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Healthcare · head to head

Open Dental vs Planet DDS

Open Dental logo

Open Dental

Healthcare

Powerful, Affordable Practice Management

From
$169/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Planet DDS logo

Planet DDS

Dental

Next-Generation Dental Practice Management

From
$199/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; Planet DDS no pricing published on website; uses consultative sales model
  • They diverge on capability: Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Planet DDS covers Cloud-based scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Open Dental and Planet DDS actually diverge.

Attributes where Open Dental and Planet DDS differ
AttributeOpen DentalPlanet DDS
Starting price$169/month$199/month
PlatformsWindows, Web, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryHealthcareDental
Founded20032015

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 Open Dental

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

Only in Planet DDS

  • Cloud-based scheduling
  • Digital charting
  • Patient portal
  • Imaging integration
  • Mobile app
  • Insurance management
  • Analytics dashboard
  • DEXIS

Both cover

  • Treatment planning
  • Carestream
  • HIPAA Compliant

What people use each for

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

Open Dental

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

Planet DDS

  • Dental practice management softwarenot Open Dental
  • Appointment scheduling for dental officesnot Open Dental
  • Patient records and billing managementnot Open Dental

Where each one falls short

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

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

Planet DDS

  • No pricing published on website; uses consultative sales model
  • Website mentions predictable monthly subscription rate but does not specify costs
  • Pricing customized based on practice size and needs

Pricing, plan by plan

Open Dental

$169/month
  • Standard$169/month
    • Full software access
    • Unlimited workstations
    • Technical support
  • Cloud$249/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • Cloud hosting
    • Automatic backups

Planet DDS

$199/month
  • Starter$199/month
    • Scheduling
    • Patient portal
    • Basic charting
  • Growth$349/month
    • Advanced scheduling
    • Complete charting
    • Imaging integration

Which should you pick?

Choose Open Dental if

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

Choose Planet DDS if

  • You need cloud-based scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want digital charting.
Planet DDS review

Questions people ask

Is Open Dental or Planet DDS better?
Neither clearly leads. Open Dental starts at $169/month and Planet DDS at $199/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open Dental or Planet DDS?
Open Dental starts at $169/month and Planet DDS at $199/month.
Does Open Dental or Planet DDS run on more platforms?
Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api. Planet DDS runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Open Dental best used for?
Open Dental is most often used for practice management, charting and scheduling for dental offices, dental insurance claims, billing and treatment planning, running an open source dental system with direct database access. Of those, practice management, charting and scheduling for dental offices and dental insurance claims, billing and treatment planning are not what Planet DDS is typically brought in for.
What can Open Dental do that Planet DDS cannot?
Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Insurance claim processing, Digital imaging integration. Planet DDS covers Cloud-based scheduling, Digital charting, Patient portal, Imaging integration. Both handle Treatment planning, Carestream, HIPAA Compliant.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Planet DDS: How much does Planet DDS cost?

Planet DDS does not publish specific pricing on its website. The company offers a predictable monthly subscription model but requires direct contact to receive personalized pricing based on practice size and needs.

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
Planet DDS: How can I get a Planet DDS price quote?

You can request a demo at planetdds.com/book-a-demo/, call their sales team at 800-861-5098, or contact them through their contact page to discuss pricing options.

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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