SmilePath vs. Smile Direct Australia (2022 Review)

A million dollar smile is great and all, but what about getting one as an adult?

No one past their teen years wants to deal with the “brace face” life (or relive it if the effects of their braces have worn off).

Thankfully, home teeth aligners make it possible to straighten your teeth from the convenience of your house. No braces, no wires, no office visits.

These clear aligners have become a popular alternative to braces. Why? They’re much cheaper than braces and Invisalign. They’re also much more convenient.

There are a few popular home teeth aligner companies on the market today, including SmilePath and Smile Direct. In this comparison review, we’ll help you decide which of these two services is the better option for your unique circumstances.

Spoiler | SmilePath Wins!

Between their industry lowest pricing and top-notch customer support, SmilePath wins!

Learn More About SmilePath Visit Site

The Rundown: How SmilePath and Smile Direct Stack Up

SmilePath is a relatively new company, but to be fair, the whole home clear aligner industry is pretty new. Smile Direct Club, however, was actually the first company to bring clear aligners directly to the customer. So it’s hard to compete with Smile Direct’s longevity. That said, SmilePath has established a pretty solid reputation for themselves in a short amount of time. Not to mention their sister companies (AlignerCo in the U.S. and Straight My Teeth in the U.K.), which increase SmilePath’s experience and reach.

Intrigued? That’s just the flyby! Let’s dig into the differences between Smile Direct and SmilePath in more detail.

Product Quality

When you first start researching clear aligner companies, it may seem like the clear aligners themselves are all identical. That’s totally understandable, since there are plenty of similarities across companies. For example, they’re all made from medical grade, BPA-free plastic. There are many core similarities, but there are some differences worth noting, too.

There are two main ways to trim an aligner: straight across, or scalloped to match the gumline. Both designs have their advantages and disadvantages. The straight cut overlaps with your gums, and it uses that overlap to exert more force. However, the overlap also makes straight cut aligners a little more visible. Scalloped cut aligners are more discreet by comparison, just a little less powerful.

Some providers make their clear aligners from ultra clear plastic, while others use plastic that has a slightly frosted look to it. Most people assume that the clearer the aligner, the more invisible it is. However, frosted aligners are actually the most low profile option. Our teeth have a porous surface, so a frosted, matte aligner better blends in with our natural grins. A clear, shiny aligner can catch the light, making treatment a little more noticable.

Let’s take a look at choices SmilePath and Smile Direct have made for their clear aligner designs:

SmilePath has their aligners manufactured by RaintreeEssix, a trusted dental supplier that’s been making clear aligners since 2005.

Smile Direct used to be first in their class when it came to aligner quality since they had a partnership with Align technology (the company behind Invisalign’s aligners). They’ve dissolved that partnership and now make their aligners in-house. So far we don’t see any evidence that their quality has dipped since this transition.

SmilePath prioritizes a low profile look by making aligners that are scalloped to match the gumline. These trays can’t exert as much force, but your treatment is sure to fly under the radar.

Smile Direct focuses on effectiveness, by trimming their aligners straight across the top in order to exert more force. This makes them a little more visible, but we think it’s well worth it for the added aligner strength.

SmilePath’s aligners are made from clear, shiny plastic. Smile Direct, on the other hand, makes their aligners from the more subtle, matte option. Though we think Smile Direct’s aligner plastic makes them the more low profile choice, don’t forget that appearance is subjective. Some people like having an added shine to their smiles. All that’s important is you find the aligner that works for you.

Treatment Oversight

Just because these treatments happen remotely doesn’t mean you’ll be left high and dry. Instead of office visits, at-home clear aligner providers oversee your progress through photos you’ll submit throughout your treatment. The sophistication and frequency of these check-ins varies from company to company, so let’s take a look at how SmilePath and Smile Direct handle your treatment oversight.

SmilePath gets their eyes on your treatment progress more frequently than Smile Direct. That said, frequency isn’t everything. We like that Smile Direct streamlines their process through their easy to use app. SmilePath handles their oversight through email, which can be a little more chaotic.

If you need anything outside of these regular check-ins, you can reach out to customer support.

Thanks to their small customer base, SmilePath can offer excellent support to each customer. In their online reviews, customers frequently thank their support reps by name. Their webchat is a great way to get a speedy response, but their other methods are also viable.

SmilePath’s advertised treatment lengths aren’t necessarily consistent with the treatment lengths we see reported in their customer reviews. Their sister companies receive the same feedback, so consider taking their projected timeline with a grain of salt. Of course your treatment might conclude within that time frame, but it could also take much longer.

A little word of disclaimer here: for the most part, Smile Direct does pretty well with their customer support teams. But back in 2017, Smile Direct experienced near-explosive growth, and their customer base surpassed their team size. Since then, customer support has improved, but it’s still a touch spotty.

Smile Direct usually does well responding in a timely manner and answering questions. But every now and then, customers wait a while for responses.

All told, you’ll have consistent support and oversight from both companies, but SmilePath is a bit more reliable.

Bang For Your Buck

One of the main draws of remote treatments is their comparative affordability to traditional options like braces and Invisalign. But how much can you expect to pay from start to finish? In this section, we’ll dig into the nitty gritty details of pricing from SmilePath and Smile Direct.

With any home aligner company, you’ll kick off your treatment by taking impressions of your teeth. Most companies require you to use an at-home impression kit. However, a few companies, including Smile Direct, maintain retail locations that make the startup process more convenient.

SmilePath includes everything you’ll need to kick off your treatment: putty, trays, a prepaid shipping label, and of course, detailed instructions. The $75 price tag isn’t too bad, but if you decide to pay for all of your treatment up front, SmilePath will throw in the kit at no extra charge. So in a sense, you get the impression kit for free if you pay up front.

One big perk to Smile Direct is that they maintain retail locations across Australia, affectionately named SmileShops. At these shops, you can get a scan taken for free. But if you’d rather DIY this step, you can still order an impression kit for $79.

Once you complete your impressions or scans, SmilePath or Smile Direct will create your personalized treatment plan. This includes all of the aligners you’ll need to shift your smile from meh to wow.

SmilePath has the most affordable treatment prices in the industry. And as a nice plus, nighttime treatment only costs $100 more. Even with their low cost, SmilePath still manages to include a free set of aftercare retainers in your treatment bundle.

Smile Direct is one of the pricier treatment kits on the market, but they do give you a nice number of perks. You’ll get all of your aligners, two sets of post-treatment retainers (SmilePay customers only), and a bottle of BrightOn whitening. We appreciate that Smile Direct charges the same amount for both daytime and nighttime treatment.

Can’t pay all at once? Thankfully, both services offer financing.

With SmilePath, each treatment option has two different financing plans: one that requires a credit check, and one that requires a downpayment.

Pending a credit check, for all-day treatment you’ll make 18 monthly payments of $117. Alternatively, you can make a $499 downpayment followed by 6 monthly payments of $300. NightOnly pricing is similar, the payments are just a bit higher. For NightOnly, pending a credit check, you can make 18 monthly payments of $122. Or you can make a downpayment of $555 followed by 6 monthly payments of $316.

No matter what your credit score is, you’ll be eligible for Smile Direct’s financing plan, SmilePay. It requires a $299 deposit and then 24 monthly payments of $119. If you subscribe to financing, you also get two sets of post-treatment retainers for free.

Smile Direct is considerably pricier than SmilePath, but it’s a decent value. But you can’t argue with the sheer affordability of SmilePath. They’re roughly $1,000 cheaper than the single payment option of Smile Direct. And since the only real difference between their treatment kits is whitening (you essentially pay extra for two retainers with SmilePay), we have to say that for most people, SmilePath is a better value.

Customer Experience

Many of us know how to scout out a low price on a high quality item. But when you’re shopping for clear aligner treatment, it’s also important to consider how your provider treats their customers. After all, this is your smile we’re talking about! Let’s see what you can expect from the customer experience when you choose SmilePath or Smile Direct.

Reviews

For many shoppers, customer reviews can make or break purchase decisions. If you’re one of those shoppers, we’ve got you covered. We’ve done the legwork for you to see what customers across the web are saying about SmilePath and Smile Direct.

Smile Direct has a mixed bag of reviews depending on what third-party website you look at. For example, they don’t rate so well on Consumer Affairs, but Trustpilot gives them a better score. This mixed bag is largely due to their mixed customer support experience. But they do have thousands of those reviews, so we’re pretty confident in their score.

Meanwhile, SmilePath doesn’t seem to have lots of reviews at first glance. But when you account for the fact that they also operate under the name AlignerCo in the States, and Straight My Teeth in the U.K., they have a pretty solid sampling of reviews. Their score is a bit higher than Smile Direct’s, but for the most part, both companies receive pretty good rankings from their customers.

Guarantees

As with any purchase, there’s always the nagging question: what if it doesn’t work out? SmilePath and Smile Direct take very different approaches to guaranteeing your treatment.

SmilePath offers the industry standard guarantee: if SmilePath determines you aren’t eligible for treatment, they’ll refund you the cost of the impression kit (and anything you’ve already put towards treatment).

Smile Direct also offers a refund on their impression kits for those not qualified for treatment, but they take their refunds a step further. Smile Direct gives you 30 days to change your mind about your aligners. If you try it out and decide it’s not right for you, you can return them for a full refund.

Smile Direct also offers a lifetime guarantee on your smile. If your teeth ever shift after treatment, Smile Direct will send you free aligners to get your smile back to its former glory. To stay eligible for this offer be sure to stay on top of wearing and replacing your aftercare retainers.

What if I break an aligner?

Accidents happen—if you break an aligner, be sure to reach out to your provider right away. They’ll advise you on what steps to take based on where you’re at in your treatment plan.

SmilePath doesn’t replace aligners, so they usually suggest their customers to move on to the next aligner in their treatment plan.

Smile Direct may advise for you to move ahead with the next aligner, other times they may recommend a replacement. Smile Direct generously offers one replacement for free. You’ll need to pay for subsequent replacements; the exact price will be determined by Smile Direct’s dental team. Be sure to wear your most recent aligners while you wait for a replacement to arrive, so your teeth don’t shift too far out of position.

Refinement Policy

If you finish your original treatment plan and your smile still needs an adjustment or two, you’ll need refinements (extra aligners). Every provider approaches this process a little differently.

If you reach the end of your SmilePath treatment and you’re not satisfied with your results, SmilePath will give you an adjustment and send new aligners your way. However, their refinements cost an additional $270. It’s never fun to spend extra money, but we think SmilePath’s low sticker price helps soften the blow of this potential expense.

Smile Direct handles refinements through their Club Warranty. Smile Direct promises its “club members” (AKA customers) that if they’re not totally satisfied with the results at the end of the treatment, they can request a re-evaluation and get new aligners for free to finish the job.

To be eligible for this warranty, you must check in with your assigned doctor every 90 days and follow your prescribed treatment to a T. You have to wear your aligners the prescribed daily amount, and switch each aligner as scheduled. If you’ve followed your treatment, then all requests for re-evaluation must be submitted within 30 days of finishing treatment to be eligible for the warranty.

Comfort

Let’s face it—teeth alignment is never going to be a completely painless experience. It just comes with the territory. Even traditional options like braces and Invisalign come with their fair share of aches and pains. Typically the soreness is strongest when you switch to a new aligner, since these will have a snugger fit than the previous set. It should only last a day or two, and switching your aligners at nighttime is a great way to sleep through most of the discomfort.

Since Smile Direct’s pivot to making their aligners in-house, they’ve introduced the Comfort Sense system. Essentially this uses plastics of varying firmness throughout the aligners to offer a more comfortable wear experience. It’s not totally clear yet if this makes an appreciable difference for their customers, but it’s worth noting.

Which Is the Best Home Aligner for You?

When it all comes down to it, SmilePath and Smile Direct are both good options. But at the end of the day, you can only pick one.

If you want our honest opinion, we prefer SmilePath. Smile Direct is a huge brand, but a higher treatment cost and some slip-ups on the customer support front drops them to our #5 spot. SmilePath, however, ranks at #2. It’s hard to argue with their budget-friendly price point.

Choose SmilePath if:

You want the most budget-friendly (but still effective and safe) treatment on the market without lots of extra bells and whistles.

Choose Smile Direct if:

You want the confidence that comes from working with a well-established brand. Smile Direct has served more than 1.5 million customers, so they’ve probably already seen a case just like yours.

Final Verdict | SmilePath Wins!

SmilePath’s industry lowest pricing and excellent customer service have earned them not just this win, but also our #2 ranking overall in the Australia clear aligner market!

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