SmileDirectClub was one of the very first companies to offer mail-order clear aligners, launching in the U.S. in 2014 and expanding to the U.K. in 2019. They deliver every part of their treatment to your home — no visits to the dentist’s office required. And when compared to traditional options like Invisalign, SmileDirectClub is thousands of pounds cheaper.
Place Invisalign and SmileDirectClub aligners side by side and you are unlikely to notice much of a difference. But while their aligners look similar, their procedures are worlds apart. If you’re trying to choose between them, you’re in the right place. This comparison review dives into how Invisalign and SmileDirectClub stack up against each other, covering every detail you need to choose the best one for your smile.
Table of Contents
Company Overviews
Invisalign
More than two decades ago, Align Technology launched Invisalign. At the time, it was the only company offering clear aligners on a wide scale, and its ambitious marketing campaign ensured that people all around the globe knew the Invisalign name.
Today, Invisalign remains the biggest name in clear aligner treatment. They have treated over 15 million patients in more than 90 countries and partner with 100,000+ dentists and orthodontists around the globe.
SmileDirectClub
Compared to Invisalign, SmileDirectClub is new to the clear aligner industry. Launched in 2014, Invisalign has nearly two decades on it. Still, it is the oldest and most experienced company in the world of at-home clear aligners.
SmileDirectClub has won people over with low prices and convenience. To date, they have treated over 1.5 million customers worldwide. Even though numerous home aligner companies have cropped up in the last few years, SmileDirectClub remains the one with the most global recognition.
Traditional vs. Remote Treatment: The Pros and Cons
Invisalign and SmileDirectClub have plenty of similarities, but their biggest differentiating factor is how they’re administered. Invisalign requires office visits and direct in-person supervision, while SmileDirectClub delivers everything to your home and monitors your progress remotely.
Which is better? We don’t have a straightforward answer. Each has its pros and cons, and the best choice for you depends on your smile, priorities, and budget.
Pros & Cons of Traditional Treatment:
Pros
- Your doctor can incorporate attachments and elastics to encourage more complex tooth and jaw shifts. As a result, Invisalign can treat a wide variety of severe misalignments.
- Direct supervision makes it easier to catch problems early on.
- Regular visits with your dentist allow them to personalize your patient experience.
Cons
- The additional fees that come with office visits mean paying thousands more for treatment.
- Regular office visits take time away from work and other activities.
Pros & Cons of Remote Treatment:
Pros
- Remote treatment is almost always more affordable.
- You don’t need to rearrange your schedule, since you’ll only have check-ins through apps or online portals.
- At-home clear aligners often achieve results faster than in-office ones, wrapping up treatment in an average of six months. However, that’s usually because they treat less complex cases.
Cons
- These systems cannot make major dental shifts or move the jaw, so they’re limited to cosmetic changes.
- Remote support is less personalized than the care you’ll get from in-person treatment.
Either way, you’ll receive quality treatment. Still, one is likely to be a better fit for you than the other. If you need affordable treatment to correct cosmetic concerns, at-home clear aligners are ideal. However, if you want to make bigger changes or prefer in-person oversight no matter the cost, in-office is best.
Like the Idea of Remote Treatment? You’ve Got Options.
SmileDirectClub may have pioneered at-home aligners, but they are far from the only company to consider. If you are interested in affordable and convenient treatment, check out our list of the top at-home clear aligner companies in the U.K.
Effectiveness Comparison
You should never sign up for a treatment without knowing it can deliver the results you want, and you need to consider everything from the scope of conditions it can treat to who makes the aligners. Like other at-home aligners, SmileDirectClub can effectively treat mild-to-moderate crowding and spacing, but Invisalign’s hands-on treatment and supplemental attachments make it one of the most powerful, versatile options you’ll find.
Invisalign Effectiveness
SmileDirectClub Effectiveness
- Can treat almost any orthodontic concern thanks to its attachments.
- Manufactured by Align Technology, the oldest and most experienced clear aligner creator.
- Scallops its aligners, meaning they follow the curves of the gum line.
- Corrects mild-to-moderate irregularities related to crowding and spacing.
- Used to partner with Align Technology in the U.S., but now uses Access Dental Lab, a SmileDirectClub subsidiary.
- Aligners overlap the gums for extra power.
What They Can Treat
Like all at-home clear aligners, SmileDirectClub can close small gaps and correct slight crowding, primarily in the front six teeth. Compare this to Invisalign, which can correct a wide range of alignment issues, plus certain jaw irregularities, putting it on par with braces.
Why can Invisalign do so much more than SmileDirectClub? There are a few reasons.
- Making significant tooth shifts remotely can be unsafe. It increases the risk of damage to the tooth roots, and the bigger the shift, the more room there is for problems — which might go unnoticed, since there’s no in-person oversight.
- Dentists can’t often plan the full treatment for complex cases in advance. They’ll need to re-evaluate your alignment throughout treatment and alter the plan accordingly. SmileDirectClub issues all the necessary aligners right at the start.
- Invisalign can use SmartForce attachments and elastics to leverage greater force. A dentist needs to apply them in person, so you can’t get them with at-home treatment.
All of those elements combine to give Invisalign the power to correct far more misalignments than SmileDirectClub.
Manufacturer Quality
Invisalign aligners have always been made by their parent company, Align Technology — the largest and most experienced clear aligner producer in the world. Over the years, they have developed new software, approaches, and materials that have steadily improved upon their original products. So when you get Invisalign aligners, you benefit from the latest technology in the field.
SmileDirectClub once had a manufacturing partnership with Align Technology, though this ended before they ever launched in the U.K. Since then, SmileDirectClub has been making aligners through their subsidiary, Access Dental Lab. They use a progression where the plastic gets firmer the further you get into treatment, which they say reduces discomfort. However, Access Dental Lab is a fairly young company and we don’t know much about their specific processes.
Aligner Cut
Believe it or not, the cut of your aligners — where they meet with the gum line — can influence your aligners’ effectiveness. Scalloped aligners that follow along the curves of the gum line generate less force than straight-cut aligners, which overlap the gums.
Because Invisalign made its name on its invisibility, it sticks with the less effective but also less visible scalloped cut. SmileDirectClub uses a straight cut, which uses your gums as an anchor to leverage up to four times the force. Keep in mind that Invisalign can use SmartForce attachments to make up that difference, so this isn’t a reason to write them off.
Technology
Every clear aligner company uses their own software to analyze your impressions or 3D scans, determine the ideal final placement of your teeth, and map each step to get from start to finish. Invisalign’s software is called ClinCheck, and it uses digital scans from the iTero scanner. Both the software and the scanner have been proven effective over many years of use.
SmileDirectClub uses software called SmartSculpt. It also has a solid history, but it doesn’t exceed the standards set by Invisalign, which has continuously focused on upgrades and innovation.
Affordability Comparison
Cost should be top of mind for any big purchase, including teeth-straightening treatment. Orthodontic treatment is never cheap, but it’s an investment in yourself, your confidence, and your health.
Perhaps the most appealing feature of at-home clear aligners is their affordability. In most cases, they cost thousands of pounds less than their in-office counterparts. That’s true for SmileDirectClub and Invisalign too.
Invisalign Affordability
SmileDirectClub Affordability
- Each dentist sets their own rates, but treatment typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500.
- National Insurance typically will not cover Invisalign treatment. However, private dental policies might.
- Aftercare retainers, like Invisalign treatment, vary in price based on your doctor. They typically cost £100–£400.
- Invisalign does not offer financing. Your doctor can offer payment plans, or you might work with a third-party financier.
- SmileDirectClub costs £1,739 for all patients. In some cases, you can get a free scan to get started.
- National Insurance does not cover SmileDirectClub. Neither do most private dental policies.
- Aftercare retainers are £99 per set. You will need to replace them around every six months.
- SmileDirectClub offers financing, called SmilePay, which requires a credit check to qualify.
Sticker Price
In-office treatments do not have a set price since each dentist sets their own rates. Invisalign charges them for plastics, lab fees, manufacturing, etc., then they choose how to price their treatment. You may also need to pay office fees to cover your dentist’s time and overhead costs, which can vary significantly between providers.
Invisalign treatment often falls somewhere between £1,500 and £5,500, with most treatments coming in at around £4,000. Keep in mind that the more aligners you need, the more you will pay.
SmileDirectClub is usually significantly cheaper than the average Invisalign: just £1,739. Every patient pays the same price regardless of their condition’s complexity. However, SmileDirectClub can’t treat severe cases, so no one will need a lot of aligners.
This translates to significant savings in most cases, though perhaps not as much as it seems. Only people with minor cosmetic concerns are eligible for SmileDirectClub, so their case would probably fall on the lower end of Invisalign’s prices.
Insurance Coverage
National Insurance extends to orthodontic treatment when it can alleviate oral or overall health problems. This means that, in certain cases, Invisalign qualifies for coverage. You’ll need to speak with your doctor about whether your case does.
SmileDirectClub does not qualify for National Insurance coverage. It only corrects cosmetic concerns, which means it’s rarely ever medically necessary. Some private policies might offer partial coverage, so if you have additional dental insurance, speak to your insurance company about whether they’ll cover SmileDirectClub.
Financing Options
If you are like most people, you can’t drop thousands of pounds on orthodontic treatment, no matter how affordable it is. Invisalign does not have any financing options as a company, but sometimes individual dentists do. If you need to break up your payments, ask your doctor about what they offer or contract with a third-party lending company.
SmileDirectClub offers in-house financing called SmilePay. You’ll need to pass a soft credit check to qualify, then you’ll make a £73.73 down payment, followed by 25 monthly payments of £73.66.
Convenience
When you already have a lot of tasks on your list, adding one more can seem overwhelming — especially when that task repeats every few weeks. Yet that’s what in-office clear aligner treatment requires.
However, this isn’t the only aspect that influences convenience. You also need to consider treatment speed, flexible schedules, and how easy it is to get started. By eliminating office visits, at-home aligner companies have already streamlined treatment, but SmileDirectClub’s SmileShops and flexible wear schedules take convenience to the next level.
Invisalign Convenience
SmileDirectClub Convenience
- Your dentist will take digital scans, X-rays, and/or photographs during your initial appointment.
- Every 4–10 weeks, you have a check-up.
- On average, treatment takes 12–18 months.
- You must wear your aligners for 22 hours each day; there is no nighttime treatment option.
- SmileDirectClub has two start-up options: at-home impressions or scans at one of their SmileShops.
- You’ll send photos of your teeth for review every 90 days.
- SmileDirectClub claims their average all-day treatment lasts 4–6 months, and their average nighttime plan lasts 8–10.
- SmileDirectClub has nighttime aligners that only require ten hours of continuous daily wear.
Getting Started
Sometimes, the most difficult part of a journey is taking the first step. With clear aligners, that means doing your research and setting up the diagnostics. However, in most cases, this is more difficult with at-home clear aligners.
Why? Because most of them rely on the use of DIY impression kits. While these aren’t too difficult, they are trickier than having a doctor handle the process for you.
Invisalign requires 3D scans from your doctor, using the iTero scanner. This is a simple process that requires no goopy molds or work on your part. It only takes a few minutes, and the doctor can stop and restart the process as many times as necessary for your comfort.
SmileDirectClub sells impression kits, but they also have eleven permanent locations in the UK, and multiple pop-up shops every year. At these SmileShops, you can get a free 3D scan from a trained technician, which is easier and has less room for error than taking impressions yourself.
Office Visits vs. Home Application
Every in-office treatment requires you to meet with your doctor periodically so they can evaluate your progress, discuss your experience, and possibly make adjustments. These office visits have their benefits, but convenience isn’t one of them.
With Invisalign, you’ll need to see your doctor every 4–10 weeks — although the exact frequency depends on a few factors. If your treatment lasts the average 12 months, you’re looking at up to 13 visits: one for the diagnostics and treatment planning, then 12 check-ins. These visits usually fall during standard school and working hours, which can be difficult on your schedule.
SmileDirectClub doesn’t require any office visits — though you can choose to start your treatment at a SmileShop. This means that you handle everything from the comfort of your home and complete check-ins by submitting photos of your teeth on their mobile app. The doctor assigned to your case will review them to see how they align with your projected progress. If things look off, the company might issue refinement aligners to get you back on track.
Treatment Length
Many people who want straighter smiles have a specific event or milestone in mind. While it may not be the most important treatment feature to focus on, treatment length is worth keeping in mind.
Invisalign takes an average of 12–18 months, though patients who use the Express system might finish in as little as ten weeks. SmileDirectClub says their all-day plans are 4–6 months long on average, and their nighttime-only option takes around 8–10.
Keep in mind that these are averages and your treatment can be longer or shorter depending on the complexity of your case and how consistently you wear your aligners. If your goal is to finish quickly, be sure to follow your treatment plan carefully.
What About Nighttime-Only Treatment?
Most aligner treatments require 22 hours of wear every day throughout your treatment. You’ll only remove them to eat, drink anything besides plain water, brush, and floss.
This doesn’t sound problematic on the surface. However, removing aligners multiple times a day, then cleaning your teeth before putting them back in, can be annoying. For example, if you work in an office, you’ll need to remove them for every cup of coffee, every snack, and every meal, finding time to head to the bathroom and brush your teeth each time. That can add up to a lot of little breaks throughout your day and make it harder to hide your aligners.
That’s why SmileDirectClub introduced Nighttime Aligners. These are actually the same aligners you wear for all-day treatment, just on a different wear schedule. Instead of 22 hours a day, you only wear them for ten continuous hours, typically overnight.
During nighttime-only treatment, you’ll typically wear each aligner for two weeks instead of the usual one, which is why treatment can take up to ten months.
Invisalign does not have a nighttime-only system. Even though your dentist might have some flexibility with your wear schedule, most will tell you to wear your aligners for 22+ hours per day.
Appearance
Invisalign built its reputation on appearance, and it remains a primary focus for the company and patients alike. For decades, people had sought a less-visible alternative to braces, and Invisalign delivered. Clear aligners from any company are vastly less noticeable than brackets and wires, but each brand of aligners looks slightly different. Which one looks best, however, depends on your unique tastes and preferences.
Invisalign Appearance
SmileDirectClub Appearance
- Aligners are frosted, so not fully clear.
- The plastic is textured, just like the porous surface of the teeth.
- They trim their aligners to match the gum line.
- The aligners are reasonably stain-resistant.
- SmartForce attachments and other appliances make the aligners more visible.
- Aligners are frosted, so not fully clear.
- The plastic is textured, just like the porous surface of the teeth.
- They cut their aligners straight, so they overlap the gums.
- The aligners are reasonably stain-resistant.
- Cannot incorporate attachments, so the aligners keep a low profile.
Aligner Material
All aligner companies use BPA-free, medical-grade plastics. However, these materials can vary in their thickness, transparency, and texture.
Invisalign and SmileDirectClub both use translucent — not fully clear — aligners that have a matte surface rather than a shiny one. They also texture their aligners to match your naturally matte teeth surfaces. As a result, the aligners from both companies will blend in with your natural teeth.
Aligner Cut
There are two types of cuts clear aligners can use: straight and scalloped. The top ridge on a straight cut isn’t perfectly straight since it needs to fit tight against the gums. However, it overlaps the gums rather than matching the curves where the gums and teeth meet.
Invisalign chooses the scalloped cut while SmileDirectClub cuts their aligners straight across. The scalloped cut is less visible because the ridge of the aligners essentially hides in the gum line. Straight-cut aligners might be noticeable to those who are up close, especially if you show your gums when you smile.
Additional Attachments
Aligners are strong enough to encourage tooth shifts on their own. However, for complex cases, they might need a little help. The answer: attachments, which a dentist can affix to your teeth, giving the aligners something to grip.
Only dentists and orthodontists can place these attachments, so they require in-person appointments. Invisalign’s proprietary SmartForce attachments are small and tooth-colored, but they can still make your aligners more noticeable. SmileDirectClub aligners can’t incorporate any attachments, so they don’t have the same issue.
Patient Experience
The quality and appearance of your aligners are crucial to your satisfaction. But how a company or dentist supports you and addresses your concerns can make or break the patient experience. SmileDirectClub offers a solid customer experience, but as a remote treatment, it can’t replicate the level of personalized care you’ll receive from a dentist’s office.
Invisalign Patient Experience
SmileDirectClub Patient Experience
- Your customer support comes from your doctor and their staff.
- You will usually get help in person or by phone, though some offices have apps and webchats.
- Regular in-person visits make it easier to catch problems and make adjustments.
- Your dentist may or may not include refinements in the cost of treatment.
- SmileDirectClub’s remote customer support team is your primary contact.
- Help is available by phone, text, video, email, social media, and webchat.
- There are no in-person visits but you’ll have virtual check-ins throughout treatment.
- They modify treatment and offer complete refunds in the first 30 days, plus a lifetime guarantee.
Communication Channels
Whether you choose Invisalign or SmileDirectClub, it’s rare that anything will go wrong. But sometimes, life happens. You might damage an aligner, find that one doesn’t fit quite right, or have pressing questions.
If you need help with Invisalign treatment, you won’t contact the company. Instead, you’ll turn to your doctor. They are the ones who will answer your questions, order replacement aligners, and address your concerns. Since every office is different, their communication channels might vary. You can contact all of them by phone and in person. However, some offices have patient portals, webchat, text options, and more.
SmileDirectClub has multiple customer support avenues. And unlike some other at-home aligner companies, their team is available 24/7. You can reach them by phone, email, text, video chat, webchat, and through their mobile app.
Customer Support Responsiveness
When you need help, you don’t want to wait for it. Even if you don’t have an urgent issue, it might still weigh on your mind, so fast response times are essential.
With Invisalign, responsiveness varies by practice. You can likely expect a response within a few hours from your doctor and their staff — assuming you contact them during their regular business hours. If you contact them after hours or over the weekend, you may need to wait 12–36 hours for a response for non-emergencies. But once you get in touch, you’ll speak with someone who knows you and your teeth personally.
SmileDirectClub is available 24/7, so you shouldn’t need to wait long for a response. However, wait times vary depending on how you contact them. Their webchat will connect you to a representative within a few minutes, while you might need to wait up to a day for an email response.
Oversight
Tooth movements are pretty predictable, but some people’s teeth move more easily than others, and some patients wear their aligners more consistently than others. Oversight allows the treatment provider to catch problems early on and make adjustments when necessary.
Invisalign builds oversight right into the process. You visit your doctor every 4–10 weeks, and they use these appointments to ensure your teeth are still moving as expected. If anything is off, they can address it on the spot.
SmileDirectClub doesn’t require in-person visits, but they still provide some oversight. You’ll use their app to submit photos of your teeth every 90 days so their team can review them.
While you’ll technically have someone checking on your progress, reviewing photos isn’t nearly as intensive as in-person examinations. However, if you have a pretty simple alignment issue and are ready to follow your treatment plan to a T, it shouldn’t pose any serious problems.
Refund & Warranty Policies
Every big purchase can cause some nervousness. What if it doesn’t work? Can you get your money back?
Invisalign does not offer refunds on its treatment, nor do they have overarching guarantees. However, individual dental offices might. If you feel like treatment isn’t meeting your expectations or your new smile doesn’t match your treatment preview, speak with your doctor. They can work with you to come up with a solution.
SmileDirectClub has both a refund policy and their Lifetime Smile Guarantee. You have 30 days from the start of treatment to decide it isn’t right for you and request a refund. Beyond those 30 days, they’ll give prorated refunds for any unused and unopened aligners.
Their Lifetime Smile Guarantee helps preserve that brand-new smile forever. It covers “aligner touch-ups” if your teeth shift in the future. However, you need to do your part to qualify, which includes ordering two sets of retainers every year and wearing them correctly.
Which Should You Choose?
In the end, neither company is inherently superior to the other. Invisalign wins in effectiveness and support, but SmileDirectClub is more affordable and convenient. You’ll probably find that one fits your unique situation better than the other.
Choose Invisalign if:
- You have a severe misalignment or a bite issue.
- You value personalized patient support.
- You feel better working with the most established aligner company.
Choose SmileDirectClub if:
- You only need cosmetic changes to your alignment.
- Price and convenience are the most important factors for you.
- You feel comfortable keeping yourself on track with treatment.
We Suggest SmileDirectClub for Most People
SmileDirectClub offers quality treatment at an affordable price and is more convenient than traditional orthodontics. If you have a mild misalignment, you can get the same smile you’d get through Invisalign, but at a fraction of the cost — no need to alter your schedule for appointments.
Still, there are plenty of other services out there. Consider all your options before making a final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Invisalign the only option?
If you have a misalignment that involves more than a gap that is more than 3mm or mild crowding, you likely will need to use an in-office system. However, Invisalign isn’t the only in-office clear aligner treatment. You might also consider ClearCorrect, SureSmile, or 3M Clarity Aligners.
How do I get started with Invisalign or SmileDirectClub?
For Invisalign treatment, you need to locate a provider near you and schedule an appointment. Given how widespread it is, this should be pretty easy, but Invisalign makes it even simpler with their search feature.
You can determine if you’re a suitable candidate for SmileDirectClub by completing their free 30-second online smile assessment. If you are, either schedule a scan at a SmileShop or order an impression kit. By analyzing these diagnostics, the SmileDirectClub team can definitively determine whether you are suitable for their treatment.
Which company has faster treatment?
If you are looking at averages, SmileDirectClub typically takes 4–6 months, while Invisalign takes 12–18. But that’s often because Invisalign takes on more complex cases. If you compare similar cases, the two companies have little difference in treatment times. SmileDirectClub might have a slight edge since they change aligners every week, while many Invisalign doctors favor every two weeks.
If I choose Invisalign, can I wear my aligners only at night?
Invisalign does not promote nighttime-only wear. Your doctor is in charge of your treatment plan, though, and they might feel this is a safe option for you. If you are interested in a nighttime wear plan, do not make the change on your own. Always clear it with your doctor first.
Which clear aligner company can treat the most severe conditions?
In-office treatments like Invisalign, ClearCorrect, SureSmile, and 3M Clarity Aligners can all address a wide range of misalignments.
What is the typical treatment time for at-home clear aligners?
On average, treatment takes six months, but if your case is simple, it could take as little as 3–4. Complex cases often require 8–12 months.
Do clear aligners hurt?
They can cause discomfort because they put pressure on your teeth. However, this goes away as the teeth adjust. With each new aligner set, it returns for a few hours.
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