Softwr

Healthcare · head to head

Open Dental vs Zocdoc

Open Dental logo

Open Dental

Healthcare

Powerful, Affordable Practice Management

From
$169/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zocdoc logo

Zocdoc

Healthcare

Find and book doctors instantly online

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zocdoc has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Zocdoc doctors can cancel appointments with little notice
  • They diverge on capability: Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Zocdoc covers Doctor Search.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Open Dental and Zocdoc differ
AttributeOpen DentalZocdoc
Starting price$169/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, ApiWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20032007

Identical on both: 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 Zocdoc

  • Doctor Search
  • Online Booking
  • Reviews
  • Insurance Verification
  • Reminders
  • Telehealth
  • Practice Management Systems
  • EHRs

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

Zocdoc

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

Zocdoc

  • Doctors can cancel appointments with little notice
  • No direct messaging between patients and providers outside of appointment booking
  • Providers incur booking fees even if patients no-show or cancel after 24 hours

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

Zocdoc

Free
  • PatientFree
    • Find doctors
    • Book appointments
    • Read reviews

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 Zocdoc if

  • You need doctor search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online booking.
Zocdoc review

Questions people ask

Is Open Dental or Zocdoc better?
Neither clearly leads. Open Dental starts at $169/month and Zocdoc at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open Dental or Zocdoc?
Zocdoc has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $169/month for Open Dental and Free for Zocdoc.
Does Open Dental or Zocdoc run on more platforms?
Open Dental runs on Windows, Web, Api. Zocdoc runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Zocdoc for free?
Yes. Zocdoc has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Open Dental starts at $169/month.
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 Zocdoc is typically brought in for.
What can Open Dental do that Zocdoc cannot?
Open Dental covers Patient scheduling, Clinical charting, Insurance claim processing, Treatment planning. Zocdoc covers Doctor Search, Online Booking, Reviews, Insurance Verification.

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
Zocdoc: Is Zocdoc free for patients?

Yes, searching for and booking appointments on Zocdoc is completely free for patients. There are no search fees, booking fees, or cancellation fees. Patients only pay their insurance copay or self-pay rate for the actual care.

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
Zocdoc: Does Zocdoc verify that doctors accept my insurance?

Zocdoc supports over 1,000 insurance plans and filters results to show only providers who accept your specific plan. However, Zocdoc cannot guarantee in-network status, as plans with similar names can differ by employer group or region. Final verification is always confirmed by your insurer and the provider's office.

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

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

Source
Zocdoc: What specialties and types of providers does Zocdoc cover?

Zocdoc features a network of over 250,000 providers across 200+ specialties, including primary care physicians, dentists, OB-GYNs, dermatologists, psychiatrists, eye doctors, orthopedic surgeons, and therapists.

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
Zocdoc: How much do providers pay to use Zocdoc?

Zocdoc charges healthcare providers a one-time booking fee per new patient, with pricing varying by specialty and local market. The exact fee is quoted individually to practices.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Open Dental

More on Zocdoc

Keep looking

Other head to heads