Clear aligners offer an increasingly popular alternative to traditional metal braces that many individuals prefer due to their aesthetics and convenience.  Whether or not aligners are cheaper than braces varies depending on individual factors. The overall cost of aligners can be influenced by the specific alignment needs of the patient, the duration of the treatment, patient adherence to provided instructions, and much more.  Generally, however, the costs of aligners and braces are fairly similar. Given that aligners require ongoing replacements they may be less expensive than braces for more minor corrections and more expensive for more major corrections.  While aligners might appear more expensive upfront, it's important to consider the longer-term savings potential due to reduced needs for dental visits, shorter treatment duration, and less need for post-treatment dental work which can sometimes occur with traditional braces due to their complexity which can adversely impact dental hygiene if patients aren’t careful.