Ayla vs Dental Intelligence.
Analytics built into your PMS vs paying for a separate analytics platform that still requires Dentrix, Eaglesoft, or Open Dental underneath.
Dental Intelligence has excellent analytics — at an additional cost on top of your PMS.
Dental Intelligence is genuinely strong analytics software with excellent provider scorecards, morning huddle dashboard, and practice performance insights. But it is not a PMS — you still need one alongside it. Reviewers mention premium pricing, and DI's data sync requires an always-on Windows machine where your PMS database lives. Ayla's analytics are built in — no add-on, no extra bill.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Dental Intelligence | Ayla |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Analytics & engagement platform (not a PMS) | Full PMS + analytics |
| Requires Separate PMS | Yes — additional cost | No — all in one |
| Clinical Charting | ||
| Scheduling | Online scheduling (via engagement module) | |
| Insurance Claims | Yes (verification + claims processing) | |
| KPI Dashboard | Excellent | |
| Provider Scorecards | Excellent | |
| Morning Huddle | Included | |
| AI Receptionist | Add-on to Engagement (launched June 2026) | Included in Complete (250 min/mo) |
| Mobile App | Yes — iOS and Android (analytics + engagement) | iOS app with full clinical chart access |
| OS Requirement | Sync client: Windows; dashboards: browser-based | Any browser, any OS — nothing to install |
| Compatible PMS | Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental (full); Dentrix Ascend, Denticon (engagement only); Fuse (analytics only) | Native — no PMS needed |
| Patient Communication | Included (unified platform) | |
| Membership Plans | Yes (in-house plans available) | |
| Pricing | Quote only; from ~$399/mo (third-party estimate) | Published: $499 Core · $799 Complete |
Key differences
Add-on vs native analytics
Dental Intelligence connects to your PMS through a sync integration, and at least one reviewer reported it stopped working with their software for an extended period after software changes. Ayla's analytics are native — built into the same system as your schedule, charts, and billing. No integration to maintain and no separate login.
A second bill on top of your PMS
Dental Intelligence doesn't publish pricing; third-party estimates start around $399/mo — on top of your PMS subscription. Ayla's KPI dashboard, provider scorecards, and morning huddle are included in both plans: $499/mo Core or $799/mo Complete, flat per location.
Starting price is a third-party estimate (SelectHub) — verify with Dental Intelligence
Windows sync client required
Dental Intelligence's sync client must be installed on an always-on Windows machine where your PMS database lives. Its dashboards are browser-based and it has iOS and Android apps, but the sync piece still needs Windows hardware on site. Ayla is fully cloud-based with nothing to install.
What Dental Intelligence users report.
Paraphrased from verified reviews on Capterra, G2, GetApp, and Software Advice.
A Software Advice reviewer (Dec 2025) reported that after software changes, Dental Intelligence stopped working with their software for an extended period.
Several reviewers mention cost as a drawback, including one who said it was a little too much for their small practice.
Pricing comparison
Dental Intelligence + PMS
DI: from ~$399/mo (third-party estimate)
Scales with practice size
+ PMS: $600-800/mo (estimated)
Estimated all-in: $999-$1,200+/mo
Ayla
Core $499 · Complete $799, flat per location
Analytics included on both plans
All users included
No separate PMS needed
$499 Core · $799 Complete
Save by eliminating a separate analytics subscription
Choose Dental Intelligence if...
- You are locked into Dentrix or Eaglesoft and cannot switch
- You specifically need DI's depth of analytics reporting beyond what Ayla provides
- Your team needs an Android app
- You run a DSO using Open Dental at scale
Choose Ayla if...
- You want analytics built into your PMS natively
- You want to eliminate a separate DI subscription
- You want nothing to install — no Windows sync machine
- You want published flat per-location pricing
Last updated: October 2026
Competitor information on this page is based on publicly available user reviews from Capterra, G2, GetApp, and Software Advice, and from each company's public pricing and feature pages. All user sentiments are paraphrased from verified reviews — no direct quotes are used. Pricing estimates are based on publicly available information and industry research and may not reflect current vendor pricing. Features and pricing change frequently — verify directly with each vendor before making a purchasing decision. Ayla is not affiliated with any competitor mentioned on this page.
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