Braces have been around forever, and for good reason: they work. Using metal brackets and wires, they slowly and steadily shift your teeth into place. For many children, it was a rite of passage to show up at school with braces. While braces are incredibly powerful, many adults shy away from brackets and wires, especially if they’ve got work, social gatherings, and dates to attend.
But if not braces, then what? Fortunately, today’s orthodontic and teledentistry technology has opened avenues to new, effective teeth-straightening options. This guide will help you find the one that best fits your condition, timeframe, budget, and priorities.
Table of Contents
Braces vs. Clear Aligners
In the late 1990s, Invisalign shook up the orthodontic industry by releasing the first-ever clear aligners—plastic trays that could perform similar functions to braces without all the metal. Since then, clear aligners have been a popular treatment option, especially among adults.
Rather than brackets that are affixed to your teeth, clear aligners are removable. You receive an entire series and move from one to the next every few weeks. They’re a whole lot less noticeable, but they’re also susceptible to human error. If you don’t keep them in for 22+ hours per day, your teeth will take longer to shift. Braces and Invisalign both require regular office visits to assess your progress and make any necessary adjustments.
Braces can handle just about any teeth and jaw misalignments you throw at them, but so can clear aligners like Invisalign, which can incorporate attachments (like elastics) to induce more complex movements.
Traditional vs. “At-Home” Treatment
Recently, companies like SmileDirectClub have developed methods for administering clear aligner treatment from home. They use teams of licensed dentists and orthodontists to design treatment plans and aligners, then oversee each patient’s treatment remotely.
By subtracting office visits from the equation, home aligner companies have made treatment cheaper and more convenient. But without in-person oversight and the option for dental attachments, at-home aligners can treat a narrower scope of conditions, primarily mild-to-moderate cases of crowding and spacing.
First, we’ll take you through the best at-home alternatives to braces, then we’ll discuss the best traditional options.
Best At-Home Alternatives to Braces
If you’re already sold on at-home aligner treatment and you’ve got a mild to moderate case of crowding or spacing, you’ll need to navigate the pros and cons of several different companies to find the best fit. Good news: we’ve ranked and reviewed our top choices right here.
Byte
Through technological and procedural innovation, Byte can deliver faster treatment times for some customers than any other clear aligner service. And they do it without sacrificing quality and customer service. They’re always looking for ways to better craft and develop your aligners, and they do it at a much lower price than in-office treatments like braces.
Pros
- Byte’s 4-5-month treatment time is much faster than braces, which can take two years or more.
- With the Byte for Life guarantee, your smile is covered for a lifetime. Even if your teeth shift years down the road, they will create new aligners to readjust them, as long as you’ve been purchasing retainers every six months and wearing them consistently.
- Every Byte customer can receive financing for their aligner treatment, regardless of credit score.
- Byte’s dental team consists of dentists and orthodontists, but they guarantee that an orthodontist will be involved in every treatment.
- If you’d rather not wear your aligners 22+ hours per day, Byte offers a nighttime-only treatment schedule that only requires 10 hours per day.
Cons
- They don’t offer any physical locations, so you’ll need to take impressions of your teeth on your own, which can sometimes be difficult.
- Braces can treat a much wider scope of conditions than Byte, including complex bite issues.
Considering Byte?
If you want to potentially experience your smile transformation ASAP, but don’t want to sacrifice quality treatment or customer service, take a look at Byte.
Special Offer: Save 80% off your impression kit + $100 of your treatment + free BrightByte Pro whitening.
AlignerCo
Home teeth aligners are already fairly affordable, but AlignerCo takes it to the next level. This newcomer boasts the industry’s lowest sticker price and multiple financing plans that can fit various schedules.
AlignerCo doesn’t quite have the same level of convenience as some other providers, but their low price more than makes up for it.
Pros
- AlignerCo’s sticker price is $1,145. That’s hundreds less than any other home aligner company and thousands less than braces.
- They don’t require a credit check for their SmileFlex Easy financing plan, so everyone qualifies (their standard SmileFlex plan requires a soft credit check).
- Even though their customer service is entirely remote, customers praise AlignerCo’s responsive and personalized support.
- AlignerCo’s treatment typically takes 6-11 months, which is slightly slower than other home aligner companies, but still faster than braces.
Cons
- AlignerCo only has one physical location (in Long Island, NY), so most customers will need to purchase and use an impression kit.
- Their website boasts orthodontist-designed treatment plans, but AlignerCo uses both orthodontists and general dentists. So, you can’t be sure if you’ll have the most specialized professional overseeing your treatment.
Thinking about AlignerCo?
On a tight budget? AlignerCo might not have the pedigree of quality that Byte and SmileDirectClub do, but you can’t beat their low prices.
Special Offer: Get $250 off AlignerCo treatment
SmileDirectClub
SmileDirectClub is the largest and most well-known home aligner brand, one of the first ones to hit the market and rival Invisalign. Since then, they’ve transformed more than one million smiles, giving them an exceptionally long track record of success. They go above and beyond to provide the most convenient treatment available and have established a strong physical presence with 300+ SmileShops across the country.
Pros
- SmileShops allow you to skip the impression kit and get started with your treatment quickly and easily. Plus, they have a network of 1,000+ dentist’s offices where you can start your treatment with a teeth scan.
- SmileDirectClub’s $1,950 price tag is much more affordable than braces treatment.
- Like Byte, they offer Nighttime Aligners, which you’ll only need to wear while you sleep instead of the 22 hours per day required by other clear aligners.
- SmileDirectClub provides financing and payment plans to every customer, no credit check required. Financing plans for braces can vary depending on your specific provider.
Cons
- Similar to other home aligner treatments, SmileDirectClub can’t treat the same scope of conditions that braces can. They’re limited to mild/moderate cases of crowding and spacing.
- SmileDirectClub’s network consists of licensed dental professionals, but there’s no guarantee that they’re orthodontists.
Best In-Office Alternatives to Braces
Maybe you like the reassurance that comes with in-person dentist oversight. Or you might prefer a more time-tested treatment method. Either way, these in-office alternatives give you the reassurance and effectiveness of hands-on care without the metal brackets and wires.
Candid
Candid straddles the line between at-home and in-office care, requiring at least one office visit with a local dentist and incorporating intensive remote monitoring. Their treatment plans are more comprehensive than at-home clear aligners, and they keep your dentist in the loop throughout the entire process, even recommending additional office visits if any issues arise.
Pros
- Candid’s average treatment time is 6-9 months, while braces can take two years or more.
- At $3,500+, Candid is often less expensive than braces, although it depends on your dentist’s location and rates.
- After the initial office visit, your dentist and Candid’s team monitor your progress remotely — a more streamlined process than braces, which require office visits every few weeks.
- Using their CandidMonitoring service, you’ll send digital scans of your teeth to your dentist and Candid’s team every 14 days, so they can evaluate your progress, assess any issues, and make adjustments if necessary.
- Just like braces, Candid’s treatment plans can move all of the teeth in your dental arches, including the molars, when necessary. This makes them a more comprehensive option than fully at-home options.
Cons
- Candid treatment is designed to correct mild and moderate misalignments, so it’s not typically viable for severe conditions like braces are.
- Candid has 200+ network providers across the U.S., while you can get braces at just about any orthodontist.
Invisalign
They’re the original clear aligner and the first company to present a successful alternative to braces. As a result, their popularity skyrocketed. With over 20 years of results and innovation, they’re still a popular orthodontic option. The treatment itself involves a series of clear aligners, created and administered by your dentist/orthodontist, during regular office visits. They can treat almost all of the same conditions as braces, but they’re much more discreet (and removable).
If you want a less noticeable but equally effective treatment, Invisalign is a great option. The downside is that they can be pricier and more time-consuming than remote options.
Pros
- Invisalign can incorporate attachments (like buttons and elastics) that allow it to treat a wide range of severe conditions, even bite issues.
- On average, Invisalign treatment takes 12-18 months, so they can be faster than braces.
- Their aligners are clear and removable, much less visible than traditional braces.
- Invisalign also offers Invisalign Express, as an expedited treatment option that only requires about six months to complete.
- Founded in 1997, Invisalign has a long track record of successful smile transformations, so you can be confident in their methods.
Cons
- Invisalign can be more expensive than other treatments, sometimes as high as $8,000 depending on your condition, dentist, and location.
- Unlike braces, Invisalign leaves room for user error, like failing to wear them for 22+ hours a day.
ClearCorrect
ClearCorrect is fairly comparable to Invisalign, and both are respectable braces alternatives. If you choose ClearCorrect, your dentist or orthodontist will scan your teeth, create your aligner plan, and administer the aligners in-office. You’ll need to schedule appointments every 4-6 weeks so that they can keep track of your progress and make adjustments, if necessary.
Founded in 2006, ClearCorrect hasn’t been around as long as braces or Invisalign, but they’ve still been delivering quality results for over a decade and offer a comparable experience that can be, in some cases, even more cost-effective.
Pros
- ClearCorrect charges dentists/orthodontists less for products and lab fees, and this might lead to lower costs for you as well ($2,500 – $5,000 on average).
- ClearCorrect aligners use a thinner plastic than other aligners, which can make them less visible (but might also affect their durability).
- ClearCorrect’s direct dentist oversight allows them to treat a variety of severe conditions, including bite issues like overbite, underbite, etc.
- On average, ClearCorrect is faster than braces, with typical treatment times that fall in the 12-18 month range.
Cons
- ClearCorrect hasn’t been around as long as other traditional treatments, so they don’t have the same extensive resumé as braces treatment does.
- ClearCorrect aligners use the same plastic that Invisalign used for years, so you know it’s high quality.
Six Month Smiles
If you take the home aligner timeframe and combine it with and in-office brand’s dentist interaction, you get Six Month Smiles. Like braces, Six Month Smiles aligners are administered by a dentist and require regular office visits. But like home aligners, the overall treatment time is shorter, just six months on average.
They started out selling clear braces, but Six Month Smiles now offers clear aligners as well. This can be a great option for individuals who want to correct minor alignment issues quickly and with face-to-face dentist care.
Pros
- The 6-month average timeframe is shorter than typical braces treatment, which often takes 18-24 months.
- Because they take less time, Six Month Smiles treatments require fewer office visits, so they can sometimes cost less than braces.
- Six Month Smiles offer clear aligners and clear braces, so your dentist can choose the option that’s best for your specific condition.
Cons
- Given their shorter treatment time, Six Month Smiles is not designed to treat severe cases of tooth and jaw misalignment (like overbite, underbite, etc.). It’s more effective in treating milder cases of crowding and spacing, like home aligner systems.
- Even though they can be more affordable than braces, Six Month Smiles aligners are still more expensive than home aligners while offering very similar results.
So, Which Should I Choose?
We realize that it’s not an easy decision, especially because you have so many good options. In the end, it’s important to consider your priorities. Are you on a tight budget? Do you want the speediest treatment possible? Or do you want the most thorough treatment, regardless of cost or timeframe? This table will help you quickly compare your options.
| Provider | Can Treat | Average Timeframe | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braces | Mild-to-severe cases | 18-24 months | $5,000 (average) |
| Invisalign | Mild-to-severe cases | 12-18 months | $5,000 (average) |
| Byte | Mild-to-moderate cases | 3-4 months | $1,895 |
| Candid | Mild-to-moderate cases | 6-9 months | $3,500+ (average) |
| AlignerCo | Mild-to-moderate cases | 6 months | $1,145 |
| SmileDirectClub | Mild-to-moderate cases | 6 months | $1,950 |
| ClearCorrect | Mild-to-severe cases | 12-18 months | $3,000 (average) |
| Six Month Smiles | Mild-to-moderate cases | 6 months | $3,500 (average) |
First, you should decide whether you want in-office or at-home treatment. Weigh the pros and cons of each one to see which might be better for your unique condition and circumstances. If you have a severe condition that requires traditional care, Invisalign is a great option, although ClearCorrect might come a little cheaper.
Otherwise, we think Byte is the best at-home option. Their treatment is often highly efficient without sacrificing effectiveness and customer service. You’ll get high-quality treatment at a reasonable price (made even better by our exclusive discount).
Byte: Our #1-Recommended Braces Alternative
Byte is the #1 braces alternative we recommend for most users. We think their fast treatment times, fair price point, and high-quality customer support make them worth considering for anyone with a mild-to-moderate dental misalignment.
If you decide Byte is the right treatment option for you, be sure to take advantage of this special promotion. For a limited time, they're offering their impression kit for jut $14.95. If you decide to purchase their full aligner treatment, you'll also receive $100 off plus a free BrightByte Pro LED Whitening Kit (normally goes for $249).
Final Thoughts
Braces are still a great teeth-straightening option. But they’re not for everyone. If wearing metal brackets out in public will stress you out, there are plenty of other treatments to consider. Before choosing one, thoroughly evaluate your personal priorities and see how each option measures up. Our site has a whole lot of useful info, including our guide to the top 5 home aligner companies, so explore a little bit. Then, you’ll be ready to make a confident, well-informed decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest alternative to braces?
Invisalign’s biggest drawback is perhaps its high price. If you’re operating on a budget and looking for the most cost-effective alternative, AlignerCo might be your answer (assuming you’re a candidate for home aligner treatment). Their $1,145 price tag is the lowest available.
That said, any home aligner company is going to offer much lower costs than Invisalign. Check out a few options that won’t break the bank in our review of the Most Affordable Clear Aligners.
What’s the difference between traditional and at-home treatment?
The most noticeable difference is each treatment’s office visit requirements. Traditional treatments like braces and Invisalign require office visits every 4-6 weeks. This provides consistent oversight and allows them to correct more severe conditions. Home aligners, however, ship you all of your aligners at once so that you can administer treatment entirely at home.
They’re still designed by licensed dentists, but you don’t need to make office visits for regular check-ins. The trade-off is that home aligners can only correct mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing.
How do home aligners work?
Using an impression kit, you’ll submit molds of your teeth (or visit a retail location for a teeth scan). The company’s dental team will use these images to develop a series of custom aligners for your teeth, then ship them directly to your home. Over the next several months (six on average), you’ll wear your aligners every day, changing sets when directed, and your teeth will slowly shift into place.
Are financing plans available?
Yes! Many dentists and orthodontists have their own financing and payment plans, so you’ll want to check with yours to see what they offer. Some home aligner companies offer in-house payment plans that don’t require a credit check, while others partner with a third party to provide financing (these typically require a credit check to qualify).
Which clear aligners are the least noticeable?
This one is tricky, as there’s not a unanimous choice for “least noticeable.” Rather, this category is often defined primarily by personal preferences. Even so, our opinion is that Candid makes the best looking aligners out there, and Byte, SmileDirectClub, and AlignerCo also provide good options. Take a look at our review of the Best Looking Clear Aligners for more information.
What is the most convenient alternative to braces?
Because they don’t require any office visits and deliver treatments to your doorstep, at-home aligners tend to be more convenient than in-office options like Invisalign. But among all the home aligner companies, SmileDirectClub stands out for their SmileShop locations and nighttime-only option. In our review of the Most Convenient Clear Aligners, you’ll find a few more companies worth considering.
Does insurance cover clear aligner treatment?
It depends on your provider and plan. Providers are more likely to cover an in-office treatment like Invisalign than home aligners since home aligners usually address cosmetic issues. Some home aligner companies (like Byte, and SmileDirectClub) have partnerships with certain insurance providers.
How much do braces cost?
According to the American Dental Association, the average price for adult braces treatment is $4,800 to $7,135. However, it’s hard to give a specific number because your price is influenced by several different factors, including your condition’s severity, your orthodontist’s rates, and even where you live. For an in-depth look at Invisalign pricing (and to see how much it typically costs in each state) see our True Cost of Braces guide.
How long does braces treatment take?
It usually takes somewhere around 18-24 months, but can be shorter or longer depending on the severity of your condition. By comparison, most home aligner companies advertise 6-month average treatment times, which is possible because they typically handle milder conditions that don’t take quite as long to correct.
How do I get started with home aligners?
You’ll need to order an impression kit and create molds of your teeth, then send them to your company of choice. If you go with SmileDirectClub, you can visit one of their physical locations for a free teeth scan, which replaces the impression kit process.
Are home aligners safe?
Yes! While administering treatment from home might seem daunting, the process is very safe. Home aligner companies use licensed dentists to create your treatment plan and design your aligners. Even though you won’t meet with them in-person, each company offers robust customer support services if something doesn’t feel quite right. Read our guide to safe home teeth straightening treatment for more information.
Do clear aligners hurt?
Customers often report experiencing tightness or discomfort during the first 1-2 days wearing a new set of aligners, after which the discomfort subsides. Some companies provide “chewies” or other devices to help ensure a more comfortable aligner fit.
Join The Discussion: