OrthoFi vs Cherry for orthodontic financing
Choose OrthoFi if your orthodontist offers it; choose Cherry if you want to apply on your own. Cherry discloses APRs from 0% to 35.99% over 1 to 60 months, while OrthoFi offers AcceptCare lender offers or a practice-funded plan capped at 18% APR.
- Both use a soft check to show options
- Cherry: $35 to $65,000, many specialties
- OrthoFi: orthodontics only, 700+ practices
- Compare total cost, not just the monthly
OrthoFi and Cherry both finance orthodontic treatment, but they are structured differently. OrthoFi is a practice-management platform that includes financing; Cherry is a dedicated patient financing company. Here is how they compare for actual patients.
Key differences at a glance
| Feature | OrthoFi | Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Direct patient application | No | Yes |
| Platform type | Practice management + financing | Dedicated patient financing |
| Provider network | 700+ orthodontic practices | 60,000+ healthcare providers |
| Specialty focus | Orthodontics only | Dental, aesthetics, orthodontics, more |
| Loan amounts | Your treatment balance (no published cap) | $35–$65,000 |
| Term length | Lenders up to 60 months; in-office plans 6–72 months | 1–60 months |
| Approval decision | Minutes (AcceptCare) | Under 1 minute |
| Soft credit pre-qual | Yes | Yes |
| Promotional 0% APR | 0% APR lender offers for 6–24 months, if approved | Common on short terms |
| Collections handled by | OrthoFi staff | Cherry directly |
How each platform actually works
OrthoFi
OrthoFi is a software platform your orthodontist buys. The practice uses it to run intake, insurance verification, the Open Choice payment slider, in-house financing, and the AcceptCare multi-lender marketplace for third-party loans. Patients experience OrthoFi during the consultation and through the patient portal thereafter. You cannot apply on your own.
Cherry
Cherry is a patient financing company that operates independently of the practice. You apply directly at withcherry.com or at the point of sale when the practice offers it. Cherry handles the loan from end to end — underwriting, funding, servicing, and collections. Your orthodontist is not involved in the loan management after the initial transaction.
Where OrthoFi has the edge
Insurance verification baked in
OrthoFi handles insurance eligibility checks and claims submission on your behalf. The treatment estimate your orthodontist gives you already accounts for the expected insurance benefit. Cherry has no insurance involvement — you pay the full treatment cost through the loan, and insurance reimbursement is a separate workflow.
In-house financing option
Through OrthoFi, your practice can carry the loan itself without a third-party lender involved. Because the practice decides, it may approve patients a lender would not, though the APR can be as high as 18%. Cherry does not have an in-house equivalent.
Open Choice slider during the consultation
The Open Choice slider is interactive and happens live during the consultation with the financial coordinator. You can test different down payment and term combinations in real time and sign when you find one that fits. Cherry's application is faster but less exploratory.
Where Cherry has the edge
Direct patient application
You can pre-qualify for Cherry on your phone before even going to the orthodontist. Cherry says its application takes about 35 seconds, uses only a soft credit check, and shows the plans you qualify for [20]. OrthoFi has no equivalent patient-direct path.
Larger loan sizes
Cherry can finance up to $65,000, which comfortably covers combined orthodontic plus dental work (surgical orthodontics, implants, cosmetic dentistry). OrthoFi does not publish a cap, but its financing is built around a single orthodontic treatment plan.
Broader provider network
Cherry is accepted at 60,000+ U.S. healthcare providers versus OrthoFi's 700+. If your orthodontist uses Cherry, you are more likely to also be able to use Cherry for your dentist, dermatologist, or veterinarian.
Transparent fixed-rate loans
Cherry publishes APR ranges upfront (0% intro offers on short terms, up to 35.99% on longer terms for subprime borrowers). You know roughly what to expect before you apply. OrthoFi's rates are opaque until you sit down with the practice.
More payment flexibility
Cherry's shortest plans run as little as six weeks, for patients who want to pay quickly with no interest. AcceptCare lender offers and in-office plans start at six months.
Cost comparison for a typical orthodontic plan
For a $5,500 Invisalign treatment with $1,000 down ($4,500 financed), paid over 24 months:
| Option | APR | Monthly | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% offer (AcceptCare lender or Cherry, if approved) | 0% | $188 | $0 |
| Practice in-office plan, example rate | 9% | $206 | $434 |
| Practice in-office plan at the 18% maximum | 18% | $225 | $892 |
| Cherry interest-bearing plan, example rate | 19.99% | $229 | $996 |
| Cherry at its 35.99% maximum | 35.99% | $266 | $1,877 |
Cherry discloses APRs from 0% to 35.99% over 1 to 60 months. AcceptCare lists 0% APR lender offers for 6–24 months, and practices can set in-office APRs up to 18%. Rates marked “example” are illustrations, not quotes.
Which should you choose?
- Your orthodontist offers OrthoFi, you want insurance integrated and in-house financing: OrthoFi
- Your orthodontist does not offer OrthoFi but offers Cherry, or you want to apply before the appointment: Cherry
- You have strong credit and want a short 0% promotional plan: Cherry
- You have thin credit and the practice is willing to carry the loan: OrthoFi in-house
- Your treatment plan is $15,000+ or combines ortho with surgical dentistry: Cherry (larger loan ceiling)
- You want pre-qualified rate transparency before the consultation: Cherry
What if your practice offers both?
Some larger orthodontic groups offer both OrthoFi and Cherry depending on the patient's situation. If you have the choice:
- Run Cherry's soft pre-qualification first to get a concrete offer
- Walk into the consultation knowing your Cherry quote
- Compare it directly against the OrthoFi Open Choice slider the financial coordinator shows you
- Pick the lower total-cost option, not just the lower monthly
For a broader comparison with CareCredit, PatientFi, and personal loans, see our orthodontic financing alternatives guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cherry cheaper than OrthoFi?
Cherry is often cheaper for patients with strong credit who can use a 0% promotional plan or a short-term fixed-rate loan. OrthoFi can work for patients with weaker credit if the practice offers its in-office plan, though Cherry also says it approves up to 90% of applicants.
Can I apply for Cherry if my orthodontist uses OrthoFi?
Potentially, if the practice is also enrolled with Cherry. Many orthodontic offices offer only one financing partner, but some offer both. Ask the financial coordinator what financing options the practice supports.
Does Cherry affect my credit score?
Cherry's pre-qualification uses a soft credit inquiry that does not affect your credit score. Cherry says it never runs a hard credit check at any stage, including when you accept a plan [20].
Is Cherry a loan or a credit card?
Cherry is an installment loan, not a credit card or line of credit. You borrow a fixed amount for a specific treatment and pay it back over a defined term with equal monthly payments.