Get paid for the case without a card reader
Smile PreVue runs the payment on the same iPad that closes the case. Price the plan chairside, the patient scans a code and pays on their phone, in full or over time. Pre-negotiated founding rates, no terminal, no separate CareCredit contract.
The short version
Most practices run cosmetic-case money through a patchwork: a card reader for the card, CareCredit or a similar lender for the financing, and a front desk that has to stitch the two together after the patient has already cooled off in the waiting room.
Smile PreVue collapses that into one flow. You price the case on the iPad, and the patient pays on their own phone by scanning a code, in full by card or wallet, or over time through a financing partner. The practice is paid in full upfront either way.
The rates are pre-negotiated founding-member rates, so you get them without opening your own merchant account, and the financed rate comes in well under what CareCredit costs most practices.
What it replaces
No card reader to get paid
Present the price chairside and the patient pays on their own phone by scanning a code or tapping a link. No terminal to buy, lease, or pass around the operatory.
No separate financing contract
Pay-over-time is built into the same flow. The patient applies through Affirm, Klarna, or Sunbit at checkout, so there is no second application and no separate merchant agreement to manage.
Less than half of CareCredit
Founding members pay a flat 6.5% on financed cases. CareCredit's promotional plans can cost a practice close to 10%. Same upfront payout, far lower fee.
One iPad, one flow
The preview, the close, and the payment happen in the same place, while the patient is still looking at their new smile. The money moment never leaves the room.
3.2% per card payment. 6.5% on financed cases.
Pre-negotiated rates, locked in for practices who join now. The practice receives the full case amount upfront, less the applicable fee. No terminal lease, no monthly fee, no PCI surcharge. See the full breakdown on the pricing page.
Processed by Stripe (PCI DSS Level 1). HIPAA-compliant. Card data never touches our servers.
How it compares
The honest comparison for a cosmetic case. Where it counts most, you pay one flat rate, with no hardware and no second contract.
| What you pay for | Smile PreVue | CareCredit | Card reader + separate financing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practice fee on financed cases | 6.5% flat | Up to ~10% on promo plans | Set by the lender |
| Card payment rate | 3.2% flat | Not a card processor | Processor rate, plus terminal lease, monthly, and PCI fees |
| Practice paid in full upfront | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hardware required | None, the patient pays on their phone | None | Terminal or card reader |
| Separate financing contract | No, financing is built in | It is the contract | Yes, a separate application and agreement |
| Smile preview and patient records included | Yes | No | No |
CareCredit does not publish its merchant rates; the figure shown is practice-reported and varies by promotional plan. Card and wallet payments are processed through Stripe. Pay-over-time financing is provided by Affirm, Klarna, and Sunbit and is subject to approval. Smile PreVue is a software platform, not a lender or bank. Rates shown are founding-member rates current as of 2026 and may change.
Powered by trusted payment partners
Smile PreVue is a software platform, not a lender or bank. Card and wallet payments are processed through Stripe, certified to PCI DSS Level 1, the highest level of payment security, and card details never touch our servers. Pay-over-time options are provided by Affirm, Klarna, and Sunbit and are subject to approval.
Dental payment processing FAQ
Is Smile PreVue a good CareCredit alternative for dental practices?
For cosmetic and elective cases, yes. Smile PreVue lets a patient pay in full by card or wallet, or apply to pay over time through Affirm, Klarna, or Sunbit, all from the chairside flow. Founding members pay a flat 6.5% on financed cases, which is less than CareCredit's promotional plans cost most practices, and the practice is still paid in full upfront.
How do patients pay without a card reader?
You price the case on your iPad and the patient pays on their own phone by scanning a code or opening a secure link. Card and wallet payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App) are processed through Stripe. There is no terminal to buy or lease.
What are the payment rates?
Founding-member rates are 3.2% per card payment and 6.5% on financed cases, locked in for practices who join now. These are pre-negotiated rates, so you get them without setting up your own merchant account. Enterprise rates are negotiable.
Is Smile PreVue a lender?
No. Smile PreVue is a software platform, not a lender or bank. Card payments run through Stripe, and pay-over-time financing is provided by third-party partners (Affirm, Klarna, and Sunbit) who set their own approval criteria, rates, and terms. Pay-over-time is subject to the provider's approval.
Does the practice get paid right away?
Yes. Whether the patient pays in full or chooses a pay-over-time option, your practice receives the full case amount upfront, less the applicable processing or financing fee. You are not waiting on patient installments.
Do we have to use it for every payment?
No. You decide which cases to collect through Smile PreVue and whether to present pay-over-time to a given patient. Many practices start with their cosmetic and elective cases, where the chairside close and the payment naturally happen together.
Are the payments PCI compliant?
Yes. Card payments are processed by Stripe, which is certified to PCI DSS Level 1, the highest level of payment-card security. Card details are entered directly into Stripe's secure fields and never touch Smile PreVue's servers, so your practice carries the minimal PCI scope. The same way patient records never enter the payment system, card numbers never enter ours.
Want the patient-side view? See the patient financing page or the full patient payments overview.
Run the close and the payment on one iPad
See it on your next consult. 3-day free trial, no card, no contract.
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