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Active Aligners vs Spark

Starting price, treatment length, supervision, FDA safety record and full spec sheet for Active Aligners and Spark, side by side. Every figure links to the source that states it.

Prices verified Sep 30, 2026FDA records verified Sep 30, 2026
4comparisons with Active Aligners
22comparisons with Spark

Active Aligners (Active Aligners)·Spark (Spark clear aligners)

Active Aligners
In-office
Spark
In-office
At a glance
Starting price
R27 000
$3,500-8,000provider-set
Typical treatment

Blue marks the lower price only where every compared price is quoted the same way (a monthly price in US dollars); prices quoted in another currency, as a one-time fee or as a provider-set range are shown exactly as stated and never converted. Adverse-event figures are raw counts of reports filed with the FDA, not rates (what the reports mean). Each spec value opens that brand's spec sheet, and its numbered sources verify the specs as a set. None of this is a recommendation: the right choice depends on your case, your budget and, above all, an in-person exam by a dentist or orthodontist.

The bottom line

What actually differs

  • Neither is marked lower, since only monthly prices quoted in US dollars are ranked against each other: Active Aligners R27 000 and Spark $3,500-8,000 (provider-set).
  • Typical treatment differs: Active Aligners 6-7 months and Spark 6-18 months.
Go deeper

Open the full record

Active Aligners
  • Prices
  • Treatment length
  • Supervision
  • FDA safety
  • Specs
  • Sources
  • Where to get it
Spark
  • Prices
  • Treatment length
  • Supervision
Keep comparing

Every comparison with these brands

Each brand against every other brand on the market. All comparisons

All 4 comparisons with Active Aligners

  • vs Graphy
  • vs Invisalign
  • vs Smilers
  • vs Spark (this page)

All 22 comparisons with Spark

  • vs Active Aligners (this page)
  • vs Alineadent
  • vs Angel Aligner
InvisibleBraces is an informational data platform, not a dentist, an orthodontist, or a seller of aligners. Nothing here is dental or medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment. At-home clear aligners are not right for every case, and moving teeth without an in-person exam carries real risk. Data is aggregated from public sources and each brand's own terms and can be incomplete or out of date. Always consult a licensed dentist or orthodontist and confirm current prices and terms with the provider.
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The independent, fully-cited comparison of at-home clear aligner brands. Every figure traces to its source. Informational only, not dental or medical advice.

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6-7 months
6-18 months
Supervision
In-office
In-office
FDA safety
No recalls
No recalls
FDA adverse-event reports
0
36
Treatment
Treats
CrowdingSpacing and gapsMild to moderate misalignment
CrowdingSpacing and gapsOverbiteUnderbite
Product lines
Active Aligners
Spark clear aligners
Wear schedule
All-day (22 hrs)
20 to 22 hrs/day, trays changed roughly every 7 to 14 days per the treatment plan
Spec sheet
Start method
3D scan or impression at an Active Aligners dental provider
In-office consultation with a licensed dentist or orthodontist, including x-rays and a 3D intraoral digital scan; the provider designs the plan and fits the aligners
Material
A tri-layer medical-grade material, 3D printed and positive-pressure thermoformed (the brand does not name the maker)
TruGEN and TruGEN XR (Ormco), a 0.75mm polymer free of BPA, latex, phthalates, and mercury; marketed as clearer, more stain-resistant, and better contoured to the tooth than the leading brand
Retainers
Worn full time for 3 months and at night after that; a fixed lingual retainer is available through the provider
Spark Retainers (launched 2025) available through the provider; retainers required after treatment to prevent relapse (provider-set cost)
Whitening
Not published
Not published as a bundled consumer offering; whitening is at the provider's discretion (the TruGEN material is marketed as stain-resistant)
Refinements / touch-ups
Prescribed by the provider if needed; the brand says 65 to 75% of its patients need none
Provider-managed additional trays; TruGEN and TruGEN XR are available for both primary and refinement stages. Refinement policy and cost are set by the treating provider (not published as a fixed manufacturer allowance)
Guarantee
Not published (no money-back guarantee; submitting the scan for planning involves an initial fee, and no further charge is made if the patient decides not to go ahead)
No manufacturer-level consumer guarantee; any satisfaction or results guarantee is set by the individual provider
Clinical oversight
In-office: the lab's treatment team plans, a dentist reviews and approves, and the provider guides treatment in person
Doctor-directed with in-person progress visits about every 4 to 8 weeks (some providers add remote monitoring between visits)
Financing
MediWallet medical finance up to R40 000, 3 to 18 month terms, R0 deposit
Provider-set in-office payment plans (review examples cite roughly $125 to $167/month depending on term); no brand-run financing program
HSA / FSA
Not applicable (South Africa; US HSA/FSA does not apply)
Generally HSA/FSA eligible as orthodontic treatment (confirmed accepted per NewMouth review); depends on the provider and plan
Insurance
Depends on the medical aid: none, a portion or the full amount may be claimed back, the brand says
Often covered under orthodontic benefits, though some dental plans treat adult aligners as cosmetic; coverage varies by plan and provider
Availability
South Africa, through dental providers (the brand also cites selected markets worldwide without naming them)
Available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and China through Ormco-authorized dentists and orthodontists, piloted in Australia and New Zealand from 2017 (Spark's Australian FAQ, read 2026-10-10); US release December 2020. Its South Africa page names a network of orthodontists offering Spark there (archived 2026-07-11, read 2026-10-18)
Headquarters
Woodmead, Johannesburg, South Africa
Brea, California, USA
Spec sources
  1. 1.activealigners.co.za
  2. 2.activealigners.co.za
  3. 3.activealigners.co.za
  4. 4.activealigners.co.za
  5. 5.activealigners.co.za
  6. 6.smileclub.co.za
  1. 1.newmouth.com
  2. 2.ormco.com
  3. 3.ormco.com
  4. 4.ormco.com
  5. 5.sparkaligners.com
  6. 6.web.archive.org
Company
On the market since
–
2019
Parent company
Active Aligners Lab (Smile Club), Woodmead, Johannesburg, South Africa
Ormco Corporation, part of Envista Holdings (Nasdaq: NVST)
  • FDA safety
  • Specs
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  • 7.web.archive.org