Open Dental Review
Open-source dental software with transparent pricing
Our Verdict
The power user's dream — unbeatable value and flexibility, if you don't mind some DIY
Best For
Tech-savvy practices wanting maximum control and transparent pricing
Avoid If
You want a polished cloud experience or minimal IT involvement
Overview
Open Dental is the leading open-source dental practice management software. Its transparent pricing, extensive customization options, and active developer community make it a favorite among tech-savvy practices.
Pricing
All prices are monthly estimates. Confidence indicators show how verified each price point is.
Open Dental Support
per-month
- Phone support
- Remote assistance
- Software updates
Support is separate from the software license. Multiple tiers available.
Source: Vendor website
Open Dental
per-month
- Full PMS
- Charting
- Scheduling
- Imaging
- eServices
- Open API
- Unlimited users
Flat $179/mo per location. Most transparent pricing in the industry. Additional fees for eServices add-ons.
Source: Vendor website (opendental.com/pricing)
Pros & Cons
What we like
- Most transparent pricing in the industry
- Open-source with extensive customization
- Active developer community and API
- Excellent value for the feature set
Watch out for
- Requires more IT knowledge to manage
- Interface is functional but not modern
- On-premise requires server management
- Steeper learning curve for customization
In-Depth Review
The Open-Source Underdog That Punches Above Its Weight
Open Dental occupies a unique position in the dental software market: it's the only major practice management system that's open-source. That means you can see the code, modify it, and you're never locked into a vendor's ecosystem. For the right practice, this is a game-changer.
What Makes Open Dental Different
The open-source model isn't just a philosophical difference — it has practical implications. Because the code is open, a thriving ecosystem of third-party developers builds plugins, integrations, and customizations. If you need something custom, you (or a developer you hire) can build it.
Pricing is refreshingly straightforward. Open Dental charges a flat monthly fee that includes the software, support, and updates. No hidden module fees, no per-provider upcharges. For multi-provider practices, this flat-rate model can save thousands per year compared to per-provider pricing from Dentrix or Eaglesoft.
The Trade-offs
The interface is functional but not beautiful. Open Dental prioritizes power and flexibility over polish. The learning curve is moderate — experienced dental staff will figure it out, but it won't win any design awards.
Support quality varies. Open Dental's official support is decent, but the real strength is the community forum. For complex issues, you may end up relying on community knowledge or hiring a consultant.
Open Dental's community forum is one of the most active in dental software. Before calling support, search the forum — your question has probably been answered.
Who Should Choose Open Dental?
- Budget-conscious practices that want enterprise features without enterprise pricing
- Tech-savvy offices that value customization and data ownership
- Multi-location groups where per-provider pricing from competitors adds up fast
- Practices that want to own their data with no vendor lock-in
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Practices that want a polished, modern UI out of the box
- Offices without any tech-savvy staff that need hand-holding support
- Cloud-first practices (Open Dental is on-premise, though hosting solutions exist)
This review was first published February 2026. If you've had a different experience with Open Dental, let us know.
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