Invisalign vs. Smile Direct vs. EZ SMILE – which is best for me?
Teeth straightening treatments that use clear aligners rather than traditional braces have been gaining massive popularity in recent years for a number of reasons. They’re clear, removable and a great cost-effective option just to name a few.
The rising popularity in clear aligners has also seen a rise in the number of companies offering similar treatment methods. By now we’re sure you’ve come across some of the major players in Australia and have found yourself Googling “Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ SMILE” to try and understand which option is best for you.
We know – so many options can be pretty daunting. We’re here to help!
In this article we’ll discuss the differences in the treatments and costs between each of the clear aligner companies, and also explore the similarities between them in order to help you make an informed decision on which option is best for you.
Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ Smile
There are a number of key differences to be aware of when comparing Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ Smile. First and foremost is the treatment method. While Invisalign is offered in many orthodontic practices across Australia and physical check-ins will be required throughout your treatment, both Smile Direct Club and EZ SMILE operate on an at-home model which helps to keep costs way down. The at-home model is a great option for anyone looking to straighten their teeth for an affordable price – often the at-home aspect is just an added benefit! The cost is another big difference between the 3 companies. Being an in-office treatment, Invisalign tops the list with the highest cost. Smile Direct Club and EZ SMILE are a far more affordable option, however EZ SMILE is the most cost-effective option. There are also differences in the types of cases each company can treat. Invisalign can treat anyone with mild to severe misalignment and can also treat bite issues which aligns with the higher price tag. Smile Direct Club and EZ SMILE on the other hand are great options for anyone with mild to moderate misalignment or crowding, but their treatments do not treat bite issues. We’ll discuss these key differences in more detail later.Why are we comparing Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ Smile?
As with any purchase, you want to do your research before making any decisions – especially when it comes to straightening your teeth! While on the surface their treatments may seem similar, comparing Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ SMILE on a number of different factors is a great way to help you to understand which option will work best for you. It’s a great idea to first understand what area of your teeth you are trying to correct. Do you have severe misalignment or crowding and a large overbite? If so Invisalign may be your best bet. On the other hand, if you have mild to moderate misalignment, EZ SMILE or Smile Direct Club might be great options for you. You may also like to have a figure in mind that you would like to spend on your teeth straightening option to give you an idea of costs when researching your options.
Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ Smile Costs
One of the most significant differences that you will come across when researching Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ SMILE is the cost associated with each treatment option. Although all treatments involve using clear aligners to gently guide your teeth into a straight position, the costs of each of the treatments are widely varied. Invisalign is the most expensive option of the 3, and while the cost of your treatment will depend on the severity of your misalignment or bite issues, you can generally expect to pay between $3,500 and $10,000 for your clear aligner treatment. Smile Direct Club is the next cheapest option at and has two pricing options: a one-off payment of $3,149, or $135 a month for 24 months on top of a $299 deposit ($3,539 in total). EZ SMILE is the most affordable option of the 3 and offer 4 easy ways to pay –- A one time payment of $2,499, the most cost effective option.
- EZ Instalments of $45 per week for 52 weeks plus a $499 deposit equating to a total cost of $2,839.
- Zip Money instalments of $48.06 per week for 52 weeks plus a $25 set up fee and additional $9.95 per month for a total cost of $2,499.
- HUMM instalments options of $208.25 per month x 12 months or $104.13 per month x 24 months. The total cost depends on your repayment period and ranges from $2,647 to $2,743 and includes a $60 set up fee and an additional $8 per month.
Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ Smile Treatment Time
The treatment time is another major difference to consider when considering your teeth straightening journey. While the length of your treatment will depend largely on the severity of your misalignment, comparing the treatment times of Invisalign vs Smile Direct vs EZ SMILE is a great way to get a general idea of how long your treatment will take. At your initial appointment, your orthodontist will be able to determine the length of your Invisalign treatment based on multiple factors, like how complex your case is and for how long you’ll need to wear your aligners. In saying that, generally Invisalign treatments take 12 to 18 months to complete for more complex cases. The Smile Direct Club treatment time will also depend on factors like how severe your misalignment is and how many sets of aligners you require. However, the average treatment time with Smile Direct Club is around 6 months as long as you wear your clear aligners for at least 20+ hours per day. Again, the EZ SMILE treatment time will depend on your own individual circumstances and the number of aligner sets required. The average treatment time for EZ SMILE is also around 6 months making it a great cost effective and faster alternative to Invisalign.Smile Direct Club vs Invisalign
Smile Direct Club vs Invisalign – while they both offer a teeth straightening treatment using clear aligners, there are a number of key differences to be aware of. As we’ve mentioned, Invisalign is only available through orthodontic or dental practices. Smile Direct Club on the other hand is an at-home teeth straightening product where your clear aligners are delivered direct to you. The in-office vs the at-home model is also a large contributor to the vastly different costs between the two companies. The cost of Invisalign ranges from $3,500 to $10,000 depending on a number of factors – the severity of your misalignment, any bite issues etc. The Smile Direct Club clear aligner treatment costs start at $3,149 and increase if you opt for a payment plan. The cost of Smile Direct Club does not change depending on your individual teeth movement, however not everyone can be treated with their at-home model. Smile Direct Club is only suitable for people with mild to moderate misalignment or crowding and does not fix bite issues. However, Invisalign is suitable for most people from mild to severe misalignment or crowding and can also treat bite issues. The average treatment time is also less with Smile Direct Club when compared to Invisalign.EZ SMILE vs Smile Direct Club
EZ SMILE and Smile Direct Club both offer very similar services. As such, when comparing the two it often comes down to the smaller aspects of the treatment and personal preference to determine which is best for you. When comparing the overall treatment cost of EZ SMILE and Smile Direct Club, EZ SMILE is a clear winner at just $2,499 – $600+ cheaper than Smile Direct Club. The treatment time is also similar in both companies with Smile Direct Club taking an average of around 6 months to complete and EZ SMILE also averaging around 6 months treatment time – both faster than Invisalign! The rest of the EZ SMILE and Smile Direct Club treatments are pretty similar, however there are still some interesting points to consider.- The EZ SMILE customer service team is Australia based! It seems that the Smile Direct Club customer service team is mostly overseas, and while still helpful it’s always nice to speak to a local customer service representative.
- There are 14 EZ SMILE scanning partners Australia wide if you’d prefer to have a face-to-face consultation. Smile Direct Club do have smile shops Australia wide, however there are only 7* in major cities so they are not accessible to everyone. *As at April 2021
- EZ SMILE is Aussie owned and the first at-home clear aligner company in Australia after launching in early 2017.
- EZ SMILE offer speedy 3 week delivery on clear aligners.
EZ SMILE vs Invisalign
The comparison is made very interesting when considering EZ SMILE vs Invisalign – both clear aligner companies with vastly different treatment methods. Again, while Invisalign is strictly an in-office treatment and requires you to visit an orthodontic or dental practice, EZ SMILE is an at-home model that delivers your aligners direct to you. Being an at-home model, the treatment costs are drastically decreased based on there being no face-to-face appointments required – but don’t worry, your progress is monitored by a team of professionals to make sure your treatment stays on track. EZ SMILE is up to 70%^ cheaper than traditional methods and at least $1,351 less than Invisalign. However, where Invisalign can treat a majority of cases, EZ SMILE is only suitable to those with mild to moderate teeth alignment needs. The comparison of EZ SMILE and Invisalign will mostly depend on the severity of your misalignment or crowding and the treatment that you require. However, if you’re looking for a great, affordable teeth straightening treatment for mild to moderate misalignment issues, you can’t go past EZ SMILE! Take our FREE 30 second assessment to see if EZ SMILE is right for you.So, Which Comes Out on Top?
Smile Direct Club vs Invisalign vs EZ SMILE – we’ve compared costs, treatment times, and treatment methods – but who comes out on top? Invisalign will always be best for severe misalignment, spacing and crowding issues and for those who prefer face-to-face check-ups and don’t mind paying a higher price tag. However, the introduction of Smile Direct Club and EZ SMILE have opened new possibilities for affordable teeth straightening. The added benefits of EZ SMILE are also hard to dismiss – Aussie owned with a great, local customer service support and speedy delivery of your clear aligners.