CareStack vs Open Dental
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of Best Dental Practice Management Software (2026) | Pricing & Pros Compared. Last verified June 6, 2026.
The short answer
Open Dental ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #2) for Dentists and practice managers. Solo GPs, multi-location groups and DSOs, and specialty practices. the most powerful operatory scheduler in dental, at the lowest price. If you can run your own server.
At a glance
| CareStack | Open Dental | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #2 / Best Dental Practice Management Software (2026) | Pricing & Pros Compared | #1 / Best Dental Practice Management Software (2026) | Pricing & Pros Compared |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.8 | 9 |
| Best for | Multi-specialty DSO all-in-one | Complex multi-operatory scheduling |
| Pricing | $$$ (from ~$698/mo) | $ ($149 to $199/mo per location + $20/provider over 3) |
| HQ | United States, UK, Australia | United States |
| Founded | — | — |
CareStack
the all-in-one DSO platform with the highest satisfaction rating, and the highest entry price.
www.carestack.com/See full entry in Best Dental Practice Management Software (2026) | Pricing & Pros Compared
Open Dental
the most powerful operatory scheduler in dental, at the lowest price. If you can run your own server.
www.opendental.com/See full entry in Best Dental Practice Management Software (2026) | Pricing & Pros Compared
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.