Softwr

Healthcare · head to head

Open Dental vs tab32

Open Dental logo

Open Dental

Healthcare

Powerful, Affordable Practice Management

From
$169/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
tab32 logo

tab32

Dental

AI-Powered Cloud Dental Platform

From
$299/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; tab32 the $125 a month Alpine start up rate applies to year one only and rises to $225 a month from year two
  • They diverge on capability: Open Dental covers Insurance claim processing, tab32 covers AI-powered insights.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Open Dental and tab32 actually diverge.

Attributes where Open Dental and tab32 differ
AttributeOpen Dentaltab32
Starting price$169/month$299/month
PlatformsWindows, Web, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryHealthcareDental
Founded20032012

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

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

Only in tab32

  • AI-powered insights
  • Cloud-based platform
  • Revenue cycle management
  • Patient engagement
  • Business analytics
  • Imaging integration
  • DEXIS
  • Stripe

Both cover

  • Patient scheduling
  • Clinical charting
  • Carestream
  • QuickBooks
  • Weave
  • 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 tab32
  • Dental insurance claims, billing and treatment planningnot tab32
  • Running an open source dental system with direct database accessnot tab32

tab32

  • Cloud dental practice management and imaging for small practicesnot Open Dental
  • Insurance claim submission, attachments and eligibility verificationnot Open Dental
  • Multi location reporting and analytics for dental groups and DSOsnot 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

tab32

  • The $125 a month Alpine start up rate applies to year one only and rises to $225 a month from year two
  • The entry tier covers up to 3 providers and the established tier up to 5, so larger practices move up
  • Claims and eligibility work are billed per transaction: $0.20 per claim, $0.50 per attachment and $1.25 per eligibility check
  • Patient engagement features such as texting, reminders and online booking are paid add ons
  • Summit, the tier for groups and DSOs, is custom priced with no published rate

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

tab32

$299/month
  • Starter$299/month
    • Cloud-based platform
    • Patient scheduling
    • Clinical charting
  • Professional$449/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Advanced AI analytics
    • Patient engagement tools
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Everything in Professional
    • Multi-location management
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Open Dental if

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

Choose tab32 if

  • You need ai-powered insights.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want cloud-based platform.
tab32 review

Questions people ask

Is Open Dental or tab32 better?
Neither clearly leads. Open Dental starts at $169/month and tab32 at $299/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open Dental or tab32?
Open Dental starts at $169/month and tab32 at $299/month.
Does Open Dental or tab32 run on more platforms?
Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api. tab32 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 tab32 is typically brought in for.
What can Open Dental do that tab32 cannot?
Open Dental covers Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning, Digital imaging integration, Patient communication. tab32 covers AI-powered insights, Cloud-based platform, Revenue cycle management, Patient engagement. Both handle Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Carestream, QuickBooks.

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
tab32: How much does tab32 cost?

tab32 Alpine costs $125 per month for the first year (Start-Up tier with 3 providers) and $225 per month for subsequent years (Established Practice tier with 5 providers). Summit plans are available with custom enterprise pricing.

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
tab32: Does tab32 charge additional fees beyond the monthly subscription?

Yes, tab32 charges usage-based fees: $0.20 per claim processed, $0.50 per claim attachment, and $1.25 per insurance eligibility verification check. Patient engagement add-ons like text messaging are available separately.

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

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

Source
tab32: Does tab32 offer a free trial?

Yes, tab32 offers a 14-day free trial with no charges and the ability to cancel anytime.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Open Dental

More on tab32

Keep looking

Other head to heads