--- title: "Open Dental Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Open Dental Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Dental products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/122350/Open-Dental/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-10-21" --- # Open Dental Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on October 21, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Open Dental ## What is Open Dental? A powerful dental practice management solution for practices of any size or specialty. Includes a wide array of time- and cost-saving features, paired with unmatched technical support, extensive training resources, and a supportive online community of users. An experienced team of conversion specialists facilitates a smooth transition from nearly any other PMS. Made by a dentist with the goal of keeping practice management costs low and data control in the hands of the user. ## What is Open Dental used for? [Dental](https://www.capterra.com/dental-software/)[Dental Charting](https://www.capterra.com/dental-charting-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 90 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 91% Neutral 3% Negative 6% ### Starting price Free trial available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Open Dental?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/open-dental/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Open Dental 4.6 (90) VS. [4.4 (285)](https://www.capterra.com/p/98688/Curve-Dental-Hero/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price Contact vendor Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.6 (90) Ease Of Use 4.4 (225) Value For Money 4.6 (76) Value For Money 4.3 (210) Customer Service 4.6 (78) Customer Service 4.5 (219) ## Open Dental alternatives [4.7 (112)](https://www.capterra.com/p/60250/ABELDent/reviews/) Starting price $400.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.6 (61)](https://www.capterra.com/p/148958/iDentalSoft/reviews/) Starting price $395.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 87% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars Highest Rated [CareStack](https://www.capterra.com/p/176206/CareStack/) [4.8 (225)](https://www.capterra.com/p/176206/CareStack/reviews/) Starting price $698.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/176206/CareStack/) [Adit](https://www.capterra.com/p/208534/Adit/) [4.7 (304)](https://www.capterra.com/p/208534/Adit/reviews/) Starting price $399.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 92% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/208534/Adit/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/122350/Open-Dental/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Open Dental Overview ### What problems does Open Dental solve? Open Dental solves fragmented dental-office workflows by bringing patient records, scheduling, insurance, billing, treatment plans, tooth charting, imaging, and clinical notes into an accessible system. Dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, front-desk staff, and practice managers benefit from clearer patient handoffs, faster check-in and checkout, and easier tracking of coverage, balances, and treatment history. Answer based on 38 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Open Dental? Open Dental is most used by dental office managers and practice administrators who oversee scheduling, billing, insurance claims, and daily operations. Dentists, owner-dentists, and practice leaders use it to manage patient records and monitor practice activity, while hygienists, dental assistants, and patient services coordinators support clinical documentation, treatment workflows, and appointment coordination. Answer based on 87 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Open Dental built for? Open Dental is built for dental practices of all sizes, with small businesses representing 91% of reviewers and Medical Practice as the top industry at 41%. It also serves Health, Wellness and Fitness organizations (30%) and Hospital & Health Care providers (22%), primarily for dental use cases (63%). Answer based on 89 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Open Dental? Open Dental includes core charting, claims management, appointment management, and patient records management features. Dental teams can update treatment information, customize charts, schedule appointments, track claim notes and statuses, and store scanned patient documents in electronic records. It also covers HIPAA compliance and role-based permissions. Answer based on 10 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How good is Open Dental phone support? Open Dental provides generally responsive phone and chat support, with many dental offices reporting quick callbacks and helpful remote troubleshooting. Support staff often resolve setup, workflow, and technical issues through screen sharing or escalation. Experiences are not uniform: some customers receive inconsistent guidance, and access to ongoing assistance may require a monthly support subscription. Answer based on 17 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Open Dental? Open Dental is generally easy for front-office staff and new employees to learn, with reviewers describing quick adoption of daily tasks. In-person training, live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos support onboarding. Teams switching from other dental systems, plus admins configuring extensive features and custom queries, may need more time and structured training. Answer based on 24 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Open Dental offer, and how do users rate the experience? Open Dental offers Email/Help Desk, FAQ/Forum, Phone Support, and Chat. Users commonly describe support as accessible, knowledgeable, and quick to respond, with many reporting prompt issue resolution. Some reviewers cite inconsistent advice between representatives, limited cooperation on escalations, and dissatisfaction with the monthly support fee. Answer based on 30 reviews Features and Usability ### How well does Open Dental manage patient appointments? Open Dental centralizes patient records, schedules, treatment plans, and reminders in a single workspace for dental offices. Practice managers and front-desk teams find daily navigation straightforward and appreciate customization, but some report gaps in patient follow-up tracking, family appointment communication, cross-location search, and integrations with outside medical-history tools. Answer based on 29 reviews Features and Usability ### What features does Open Dental include? Open Dental provides a broad, customizable set of dental practice management features for scheduling, charting, billing, imaging, and reports. Dental teams value keeping core workflows in one system, configurable queries, modules, and regular updates. New users may need training because the extensive options can feel difficult to locate, and requested features may arrive slowly. Answer based on 19 reviews ## Features AI summary Based on 1,648 Dental reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of dental software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Patient Records Management** (**55%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Treatment Planning** (**53%**) - **Appointment Management** (**58%**) Open Dental supports all three features that reviewers consider most important: **Patient Records Management**, **Treatment Planning**, and **Appointment Management**. Together, these capabilities help dental practices keep patient information organized, map out care clearly, and manage daily scheduling efficiently, allowing teams to deliver consistent treatment and keep front-office and clinical workflows running smoothly. Patient Records Management 4.5 (21) 90.48% of 21 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Managing different types of patient records, including paper documents, digital files, billing information, and scheduling details Treatment Planning 4.5 (18) 94.44% of 18 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Create treatment plans that document interventions and outcomes to track patient progress Appointment Management 4.8 (21) 85.71% of 21 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Manage various aspects of appointments including booking, rescheduling, canceling Confirmations/Reminders 4.4 (7) 100.00% of 7 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Automated reminders and confirmations for booked appointments and events via text or email Claims Management 4.5 (20) 85.00% of 20 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Process of submitting and following up on claims with insurance companies Charting 4.6 (27) 88.89% of 27 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Manage patient documentation describing all clinical interactions, diagnoses, procedures, medications, etc. Open Dental 60 features ### All Features - Access Controls/Permissions: Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Activity Tracking: Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems - Alerts/Notifications: Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges - Annotations: Highlight content and/or make notations about parts of content - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Appointment Management: Manage various aspects of appointments including booking, rescheduling, canceling - Automated Scheduling: Automatically create schedules based on business needs or employee availability and qualifications - Billing & Invoicing: Create, manage, and send invoices or bills to customers - Booking Management: Create, update, and manage bookings, itineraries, and reservations - Calendar Management: Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar - Charting: Manage patient documentation describing all clinical interactions, diagnoses, procedures, medications, etc. - Claims Management: Process of submitting and following up on claims with insurance companies - Client Management: Manage contact details and communication with clients - Client Portal: Private online space that lets businesses securely share documents and provide information access to clients - Communication Management: Manage and track all internal and external communication conducted via calls, email, text, or chat - Confirmations/Reminders: Automated reminders and confirmations for booked appointments and events via text or email - Customer Database: A collection of customer information such as contact details, demographics, previous interactions, etc. - Customer History: Access previous interactions or concerns to maintain customer relationships - Customizable Reports: Alter the layout and content of reports - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Data Synchronization: Synchronizing data between two or more devices/systems and automatically updating changes to maintain consistency - Dental Practice Management: Managing day-to-day operations of dental practices such as scheduling appointments, generating reports, and more. - Document Imaging: Convert paper files into digital images - Document Management: Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location - Document Storage: Store and organize documents in a centralized system - Document Templates: Customizable sample documents that contain placeholder text or a standard layout that can be repeated for each new file - E-Prescribing: Transmit prescriptions to pharmacies electronically - Electronic Payments: Electronically collect payments for goods or services - Email Reminders: Reminders sent via email - For Dental Practices: Intended to be used by dental practices - Hands-Free Charting: Voice-activated speech recognition for charting - HIPAA Compliant: Compliant with HIPAA, which sets standards for sensitive patient data protection - Imaging and X-rays: Visual representations or pictures of objects, structures, or internal body parts, often for diagnostic or analytical purposes - Inventory Management: Track and manage inventory levels to maintain proper supply - Live Chat: Ability to chat online in real time - Medical Billing: Manage billing and payments for a healthcare provider - Multi-Location: Manage and support multiple locations - Orthodontic Charting: Electronic orthodontic records of patients created and stored digitally - Patient Communications: Allow communication between the company and patients via messages, SMS, emails, phone, and more - Patient Management: Managing and tracking patient health, progress, communication, and treatment plans - Patient Portal: Online portal where patients can access information such as health records, treatment plants, etc. - Patient Records Management: Managing different types of patient records, including paper documents, digital files, billing information, and scheduling details - Periodontal Charting: A chart utilized by dental care professional to write and record oral and periodontal health or disease - Progress Notes: Customizable notes that help healthcare professionals document and track patient progress - Progress Tracking: Reporting on how each user, task or process has advanced since its initiation - Records Management: Ability to record, store, update, and retrieve information - Referral Tracking: Log and store the source of contacts/leads - Reminders: Timed notification for any upcoming task, deadline, appointment, or activity - Reporting & Statistics: Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns - Role-Based Permissions: Set & manage permission levels based on user roles and restrict access to only authorized individuals - Scheduled/Automated Reports: Set a time to generate routine reports automatically - Scheduling: Plan availability and assign specific time slots for tasks and resources - Self Service Portal: Online portal through which end users can access the system, manage tasks, or obtain information - SMS Messaging: Send messages via SMS - Task Scheduling: Track and manage the scheduling of tasks - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes - Treatment Planning: Create treatment plans that document interventions and outcomes to track patient progress - User Management: Manage user accounts, profiles, roles, permissions, and other details across applications, devices or networks - Web Forms: Web form that allows users to enter data that is sent and processed for different reasons --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.5 (89) 4.5 Based on 89 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.6 (76) ### Starting price Free trial available Value for money 4.6 (76) 4.6 Based on 76 reviews Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.6 (78) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.6 (78) 4.6 Based on 78 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.6 Based on 90 reviews Filter by rating Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(70) 4(12) 3(3) 2(3) 1(2) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful Cari G. Business Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Best Dental Software EVER!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 2, 2026 I have used Open Dental in two different offices and I find it to be reliable, easy to train and at a price you can't get with any other software. Pros This software is the best value for your money. I am able to connect with Weave, CareCredit, Carestream and everything we need to run an efficient periodontal practice. Customer service helps right away when you need additional assistance and are very knowledgeable with how to customize certain aspects of the software to work for your practice. They make security easy when sending emails to patients with embedded secure email through Microsoft. I can easily manage the patient database and it alerts you if you may have a duplicate. I have used other software's and I almost never see a bug or issues and if there is one it is fixed immediately. Sending insurance is a breeze through Vyne or Dental xhange. Cons Although everything is customizable the "Sheets" are not easy to customize and make it difficult to update paperwork or consent forms because it takes additional time to work with the settings. That is really my only complaint. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Insurance Co-Ordinator Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Open Dental Review" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 September 23, 2026 Great! I have been working with it for 10 years now and have no complaints. Sometimes software update changes are hard to get used to, but then it's like nothing happened. Pros It's very easy to use and has many helpful features such as saving appointments, keeping patients on a asap list, organizing recall and easy to follow accounting. Cons It is hard sometimes having only one screen, going from one patient to another. You have to be careful that the patient highlighted at the top is the one working with. When working quickly, I've booked the wrong patient by accident. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DIVA C. office director Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Reliable and Cost-Effective Dental Practice Management Software" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 9, 2026 Overall, my experience with Open Dental has been very positive. The software has helped our practice stay organized and operate more efficiently by streamlining patient management, scheduling, billing, and treatment planning. It offers a wide range of features at a reasonable cost, and the regular updates continue to improve the user experience. While there is a learning curve for new users, the system is reliable, customizable, and well-supported. I would recommend Open Dental to other dental practices looking for a comprehensive practice management solution. Pros Open Dental has been an excellent investment for our practice. It is user-friendly, reliable, and offers all the tools needed to manage patients, appointments, treatment plans, billing, and reporting in one place. The software provides great value for the cost, and the support team is responsive and knowledgeable. I also appreciate the frequent updates, which continuously improve the system and add useful features. Overall, Open Dental has helped our office operate more efficiently and provide a better experience for our patients. Cons One aspect I like least about Open Dental is that there can be a learning curve for new users because of the large number of features and customization options available. Some processes may take time to learn initially, but once users become familiar with the system, it becomes much easier to navigate and use effectively. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Shilpa K. Front Office Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Open Dental" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 10, 2026 I recommended open dental over any other dental software. i have used eaglesoft, dentrix, curve hero, easy dental, and a few more and open dental is by far my favorite Pros Open dental is very user-friendly. Open dental makes it very easy to figure things out if you do not know how to do something by utilizing there help button on tool bar. Cons The live support is not an option unless you pay monthly for the service so therefore sometimes it takes a little bit to find the answers Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Manager Owner Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Open Dental software pros and cons." 2.0 Overall Rating 2.0 2.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 2/10 January 7, 2026 It was good. Support is good. Software does what is necessary. However in case of any escalations they are not cooperative. It clearly shows they grow too large and are disconcerted with individual users. Pros Affordability. I like voting system for new features (however new features are done very slowly, it typically take years before they are considered). There is some ease of use and lots of online trainings. Cons With lower price comes lower expectations. First of all the Canadian version is not put sufficient efforts. I really would advise all Canadians to consider other software suppliers who consider Canadian market more seriously. Many features can only be used in US, unfortunately. Finally the weakest part is patient tracking. It simply lacks feature to assure no patients is left behind. I noticed we are loosing patients because of lack of tools to track them. Any tracking is done with manual queries which can be very unfriendly to end user. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Arthur K. Orthodontist Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Best dental software hands down" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 November 26, 2025 Pros Very easy to use and versatile. I really like the simplicity of the software. It's great for general dentistry as well as orthodontics. Cons integration with other software, I don't know how to seamlessly integrate the software with other specialty programs such as Invisalign, but it might be because I don't know how to do it. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Rex S. Owner Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Great Software at a Great Price!" 4.0 May 19, 2020 Open Dental has been great, and hoping to expand with the software as we open more offices. The features are in depth and offer us the abilty to use technology to stay current with innovations. Playing to use the 3D features and online appointments. Pros Open Dental has so many features, and the ability to add features with modules was a key reason we decided to go with them in a new clinic. The ability to network our entire system and not getting hit with expensies for needing multipe license was a strong reason for us to use Open Dental. Cons Not cloud based. Hoping that they move to a cloud based system in the near future. The security features of cloud based would really help us to stay HIPPA compliant without having to spend so much time securing data, backups, etc. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Nate G. Dentist Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "DO IT" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 10, 2021 Overall, this is an easy decision. I highly recommend Open Dental. I have used others, and Open Dental is by far the best out there. It is the cheapest, easiest, and most simple out there. There are many features that makes it amazing. SWITCH today. Pros The most easy answer all day. GET OPEN DENTAL. It is the best and easiest dental software that you will ever use! Seriously, listen to me. GET OPEN DENTAL. I have used Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and others and Open Dental is by far the easiest to use. The support is AMAZING. you never hear about this with any company, but this company is great at answering questions. Cons There is not ONE thing that I do not like about Open Dental. They are a great company and a great software. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Terrible Product" 1.0 Overall Rating 1.0 1.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 0/10 March 20, 2025 Pros Easy to use, billing and accounting is very hard. I would NEVER recommend Open Dental to any dental office. Cons Open Dental Cloud is absolutely horrible! We have had it for 3 years, and it glitches and freezes all the time! We literally have to close and re open Open Dental at least 20x a day! Our entire team at that! We have been trying to get it fixed for over 2 years with nothing but excuses!! I would NOT recommend! Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Operations Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "We love Open Dental!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 May 16, 2022 Pros One of the things we love most about Open Dental is how customizable it is. In so many areas of the software, we can make it look and feel exactly how we want. Their customer service is amazing. We can call or chat with them any time and always get a timely response. Cons We have used Open Dental for about 5 years and have never had any huge problems. If/when there are issues, they do a great job addressing them in the next update. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/122350/Open-Dental/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Popular comparisons [CareStack vs Open Dental](https://www.capterra.com/compare/122350-176206/Open-Dental-vs-CareStack)[Dentrix vs Open Dental](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2329-122350/Dentrix-vs-Open-Dental) [Eaglesoft vs Open Dental](https://www.capterra.com/compare/60064-122350/EagleSoft-13-00-vs-Open-Dental)