Everything We Recommend
The Best Invisible Aligners:
Other Brands:
Clear aligners are practical alternatives to metal braces if you want straight teeth. They’re more comfortable and tend to cost less overall.
Unlike wire braces attached to your teeth, you can remove clear aligners when eating, brushing, or whenever you like. This makes them great for daily use.
You can choose from several brands, including at-home options with remote monitoring and in-office aligners requiring dental office visits.
At NewMouth, we want to help you to choose a teeth straightener that matches your needs. So we asked our experts to evaluate aligners and choose the best brands based on the following factors:
- Overall user experience (30%)
- Treatment process (30%)
- Pricing and financing (20%)
- Customer service and aftersales support (15%)
- Brand reputation (5%)
What Happened To Byte?
Notice: On October 25, 2024, Byte paused its shipment and processing of new and recent clear aligner orders due to safety concerns identified by the FDA. For further questions and concerns, people are encouraged to send a support request through Byte’s Patient Account Center. Because of this, we no longer recommend Byte for clear aligner treatments. We have updated our recommendations below.
5 Best Invisible Braces of 2024
We rounded up the 6 best clear aligners that fit different budgets, lifestyles, and preferences to help you decide.
Below are our top picks, why we recommend each brand, and why you should consider alternatives.
Best Overall
Why Choose Motto? Motto is a doctor-directed treatment available in over 1,000 locations across the US. A dentist from a local Aspen Dental Clinic will be supervising your entire treatment for half the price of traditional options.
Motto Highlights
- Cost: $2,499 or $68/month
- Average Treatment Time: 6 months or less
- Recommended For: Correcting mild to advanced cases of crooked teeth
- Treatment inclusions: Aligner trays, a retainer, teeth whitening, and in-person consultations with a licensed dentist
Why We Recommend It
- It’s cost-effective. Motto is half the cost of traditional options, but it provides the same doctor-directed care you would expect from in-office treatments.
- Motto provides professional oversight. A dentist will assess you, create your treatment, and make sure your treatment goes as planned.
- MottoMonitoring (their virtual monitoring solution) is included with every package, so you don’t have to visit the dentist as much.
- Motto is a tried and tested clear aligner. It has been on the market since 2021 and has treated over 25,000 patients.
Why Consider Other Brands
- No remote impression kits. If you aren’t close to a location, you might have to travel a bit to get your impressions made.
Best At-Home Option
Why Choose Smileie? We like Smileie because it lets you choose a treatment that suits your needs. You can straighten your top and bottom teeth or just one of them.
Smileie Highlights
- Cost: $999 to $1,399 upfront or $63.99 to $76.99 per month.
- Average treatment time: 4 to 6 months
- Recommended for: Correcting mild to moderate crooked teeth
- Treatment inclusions: Impression kit, teeth whitening, 2 sets of retainers, at-home treatment.
Why We Recommend It
- It’s fully remote. You can do the entirety of your treatment at home with virtual monitoring. You can even schedule a video consultation to take impressions.
- You can choose between daytime or nighttime aligners, which allow you to strengthen only your upper or lower teeth.
- It’s a more affordable option compared to traditional braces and most aligners. Additionally, Smileie PRO offers in-person consultations.
- Provides fast shipping across the U.S. and comes with 2 sets of retainers for free.
Why Consider Other Brands
- Not as established as other clear aligner brands
- It isn’t suitable for complex teeth misalignments
- Only adults aged 18 and over are eligible
- Free refinements are limited to Smileie PRO users
Best Budget Option
Why Choose ALIGNERCO? ALIGNERCO has some of the cheapest invisible aligners. They cost less than most brands and come with affordable monthly payments.
ALIGNERCO Highlights
- Cost: $995 to $1,120 or $77 to $94 per month
- Average treatment time: 4 to 8 months
- Recommended for: Correcting mild to moderate cases of crooked teeth
- Treatment inclusions: Impression kit, aligner trays, a set of retainers, a teeth whitening set, and the AlignerTrack app (for remote monitoring)
Why We Recommend It
- In addition to its affordable and flexible monthly installments, ALIGNERCO has short payment terms that allow you to fully pay for your total treatment cost in 6 to 12 months.
- If you live in New York or somewhere nearby, you can schedule an appointment with the company’s clinic for a free in-person consultation.
- Many people are happy with the level of support it provides. It ensures you get accurate teeth impressions and have easy access to specialists who can assist you if you need help.
Why Consider Other Brands
- Few customers have complained of its poor quality products. They say its clear aligners can be uncomfortable and ill-fitting, and its retainers feel cheap and break easily.
- While its customer service has helped some users, others experienced delayed response times and difficulty getting replacements and refunds.
- Despite having one of the most affordable clear aligners, your results are not guaranteed. You may need to pay for extra aligners if you’re unsatisfied with the treatment.
New Year Sale: $795 for aligners with free aligner cleaner.
Most Discreet
Why Choose NewSmile? NewSmile has one of the most invisible braces on the market. It can help you get a straighter smile without attracting unwanted attention.
NewSmile Highlights
- Cost: $1,595 to $1,695 or $55 to $64 per month
- Average treatment time: 4 to 10 months
- Recommended for: Correcting mild to moderate cases of crooked teeth
- Treatment inclusions: Impression kit, aligner trays, a set of retainers, teeth whitening foam, and NewSmile app (for remote monitoring)
Why We Recommend It
- NewSmile lets you schedule a video call with an Impression Specialist who can walk you through taking accurate teeth impressions.
- Its daytime and nighttime aligners have good quality and a comfortable fit. Their scallop-shaped design reduces the risk of gum irritation and makes them invisible when worn.
- Customers who aren’t satisfied with their treatment plan, their results, or the quality of their aligners may get refunds or additional support with the NewSmile Satisfaction Guarantee.4
Why Consider Other Brands
- Some users experienced difficulty canceling their orders, requesting refunds, or reaching customer support for help despite NewSmile’s return policy.
- Even though it has friendly representatives who answer questions, they may not be as helpful or transparent if you encounter issues with your order.
- While the NewSmile app makes it easy for specialists to monitor patients at home, customers are worried about the privacy of the photos they send with it.
Use code NewMouthDeal for $100 off Aligners and code NewMouthKit for $20 off impression kit.
Premium Hybrid Option
Why Choose Candid? Candid is a great option for people who prefer the convenience of at-home teeth aligners but also want a local dentist to supervise their treatment.
Candid Highlights
- Cost: Starts at $3,500 with payment plans depending on the provider
- Average treatment time: 6 to 12 months
- Recommended for: Correcting mild to moderate cases of crooked teeth
- Treatment inclusions: Aligner trays, a set of retainers, teeth whiteners, and the Candid App (for remote monitoring)
Why We Recommend It
- The company works with more than 300 dentists across the US.2 You can visit a CandidPro doctor who can qualify you and create your personalized treatment plan.
- Your custom invisible teeth aligners are sent to you, so you can continue your treatment at home, where a dental professional will monitor you virtually.
- Many customers like Candid because its clear teeth aligners are invisible and effective for straightening teeth, and it offers a free teeth whitening kit with your treatment.
Why Consider Other Brands
- It doesn’t allow you to order an impression kit online for a full at-home experience. You have to see a CandidPro provider; one may not be in your city.
- Candid may be more affordable than in-office invisible braces brands (like Invisalign), but it’s more expensive than at-home clear aligners, typically costing $1,000 to $2,500.
- While most are happy with the brand, some users have complained of rough aligners that caused cuts, the lack of support during treatment, and ineffective teeth straightening.
More Invisible Aligners to Consider
Now that you know which clear aligners are the best, here are your other options and why you should try them:
ClearCorrect
ClearCorrect is a reliable and effective way to straighten teeth. It treats different types of misaligned teeth, including severe cases.
You’ll be asked to visit the clinic regularly. Your dentist or orthodontist can fit the aligners into your teeth, replace them, and adjust them as needed.
ClearCorrect typically costs $4,000 to $6,000. This makes it an affordable Invisalign alternative if you’re looking into in-office treatments.
SureSmile
SureSmile is a hybrid option that combines at-home treatment with regular dental check-ins.
Its clear aligners are only available at a dentist or orthodontist’s office. But your doctor will provide the VPro™ device which you can use at home.
Like StraytVIBES™ it can promote faster teeth movements and shorter treatment times when used with your aligners.
Six Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles is an in-office treatment that straightens teeth in as little as 6 months. Like Invisalign, it requires frequent visits to the dentist.
Your orthodontist or dentist will adjust your braces or switch you to new aligners every few weeks.
The company uses Zendura to make the aligners. This is the most effective material for protecting against bruxism (teeth grinding), so it’s very durable.
SmileDirectClub
SmileDirectClub is a brand of at-home clear aligners.
The company announced its bankruptcy liquidation on September 2023, ceasing aligner treatments and ending its lifetime guarantee.
Its global operations closed on December 2023 after failing to secure the funds needed to buy itself out of bankruptcy.
How this affects you will depend on which stage of the treatment process you’re in. You can read our customer guide for SmileDirectClub.
How to Choose the Best Invisible Braces
Choosing the best clear aligner brand isn’t easy if you don’t know what to look for. Here are five things to consider to narrow it down:
1. Level of Teeth Misalignment
There are two kinds of clear aligners: in-office and at-home.
The use of these invisible braces varies depending on how severe your teeth misalignment or malocclusion is:
- In-office clear aligners like Invisalign and ClearCorrect work on mild, moderate, and severe misalignment. In-office visits to a dentist or orthodontist are required, but you can continue your treatment at home.
- At-home clear aligners such as ALIGNERCO work on mild and moderate malocclusions. Treatments are done at home and are usually monitored remotely by a dental professional.
If you want to get your teeth straightened, it’s best that you talk to a dentist or orthodontist to find out which treatment option is for you.
2. Availability in Your Area
Besides impression kits, most aligner companies provide alternative ways to get started with your treatment.
For instance, Strayt offers mobile teeth scans, and ALIGNERCO has a New York clinic open for consultations.
If you want to get an in-person scan, make sure that the company you’re considering offers this option in your location.
3. Lifestyle and Preferences
Choose a brand depending on whether you want to wear nighttime aligners or daytime aligners, or whichever is most convenient for you.
For example, if you want a completely at-home treatment, you can look into companies like NewSmile.
Keep in mind that night aligners are potentially unsafe and ineffective. It’s best to talk to a dentist before using them.
4. Treatment Costs and Your Budget
Many people just look at the price tag of clear aligners. But this only covers initial treatment costs. You should also consider other expenses, like:
- The cost of the impression kit (if it isn’t included)
- The cost of retainers needed after treatment
- Other tools and products that will maintain your smile
If it takes longer to straighten your teeth or if your teeth shift back into place after the treatment, you may need more aligners to correct them.
While some companies have guarantees to help cover the cost of additional aligners, others don’t. You’ll have to pay for them yourself.
You must compare these costs across different brands to see which ones are within your budget.
5. Treatment Time
Clear aligners can straighten teeth in 3 to 18 months. Average treatment times help you gauge how long you must wait before seeing results.
Go for a brand that can give you results within an acceptable time frame.
Remember that the time it takes to get straight teeth will depend on how crooked they are and if you wear clear aligners as prescribed.
The fewer misalignments you have, the faster the results.
The Takeaway
If you want straight teeth but don’t want metal brackets and wires on your teeth, invisible aligners or invisible braces are an excellent choice.
They’re a discreet, clear, and removable alternative to traditional metal braces, designed around comfort and convenience.
When deciding on a brand, you must consider:
- How severe your teeth misalignment is
- The availability of in-person consultations
- Your lifestyle and personal preferences
- The total treatment cost and your budget
- The time it will take to complete treatment
Remember to discuss your teeth straightening options with a dental expert. They can help you choose an orthodontic treatment based on these factors.
How We Chose the Best Invisible Braces
To help you choose the best clear aligner for your needs, we spent 200+ hours researching the top brands based on the following criteria:
- Doctor-directed care – The involvement of dental professionals
- Safe and efficient onboarding – How the company qualifies patients
- Treatment process – Ease, safety, and effectiveness of the treatment
- Total treatment costs – The amount you need to pay for the treatment
- Value for money – What you get with the amount you’re paying
- Customer support – The level of support provided by a company
- User satisfaction – How satisfied the customers are with the products, services, and their overall experience with a brand
- Guarantees and refunds – Offers additional treatments and refunds for dissatisfied customers and unqualified patients
NewMouth Rating System
We ordered the best kits that met our criteria and had in-house writers test them out throughout the duration of their prescribed treatment.
While testing the clear aligners, our team assessed and scored them based on five traits. Each trait was assigned a “weight” so we could calculate their individual rating and weighted average scores on a scale of five.
Here is how we rated the best clear aligners on our list:
Customer Service and After-Sales Support
Customer Experience
Using artificial intelligence, we gathered and analyzed feedback from hundreds of people who tried our list’s clear aligners.
This helped us determine the users’ experiences with a brand, including:
- Its availability for in-person and/or virtual consultations
- The accessibility of its clear aligners and ease of ordering
- Whether it gives clear instructions for taking dental impressions
- The fit and comfort of its invisible braces when worn
Treatment
We compared the brands’ average treatment times and effectiveness for correcting mild and moderate teeth misalignment.
Our team also examined them for any products or services they provided that would help customers during and after their treatment, such as:
- Access to dental experts who can answer your questions and guide you throughout your treatment
- A dedicated app that reminds users to switch aligners and allows them to conveniently track their progress and contact support
- Regular virtual and/or in-person check-ins with a dental professional who can ensure that your treatment is going well
- Additional dental treatments such as teeth whitening
Pricing and Financing
We explored the total treatment cost of invisible braces, including their upfront prices, flexibility of payment options, eligibility for insurance, and maintenance costs for additional retainers.
Customer Service and After-Sales Support
Our team performed an in-depth investigation of each brand’s customer support when answering queries and resolving issues. We assessed their:
- Availability
- Responsiveness
- Knowledge
- Reliability
- Friendliness
We also checked companies to see if they offered guarantees for clear aligner adjustments, refinements, replacements, or refunds if you’re not qualified or if the treatment doesn’t work for you.
Brand Reputation
With the help of advanced AI algorithms, we were able to sort through hundreds of customer reviews that would indicate the level of trust they had in a clear aligner brand.
