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Dental · head to head

Dovetail Dental vs Open Dental

D

Dovetail Dental

Dental

AI-powered dental analytics and insights

From
$299/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: Dovetail Dental slow customer service with issues unresolved for weeks; 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: Dovetail Dental covers AI treatment recommendations, Open Dental covers Patient scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Dovetail Dental and Open Dental differ
AttributeDovetail DentalOpen Dental
Starting price$299/month$169/month
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWindows, Web, Api
CategoryDentalHealthcare
Founded20182003

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 Dovetail Dental

  • AI treatment recommendations
  • Patient behavior prediction
  • Revenue analytics
  • Practice benchmarking
  • Performance dashboards
  • Dentrix
  • Eaglesoft
  • Open Dental

Only in Open Dental

  • Patient scheduling
  • Clinical charting
  • Insurance claim processing
  • Treatment planning
  • Digital imaging integration
  • Patient communication
  • Reporting and analytics
  • eServices integration

Both cover

  • HIPAA Compliant

What people use each for

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

Dovetail Dental

  • Practice optimizationnot Open Dental
  • Revenue growthnot Open Dental
  • Patient retentionnot Open Dental

Open Dental

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

Where each one falls short

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

Dovetail Dental

  • Slow customer service with issues unresolved for weeks
  • Performance issues during peak usage times
  • Limited integrations with other dental software
  • Pricing information not publicly disclosed, requires custom quotes

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

Dovetail Dental

$299/month
  • Growth$299/month
    • Treatment analytics
    • Patient insights
    • Revenue tracking
  • Enterprise$599/month
    • Advanced AI
    • Predictive analytics
    • Multi-location

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 Dovetail Dental if

  • You need ai treatment recommendations.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want patient behavior prediction.
Dovetail Dental review

Choose Open Dental if

  • You need patient scheduling.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Api.
  • You also want clinical charting.
Open Dental review

Questions people ask

Is Dovetail Dental or Open Dental better?
Neither clearly leads. Dovetail Dental starts at $299/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, Dovetail Dental or Open Dental?
Dovetail Dental starts at $299/month and Open Dental at $169/month.
Does Dovetail Dental or Open Dental run on more platforms?
Dovetail Dental runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api.
What is Dovetail Dental best used for?
Dovetail Dental is most often used for practice optimization, revenue growth, patient retention. Of those, practice optimization and revenue growth are not what Open Dental is typically brought in for.
What can Dovetail Dental do that Open Dental cannot?
Dovetail Dental covers AI treatment recommendations, Patient behavior prediction, Revenue analytics, Practice benchmarking. Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning. Both handle HIPAA Compliant.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dovetail Dental: Is Dovetail Dental cloud-based?

Yes, Dovetail is a cloud-based electronic dental record and practice management solution. Users can access it from any computer, tablet, or phone with an internet connection. No servers or cables need to be installed.

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
Dovetail Dental: What platforms and devices does Dovetail support?

Dovetail is accessible via web browsers on Windows and macOS computers, as well as on mobile tablets and phones. It is designed as a browser-based application with no installation required.

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
Dovetail Dental: Is Dovetail HIPAA compliant and certified?

Yes, Dovetail is ONC-certified and HIPAA-compliant. Version 1.4 received 2014 Meaningful Use certification from the ONC Authorized Certification Body.

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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