Ultimate Guide on Choosing Dental Lab Management Software
The most comprehensive comparison of dental lab management systems available today. Make an informed decision for your lab's future with detailed analysis of features, pricing, and capabilities.
Intro
Choosing the right LMS is hard: majority of LMS software companies keep their demos and pricing behind sales call walls, and this lack of transparency makes it time-costly to compare them and decide which one is the right one for you. This guide is the most comprehensive comparison on the internet as of 09/15/2025.
Before reading this guide, consider these factors:
- Lab size: The bigger it is, the more you should pay attention to integrations and workflow automations.
- Growth plans: Expanding labs should pick software that provides flexibility and won't create future bottlenecks.
- Order types: The more digital orders you have, the more you need built-in scanner portal integrations.
High-Level
Here's a list of high-level points you need to consider when choosing your LMS:
- How intuitive the software is. This influences how easy and fast the onboarding and learning will be, and in the longer run it influences the number of people-related errors (typos, mis-clicks, mis-selections, etc.)
- Integrations. The fewer integrations the software has, the more manual your workflows will be. The most helpful integrations:
- IOS: 3Shape, iTero, Medit, DS Core, etc. If an LMS doesn't have these, you'll need to manually copy-paste data between systems
- Shipping: UPS, FedEx, USPS. If an LMS doesn't have this, you'll need to manually keep track of your tracking numbers and use 3rd-party software to ship your cases.
- Accounting: QBO, Xero, NetSuite, etc. If an LMS doesn't have this, you'll need to do your accounting manually.
- Payment Processing: Stripe, Authorized.Net, etc. If an LMS doesn't have this, you'll need to process payments manually.
- Features. The more features there are, the more complex the setup will be, and you will end up overpaying for the features you don't use. On the other hand, more features typically mean more customizable and flexible workflows, which is helpful if you're trying to scale.
- Price. LMS market has two types of software: low-end and high-end. Low-end are on the cheaper side, fixed price per month, and don't have as much functionality. High-end will have everything you'll need, but it is much more expensive, and you pay per user or per case.
Main Functionality
Scanner portal integrations, automations, how intuitive UI/UX is, how customizable products' behaviors and pricelists are, ability to have attachments and scans.
How robust case search is, having visibility into problematic cases, tools to invoice and ship cases in bulk, shipping carrier integrations, building production schedule and tracking technicians' work.
Ability to create and save lists of cases based on some defined criteria. If you don't have this, you'll have to use 3rd-party tools (e.g., google sheets, asana, monday, trello, pipefy, etc.), at which point you have to ask yourself, "Does my lab management system allow me to manage my lab?"
Flexible client structure options (different doctors and offices want to be billed differently), automated statement creation, A/R functionality.
Role-Based Access Controls. If you don't have permission controls, it will be extremely hard to control user behavior.
Client portal, communication tools, payment processing, automated emails, design approval options.
Main LMS on the Market
Modern one-stop-shop webapp based in US.
US-based one-stop-shop desktop software, 30 years on the market.
UK-based desktop software, 20 years on the market.
US-based desktop software, 40 years on the market.
US-based webapp since 2005.
UK-based webapp from 2021.
Canada-based webapp.
US-based webapp, owned by Henry Schein
Formerly US-based webapp, acquired by 3Shape in 2023.
US-based desktop app from 1983.
Integrations Summary
| Feature / LMS | PilotLMS | MagicTouch | Labtrac | ABS Evolution | Seazona | GreatLab | EviDent | LabNext | Labstar | LabManager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scanner Portals Sync | ⚠️ Separate web-based portal | ⚠️ Only iTero as of recently | ⚠️ Can import iTero cases manually | |||||||
| Shipping Integrations | ⚠️ Only UPS | |||||||||
| Accounting Integrations | ||||||||||
| Payment Processing |
🏆 Winners in Integrations: PilotLMS, MagicTouch, and GreatLab
All three systems provide good integrations with essential tools like scanner portals, shipping carriers, and accounting systems. However, PilotLMS and MagicTouch make the experience as streamlined as it can be, offering comprehensive automation and fewer manual workarounds compared to other solutions, making them ideal for labs seeking the most efficient automated workflows.
Feature Summary
| Feature / LMS | PilotLMS | MagicTouch | Labtrac | ABS Evolution | Seazona | GreatLab | EviDent | LabNext | Labstar | LabManager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Filter Views and Workflow Creation | Unknown | |||||||||
| Flagging Problematic Cases | ||||||||||
| Case Entry Automation | ||||||||||
| Customizable product behaviors | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited | ||||||||
| 3D Viewer | ||||||||||
| Doctor Messaging | ||||||||||
| "Workbench" and manufacturing schedule tracking | Unknown | ⚠️ Limited | ||||||||
| Batch tools | ⚠️ No batch invoicing/shipping | Unknown | Unknown | ⚠️ Limited | ||||||
| Imports/Exports | ||||||||||
| Custom report builder | ⚠️ No .csv options, uses old technology | Unknown | ⚠️ Limited | |||||||
| Customizable PDF Templates | ⚠️ During onboarding | ⚠️ During onboarding | ||||||||
| Financial Module | ⚠️ Only invoicing | |||||||||
| Role-Based Access Controls | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Email Notifications | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Email Templates | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Customer Support module |
🏆 Winner in Advanced Features: PilotLMS and MagicTouch
While MagicTouch is a market leader in terms of the sheer number of features available, PilotLMS has cutting-edge capabilities that matter a lot for modern lab operations: advanced case entry automations (automatic selection of doctors and products), automatic flagging of problematic cases (late cases, late assigned tasks, QC fails, lost in outsource, etc.), and comprehensive workflow creation tools (advanced filter views). These features provide the tools needed for efficient lab management and scaling operations that most competitors lack entirely.
Overall Experience Summary
| Feature / LMS | PilotLMS | MagicTouch | Labtrac | ABS Evolution | Seazona | GreatLab | EviDent | LabNext | Labstar | LabManager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onboarding Speed | Quick | Lots of features, complex/outdated UI, steep learning curve | Complex/outdated UI, unconventional terminology, steep learning curve | Complex/outdated UI, steep learning curve | Quick | Lots of features, unconventional UI and terminology | Complex/outdated UI, steep learning curve | Outdated UI, unconventional terminology | Relatively modern UI (outdated in some areas) | Outdated UI |
| Demo | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | |||
| Documentation and Training | Publicly available with video guides, centralized | Uses a learning management system with video guides | Outdated, no video guides | Unknown | Publicly available with video guides, centralized | Publicly available HOW-TO articles, not centralized | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web-based or desktop? | Web-based | Primarily desktop, web-based version is limited | Desktop | Desktop | Web-based | Web-based | Web-based | Web-based | Web-based | Desktop |
| Modern Interface |
🏆 Winner in User Experience: PilotLMS
PilotLMS excels in user experience with quick onboarding, publicly available demos, centralized documentation with video guides, and a simple web-based interface. Unlike competitors with steep learning curves or outdated interfaces, PilotLMS prioritizes intuitive design that reduces training time and user errors.
Pricing Summary
| Feature / LMS | PilotLMS | MagicTouch | Labtrac | ABS Evolution | Seazona | GreatLab | EviDent | LabNext | Labstar | LabManager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent | ||||||||||
| Positioning | All lab sizes | High-end | High-end | High-end | Low-end | Low-to-mid end | Low-to-mid end | Low-end | Low-end | Low-end |
| Pricing Type | Fixed monthly fee for basic tiers based on case volume, custom for enterprise | Per user, but every feature add-on is priced separately | Fixed monthly fee tiers based on case volume, add-ons are priced separately | Not transparent | Fixed monthly fee | Not transparent | Fixed monthly fee tiers based on functionality | Not transparent | Fixed monthly fee based on case volume | One-time |
| Onboarding Fees | Free for Starter, Essentials, and Business tiers | Not Free | Not Free | Not Free | Unknown | Not Free | Not Free | Not Free | Unknown | Not applicable |
| Pricing Link | Not Transparent, $$$ | Not Transparent, $$$ | Not Transparent, $$ | Not Transparent, $ |
🏆 Winners in Pricing: Seazona (Small Labs) and PilotLMS (All Sizes)
For really small labs with basic needs, Seazona offers a competitive low-cost option with straightforward pricing. However, for labs that are growing or need advanced functionality, PilotLMS is the best choice. PilotLMS offers the most transparent pricing structure with clear monthly fees and free onboarding for most tiers. Unlike high-end competitors with hidden costs and complex per-user pricing, PilotLMS provides enterprise-level features at much lower prices compared to market alternatives, making it ideal for scaling operations.
Overall Winner: PilotLMS
After comprehensive analysis across integrations, user experience, features, and pricing, PilotLMS emerges as the clear winner for dental labs of all sizes. PilotLMS excels in automating administrative processes that competitors leave manual, offers superior integration with 3rd-party partners (scanners, shipping, accounting, payments), and provides advanced case processing and CRM tools that most alternatives lack entirely.
Why PilotLMS Wins:
- • Complete automation of administrative workflows
- • Comprehensive 3rd-party integrations
- • Advanced case processing and CRM capabilities
- • Modern, intuitive interface with quick onboarding
- • Transparent, predictable pricing structure
Cost Advantage:
PilotLMS is significantly more cost-effective than high-end alternatives like MagicTouch, Labtrac, and ABS Evolution, while offering enterprise-level functionality that low-end competitors simply cannot match.
🏆 Final Recommendation
PilotLMS is the recommended choice for labs of all sizes seeking to modernize their operations without overpaying for features they don't need. Its combination of advanced functionality, seamless integrations, and transparent pricing makes it the optimal solution for both growing labs and established operations.
Next Steps: Explore PilotLMS further with these resources: