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Dental · head to head

Apteryx vs CareStack

A

Apteryx

Dental

Digital Dentistry for the Modern Practice

From
$299/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CareStack logo

CareStack

Dental

All-in-One Cloud Dental Software

From
$829/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apteryx apteryx is now sold as the cloud imaging product inside the Planet DDS portfolio rather than as a standalone vendor; CareStack essentials plan starting price $829/month is per location, not per user
  • They diverge on capability: Apteryx covers Digital imaging, CareStack covers Cloud-based platform.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apteryx and CareStack actually diverge.

Attributes where Apteryx and CareStack differ
AttributeApteryxCareStack
Starting price$299/month$829/month
Founded20082015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Dental).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apteryx

  • Digital imaging
  • Cloud storage
  • Practice management
  • Patient charting
  • Treatment planning
  • Patient portal
  • Messaging tools
  • Business analytics

Only in CareStack

  • Cloud-based platform
  • Patient scheduling
  • Clinical charting
  • Revenue cycle management
  • Patient communication
  • Online booking
  • Insurance verification
  • Business intelligence

Both cover

  • DEXIS
  • Carestream
  • HIPAA Compliant
  • SOC 2 Type II
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apteryx

  • Cloud based storage and viewing of 2D and 3D dental imagesnot CareStack
  • Connecting sensors and imaging hardware from different manufacturers to one viewernot CareStack
  • Sharing radiographs between dental locations and with specialistsnot CareStack

CareStack

  • Dental practice management and patient schedulingnot Apteryx
  • Multi-specialty charting and digital imagingnot Apteryx
  • Insurance eligibility verification and claims managementnot Apteryx
  • AI-powered clinical notes and diagnosis assistancenot Apteryx

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apteryx

  • Apteryx is now sold as the cloud imaging product inside the Planet DDS portfolio rather than as a standalone vendor
  • No price is published for Apteryx cloud imaging; Planet DDS routes all pricing enquiries to sales or a demo request
  • Practice management is a separate purchase, Denticon or Cloud 9, so imaging alone does not cover charting and billing

CareStack

  • Essentials plan starting price $829/month is per location, not per user
  • Intelligence plan adds $470/month minimum to base Essentials cost
  • Pricing based on number of locations, chairs, and providers (not per-user)
  • Core charting and imaging capabilities limited to base Essentials plan
  • AI-powered clinical features require Intelligence plan upgrade

Pricing, plan by plan

Apteryx

$299/month
  • Imaging$299/month
    • Digital imaging
    • Image storage
    • Basic charting
  • Complete$449/month
    • Advanced imaging
    • Full practice management
    • Treatment planning

CareStack

$829/month
  • Essentials$829/month
    • Scheduling, charting, imaging
    • Patient portal
    • Insurance management
  • Intelligence$1299/month
    • Everything in Essentials
    • AI-powered clinical notes
    • Voice perio charting

Which should you pick?

Choose Apteryx if

  • You need digital imaging.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Apteryx review

Choose CareStack if

  • You need cloud-based platform.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want patient scheduling.
CareStack review

Questions people ask

Is Apteryx or CareStack better?
Neither clearly leads. Apteryx starts at $299/month and CareStack at $829/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apteryx or CareStack?
Apteryx starts at $299/month and CareStack at $829/month.
Does Apteryx or CareStack run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Apteryx best used for?
Apteryx is most often used for cloud based storage and viewing of 2d and 3d dental images, connecting sensors and imaging hardware from different manufacturers to one viewer, sharing radiographs between dental locations and with specialists. Of those, cloud based storage and viewing of 2d and 3d dental images and connecting sensors and imaging hardware from different manufacturers to one viewer are not what CareStack is typically brought in for.
What can Apteryx do that CareStack cannot?
Apteryx covers Digital imaging, Cloud storage, Practice management, Patient charting. CareStack covers Cloud-based platform, Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Revenue cycle management. Both handle DEXIS, Carestream, HIPAA Compliant, SOC 2 Type II.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CareStack: How much does CareStack cost?

CareStack starts at $829 per month for the Essentials plan and $1,299 per month for the Intelligence plan. Pricing is customized based on the number of locations, chairs, and providers. Custom plans are available and implementation fees may apply.

Source
CareStack: What is included in each CareStack plan?

The Essentials plan ($829/month) includes scheduling, charting, imaging, patient portal, and insurance management. The Intelligence plan ($1,299/month) adds AI-powered clinical notes, voice perio charting, X-ray analysis, and clinical diagnosis features.

Source
CareStack: Are there additional fees for CareStack add-ons?

Yes, CareStack offers optional add-ons including VoiceStack (AI phone system), CareRevenue (RCM services), and ACE DSN (dental procurement) that can be added to either plan at additional cost. No other additional charges apply beyond the monthly subscription.

Source
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