companies. That’s why we decided to put together this comparison guide. Here, you’ll find every important detail you need to determine which one is the right choice for you.
Table of Contents
Overview and Recommendation: EZ Smile Wins
We think that these are two of the best companies in the home teeth alignment industry, and they can both efficiently and affordably align your smile. However, EZ Smile has a few advantages that tilt this comparison in their favor.
- Satisfaction Guarantee: Most companies in this industry have rather unimpressive refund policies. However, EZ Smile gives its customers 90 days to decide whether they’re happy with their alignment progress. If not, you can ask for a refund and they’ll grant it with no questions asked (minus a $300 treatment planning fee).
- Professional Teeth Scans: EZ Smile partners with 13 dentists across Australia to offer in-person professional teeth scans if you would rather not use a messy at-home impression kit. Meanwhile, SmilePath only offers impression kits and does not provide professional scans.
Is EZ Smile Right for You?
EZ Smile is our second-favorite home teeth alignment company in Australia today, while SmilePath comes in at #4. EZ Smile offers quick alignments and reasonable prices, along with a great refund policy and the option to get a professional teeth scan instead of making molds of your own teeth.
That said, SmilePath offers the lowest prices available, so you might choose them if affordability is your top priority. At the end of the day, we think both services are reliable options for straightening your smile.
Effectiveness Comparison
There’s not an at-home aligner brand available that can match the power and versatility of Invisalign and other in-office options. However, EZ Smile and SmilePath both produce quality clear aligners without BPA or phthalates, and both can effectively correct mild-to-moderate cases of crowding and spacing. Other at-home brands go slightly further to ensure excellent results, but either of these companies will provide safe and reliable treatment.
EZ Smile Effectiveness
SmilePath Effectiveness
- Partners with an experienced dental lab in China to manufacture their aligners.
- Requires one photo check-in, halfway through your treatment.
- Trims their aligners to match your gum line, making them slightly less powerful.
- Produces aligners using plastic from Raintree Essix.
- You can send photos of your teeth every two weeks to check in.
- Scallops their aligners to match your gum line, decreasing their power.
Clinical Expertise and Oversight
You might not visit a dentist in-person for your treatment, but that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on their expertise. Both companies have remote teams of dentists who will review and approve your aligner plan before you begin.
With SmilePath, you can submit photos of your teeth every two weeks if you’d like additional oversight — but these check-ins aren’t required. EZ Smile has one required photo check-in during your treatment, at the midway point. This helps them spot and address any small issues before they can turn into big ones. It’s not as robust as hands-on treatment, but it’ll still provide some peace of mind.
Manufacturing Quality
Both companies have sterling reputations for manufacturing quality, and neither of them uses BPA or phthalates in their aligners.
EZ Smile doesn’t disclose exactly who manufactures their aligners, but they say they’re produced in China by “one of the leading clear aligner manufacturers in the world.” This producer has already aligned over 200,000 smiles, so their products should be fairly high 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. So, you can be sure that their aligners contain top-quality materials.
Aligner Cut
Many home alignment companies cut their aligners straight across the gums, which allows them to exert more force on your teeth. However, both EZ Smile and SmilePath “scallop” their aligners to match each customer’s unique gumline. This makes them slightly less noticeable, since there’s no plastic overlapping your gums, but it also makes them less effective.
Affordability Comparison
When comparing teeth-straightening treatments, most people look for the price right away. After all, quality materials and excellent support don’t mean much if you can’t afford treatment. Every home aligner service costs hundreds or even thousands less than braces or Invisalign, but even among their at-home peers, SmilePath and EZ Smile are incredibly budget-friendly — and SmilePath takes the crown as the industry’s most affordable option.
EZ Smile Affordability
SmilePath Affordability
- $2,499 sticker price.
- Offers frequent discounts on their website.
- Includes one set of retainers and whitening products for free.
- An impression kit or in-office scans costs $99 (refunded if you purchase aligners).
- Multiple financing options, including ones without credit checks and down payments.
- $1,899 sticker price ($1,999 for NightOnly aligners).
- Includes a 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
These are the two most affordable options for teeth alignment in Australia. SmilePath has the lowest price point in the industry: just $1,899. They even offer occasional discounts on their website to drop that price even lower. EZ Smile’s $2,499 sticker price is higher, but still more affordable than most competitors. Making these low prices even more impressive, both providers include a free set of aftercare retainers. Many competitors charge $100 or more per set.
SmilePath’s impression kit costs $75 and EZ Smile’s kits and in-person scans cost $99, but both companies will refund those prices if they determine that you’re not a candidate for their treatment, or if you purchase aligners.
Payment Plan Options
It’s understandable if you don’t have a couple of thousand dollars lying around — most people don’t! EZ Smile and SmilePath offer payment plans to help make their alignment services accessible to as many people as possible.
EZ Smile has three different options:
- Zip Money: You’ll need to pass a credit check to qualify for this interest-free plan, but if you do, you’ll pay $48.06 per week for 52 weeks.
- EZ Installments: You’ll pay a $499 deposit, followed by 52 weekly payments of $45. This plan does not require a credit check and costs a total of $2,839.
- Humm: This interest-free plan doesn’t require a deposit, but it does have a credit check. If you qualify, you can either pay $208.25/month for 12 months or $104.13/month for 24 months.
SmilePath offers three different payment plans — one that requires a credit check and one that doesn’t:
- 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.
We appreciate how both companies provide multiple payment plan options to make their services more affordable, including ones without credit checks and down payments. Whatever your financial situation, there’s a good chance EZ Smile or SmilePath has a plan that works for you.
Free Extras
To add some additional bang for your buck, several clear aligner companies throw in free extras, including EZ Smile and SmilePath. Both include your first set of aftercare retainers at no extra charge — whereas most competitors charge around a hundred bucks for them — plus free whitening products, so you can brighten your teeth while you straighten them.
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 every at-home aligner service is more convenient than Invisalign, EZ Smile and SmilePath go further than any other companies to ensure each customer has a smooth and streamlined experience.
EZ Smile Convenience
SmilePath Convenience
- Sells impression kits, plus has 13 partner dentists across Australia who provide teeth scans.
- Average treatment time is 4–8 months.
- Does not offer a nighttime-only option.
- 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
The first step with any teeth-straightening treatment is sending the company images of your teeth. This helps them evaluate whether they can fix your misalignments and if so, prepare a preview image of your post-treatment smile.
The most popular way to send these images is with an impression kit — trays and putty that you’ll use to make molds of your teeth. However, many customers find that creating perfect molds can be difficult, and some need multiple kits to get it right. If you choose EZ Smile, however, you can visit one of their 13 partner dentists for professional dental scans instead. SmilePath doesn’t have any in-person locations, so you’ll need to order an impression kit.
Treatment Time
SmilePath says most customers complete standard treatment in 4–6 months, or 6–8 for NightOnly aligners, while EZ Smile typically takes 4–8. Of course, your exact treatment timeline depends entirely on the severity of your misalignment. Severe cases will fall at the top end of that range (or even higher), and minor ones won’t take as long.
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
If you have a busy professional or social life, you might not be able to wear aligners for the standard 22 hours per day. SmilePath’s NightOnly aligners only require ten consecutive hours of daily wear, typically overnight, so you won’t have to wear them to meetings, social gatherings, or anywhere else. However, keep in mind that SmilePath’s NightOnly alignment typically takes a couple of months longer than their all-day plan because you won’t be wearing your aligners as often. It also costs $100 more.
While SmilePath provides the option to only wear aligners while you sleep, EZ Smile does not. They only offer all-day alignment.
Appearance Comparison
Every clear aligner is pretty discreet, at least compared to metal brackets and wires. That said, every company’s materials and design vary, so you’ll notice subtle differences between their aligners. However, EZ Smile and SmilePath use extremely similar designs and materials, so their aligners look almost identical.
EZ Smile Appearance
SmilePath Appearance
- Uses smooth, transparent, shiny plastic.
- Trims their aligners to match your gum line.
- 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
Both EZ Smile and SmilePath use smooth, transparent aligners. You’re probably thinking, “great, they’ll be practically invisible.” It’s true that these aligners are barely noticeable, but they don’t perfectly match your natural teeth surfaces. Your teeth are porous and matte, so smooth, transparent aligners can reflect light and look artificially shiny.
Frosted, textured plastic — like the material Invisalign and SmileDirectClub use — does a better job of replicating the matte finish of your real teeth. However, some people prefer smooth aligners because they want a little extra shine in their smile.
Aligner Cut
SmilePath and EZ Smile both “scallop” their aligners — trim them to match each customer’s gum line. This design is less noticeable than straight-cut aligners that overlap your gums, but as we mentioned earlier, it’s also less powerful.
Attachments
During an in-office treatment like Invisalign, your dentist might affix small attachments to your teeth, empowering your aligners to make more significant, complex dental shifts. These attachments are often clear or tooth-colored, but they’re easier for people to spot. Since dentists affix these attachments during office visits, EZ Smile and SmilePath 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
All clear aligners are fairly stain resistant, but we still wouldn’t recommend eating or drinking anything other than plain water while wearing them. You wouldn’t want to stain an aligner and have to keep wearing it until you’re ready for your next set!
Customer Experience Comparison
If you’re going to invest significant time and money into aligning your smile, you need to know that the company you choose will have your back if anything goes wrong — especially considering you won’t have in-office appointments with your dental care team.
At-home treatments can’t quite measure up to the individualized, hands-on care you get from in-office ones like Invisalign, and even though EZ Smile and SmilePath are relatively reliable and supportive, each has a little room for improvement.
EZ Smile Customer Experience
SmilePath Customer Experience
- Offers support via phone, email, and webchat. Will also respond to messages on social media.
- Has a very strong reputation for customer satisfaction.
- Will issue a refinement if your results don’t match your initial smile projection.
- Has a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.
- 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
Both companies provide customer service by phone, email, webchat, and social media. EZ Smile’s representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. SmilePath doesn’t list their hours but says their webchat is available 24/7. In our experience, no matter which way you choose to contact them, as EZ Smile and SmilePath both usually provide high-quality support.
Responsiveness and Helpfulness
When we’ve contacted them, both companies’ customer support teams have been helpful, responsive, and friendly. However, it’s important to look into wider trends to see if our experiences line up with those of most customers.
We found hundreds of reviews each for EZ Smile and SmilePath, and most of them were positive. Their customers seem highly impressed by each company’s support representatives, even mentioning them by name in their reviews, and they love each company’s low prices and convenience.
Satisfaction Guarantee
Similar to most competitors, these companies both provide refunds of your impression kit or teeth scan if you’re not a suitable candidate for treatment. But EZ Smile takes it a step further.
EZ Smile’s 90-day satisfaction guarantee promises to issue a refund for any reason within your first three months of treatment, minus a $300 treatment planning fee. That’s far more extensive than most other refund policies. Plus, if your end results don’t match your treatment preview, they’ll create more aligners for free, as long as you request your refinement and upload photos of your teeth within two weeks of finishing.
SmilePath doesn’t offer any refunds, and if you request a refinement, you may have to pay an extra $200.
Company Backgrounds
Based in Sydney, EZ Smile began as “a partnership between highly experienced dental industry professionals and marketing experts.” They partner with 13 dental offices across Australia, plus an experienced and reputable dental laboratory that has successfully treated more than 200,000 cases worldwide. Over just a few years in business, they’ve distinguished themselves with their low prices, flexible financing options, and Australia-based customer support team.
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 Home Teeth Aligner Should You Use?
SmilePath and EZ Smile are both capable of delivering stunning smile transformations, and they offer pretty similar products, which is why we completely understand if you haven’t chosen one yet. To help you decide, here are some scenarios that might tilt your opinion one way or the other.
Choose EZ Smile if You Are:
Looking for an Australian-owned company, impressed by their 90-day satisfaction guarantee, or want to get professional teeth scans instead of using an impression kit.
Choose SmilePath if You Are:
Looking for the lowest prices available, or prefer a nighttime-only alignment plan.
We Recommend EZ Smile for Most Readers
These are both strong companies, but EZ Smile’s robust satisfaction guarantee, dental partnerships, and Australian ownership make them the better option for most of our readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose SmilePath or EZ Smile?
We’re confident that either one of these companies will do a great job of aligning your smile. However, EZ Smile’s satisfaction guarantee, dental partnerships, and Australian ownership make them our preferred pick for at-home teeth alignment in Australia.
How do I get started with SmilePath or EZ Smile?
With EZ Smile, your first step is either to complete one of their at-home impression kits or visit one of their 13 partner dentists across Australia for a professional teeth scan. SmilePath only offers DIY impression kits.
What are customers saying about SmilePath and EZ Smile?
Both companies receive stellar customer feedback and have hundreds of reviews available on reputable third-party websites. Most customers love their low prices, strong customer support, and highly convenient services.
How do I know which option is right for me?
You should evaluate each company on its customer support, appearance, convenience, affordability, and effectiveness. These criteria will help you determine which one is best for your smile goals.
Will home aligners work for me?
It depends on your specific misalignments. Home aligners can typically only correct minor spacing and crowding issues. If you have a more significant alignment problem like an overbite, underbite, or crossbite, traditional orthodontics might be your best option.
How do SmilePath and EZ Smile compare to Invisalign?
SmilePath and EZ Smile are both much more convenient than Invisalign because they don’t require you to visit a dentist or orthodontist’s office during treatment. This also means these companies have much lower prices, undercutting Invisalign’s sticker price by thousands.
However, Invisalign can treat a wider variety of alignment issues because your dental professional can add attachments and customize your alignment to encourage more significant shifts.
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.
Does insurance cover home aligners?
Insurance rarely covers home alignment because it’s considered an optional cosmetic treatment. However, it still doesn’t hurt to ask your insurance company.
Are home aligners safe?
It’s certainly understandable if you have some reservations about home teeth alignment. However, it is a very safe process that millions of people have already successfully completed without issues.
Do home aligners hurt?
You might feel some minor discomfort whenever you switch to a new set of aligners, but for the most part, you’ll probably barely even notice you’re wearing them after a day or two.