4 Best Invisible Braces and Teeth Aligners for Adults

Clear aligners can assist many people in straightening their teeth. However, they demand dedication, and costs and effectiveness differ by maker. Below are the top choices.

Quick look at the best invisible braces

• Best overall: Invisalign | Jump to review
• Best quick treatment time:Byte | Jump to review
• Best for hybrid care:Candid | Jump to review
• Best for in-office care: Local orthodontist | Jump to review

If you never had braces as a teen but now want to correct a crooked tooth, clear aligners could be a good choice. These nearly invisible trays are popular among adults who want to make modest improvements to their smile.

Though less conspicuous than metal braces, clear aligners still require careful hygiene, time, money, and consistent use to achieve the desired results. They aren’t suitable for every case; for instance, they often can’t handle severe alignment or bite problems.

Also, not all aligner brands are equal — choosing an unreliable company can waste time and money and potentially move your teeth in undesired ways.

Continue reading for top invisible-aligner picks and guidance on getting started.

Best overall

Invisalign

• Price: $3,000–$7,000
• Typical treatment window: 6+ months
• Insurance: Ask your Invisalign provider when you book a consult, check with your workplace benefits manager, or call your insurer to see if they accept it.

Invisalign is likely the most recognized name in clear aligners. A clinician scans your teeth with an advanced camera (often the iTero Element scanner) to create a 3D model. Aligners are produced from medical-grade polyurethane resin and are custom-cut to fit your teeth and gums.

Invisalign helped popularize clear aligners, and many people assume it’s the only option. Their trays are well-reviewed, made from quality materials, and deliver reliable outcomes, but they tend to cost more than many alternatives. For complex issues like severe underbites or overbites, your clinician might consider other treatments.

Best quick treatment time

Byte

• Price: $2,099–$2,499
• Typical treatment window: 3–6 months (daytime) or 5 months (nighttime)
• Insurance: Use this tool to verify whether your dental insurance covers part of the expense.

Byte advertises some of the shortest home-treatment timelines among clear-aligner options, averaging about 4 months for daytime aligners and roughly 5 months for night-only aligners.

If you choose the daytime plan, you’ll wear the trays about 22 hours each day, removing them for meals and toothbrushing. The nighttime option requires continuous wear of about 10 hours nightly with no interruptions for eating or brushing.

Financing is available for both options: daytime plans are about $89 per month over 36 months, and nighttime plans are roughly $106 per month for 36 months.

To begin, buy an impression kit (usually $95, often discounted), send your impressions back, and receive your treatment plan. If you later decide against purchasing the treatment, the impression kit fee is typically refunded.

Customers receive 80% off the Byte impression kit + a FREE whitening kit with this link.

Best for in-office and virtual care

Candid

• Price: starts at $1,895
• Typical treatment window: 8.5 months on average
• Insurance: Check with the provider

Candid offers a hybrid model for clear-aligner treatment. You visit a local provider in their network for an initial evaluation; if you’re a candidate, your aligners arrive by mail and you monitor progress with the Candid app, submitting scans of your teeth every 14 days for clinician review.

Depending on the provider’s approach, you may be asked to return for occasional in-person assessments to ensure your treatment is on track.

Costs and insurance acceptance vary by local provider. Use the doctor locator to find a nearby office, learn about financing, and confirm insurance participation.

The aligners are made from a BPA-free, phthalate-free thermoplastic that resists staining, keeping them nearly invisible.

Best in-office care

Your local orthodontist

• Price: $3,000–$8,000
• Typical treatment window: 6–12 months
• Insurance: Call the orthodontist’s office or your insurer to confirm coverage for aligners.

Seeing a local orthodontist comes with advantages: in-person exams (often every 6–10 weeks), comprehensive diagnostics including X-rays and photographs, and personalized supervision.

An orthodontist can advise whether aligners are appropriate for your situation and recommend alternatives if they’re not. Most aligners are made from medical-grade plastics like polyurethane resin or may even be a branded product such as Invisalign.

Your orthodontist can fine-tune the trays for comfort or fit, and routine checkups may incur additional fees if they aren’t included in the total treatment price.

You can also discuss traditional braces; some practitioners offer ceramic braces, which are less visible than metal braces though more noticeable than clear aligners.

If you don’t yet have an orthodontist, search online directories and review sites, ask friends or family for referrals, or request a recommendation from your dentist.

PriceTreatment window*Payment planInvisalign$3,000–$7,000starts at 6 monthsdepends on provider Byte$2,099–$2,4993-6 monthsyes Candidstarts at $1,8958.5 monthsdepends on provider Local orthodontist$3,000–$8,0006–12 monthsdepends on orthodontist

* varies by individualneed

There are excellent, decent, and weaker options in the clear-aligner market. Our recommendations were based on these factors:

• time in business and standing with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau
• predominantly positive reviews and ratings
• reasonable treatment cost and availability of payment plans
• refund and satisfaction policies
• access to dental professionals for questions or concerns
• whether an orthodontist reviews initial impressions before treatment planning

Every product we recommend has undergone Healthline’s thorough vetting process.

Clear aligners, also called clear aligners, move teeth gradually over time similarly to traditional braces. The trays are transparent, fit closely over teeth, and are minimally noticeable.

You receive several sets of aligners, typically wearing each pair for 7–14 days before switching to the next. These custom trays are designed to incrementally guide your teeth into better alignment.

Most aligners require near-constant wear — at least 22 hours per day — removing them only to eat and brush. Night-only options usually require around 10 continuous hours while you sleep.

How consistently you wear the trays affects how fast you see change — frequently removing them or neglecting to replace them after meals and brushing will slow your progress.

Clear aligners have existed for about two decades, and research — particularly involving Invisalign — has accumulated during that time.

Evidence suggests clear aligners can be comparable to metal braces for correcting mild to moderate crowding and spacing, but they aren’t suitable for every kind of tooth movement. Plastic trays may be less precise than fixed metal appliances for addressing certain bite or functional issues.

Clear-aligner treatment can be expensive, roughly $1,800–$8,000. Dental insurance, FSA, or HSA funds may cover part of the expense.

• Your goals: Aligners are optimal for mild to moderate crowding and spacing. Complex cases usually warrant traditional braces. Some people begin with clear aligners expecting big changes, then switch to metal braces when aligners can’t meet their goals, which can add cost.
• Your daily commitment: Daytime aligners typically require 22 hours of wear per day. Night-only options need about 10 continuous hours nightly. Daytime trays are removed only for food, beverages (except water), and oral hygiene.
• Your timeframe: An orthodontist can estimate treatment length, but teeth may move slower or unpredictably, extending the timeline. Avoid rushing the process to ensure lasting corrections.
• Your hygiene routine: Aligners are easier to clean than metal braces but still need care. Clean trays twice daily with an appropriate cleaning solution and brush after meals before reinserting to avoid trapping bacteria at the gum line.
• Your tolerance for side effects: Early on, aligners may affect speech; a temporary lisp is common until you adapt. Other potential issues include gum irritation, biting the cheek or tongue on tray edges, and headaches.
• Your aftercare commitment: Post-treatment is crucial. To maintain results, you’ll likely need to wear a retainer for years for part of each day. Many find retainers easier since they are similar to the aligner trays. Neglecting retainer use can allow teeth to drift from their corrected positions.

Which aligner is best?

We choose Invisalign as the top overall clear-aligner option. It’s been established the longest, has strong reviews, and usually involves in-person clinician care, which helps achieve better outcomes.

However, newer companies are available, and many people successfully reach their goals without choosing Invisalign.

Is there an alternative to Invisalign?

Yes — there are many alternatives like Byte, which promotes rapid timelines and competitive pricing.

How long do invisible braces last?

Treatment typically lasts between about 3 months to a year or more, depending on your needs, adherence to the plan, and how your teeth respond.

The longevity of your results depends on commitment to retainer wear after active treatment. With consistent retainer use, results can be long-lasting. In practice, teeth commonly shift over time, particularly if retainers wear out or aren’t replaced. Regularly replacing retainers and monitoring them for wear can help preserve results.

Are invisible braces cheaper than regular braces?

Costs vary by provider, but traditional metal braces are often less expensive than clear-aligner options.

Whichever route you take, expect to wear your aligners daily for 3–12 months or longer and use a retainer afterward for months and years. Make sure you’re prepared for this ongoing commitment and that you trust the clinician and company you choose.

If you’re unsure which aligner to pick, use risk-free trials: schedule consultations, submit impression kits, and select the company that best matches your budget, orthodontic needs, and comfort level. Good luck, and may your smile shine bright.