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Dental · head to head

Curve Dental vs Open Dental

Curve Dental logo

Curve Dental

Dental

Cloud-Based Dental Practice Management

From
On request
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: Curve Dental pricing not publicly disclosed; requires personalised quote request; 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: Curve Dental 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 Curve Dental and Open Dental actually diverge.

Attributes where Curve Dental and Open Dental differ
AttributeCurve DentalOpen Dental
Starting priceOn request$169/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsCloud-hostedWindows, Web, Api
CategoryDentalHealthcare
Founded20042003

Identical on both: 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 Curve Dental

  • Cloud-based platform
  • Insurance management
  • Digital imaging
  • Reporting dashboard
  • Mobile access
  • Curve GRO
  • Dental Intel
  • CareCredit

Only in Open Dental

  • Insurance claim processing
  • Treatment planning
  • Digital imaging integration
  • Reporting and analytics
  • eServices integration
  • Schick
  • QuickBooks
  • Weave

Both cover

  • Patient scheduling
  • Clinical charting
  • Patient communication
  • Dexis
  • Planmeca
  • Carestream
  • HIPAA Compliant

What people use each for

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

Curve Dental

  • Cloud-based practice management for dental clinicsnot Open Dental
  • Integrated clinical charting, front office, and billing systemsnot Open Dental
  • Electronic claims processing with automatic updatesnot Open Dental
  • Patient engagement tools with 24/7 support includednot Open Dental

Open Dental

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

Where each one falls short

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

Curve Dental

  • Pricing not publicly disclosed; requires personalised quote request
  • Startup practices receive special pricing but rates not specified
  • Implementation and licence fees apply with initial upfront costs
  • All-in-one model means no option to use only specific features separately

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

Curve Dental

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Curve Dental 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 Curve Dental if

  • You need cloud-based platform.
  • You work on Cloud-hosted.
  • You also want insurance management.
Curve Dental 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 Curve Dental or Open Dental better?
Neither clearly leads. Curve Dental starts at On request and Open Dental at $169/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Curve Dental or Open Dental?
Curve Dental starts at On request and Open Dental at $169/month.
Does Curve Dental or Open Dental run on more platforms?
Curve Dental runs on Cloud-hosted. Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api.
What is Curve Dental best used for?
Curve Dental is most often used for cloud-based practice management for dental clinics, integrated clinical charting, front office, and billing systems, electronic claims processing with automatic updates, patient engagement tools with 24/7 support included. Of those, cloud-based practice management for dental clinics and integrated clinical charting, front office, and billing systems are not what Open Dental is typically brought in for.
What can Curve Dental do that Open Dental cannot?
Curve Dental covers Cloud-based platform, Insurance management, Digital imaging, Reporting dashboard. Open Dental covers Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning, Digital imaging integration, Reporting and analytics. Both handle Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Patient communication, Dexis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Curve Dental: How much does Curve Dental cost?

Curve Dental does not publish standard pricing. The company offers personalized quotes based on practice size and needs. Curve highlights that customers save thousands annually compared to traditional systems, but specific pricing requires contacting the sales team or requesting a demo.

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
Curve Dental: Does Curve Dental offer special pricing for startups?

Curve Dental mentions special pricing on implementation and license fees for startup dental practices, but specific pricing is not published. Startup practices must request a quote directly from the sales team.

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
Curve Dental: How do I get a Curve Dental pricing quote?

Contact Curve Dental directly at 888-910-4376 or [email protected], schedule a personalized demo, or use the ROI calculator on the website. The company will provide a custom quote based on your practice's specific needs.

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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