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Dental · head to head

CareStack vs Open Dental

CareStack logo

CareStack

Dental

All-in-One Cloud Dental Software

From
$829/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Open Dental logo

Open Dental

Healthcare

Powerful, Affordable Practice Management

From
$169/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CareStack essentials plan starting price $829/month is per location, not per user; 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: CareStack covers Cloud-based platform, Open Dental covers Insurance claim processing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CareStack and Open Dental actually diverge.

Attributes where CareStack and Open Dental differ
AttributeCareStackOpen Dental
Starting price$829/month$169/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Web, Api
CategoryDentalHealthcare
Founded20152003

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 CareStack

  • Cloud-based platform
  • Revenue cycle management
  • Online booking
  • Insurance verification
  • Business intelligence
  • DEXIS
  • Pearl AI
  • CareCredit

Only in Open Dental

  • Insurance claim processing
  • Treatment planning
  • Digital imaging integration
  • Reporting and analytics
  • eServices integration
  • Dexis
  • Planmeca
  • Schick

Both cover

  • Patient scheduling
  • Clinical charting
  • Patient communication
  • Carestream
  • QuickBooks
  • HIPAA Compliant

What people use each for

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

CareStack

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

Open Dental

  • Practice management, charting and scheduling for dental officesnot CareStack
  • Dental insurance claims, billing and treatment planningnot CareStack
  • Running an open source dental system with direct database accessnot CareStack

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

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 CareStack if

  • You need cloud-based platform.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want revenue cycle management.
CareStack review

Choose Open Dental if

  • You need insurance claim processing.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Api.
  • You also want treatment planning.
Open Dental review

Questions people ask

Is CareStack or Open Dental better?
Neither clearly leads. CareStack starts at $829/month and Open Dental at $169/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CareStack or Open Dental?
CareStack starts at $829/month and Open Dental at $169/month.
Does CareStack or Open Dental run on more platforms?
CareStack runs on Web, Ios, Android. Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api.
What is CareStack best used for?
CareStack is most often used for dental practice management and patient scheduling, multi-specialty charting and digital imaging, insurance eligibility verification and claims management, ai-powered clinical notes and diagnosis assistance. Of those, dental practice management and patient scheduling and multi-specialty charting and digital imaging are not what Open Dental is typically brought in for.
What can CareStack do that Open Dental cannot?
CareStack covers Cloud-based platform, Revenue cycle management, Online booking, Insurance verification. Open Dental covers Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning, Digital imaging integration, Reporting and analytics. Both handle Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Patient communication, Carestream.

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
Open Dental: How much does Open Dental cost?

Open Dental costs $199/month per location or office with a 12-month contract minimum. After the initial 12-month term, pricing continues on a month-to-month basis at a reduced rate.

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
Open Dental: What does the $199/month fee include?

The monthly fee includes software access, full telephone support, all software releases, imaging and video capture, patient portal and web forms, and automated reminder features for up to 3 dentists per location.

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
Open Dental: Does Open Dental offer a money-back guarantee?

Open Dental includes a 90-day money-back guarantee on subscription fees.

Source
Open Dental: What additional costs are there?

Data conversions from other dental software systems incur additional fees. Customized training with an Open Dental trainer is also available at extra cost.

Source
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