Invisalign vs. Candid: How They Actually Compare

It’s been more than two decades since Invisalign pioneered the first mainstream clear aligner treatment. Since that groundbreaking innovation in 1997, several companies have arisen as clear aligner challengers — and Candid is one of the most intriguing. But while Invisalign and Candid’s aligners might look similar, their treatment methods are fairly different.

If you’re trying to decide between these two clear aligner brands, you’re in the right place. This review digs into the details of how Invisalign and Candid compare.

Candid and Invisalign: The Basics

Over two decades ago, a dental device company called Align Technology developed a comprehensive clear aligner treatment, Invisalign, which dominated the market for nearly ten years. By 2004, they had already transformed 175,000 smiles. And today, Invisalign maintains its position atop the clear aligner industry. They partner with 100,000+ dentists in 90 countries and have straightened over 15 million smiles to date.

Twenty years after Invisalign first put clear aligners on the market, Candid began their clear aligner journey. With a former Lyft executive at the helm, Candid sought to bring the convenience of ride-sharing to orthodontic treatment without sacrificing quality. They designed an at-home aligner system that has, since then, evolved into a unique hybrid of in-person and at-home clear aligner treatment. Today, they’re one of the largest and most well-respected clear aligner producers on the market.

Invisalign can treat just about any misalignment you throw at it, but it also requires regular office visits with your provider throughout the average 12–24-month timeline. While reassuring, some customers find these routine office visits can also be inconvenient, especially if their schedule is already packed.

We think Candid’s model is more streamlined. You’ll get some in-person care from a local provider, but that dentist — in collaboration with Candid’s team — will oversee much of your treatment remotely. On average, Candid says the whole process generally takes 8.5 months. Candid typically costs slightly less than Invisalign, but it’s designed to correct milder cases, so it might not be a viable option for everyone.

Scope of Treatment Comparison

Invisalign and Candid are both able to correct misalignments, and they’ve both helped adults regain confidence in their smiles. Combined, these two companies have treated millions of people, most of whom are thrilled with their results. But to achieve success with either company, your case must be within their scope of treatment.

What Invisalign and Candid Treat

Align Technology developed Invisalign as a braces alternative, so they wanted their clear aligners to treat just about any misalignment that braces can. According to the company, their aligners have “​​demonstrated success in treating Class I, II, and III malocclusions,” including:

• Crowded teeth
• Gapped teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Open bite
• Snaggletooth
• Midline misalignment

Candid doesn’t make claims about its treatment scope, but their partner dentists do. Based on claims from multiple dental practice websites, Candid aligners can typically address the following concerns:

• Mild-to-moderate crowding
• Snaggletooth
• Mild-to-moderate spacing
• Mild-to-moderate overbite or overjet
• Underbite
• Crossbite

Both Invisalign and Candid can use attachments and move all the teeth. For Candid, this is a recent development, as they updated their software to accommodate engagers, bite ramps, and pontics. This has always been part of Invisalign’s treatment, and it’s a primary reason for their extensive treatment scope, since attachments can provide better control and a higher range of tooth movement, according to this 2023 study.

What Invisalign and Candid Customers Say

The more clients a company has, the more reviews you’ll find. Invisalign has corrected more than 15 million smiles, so you can find testimonials all over the internet, including some that patients shared directly with us! Users report high success rates even with complex cases, and Invisalign gets 4- and 5-star reviews pretty much across the board.

Candid customers have also shared their experiences with us, but most were before they transitioned to hybrid care. This means that these reviews don’t accurately reflect their current treatment scope. Most Candid reviews we’ve received are related to crowding, though reviews for overbite treatment come in second. We anticipate receiving more reviews of their hybrid care as they expand their reach.

Clinical Oversight

Direct supervision is the foundation of in-office aligner treatment. The frequency of these visits varies based on the complexity of your case, but they’re typically every 4–10 weeks. These visits help expand treatment scope by allowing your doctor to use attachments, adjust your wear schedule, and catch and address problems before they get you off track.

Candid usually only requires 1–2 office visits at the beginning, and sometimes one at the end to wrap things up. However, their hybrid approach means they’ll handle everything in between remotely. You’ll use their ScanBox every 14 days to take detailed pictures of your smile and upload them via the app, where the Candid AI will analyze them. If something isn’t lining up with their algorithm’s predictions, it will alert your dentist — and you might need an extra in-person visit or two.

Quality of Materials

Invisalign uses a proprietary plastic called SmartTrack. A multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane/copolyester blend, studies have demonstrated that it’s safe for human use. Multiple studies have also shown that it works well for simple and complex tooth shifts.

Candid uses Zendura tri-layer FLX plastic. Zendura states this retains 50+% more orthodontic force over time than some other materials. The data backs them up, so you can be confident in the plastic’s quality.

Affordability Comparison

Whether you’ve budgeted your income down to the penny, or you’re just an avid bargain hunter, the high price of orthodontic treatment might be off-putting. Clear aligners aren’t cheap — they’re an investment in your smile and confidence.

Because they require so many office visits, Invisalign is often fairly expensive. As a hybrid system that incorporates less face-time with your dentist, Candid is more affordable, although it’s still not cheap, especially when compared to purely at-home clear aligners.

Sticker Price

Both Candid and Invisalign’s prices are dictated by the dentist you choose, varying based on that provider’s location and rates. But they’re both more expensive than at-home aligner options because you’re not just paying for your aligners — you’re also paying for your dentist’s time.

That said, Candid is usually more affordable, with prices that often hover around $3,500. Invisalign typically runs somewhere between $3,000 and $8,000, depending on the complexity of your case and how many office visits your treatment requires.

What About Insurance?

There’s good news and bad news here. We’ll start with the bad: some insurance companies won’t cover minor orthodontic treatment because they consider it cosmetic rather than medically necessary. The good news is that, depending on your insurance plan, you may receive partial coverage for your aligner costs.

Dental offices can accept insurance payments directly. So with either option, you likely won’t have to submit any extra paperwork. If you have orthodontic benefits, you might be eligible for coverage. The only way to know for sure is to consult your dentist and contact your insurance provider.

Financing Options

Unable to pay thousands of dollars upfront? Not many can, which is why most dental and orthodontic offices offer financing plans.

Candid and Invisalign don’t have overarching financing plans. Because you pay your dentist directly for their aligners, they defer to the plans of each individual provider, so check with your dentist or orthodontist about their payment plan options.

Convenience Comparison

Think about your work, family, and social engagements. If your to-do list is already overwhelming, scheduling office visits every 4–10 weeks might seem intimidating. And when you happen to find a little bit of free time, you might not want to spend it in the patient’s chair.

As services that incorporate in-person care, Candid and Invisalign are both slightly less convenient than at-home aligner brands. But we think Candid’s streamlined remote monitoring gives them the edge in this head-to-head.

Getting Started

Like any big undertaking, the first step can be the hardest. Not only is orthodontic treatment a weighty decision, but the physical act of getting started can also be difficult, especially for at-home services like Byte or SmileDirectClub.

Fortunately, both Invisalign and Candid start their treatments with an office visit. You’ll schedule an appointment with a provider, where they’ll discuss the procedures, examine your teeth, and take X-rays and teeth scans.

Compared to completely remote aligner services, which allow you to make molds of your teeth at home using an impression kit, an in-person consultation might seem inconvenient. But making impressions of your teeth can be difficult, and a professional teeth scan helps Candid or Invisalign get accurate dental images the first time, avoiding the potential frustration of purchasing and mailing out multiple impression kits.

The Office Visit Trade-Off

Here’s the deal: office visits serve an important purpose. They allow your dentist to carefully oversee and modify your treatment. However, they also take time out of your already busy schedule. It seems like we’re always running from one thing to the next, and carving out time for dentist visits isn’t always convenient.

But Candid aims to combine the personal touch of in-office care with the convenience of at-home aligner plans. After your initial appointment, you’ll complete your treatment remotely, checking in via the CandidApp so that your dentist and Candid’s team can monitor your progress and make adjustments as necessary. And if they spot something that could spell trouble, they could request additional office visits. We think that’s a more streamlined process than Invisalign’s regular appointments, which require you to travel to and from the office every 4–10 weeks or so.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

This question is particularly important if you have a tight timeframe. Say your wedding is in eight months, or you have another important event coming up. It’s good to know how long your treatment will take. Treatment time somewhat depends on your condition’s severity, but it can also vary between companies.

Candid reports that their average treatment time is around 8.5 months, and Invisalign generally takes 12–24. This doesn’t mean that Invisalign is incapable of shorter turnarounds or that Candid never exceeds nine months. But typically, this is what you can expect. Talk to your dentist or orthodontist to discuss how your unique case might affect this timeline.

Appearance Comparison

When Invisalign first introduced clear aligners, their popularity skyrocketed because they offered a less noticeable alternative to traditional braces. Today, clear aligner companies are still finding ways to make their products more discreet — although this largely depends on personal tastes, which vary between customers. Invisalign and Candid produce very similar aligners, but there are a couple of subtle differences that set them apart.

Aligner Material

Both Invisalign and Candid produce frosted, textured aligners. At first, this may seem counterintuitive, but we think it actually makes them look more natural. Your teeth have tiny pores, which makes their surfaces appear matte, not reflective or shiny. So, in our opinion, translucent, smooth aligners typically don’t match the natural surfaces of your teeth. Textured, frosted aligners, however, are designed to mimic your teeth and aren’t artificially reflective.

That said, appearance is highly subjective — some customers prefer a shiny aligner because they feel it gives their smiles a gleam. It all comes down to your preferences.

Aligner Cut

An aligner’s cut can influence its power. But it can also affect the aligner’s appearance. Even though Candid’s straight-cut design may help to improve force transfer and stress distribution, it may also make them slightly more visible.

Invisalign utilizes a scalloped-cut for their aligners to match the gum line, so there’s no visible overlap with the gums. Invisalign can also incorporate attachments, which can improve aligners’ control and range of tooth movements, so it won’t sacrifice the quality of your treatment.

Attachments

Your dentist can supplement Invisalign treatment with elastics and their proprietary SmartForce attachments. This helps improve aligner retention and make greater tooth shifts, but it also makes them more visible. Candid says their doctors often use attachments pretty minimally, but they still have it as an option.

Patient Experience Comparison

How does your treatment provider handle questions? What do they do if a problem arises? How far will they go to make sure you get the results you want? All of these things contribute to the overall patient experience. Even though the specific quality of service depends on the provider you choose, both Invisalign and Candid offer hands-on care from a dentist, which we think can lead to more personalized customer support than at-home clear aligner options.

Communication Channels

If you go with Invisalign, your dentist’s office will serve as your customer support contact, so you can call, visit or email them during their regular office hours. In our opinion, this is a big advantage because it provides direct access to the person who’s managing your care.

Candid’s patient support is two-fold. Your dentist will provide the service, and you’ll also have near-constant access to the Candid remote care team, who can answer your questions and bring your dentist into the loop if necessary.

If anything comes up between Candid’s remote check-ins, we think the most convenient way to contact their team is via live chat on the CandidApp. However, support representatives are also available by phone, webchat, and email every day (including weekends) from 9am-7pm. If you reach out on social media, expect a response within 24 hours.

Oversight

As part of their hybrid model, some of Candid’s treatment happens at home. But that doesn’t mean you’re on your own. Using the CandidMonitoring service, you’ll submit photos of your teeth via the CandidApp every 14 days. Both your dentist and Candid’s team will have access to these photos, and they can adjust your treatment and schedule accordingly.

CandidMonitoring is more robust than any at-home aligner treatment, but it’s still not quite the same as regular office visits. Visiting your dentist every 4–10 weeks for Invisalign might not be convenient, but it lets them physically assess your smile and have in-person conversations about your questions and concerns. If something seems off or you’re unhappy with your progress, you can make additional appointments for evaluation. Additional office visits are possible with Candid too, but it’s up to your dentist and their team, not you.

Refund & Warranty Policies

If you’re someone who imagines worst-case scenarios, you might be wondering what will happen if your treatment doesn’t go as planned. Let’s say you’re four months in and simply not seeing the progress you expected. Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to get a refund for Candid or Invisalign.

Here’s the good news: since both treatments involve regular oversight and are administered by a dentist, they can make course corrections mid-treatment to help ensure that you stay on track, so most people end up completely satisfied with their smiles. But if something goes wrong or you’re unhappy with your results, any refunds or additional aligners are at the discretion of your dentist.

Occasionally, teeth are just plain stubborn, regardless of oversight or dental expertise. If yours don’t move quite as expected, your Candid or Invisalign provider will likely request additional aligners to finish the job. These aligners may or may not cost extra — it depends on your specific case and your dentist’s policies.

Which Should You Choose?

We think both of these companies offer quality clear aligner treatments. Neither one is clearly or inherently better than the other. Rather, each one has its own strengths and each excels in different circumstances. So, your decision should be based on your unique condition, goals, and expectations.