Open Dental is a popular open-source dental practice management system that practices can self-host or run through Open Dental's hosted service. It is highly customizable and has a large user community. SmileCare is a modern, all-in-one cloud alternative with published pricing and a simpler onboarding path.
SmileCare is self-hosted on your own Supabase instance and accessed entirely through the browser, so there is no on-site server to buy, patch or maintain. Pricing is published upfront — $149/month for Starter, $299/month for Professional — with no separate migration or setup fees, and a 30-day free trial that requires no credit card.
Open Dental is a well-established option with its own strengths; practices should evaluate current pricing, hosting model and imaging needs directly with the vendor before deciding.
| Feature | SmileCare | Open Dental |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | ✓ Cloud, browser-based | ○ Varies by edition |
| Published pricing | ✓ $149–$299/mo, listed publicly | ✕ Typically quote-based |
| Hardware / server required | ✓ None — browser-based | Depends on edition |
| Free trial | ✓ 30 days, no credit card | Demo on request |
| Free data migration | ✓ Included during onboarding | Varies |
| Scheduling & patient records | ✓ | ✓ |
| Billing & insurance claims | ✓ | ✓ |
| Role-based access & audit trail | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-location support | ○ | ✓ |
A note on sourcing: Competitor details are drawn from public vendor sites and third-party review sites as of 2026. Vendor pricing and features change — confirm current details directly with the vendor before making a purchasing decision.
Start your 30-day free trial today. No credit card required. Free onboarding and data migration included.
Start Free Trial