Key Takeaways

• Multiple affordable alternatives to Invisalign exist in Australia, with options ranging from $1,674 to $8,000 depending on the brand and complexity. Learn more
• In-person care options like Linea, 3M Clarity, and Spark generally provide safer, more comprehensive treatment than fully remote alternatives. Learn more
• Linea offers flat-rate pricing ($2,698-$4,998) with both in-person care and convenient remote monitoring, often costing significantly less than Invisalign. Learn more

Invisalign Alternatives At a Glance

Linea

Founded in Melbourne in 2022, Linea has taken the versatility and hands-on care of Invisalign and added the convenience of remote monitoring. Patients start their treatment with a couple trips to the dentist's office, where they'll get a thorough exam, intraoral scans, and IPR or attachments (for complex misalignments). Then, they'll complete virtual check-ins from home, so that Linea's clinical team can make sure their teeth are moving as expected and provide any necessary feedback and support. Plus, they have flat-rate pricing that's often much less than Invisalign.

Pros of Linea

• Linea's prices are typically much lower than Invisalign's.
• Virtual check-ins from home mean you won't have to visit the dentist's office as often. Some Invisalign providers offer this option, but it's not standard.
• Linea providers can use attachments and IPR to help treat complex misalignments and bite issues.
• Linea crafts their aligners from premium Erkodur materials and manufactures them in Australia.

Cons of Linea

• Linea might not be a viable option for certain severe dental and jaw misalignments.
• Linea doesn't have quite as many providers as Invisalign, so it might be harder to find one.

Is Linea Right for You?

If you like the reassurance and robust care that comes from in-person treatment, but worry about paying too much or making a lot of office visits, Linea might be perfect for you. Get started here.

3M Clarity Aligners

That's right. The company who created Post-Its and Scotch tape has a clear aligner brand. As a leading materials company, they've developed two custom plastics (each with different advantages) that the orthodontist can switch between depending on your needs. They also have proprietary attachments that they say are exceptionally precise. Combined, they give your dentist plenty of room to customize your treatment.

Pros of 3M Clarity

• Their Flex and Force plastics help make Clarity treatment customizable to each individual.
• 3M only allows orthodontists to administer their aligners, while Invisalign lets dentists with special training administer their treatment.
• 3M Clarity also has a mobile app where patients can track their progress, although it's unclear how many orthodontists use it, or to what extent.
• 3M Clarity also makes braces, which orthodontists can pair with aligner treatment (e.g. braces on top, aligners on bottom) to correct more complex misalignments.

Cons of 3M Clarity

• 3M Clarity can be more expensive than other brands, often on par with Invisalign.
• Like Linea, 3M Clarity doesn't have as many providers as Invisalign.

Is 3M Clarity Right for You?

If you want the expertise of an orthodontist and multiple top-grade materials—and you're willing to pay a little more for it—3M Clarity might be a good option.

Spark

Spark is another clear aligner brand from an influential, multinational company. Their manufacturer, Ormco, has been developing orthodontics products for over 60 years and serves orthodontists in more than 130 countries. Spark says their biggest advantage is their TruGEN material, which they claim is clearer, more comfortable, and more stain resistant than other plastics—although there aren't yet any outside studies that confirm it. Like Invisalign, they can incorporate buttons, elastics, and other attachments to handle complex misalignments.

Pros of Spark

• Customers who have posted their experiences online confirm that Spark aligners are extremely clear and barely noticeable.
• Spark comes from a widely respected company with decades of experience manufacturing orthodontic supplies.
• They say their aligners' scalloped edges are smoother than some competitors, making for a more comfortable fit.
• Spark started in Australia, and it's the second-most popular clear aligner brand in the country, behind only Invisalign.

Cons of Spark

• Their prices are usually around the same as Invisalign.
• Spark doesn't provide an option for virtual check-ins, so you'll need to make regular appointments with your orthodontist.

Is Spark Right for You?

Like the idea of ultra-clear and comfortable aligners from a well-established manufacturer? It might be worth considering Spark.

SureSmile

SureSmile has been around longer than most clear aligner brands, although they haven't always made clear aligners. In 1998, they started by producing archwires for lingual braces, and they pivoted to aligners in 2007. They follow the same model as Invisalign, so their treatment can correct a wide range of misalignments and involves in-person check-ups throughout the process. However, they can be less expensive since they charge dentists less in lab fees.

Pros of SureSmile

• SureSmile often costs less than Invisalign, despite requiring a similar amount of office visits and using similar orthodontic attachments.
• SureSmile providers have the option of giving patients a VPro high-frequency vibration, which, they claim, can help reduce discomfort.
• The company claims that three out of four patients won't need refinements, which can extend your timeline and make treatment more expensive.

Cons of SureSmile

• SureSmile doesn't have as many providers as Invisalign, so it might be harder to find one near you.
• Some dentists say that Invisalign's SmartTrack plastic is more advanced and reliable than Essix ACE, which is what SureSmile uses.

Is SureSmile Right for You?

Anyone who wants robust in-person oversight and extras like the VPro, without paying Invisalign prices, might be interested in SureSmile.

Australian Smile Clinic

Australian Smile Clinics are dentist-owned offices that offer only one treatment: Clear aligners. They have locations in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, where patients can get aligner treatment at lower prices than many other places, with payment plans available. They don't specify which brand of aligners they use, or if they can utilize attachments, but they say that they employ remote monitoring so that patients don't have to make as many office visits. Yet they only have three locations, so not everyone will have an office nearby.

Pros of Australian Smile Clinic

• Their treatment costs $2,699 for a mild case and $3,999 for a full one—that's often less than Invisalign.
• They offer payment plans without interest, deposits, and credit checks.
• Their remote monitoring system means you might not have to make as many office visits.

Cons of Australian Smile Clinic

• They only have three offices, so if you're not in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, you're out of luck.
• Their offices don't provide any services besides clear aligners, so if you need a filling or another treatment before starting clear aligners, you'll have to get it elsewhere.

Are Australian Smile Clinics Right for You?

Anyone who wants low, flat-rate pricing for clear aligners—and doesn't mind potentially travelling farther to an office—may find Australian Smile Clinics intriguing.

ClearCorrect

ClearCorrect is one of Invisalign's longest-standing competitors, and since 2006, they've come up with some innovations of their own. Like some of the other options on this list, they're a fully in-office treatment. However, they also have several pricing options, and those prices can be slightly lower than Invisalign.

Pros of ClearCorrect

• ClearCorrect's multiple pricing tiers (Flex, Mini, One, Two, Three, and Unlimited) can help patients save money, and these prices are often lower than Invisalign.
• Their parent company (Straumann) has developed a proprietary tri-layer aligner material called ClearQuartz, which they claim retains more initial force than some other plastics.
• ClearCorrect's attachments—elastics, bite ramps, engagers—can help the aligners correct more severe misalignments.

Cons of ClearCorrect

• Because they require more office visits, Clearcorrect's prices are typically higher than Linea. Plus, it means you'll spend more time traveling to and from the office.
• Invisalign has more providers than ClearCorrect, so it might be slightly more difficult to find one nearby.

SmilePath

SmilePath is a fully remote alternative, so they don't require any office visits—even for the initial consultation. As a result, their prices are much lower than many other brands. While that might seem attractive, it also means that their treatment can only mild-to-moderate cases, and there's no in-person oversight to address issues that might arise. This leaves more room for error and a less safe treatment.

Pros of SmilePath

• Because SmilePath doesn't include in-person care, their prices are $1,674 for standard treatment and $1,874 for nighttime-only aligners.
• SmilePath says their treatment takes an average of 4–6 months. However, this is because they often only treat milder cases, which don't take as long.
• To help make the price more manageable, they offer three different financing plans.

Cons of SmilePath

• Without in-person care, it's more likely that underlying conditions could affect treatment, or that treatment might not turn out as expected.
• SmilePath can't incorporate attachments, so their aligners aren't capable of making complex dental shifts.
• The company sends out at-home impression kits, which you can use to make molds of your teeth. However, it can be difficult to get impressions with the precision required to design safe, effective aligners.

Which Should You Choose?

We get it. So many choices can be overwhelming. The most important tip we can give is to consult your dentist before deciding. They can tell you which treatment might work best for you, and whether you have any cavities, gum disease, or other issues to address first. We'd suggest sticking with a brand that requires in-office oversight from a dentist or orthodontist. That way, you can be confident you're getting a safe, effective, and expert-directed treatment.

Among the brands that incorporate in-person care, Linea is one of the easiest and most affordable, with flat-rate prices that beat Invisalign and many other competitors. Those prices get you not just hands-on treatment, but top orthodontic materials and technology, plus excellent patient support throughout. To get started, contact Linea. The support team will help you set up an appointment with a provider near you.