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Healthcare · head to head

Meditech vs Open Dental

Meditech logo

Meditech

Healthcare

Healthcare information system for hospitals and health systems

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: Meditech on-premise deployment model requires significant infrastructure investment and ongoing IT maintenance; 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: Meditech covers Electronic Health Records, Open Dental covers Patient scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Meditech and Open Dental differ
AttributeMeditechOpen Dental
Starting priceOn request$169/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, DesktopWindows, Web, Api
Founded19692003

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Healthcare).

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 Meditech

  • Electronic Health Records
  • Revenue Cycle
  • Clinical Documentation
  • Patient Portal
  • Analytics
  • HL7
  • FHIR
  • Lab Systems

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

  • On-premise deployment

What people use each for

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

Meditech

  • Patient Carenot Open Dental
  • Medical Recordsnot Open Dental
  • Practice Managementnot Open Dental
  • Telehealthnot Open Dental

Open Dental

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

Where each one falls short

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

Meditech

  • On-premise deployment model requires significant infrastructure investment and ongoing IT maintenance
  • Complex implementation and customization process that can take months and require extensive staff training
  • User interface noted as outdated compared to modern cloud-native EHR competitors

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

Meditech

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Meditech 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 Meditech if

  • You need electronic health records.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want revenue cycle.
Meditech 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 Meditech or Open Dental better?
Neither clearly leads. Meditech 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, Meditech or Open Dental?
Meditech starts at On request and Open Dental at $169/month.
Does Meditech or Open Dental run on more platforms?
Meditech runs on Web, Desktop. Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api.
What is Meditech best used for?
Meditech is most often used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth. Of those, patient care and medical records are not what Open Dental is typically brought in for.
What can Meditech do that Open Dental cannot?
Meditech covers Electronic Health Records, Revenue Cycle, Clinical Documentation, Patient Portal. Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning. Both handle On-premise deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Meditech: What are the main clinical features included in Meditech EHR?

Meditech provides comprehensive clinical charting, access to patient vitals, medication history, lab results, diagnostic imaging, virtual care capabilities, and e-prescribing for healthcare professionals.

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
Meditech: Does Meditech support telehealth and virtual appointments?

Yes, Meditech offers Virtual Care and Virtual On Demand Care solutions allowing physicians to conduct video visits and deliver remote health services.

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
Meditech: Is Meditech HIPAA compliant?

Yes, Meditech EHR is HIPAA compliant, and both inpatient and ambulatory products are ONC-certified with FHIR-based interoperability standards.

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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