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Healthcare · head to head

Open Dental vs Updox

Open Dental logo

Open Dental

Healthcare

Powerful, Affordable Practice Management

From
$169/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Updox logo

Updox

Healthcare

Healthcare communications platform for eFax, telehealth and patient reminders

From
On request
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; Updox no specific dollar amounts listed on pricing page
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Open Dental and Updox differ
AttributeOpen DentalUpdox
Starting price$169/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindows, Web, ApiWeb
Founded2003Unknown

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 Open Dental

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

Only in Updox

Nothing recorded that Open Dental does not also cover.

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 Updox
  • Dental insurance claims, billing and treatment planningnot Updox
  • Running an open source dental system with direct database accessnot Updox

Updox

  • Healthcare communication and patient engagementnot Open Dental
  • Medical practice fax, telehealth, and SMS messagingnot Open Dental
  • Charge capture and medical billing workflowsnot Open Dental
  • Multi-location healthcare systemsnot 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

Updox

  • No specific dollar amounts listed on pricing page
  • Actual costs require contacting sales team or scheduling a demo
  • Standard and Enterprise tier limits shown but no pricing transparency

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

Updox

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Updox review.

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 Updox if

Nothing in the data separates Updox from Open Dental on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Updox review

Questions people ask

Is Open Dental or Updox better?
Neither clearly leads. Open Dental starts at $169/month and Updox at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open Dental or Updox?
Open Dental starts at $169/month and Updox at On request.
Does Open Dental or Updox run on more platforms?
Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api. Updox runs on Web.
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 Updox is typically brought in for.
What can Open Dental do that Updox cannot?
Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning.

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
Updox: How much does Updox cost?

Updox pricing is not published on the pricing page. The vendor offers customizable packages and directs inquiries to schedule a demo or contact the sales team for personalized pricing based on practice size and tool requirements.

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
Updox: What is Updox's pricing model?

Updox uses a usage-based pricing model with customizable packages. Costs are tailored based on the tools selected (fax pages, telehealth sessions, patient reminders, text messages, broadcast messages) and can scale with practice benchmark data.

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

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

Source
Updox: What limits are included in Updox's Standard tier?

Updox Standard tier includes up to 1,000 fax pages, 75 telehealth sessions, reminders for 500 appointments, 500 text messages, and 500 broadcast messages monthly, with higher limits available in Enterprise tier.

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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