See how OrthoFi's Open Choice payment plans work at more than 700 U.S. orthodontic practices. Calculate your monthly payment, read real patient reviews, and compare financing alternatives — all in one place.
Equal-weighted average of five criteria. How we review
OrthoFi is one of the most patient-friendly ways to pay for braces or Invisalign — if your orthodontist already uses it. The Open Choice slider gives you real control over your down payment and monthly amount, and the AcceptCare marketplace improves approval odds for thin-credit borrowers. The catch: you cannot apply on your own, and rates are not published, so you cannot compare offers before your consultation.
OrthoFi is software your orthodontist buys. Patients cannot apply directly; the practice decides whether to offer it and sets the parameters.
Patients adjust the down payment and monthly amount within limits the practice sets. More flexibility than a take-it-or-leave-it offer.
In-house plans run by the practice, or a multi-lender marketplace through the AcceptCare product for patients who need external credit.
Answer three quick questions and we will point you to the financing paths worth checking first. No personal details, no credit check.
General guidance based on your answers, not a credit decision or a guarantee of approval. Rates and terms come from each provider's published information; see our sources.
OrthoFi, AcceptCare, and OrthoBanc all operate under the same umbrella after the 2020 merger. Each product serves a different piece of the orthodontic payment experience.
The full practice-management and patient-financing platform, built around the Open Choice payment slider.
The patient-financing arm of OrthoFi. One application reaches several lenders, with a practice-funded plan as a fallback.
The longest-running product in the family, joined with OrthoFi in 2020. It manages patient payments on in-house plans.
Open Choice is not a separate product — it is the signature payment-presentation technology that powers both the OrthoFi flagship platform and AcceptCare. Patients see it as a tablet slider during the consultation that lets them adjust down payment and monthly amount in real time. Full breakdown of the Open Choice slider →
OrthoFi is designed around orthodontic practices rather than the patient. If your orthodontist uses the platform, you benefit from a smoother intake flow, a payment slider that lets you shape the plan, and online payment management through the OrthoFi patient portal. If your orthodontist does not use it, you cannot sign up on your own.
That restriction matters. OrthoFi says it has partnered with 700+ practices, which sounds like a lot but is still a minority of U.S. orthodontic offices. Patients who need financing but whose provider is not on the OrthoFi network have to look at other options: CareCredit, Cherry, PatientFi, Sunbit, or a personal loan from a bank or online lender.
You still have real options. Personal loans from online lenders such as Avant, Upstart, or LendingUSA can cover the entire treatment cost, and patient financing such as CareCredit or Cherry is widely accepted and lets you apply on your own. Our orthodontic financing alternatives guide compares APR ranges, loan sizes, and credit requirements across all of them.
Your orthodontist builds a treatment plan, prices it, and if the practice uses the platform, the financial coordinator opens the AcceptCare or OrthoFi payment slider on a tablet during your consultation.
You adjust the down payment up or down and the term in months. The slider recalculates the monthly figure instantly and shows what is within the practice's accepted range.
If you need an external loan, AcceptCare pulls pre-qualified offers from its lender network based on a soft credit inquiry. You pick the one you want and finalize.
You sign the service contract digitally, pay the down payment, and the practice schedules your appliance appointment. Autopay is set up in the OrthoFi patient portal.
Monthly invoices run on autopay. You can log in to the OrthoFi patient portal 24/7 to update your payment method, make an extra payment, or download your contract and receipts.
Read the full OrthoFi process walkthrough step by step.
Before any financing decision, it helps to know what treatment usually costs. Published 2026 cost guides put most U.S. cases in the ranges below [10]. Your quote depends on case complexity, treatment length, and where you live.
| Treatment type | Typical cost | Typical length | Example: 24 mo at 0% | Example: 36 mo at 9.99% APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional metal braces | $3,000–$7,000 | 18–36 months | $167/mo | $129/mo |
| Ceramic (clear) braces | $4,000–$8,500 | 18–36 months | $208/mo | $161/mo |
| Clear aligners (e.g., Invisalign) | $3,000–$8,000 | 12–24 months | $183/mo | $142/mo |
| Lingual (behind the teeth) | $8,000–$13,000 | 18–36 months | $350/mo | $271/mo |
Payment examples are illustrative only. They use the midpoint of each cost range with a 20% down payment. The 0% column reflects a 0% promotional offer (AcceptCare lists these for 6–24 months for qualifying patients); 9.99% APR is an example rate, not a quote. Your actual rate, term, and approval depend on the practice or lender and your credit profile.
Check whether your dental insurance includes orthodontic coverage — it usually pays a fixed lifetime maximum, and many plans limit it to dependents. Pay with pre-tax FSA or HSA funds where eligible. And ask about a pay-in-full discount, which some practices offer. Then test your own numbers in the payment calculator.
Move the sliders for a rough monthly estimate. It uses an example 9% APR; AcceptCare lenders can offer 0% for 6–24 months, and in-office plans can go up to 18%. Try other rates in the full calculator.
Assumes a 36-month term at an example 9% APR. Your actual rate depends on your practice, lender, and credit.
We publish independent, non-paid analysis of OrthoFi and other orthodontic patient financing products. Here is exactly how our editorial process works and what we commit to on every page.
OrthoFi and AcceptCare product pages, OrthoFi press releases, and Accel-KKR announcements.
Orthotown, Orthodontic Products, and Aegis Dental Network coverage of OrthoFi.
Published rates and terms from CareCredit, Cherry, PatientFi, and Sunbit, rechecked regularly.
Patient reviews on Trustburn and discussions in Reddit communities such as r/braces.
Total-cost examples built with standard loan math, with example rates clearly labeled.
Advertising disclosures on every money page. Affiliate relationships identified clearly.
We never invent testimonials, ratings, or expert personas. All quotes link to original sources.
Interest rate ranges clearly shown with sources. No hidden-cost framing.
Every statistic is numbered and listed on our sources page.
Pages reviewed when the underlying product changes. Dates visible at the top of each article.
Factual errors fixed within 48 hours of verification, with the update date shown on the page.
A collective team of personal finance writers and consumer researchers covering orthodontic patient financing, dental payment plans, and healthcare credit for U.S. consumers. We publish under a shared byline rather than inventing named author personas — what matters is the research, the sources, and the standards we hold ourselves to.
How the platform compares to the three financing options most dental and orthodontic patients evaluate.
| Feature | OrthoFi | CareCredit | Cherry | PatientFi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct patient application | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Specialty focus | Orthodontics only | All healthcare | All healthcare | Elective healthcare |
| Amount financed | Your treatment balance | Credit limit set at approval | $35–$65,000 | Up to $60,000 |
| Promotional 0% APR | Yes, lender offers (6–24 mo) | Deferred interest (6–24 mo) | Yes, if you qualify | If paid in full during promo |
| APR range | 0% lender offers; in-office up to 18% | 32.99% standard | 0%–35.99% | 6.99%–32.99% |
| Soft credit check pre-qualify | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Provider network size (U.S.) | 700+ orthodontic practices | 260,000+ | 60,000+ | Thousands |
Figures from each provider's published 2026 terms; see our sources page. Rates change, and each lender sets your terms based on your credit and state.
Full OrthoFi vs CareCredit comparison · OrthoFi vs Cherry · OrthoFi vs PatientFi
A snapshot of what orthodontic trade publications, software review sites, and real patients say about using OrthoFi. Quotes are verbatim and link to the original source; anything we summarize is labeled as a summary.
…patient forms and an open-choice payment slider are proven to increase same-day contracts.
Orthotown magazine, a trade publication for orthodontists, ran a product profile of OrthoFi that credits its mobile patient forms and Open Choice slider with more same-day contracts. The same profile reports 18% higher conversion rates at practices using OrthoFi's tools.
SO easy and user friendly.
A patient reviewed OrthoFi on Trustburn, noting how straightforward it was to adjust payment amounts and navigate the self-service portal screens. Another reviewer liked being able to set their own payment dates and getting an email receipt for each payment.
I have been an OrthoFi user for over a decade.
From a testimonial by Lisa Torino, a Practice Director and Treatment Coordinator, published on OrthoFi's site. She credits OrthoFi's team and support. Keep in mind that testimonials a company publishes about itself are selected to be positive.
Common theme: the experience depends on how clearly the practice explains billing.
This is our summary of patient discussions on Reddit, not a direct quote. Frustrations tend to center on billing surprises such as failed autopay drafts and late fees, which usually trace back to how a plan was explained at the practice.
Every quote above is copied word for word from a publicly accessible source we link to, kept under 15 words for fair use. Context around each quote is in our own words, summaries are labeled, and we never invent a reviewer name or detail. If you spot a quote that misrepresents the original source, email [email protected] and we will fix or remove it within 48 hours.
OrthoFi availability works a little differently than most lenders. Access is tied to your orthodontist rather than your state — which makes the picture more nuanced than a simple state map.
OrthoFi has partnered with 700+ orthodontic practices across the United States. Patients cannot sign up directly; access depends on whether your orthodontist is one of them, not on which state you live in.
Ask your orthodontist's financial coordinator
Our pre-qualification form connects you to a lender network for an unsecured personal loan that can cover orthodontic treatment when OrthoFi is not available. Soft credit check only.
Not available to residents of NY, VT, WV, or AR
Medical credit lines and patient-financing lenders operate in most states, with some exceptions and state-specific rate caps. Sunbit, for example, is not available in Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
Check each lender's state terms
If you live in New York, Vermont, West Virginia, or Arkansas, the pre-qualification form on our Apply page cannot show you offers for a direct personal loan. You still have options: ask your orthodontist about OrthoFi or an in-house plan, apply directly to CareCredit or Cherry, or look into an in-state credit union personal loan. See our financing alternatives guide for the full list.
No. OrthoFi is a platform sold to orthodontic practices, not a direct-to-consumer lender. You can only access OrthoFi financing if the practice treating you uses it. Ask your orthodontist's financial coordinator whether they offer OrthoFi or AcceptCare at your consultation.
OrthoFi does not publish a standard APR. Its AcceptCare product lists 0% APR lender offers for 6 to 24 months for patients who qualify, with lender terms up to 60 months, while practice-funded in-office plans can carry an APR of up to 18%. Your rate appears on your offer before you sign.
Go to www.orthofi.com and click Patients at the top right of the page. Enter the username and password set up during your consultation. Our OrthoFi login guide walks through what to do if your credentials are not working.
Log into the OrthoFi patient portal, open your payment plan, and make a one-time payment. You can also change payment methods, update autopay settings, and download your contract. See our OrthoFi payment guide for a full walkthrough.
They are sister products under the same company. In December 2020, Accel-KKR brought OrthoBanc under the company's ownership, and both brands continue to operate under the OrthoFi umbrella alongside AcceptCare.
You have several alternatives. CareCredit and Cherry are widely accepted and let patients apply directly. For larger treatment costs, an unsecured personal loan from an online lender can cover the full amount and can beat medical credit cards on APR. Our financing alternatives guide compares all of them side by side.
OrthoFi is not limited by state; it is available only through participating orthodontic practices. OrthoFi has partnered with 700+ practices, so availability depends on your specific orthodontist rather than your state of residence. The pre-qualification form on our Apply page is restricted and not available to residents of New York, Vermont, West Virginia, or Arkansas.
All three are products within the same company. OrthoFi is the flagship practice-management and financing platform. AcceptCare is the multi-lender marketplace that handles third-party loan offers. OrthoBanc is the patient payment management product that handles autopay, invoicing, and collections. Your orthodontist may use one, two, or all three.
The initial Open Choice pre-qualification uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. If you choose a plan routed through AcceptCare's third-party lender network, the lender may run a hard inquiry before final approval. Practice-funded in-office plans review your credit and checking-account history, so ask whether that check is soft or hard. Always ask your orthodontist's financial coordinator which path your plan will take before you sign.
OrthoFi's software verifies your dental insurance benefits during the financial consultation and estimates how much your insurer will cover. Your monthly payment is calculated on the remaining out-of-pocket balance after insurance. If your insurer pays less than expected, the practice may adjust your plan or bill you the difference — the exact mechanism varies by office, so ask upfront.
A missed payment usually triggers an automated reminder. If it stays unpaid past the grace period in your contract, a late fee may apply. Repeated missed payments can be referred to collections and may be reported to credit bureaus, especially for AcceptCare-routed third-party loans. If you anticipate a problem, contact your orthodontist's financial coordinator immediately — many practices will restructure the plan before it reaches collections.
Usually, but check your contract or loan agreement for any prepayment terms before you do. On plans that carry an APR, paying early reduces the total interest you pay. Log into the OrthoFi patient portal, open your payment plan, and make a one-time payment to pay down the balance. If you want to confirm the exact payoff amount, contact your practice's financial coordinator.
OrthoFi itself is a technology platform, not a bank or a direct lender. The in-house payment plans you set up through OrthoFi are between you and the orthodontic practice. AcceptCare third-party loans come from partner lenders, which are banks or state-licensed consumer lenders overseen by federal and state regulators. Note that FDIC insurance protects bank deposits, not loans you take out, so it does not apply to your payment plan. Ask which lender funds your plan if you want to check its license.
Our pre-qualification form checks a network of lenders with a soft credit inquiry. See what you qualify for before your next orthodontist visit.
APR, loan terms, and approval depend on the lender and your credit profile. Not available in NY, VT, WV, or AR.
