The best toothbrush subscriptions for 2023

In recent years a variety of toothbrush subscription options have become available. 

Having completed my own hands-on testing of many products, in this post I advise which I think are the best in various categories. 

I also discuss whether or not they are worth the money compared to buying a non-subscription product.  

What is the best toothbrush subscription service?

Best subscription electric toothbrush: Burst Oral Care

Best subscription for Oral-B or Sonicare brush heads: Amazon

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Deciding which is the best subscription based service is very difficult and is very much influenced by your personal situation.

If you want the whole package including toothbrush and toothpaste, your options and choices can be different to those who want to receive brush heads for a regular electric toothbrush.

Quip is to date the best-known service and offers the biggest number of packages that can be purchased as a one-off or on a subscription basis.

However, I believe, that Burst Oral Care and their Sonic toothbrush is the best subscription electric toothbrush.

Thanks to a revised product offering, also offers the best overall package.

Goby is still a good option for a subscription electric toothbrush offering the greatest flexibility in the brush head subscription frequency compared to Quip and Burst.

However, if you have an electric toothbrush already and want just replacement brush heads, then seriously consider Amazon’s subscription plan as this, in my opinion, is great and saves you money.

Sonicare have a subscription plan for their brush heads. Yet despite subscribing directly they are not necessarily as price competitive as Amazon. Oral-B offers no subscriptions.

Save money without a subscription

Many believe you will save money by going on a subscription plan, and most of the time in the USA you do.

But, subject to what you opt for this rule might not always apply.  In some instances, you pay a premium for the convenience that they offer.

The prices are influenced by what it is you want and need from the services.  We all buy different products at different price points, so to make a fair comparison is difficult.

If the same subscription toothbrush was sold in a shop for a one-off purchase it would be easier to make comparison with a subscription, but to date, this does not exist.

For the sake of example, let’s take the US subscription service Goby.

The cost for this will be $116 or $0.11 cents per day over 3 years.

Oral-B’s Pro 1000 works out at $100 or $0.09 per day over the same period.

However, when compared to the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 that comes in at $182 or $0.13 per day, Goby is cheaper.

From my research and comparisons, I have calculated that the price differences between subscriptions and non subscription models are not really that great, typically within a few dollars of each other, if you compare like for like.

If you do not want to go on a subscription model that is perfectly understandable.

If you do buy outright and not on subscription, the biggest area you can save money in is the cost of the brush heads.  Shop around and buy the larger pack sizes for the best value.

How do subscription services work?

As you are likely well aware, a subscription is an arrangement whereby goods or services are sold at predetermined intervals rather than as a one off or individual transaction.

Under the subscription banner are several different types of subscription services including fixed usage, unlimited usage and pay-as-you-go.

It is the latter that is most common in the electric toothbrush market.

As a general rule, you will pay a one-time higher fee to acquire an electric toothbrush and then at predetermined intervals (often 3 months), payment will be made in exchange for replacement brush heads or associated accessories to be delivered to your door.

Each company or brand offering subscription based services have different packages, pricing, and terms associated with their subscription model, but most allow for cancellation and amendments to the subscription to be made at any time.

Who offers subscription toothbrushes and brush heads?

As the demand for subscription based products increases, so do the number of brands or suppliers who offer such.

There are those companies who have their own toothbrush and brush head subscription services as well as those that offer just brush heads accessories such as floss for existing brands.

Electric toothbrushes

Quip

www.getquip.com

One of the most comprehensive subscription toothbrush services, there are packages for individuals, families, and groups.

Plasticor more premium metal handled brushes exist in different colors to suit your style and budget.

There is now a ‘smart’ option too. A Bluetooth enabled motor can transfer data back to your smartphone about your brushing habits. You can then get actionable tips on how to improve your oral care routine.

Although the smart variant is more expensive, it can actually work out better value than the standard variant. This is because each brushing session earns points. Points equal money off future purchases with Quip.

Although centered around a subscription system, you can buy products individually if you prefer.

Quip offer fluoride toothpaste, floss and mouthwash in addition to their toothbrushes. They also have children’s options available.

There is no flexibility in the frequency of delivery.

Although they are US based, Quip do ship internationally.

Read our Quip toothbrush review to find out more about the various brushes that Quip offers and how they compare.

Philips One by Sonicare

Arguably a direct competitor to Quip, the One by Sonicare is a bit different to the typical electric toothbrushes most expect from the company.

The One is considerably more compact and is really designed to be a very portable and convenient option.

It has just 1 cleaning mode. And whilst it has the same sonic cleaning action it is not as powerful as a traditional Sonicare electric toothbrush.

Available with an without subscription, the One comes with 2 power options. You have the removable AAA battery option or the a built-in rechargeable with USB-C connectivity.

Unless a removable battery is essential to you, we rate the rechargeable variant.

Both versions are available in some fun color options and you get a travel case included.

You can buy the brush online and in-store from large retailers within the USA. You won’t be able to subscribe to the brush head deliveries though, unless you buy direct from Philips.

You can always subscribe to the brush heads at a later date if you wish.

You are able to cancel at any time.

You can buy it here on the Philips website or to learn more read our Philips One by Sonicare review.

Goby

www.goby.co

Goby looks a little different to most electric toothbrushes. It has a tapered handle design that doesn’t stand upright on a tabletop.

They only offer one style of electric toothbrush, but it is available in a number of different color options.

The brush offers a standard and sensitive cleaning mode which is the 2 modes we would recommend.

It has an oscillating and rotating brush head to give a thorough clean. It is similar to the clean you get from Oral-B electric toothbrushes.

There is no case included in the box, but you do get a funky protector for the brush head, so should you travel the bristles are protected.

The brush can be purchased outright, but you can gain a discount if you subscribe to brush head deliveries.

There is a simplicity to their product and plans and the ability to change the brush head delivery frequency.

This is a US based service.

Read our Goby Review.

Burst

Available from: Burst, Amazon, Walmart.

Designed as a subscription based service for your oral healthcare needs. 

They originally offered just a toothbrush. But this has evolved into a much wider product offering, including floss, whitening strips and Burst’s cordless water flosser.

The brush and flossers come in 3 color options, black, white or rose gold.

The brush has a selection of brushing options and comes with the all important quad-pacer and 2 minute timer.

The battery life is great and the handle is stylish.

It has been clinically proven and comes with a lifetime warranty for those who have subscribed.

The brush heads are either delivered every 12 weeks (3 months) at a cost of $7.

You can cancel the subscription plan at any time if you like.  You can then purchase replacement heads when you want, rather than having them shipped at 3 month intervals as set by Burst.

Read our Burst Sonic Toothbrush Review.

Philips Sonicare

Electric toothbrush giant Sonicare have introduced their own subscription toothbrush plan and truth be told it is a pretty solid offering.

There is some choice which makes it a bit more complicated, but lets you find the package right for you.

• Option 1
  • ProtectiveClean 5100 toothbrush handle
  • Optimal Gum Care brush head deliveries every 3 months
    • $8.99 per month for 12 months, $2.66 per month thereafter
    • OR
    • $79.95 one-off payment, followed by $7.99 every 3 months
• Option 2
  • ProtectiveClean 6100 toothbrush handle
  • DiamondClean brush head deliveries every 3 months
    • $12.99 per month for 12 months, $3.99 per month thereafter
    • OR
    • $109.95 one-off payment, followed by $11.99 every 3 months
• Option 3
  • 9900 Prestige toothbrush handle
  • A3 Premium All-in-One brush head deliveries every 3 months
    • $32.99 per month for 12 months, $3.99 per month thereafter
    • OR
    • $349 one-off payment, followed by $11.99 every 3 months
• Kids
  • Sonicare for kids toothbrush handle
  • Sonicare for kids brush head deliveries every 3 months
    • $5.99 per month for 12 months, $2.66 per month thereafter
    • OR
    • $39.95 one-off payment, followed by $7.99 every 3 months

hum by Colgate

View on the Colgate website

The hum by Colgate is without doubt one of the best smart toothbrushes available on the market right now.

Whilst we don’t generally recommend smart models, given what this offers for the price it is pretty impressive.

Available with removable or built-in batteries the hum comes in several different color options to suit your style.

This Bluetooth enabled toothbrush can be purchased with or without a subscription. To buy with the subscription you need to head to the Colgate website but many other retailers stock it if you want to make a one-off purchase.

Unlike any product in its class, the hum has real-time tracking. Using the free iOS or Android application you can actually track your brushing habits and see how well you are brushing your teeth.

A graphically friendly user interface makes it clear where you could be making improvements and over time you can learn from all the data it is capturing and storing.

Better still, by using the app, not only are you on track to improve your oral care routine, you can also get money off.

Regular use of the app allows for points to be accrued and these can be spent with Colgate.

Whilst the AAA battery version might be versatile and cost effective for some, our pick is the rechargeable variant. Unfortunately the battery life isn’t as good, but it has a more powerful cleaning action.

With either variant, you get a travel case included in the box which matches the color of the brush handle.

Read our hands on review to learn more about the hum.

Shyn

www.shyn.com

A stylish toothbrush, Shyn looks and feels very similar to well known brand Philips Sonicare.

The brush performs very similarly too with a sonic cleaning action. Where it differentiates is through the value it offers.

If you opt for Shyn you are going to save some money!

There are some smart touches including different brushing intensities and a power button that only functions when a brush head is attached.

A pressure sensor helps to alert you, should you brush with too much force. Rather oddly though, this only works with certain modes and brushing intensities.

And then the number of intensities available also differs depending on the cleaning mode.

Despite some of these unusual quirks it has acquired the approval of the American Dental Association.

You get a travel case in the box and it comes in a couple of color options too.

We went hands on with Shyn and shared our thoughts in this video review.

Bruush

www.bruush.com

Bruush follows in the footsteps of Quip and Burst, with a very similar package offering.

The toothbrush itself provides a good clean, which is of course important. It is a sonic action toothbrush like Sonicare and Burst.

The built-in rechargeable battery lasts 4 weeks before charges and there is a travel case included to protect the handle and heads should you be on the go.

6 different cleaning modes are built into the brush handle, which is available in a range of colours including black, white and pink.

The magnetic charger looks god and has a USB power cable. You do to get a travel case included in the box.

Bruush have kept things nice and simple, not too much choice, but just what you need.

The subscription delivers 3 brush heads every 6 months, rather than the more typical new brush head every 3 months. This means you could, in theory, replace the head approximately every 45 days.

There is a 90 day money back guarantee and a 2 year warranty on the toothbrush.

Learn more about Bruush by reading our hands on review.

Boka

www.boka.com

The Boka toothbrush is really likeable. There is a certain simplicity to it.

The sonic motor cleans the teeth well.

It has a built-in timer and pacer. There are 3 different cleaning modes available, along with automatic power off, a good battery life and a weighty magnetic charging stand.

The power brush is one of several products Boka offers, including their own toothpaste, dental floss and tongue scrapers are on offer too.

You can buy on an adhoc basis, or subscribe, obtaining a discount for doing so.

There are set subscription plans you can subscribe to or you can even build your own plan based on your desires and wants, which is fantastic.

As good as the offering is, the brush itself doesn’t really stand out or differentiate itself from the likes of Burst or Sonicare electric brushes.

Read our Boka toothbrush review for more information.

Dollar Toothbrush Club

thedollarbrushclub.com

Dollarbrush is a subscription electric toothbrush that has an upfront cost of $34.99, followed by a monthly cost so $2.99.

The electric toothbrush has 3 cleaning modes, an international charger, and a premium travel case.

2 brush heads are delivered every 6 months, with a $2.99 fee deducted every month.

Buck Brush

www.buckbrushco.com

This is a subscription based service, no one off or ad hoc purchases here.

Like most others, you pay a one time higher fee for the brush and then every 4 months you get a delivery containing 4 brush heads.  This means you essentially have a new brush head available every month.

As the name implies though at just $1 a month it represents exceptional value.

Toothbrush heads

Amazon

www.amazon.com

This massive online retailer has a subscribe and save option whereby many products, including toothbrush heads from leading brands are available to buy.

Whether it’s for Oral-B, Sonicare, or Colgate, Amazon have the broadest range to subscribe to and one of the best subscription models with the ability to change how frequently you receive deliveries.

Rather than individual heads, these are usually packs of 2 or more, so you need to make your own informed judgment on setting the schedule you want or desire.

Amazon have international sites that may or may not offer this option.  Subscription is available in the US.

Philips Sonicare

www.usa.philips.com

If you use a Sonicare electric toothbrush, you can have Sonicare themselves send you replacement brush heads exactly when you require them.

Depending on which brush head you use, depends on the fee, but you make a payment every 3 months. You then have a single replacement head shipped to you at those 3 month intervals.

Manual toothbrushes

Boie USA

www.boieusa.com

An environmentally considerate toothbrush, it is made from recyclable plastics.

The brush heads are interchangeable and able to be recycled too.

Available for purchase on an ad hoc or subscription basis, whilst the brush heads can last 6 months, you can choose to subscribe to the 3, 4 or 6 month plan.

One delivery is made each year containing all the brush heads you need for the following 365 days.

They are US based, but Boie does ship internationally.

How do subscription electric toothbrushes compare to other electric toothbrushes?

Something you may be wondering is how do the electric toothbrushes included with a subscription box compare to non-subscription toothbrushes, such as those from Oral-B and Sonicare.

Truthfully, brushes from better known brands have had years of research and development invested, so for many, they will offer better performance. However, there are other aspects to consider as part of the equation, such as the convenience offered by a subscription service. We take a deeper look at these in our Quip vs Sonicare & Oral-B article.

If you need help choosing a regular brush, you may find our best electric toothbrush article useful.

Is a subscription toothbrush worth it?

This question is not necessarily one that can be answered for you.

It is a case of you making your own judgment based on the information available to you.

For many, one of the biggest driving factors in deciding to go with a subscription service is the convenience that it brings.

A large number of us are guilty of not replacing our brush heads as frequently as we should and the arrival of a new one on our doorstep is a good catalyst to do just this, without having to remember or think about it.

Outlined below are some of the positives and negatives associated with a subscription service.

Pros

• Convenience – The desired items are delivered to your door as and when you request, without the need for you to do anything. You can be assured of always having the items you need in stock.
• Better oral health – Receiving regular brush head deliveries can encourage the replacement of brush heads sooner than if a new head was not delivered.  Brushing is completed with a brush head that is in better condition and in turn better for your oral health.
• Flexibility – Most services allow some flexibility in when you receive your subscription with the ability to adapt plans as well as cancel when you like.
• Cash flow – Regular fixed costs can often be easier to manage and budget for allowing a better cash flow than if you have to purchase items on a more ad hoc basis.

Cons

• Cost – Subject to the plan and product chosen, you may pay a slight premium for the convenience that comes as a result.  A non subscription model may allow for better prices through bulk purchases of the likes of brush heads and could work out cheaper in the long run.
• Flexibility – Subject to the company and products you might not be able to get the subscription to fit with the timescales and intervals for delivery that you desire.
• Adhoc needs – As the brush heads and services are configured on arriving just before you need them, should you lose a brush head or need a new item sooner, you may have to wait or go without as you do not have stock of spares or cannot easily obtain them.
• Delivery – Whilst most subscription plans are pretty robust and things like deliveries guaranteed or insured, the additional stages and parties involved could potentially cause delays and problems that might not come with buying from a normal retail store.
• Brands and commitment – At present, the subscription services are run for the most part by smaller, newer companies rather than larger and more recognized brands that have the resources, including financially to scale and manage such services. Smaller companies may not hit numbers and reach to continue long term.

Conclusion

Subscriptions are certainly the way forward and they will become more mainstream.

All of these current services have their pros and cons.

No one company in our minds is really winning on all counts, but a few are progressing nicely.

Consider what it is you want and make an informed decision.