Replacement heads: which ones fit your handle
Seven genuine head packs from Philips Sonicare and Oral-B, with the compatibility each Amazon listing states. The one rule that matters: Oral-B iO heads do not fit older Oral-B handles, and Sonicare heads do not fit Oral-B at all.
Short answer. Match the head to the handle family, not to the brand name. Per the listings, Sonicare C3, G3 and A3 heads fit all Philips Sonicare handles; Oral-B iO heads fit iO handles only; Oral-B Precision Clean and CrossAction heads fit the Pro, Smart and Genius family and not iO.
Prices and availability read from Amazon on October 13, 2026 and change without notice. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which costs you nothing and is the only way this site makes money.
Quick comparison: Sonicare and Oral-B heads
| # | Brush head | Fits | Listed feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philips Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Defence Replacement Heads, 4-Pack | Sonicare, all-round head | Fits all Sonicare handles | $54.99 |
| 2 | Philips Sonicare G3 Premium Gum Care Replacement Heads, 2-Pack | Sonicare, gum line head | Fits all Sonicare handles | $33.58 |
| 3 | Philips Sonicare A3 Premium All-in-One Replacement Heads, 2-Pack | Sonicare, combined head | Fits all Sonicare handles | $37.22 |
| 4 | Oral-B iO Series Ultimate Clean Replacement Heads, 4 Count | Oral-B iO, standard head | iO handles only | $39.94 |
| 5 | Oral-B iO Series Gentle Care Replacement Heads, 4 Count | Oral-B iO, soft head | iO handles only | $48.90 |
| 6 | Oral-B Pro CrossAction Replacement Heads, Pack of 8 | Oral-B Pro family, standard head | Not iO or Pulsonic | $28.89 |
| 7 | Oral-B Precision Clean Replacement Heads, Pack of 6 | Oral-B Pro family, round head | Not iO | $29.80 |
Philips Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Defence Replacement Heads, 4-Pack
Sonicare, all-round head
$54.99
The general-purpose Sonicare head, in a 4-pack, for any Sonicare handle.
Strengths
- Fits all Sonicare handles, per the listing
- Replacement reminder through bristle color and BrushSync
- Four heads per pack
Trade-offs
- Highest price of the Sonicare packs here
- BrushSync reminder needs a compatible handle
Philips Sonicare G3 Premium Gum Care Replacement Heads, 2-Pack
Sonicare, gum line head
$33.58
The Sonicare head built around the gum line.
Strengths
- Gum-line design described in the listing
- Fits all Sonicare handles, per the listing
Trade-offs
- Only two heads per pack
- Costs more per head than the C3 pack
Philips Sonicare A3 Premium All-in-One Replacement Heads, 2-Pack
Sonicare, combined head
$37.22
One Sonicare head that combines the stain, plaque and gum-line features in a single design.
Strengths
- Combines three head designs in one
- Fits all Sonicare handles, per the listing
Trade-offs
- Two heads per pack
- Costs more per head than the C3 pack
Oral-B iO Series Ultimate Clean Replacement Heads, 4 Count
Oral-B iO, standard head
$39.94
The standard head for Oral-B iO handles, in a 4-pack.
Strengths
- Four heads per pack
- Color-changing bristles as the reminder
Trade-offs
- Fits iO handles only, per the listing
Oral-B iO Series Gentle Care Replacement Heads, 4 Count
Oral-B iO, soft head
$48.90
The extra-soft iO head for sensitive gums.
Strengths
- Extra-soft bristles for sensitive gums, per the listing
- Four heads per pack
Trade-offs
- Priciest pack here
- Fits iO handles only, per the listing
Oral-B Pro CrossAction Replacement Heads, Pack of 8
Oral-B Pro family, standard head
$28.89
The lowest price per head among the seven, for the classic Oral-B rechargeable handles.
Strengths
- Eight heads per pack at $28.89
- Fits the classic rechargeable Oral-B handles, per the listing
Trade-offs
- Does not fit iO or Pulsonic, per the listing
Oral-B Precision Clean Replacement Heads, Pack of 6
Oral-B Pro family, round head
$29.80
A round Precision Clean head for the Pro, Smart and Genius handles.
Strengths
- Six heads per pack
- Fits Pro, Smart and Genius handles, per the listing
Trade-offs
- Does not fit iO, per the listing
Which Sonicare heads fit my handle?
The three Sonicare packs here are described by their listings as click-on heads that fit all Philips Sonicare handles: the C3 Premium Plaque Defence (4-pack), G3 Premium Gum Care (2-pack) and A3 Premium All-in-One (2-pack). Each also lists a BrushSync replacement reminder that works on compatible handles. Sonicare heads are for Sonicare handles; they do not fit an Oral-B handle.
Which Oral-B heads fit which handle?
Oral-B splits into two families. The iO heads (Ultimate Clean and Gentle Care here) are listed as compatible with iO rechargeable handles and not with Oral-B Pro, Smart or Genius handles. The Precision Clean pack is listed as compatible with Pro, Smart and Genius handles and not with iO. The Pro CrossAction pack is listed as a fit for Oral-B rechargeable handles except Pulsonic and iO. If you are unsure which handle you own, look for the iO name on the handle before ordering.
How often should a head be replaced?
The listings point to color-changing bristles as the reminder: Sonicare’s blue bristles turn white and Oral-B’s color-changing bristles signal when to change. The Oral-B Pro CrossAction listing says its bristles fade from green to yellow. One third-party Sonicare-compatible listing gives about 3 months. For the schedule your own brush head follows, read the packaging that came with it.
Heads for sensitive gums
The Oral-B iO Gentle Care listing describes extra-soft bristles for sensitive gums. The Sonicare G3 Premium Gum Care listing describes a concave bristle design that brushes the gum line while you focus on your teeth. Both are claims from the listings, and neither page here tests them.
Genuine heads versus compatible packs
Many cheaper packs on Amazon are made by other companies and describe themselves as compatible with Sonicare or Oral-B handles. We list only genuine Philips Sonicare and Oral-B packs here, so the compatibility statements above come from the brands’ own listings. A compatible pack from another maker has its own fit claims and its own return policy.
Choosing a handle first? See Oral-B vs Sonicare or the best affordable electric toothbrushes.
Which replacement head costs least per head?
Dividing each pack price by its head count gives these figures (our arithmetic, prices read on Amazon October 13, 2026). The Oral-B Pro CrossAction 8-pack costs $28.89, about $3.61 a head. The Oral-B Precision Clean 6-pack costs $29.80, about $4.97. The Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean 4-pack costs $39.94, about $9.98. The Sonicare C3 4-pack costs $54.99, about $13.75, and the iO Gentle Care 4-pack costs $48.90, about $14.03. The Sonicare G3 2-pack ($33.58) comes to about $16.79 and the A3 2-pack ($37.22) to about $18.61. Check that the head fits your handle before comparing price. Pack size changes the result: the cheapest pack per head is also the one with the most heads.
Which Oral-B heads fit an iO handle?
Per the Amazon listings, only the iO heads. The Oral-B iO Series Ultimate Clean and Gentle Care 4-packs are listed as compatible with iO rechargeable handles and not with Oral-B Pro, Smart or Genius handles. The reverse also holds: the Oral-B Pro CrossAction pack is listed for rechargeable Oral-B brushes except Pulsonic and iO, and the Precision Clean pack for Pro, Smart and Genius handles and not iO. If you own an iO handle, buy iO heads; if you own an older Pro-family handle, buying iO heads wastes the money. The Oral-B iO Gentle Care pack is listed with extra-soft bristles for sensitive gums, and both iO packs hold 4 heads.
Do Sonicare heads fit every Sonicare handle?
The three Sonicare listings we read say so. The C3 Premium Plaque Defence (4-pack, $54.99), G3 Premium Gum Care (2-pack, $33.58) and A3 Premium All-in-One (2-pack, $37.22) (Amazon, Oct 13, 2026) each describe a click-on mount that fits all Philips Sonicare handles, and each mentions a BrushSync replacement reminder on compatible handles. The C3 is the all-round head, the G3 is built around the gum line, and the A3 combines three head designs. Sonicare heads do not fit Oral-B handles. These are manufacturer listing statements, so check the handle model if it is old. Choose by the job you want the head to do: plaque, gum line, or all three in one head.
Do Oral-B iO heads fit an Oral-B Pro 1000?
No. The Oral-B iO listings here say their heads are not compatible with Oral-B Pro, Smart and Genius handles. The Pro 1000 takes the Precision Clean or CrossAction type instead.
Do Sonicare heads fit all Sonicare handles?
The C3, G3 and A3 listings here state that the heads fit all Philips Sonicare handles. The BrushSync reminder works on compatible handles only, per the same listings.
Can I use a Sonicare head on an Oral-B handle?
No. Sonicare click-on heads are made for Sonicare handles and Oral-B round heads for Oral-B handles. The two systems are not interchangeable.
Which head is cheapest per head?
On the prices read today, the Pro CrossAction 8-pack ($28.89) and the Precision Clean 6-pack ($29.80) cost the least per head among these seven. Prices change, so check the listing.