Software · head to head
BetterHelp vs Open Dental
The short version
- Each has a real cost: BetterHelp pricing from $50-$90 per week billed every 4 weeks with location and therapist availability variations; Open Dental uS support is $199 per month per location on an initial 12 month contract, dropping to $149 per month only after that year
- They diverge on capability: BetterHelp covers Video Sessions, Open Dental covers Patient scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BetterHelp and Open Dental actually diverge.
| Attribute | BetterHelp | Open Dental |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $50/week | $169/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, Web, Api |
| Founded | 2013 | 2003 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 BetterHelp
- Video Sessions
- Phone Sessions
- Messaging
- Journaling
- Worksheets
- HIPAA
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
Only in Open Dental
- Patient scheduling
- Clinical charting
- Insurance claim processing
- Treatment planning
- Digital imaging integration
- Patient communication
- Reporting and analytics
- eServices integration
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
BetterHelp
- Online therapy with licensed mental health professionalsnot Open Dental
- Flexible scheduling with messaging, video, phone, and live chat optionsnot Open Dental
- Access to 150+ worksheets and therapy support modulesnot Open Dental
- Weekly free group seminars with expert therapistsnot Open Dental
Open Dental
- Practice management, charting and scheduling for dental officesnot BetterHelp
- Dental insurance claims, billing and treatment planningnot BetterHelp
- Running an open source dental system with direct database accessnot BetterHelp
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
BetterHelp
- Pricing from $50-$90 per week billed every 4 weeks with location and therapist availability variations
- Not suitable for minors or those under legal guardianship
- Cannot provide official diagnoses, fulfill court orders, or prescribe medication
- Requires reliable internet access; not appropriate for emergency or crisis situations
Open Dental
- US support is $199 per month per location on an initial 12 month contract, dropping to $149 per month only after that year
- The monthly fee covers up to 3 providers per location; each additional provider is $20 per month
- Fees are charged per location, so a multi site practice pays for every office
- eServices are charged separately per location, including eClipboard at $45 a month, ODMobile at $35 a month and eConfirmations at $25 a month
- Electronic prescribing through DoseSpot costs $57 per month per prescribing provider
- Conversion and implementation fees are not published and require consultation
Pricing, plan by plan
BetterHelp
$50/weekNo published plan breakdown. See the BetterHelp review.
Open Dental
$169/month- Standard$169/month
- Full software access
- Unlimited workstations
- Technical support
- Cloud$249/month
- Everything in Standard
- Cloud hosting
- Automatic backups
Which should you pick?
Choose BetterHelp if
- You need video sessions.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want phone sessions.
Choose Open Dental if
- You need patient scheduling.
- You work on Windows, Web, Api.
- You also want clinical charting.
Questions people ask
- Is BetterHelp or Open Dental better?
- Neither clearly leads. BetterHelp starts at $50/week and Open Dental at $169/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BetterHelp or Open Dental?
- BetterHelp starts at $50/week and Open Dental at $169/month.
- Does BetterHelp or Open Dental run on more platforms?
- BetterHelp runs on Web, iOS, Android. Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api.
- What is BetterHelp best used for?
- BetterHelp is most often used for online therapy with licensed mental health professionals, flexible scheduling with messaging, video, phone, and live chat options, access to 150+ worksheets and therapy support modules, weekly free group seminars with expert therapists. Of those, online therapy with licensed mental health professionals and flexible scheduling with messaging, video, phone, and live chat options are not what Open Dental is typically brought in for.
- What can BetterHelp do that Open Dental cannot?
- BetterHelp covers Video Sessions, Phone Sessions, Messaging, Journaling. Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning.
Related pages
More on Open Dental
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