Byte or Smile Direct Club? Both are two popular at-home teeth straightening options but, which is better? Whether you’re a first-time aligner user or considering switching from one brand to the other, read on to find out which of these two aligner companies is the right choice for you.
In this article, we will cover the following topics:
- The main differences between Byte and Smile Direct Club regarding process, affordability, ease of use and effectiveness
- Which brand is more affordable
- An overview of both brands, focusing on their team and reputation
- The pros and cons of getting any of the brands
- Which of the brands is better (in our opinion)
How Does Byte Compare to Smile Direct Club?
Byte and Smile Direct Club are two popular at-home teeth aligner brands that offer similar services. However, there are some key differences between the two that are worth considering before choosing one over the other.
Here are some of the main differences between Byte and Smile Direct Club:
- Price: Regarding Byte aligners vs Smile Direct Club aligners pricing,
Byte generally has a higher upfront cost than SDC, but the brand includes freebies that are worth the price. - Treatment process: Byte and Smile Direct are more similar regarding the treatment process; however, Byte uses a proprietary HyperByte technology that may help speed up the teeth straightening process.
- Convenience of use: Both brands offer at-home teeth aligner solutions, but Byte’s aligners are thinner and less noticeable.
- Treatment time: Both Byte and Smile Direct Club can effectively straighten teeth, but Byte’s HyperByte technology may result in a faster treatment time.
Ultimately, the choice between Byte vs Smile Direct Club will depend on individual preferences and priorities, that’s why in this article we will break down those differences to make it easier for you to choose. But, first, you can take a look at our Byte vs Smile Direct Club comparison table:
| Byte | SmileDirectClub | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,999 All-Day aligners or $2,399 At-Night aligners | $2,050 both daytime and nighttime aligners |
| Financing options | All-Day aligners: $70 a month for 36 months (with $249 deposit $2,750 total) At-Night aligners: $84 a month for 36 months (with $299 deposit $3,323 total) | $89 a month for 26 months with $250 deposit ($2,564 total) |
| Remote monitoring? | Yes | Yes |
| Treatable cases | Mild to moderate cases of misalignment | Mild to moderate cases of misalignment |
| Treatment time | 3 to 6 months | 6-10 months |
| Nighttime aligners? | Yes | Yes |
| Freebies? | HyperByte tool (worth $699), witening kit, aligners case and a set of retainers | Whitening kit and an aligners case |
| Warranty? | Yes | Yes |
Byte and Smile Direct Club: Breaking Down the Key Differences
In this section, we will delve into the key differences between Byte and Smile Direct Club. We will analyze and compare their pricing models, treatment processes, convenience of use, and effectiveness. By breaking down these factors, we hope to provide valuable insights to those considering at-home teeth straightening solutions and help them make an informed decision about which brand may be best suited to their needs.
Comparison of Byte and SmileDirectClub Treatment Process
When comparing Byte vs Smile Direct Club, you need to look at aspects as ‘what are the aligners made of’ or ‘what type of treatments the brand offers’ because are important when choosing among the types of teeth alignments options, and they will determine which company suits you best based on your situation.
- 100% at-home
- Only one option of getting impressions of your teeth: using an impression kit
- Impression kit costs $95
- The aligners are BPA-free made with a highly transparent, medical-grase polymer film
- Retainers are included in the price
- Shorter treatment time: 4 to 6 months
- Works with both dentists and orthodontists to ensure that you receive the proper treatment plan
- 100% at-home
- Two options of getting impressions of your teeth: impression kit or 3D scan
- Impression kit costs $59 and the 3D scan at a Smileshop is FREE
- The aligners are BPA-free
- They charge $99 for a set of retainers
- Longer treatment time: 6 months
- Works with both dentists and orthodontist to ensure that you receive the proper treatment plan
Besides, both of the brands offer Nighttime Aligners, a type of teeth alignment treatment in which you straighten your teeth at night, only having to wear the retainers while you sleep. The treatment is longer, but the results are the same (check our blog post about the differences between Byte at night vs all day aligners aligners if you want to know more).
Comparison of Pricing and Affordability
Price is also a concern when straightening your teeth. You want to choose something you can afford.
In this section, we will compare Smile Direct Club vs Byte cost. By examining the pricing structures and features of each company, we aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the value offered by Byte and Smile Direct Club.
- Impression kit is $95
- The Byte All-Day treatment costs $1,999 and the At-Night treatment, $2,399 (one time payment)
- Accepts HSA, FSA and CareCredit
- Offers payment plans: you can pay $70 a month for 36 months (with $249 deposit). That comes to $2,750 in total
- Freebies included: HyperByte (worth $699), witening kit, aligners case and a set of retainers
- Accepts insurance
- No extra costs
- Impression kit is $59 or free at a SmileShop
- SDC daytime amd nighttime treatments cost: $2,050 (one time payment)
- Accepts HSA, FSA and CareCredit
- Offers payment plans: you’ll pay $89 a month for 26 months ($250 deposit), which comes to $2,564 total
- Only includes a whitening kit as a freebie
- Accepts insurance
- Extra costs: retainers $99/set
Besides, if you want to get one of these treatments at the best price possible, there are two ways to do it: using their offers (there is always a Byte promo code and the byte student discount available, and a Smile Direct Club coupon or offer available), or having insurance.
Comparison of Convenience and Ease of Use
Byte and Smile Direct are different in a couple of things regarding the ease of use: the HyperByte tool and how much time you have to wear each alignment set.
- The aligners are not trimmed around the gum line
- Daytime aligners should be worn 22 hours per day and nighttime 10 hours
- You have to use the HyperByte tool 5 min a day to reduce pain and shorten your treatment
- It has an app to track your process
- About once a month, you’ll have dental “check-ins”
- You should wear each aligner for at least seven days
- Chewies included to help you seat the aligners on your teeth
- The aligners are not trimmed around the gum line
- Daytime aligners should be worn 22 hours per day and nighttime 10 hours
- Doesn't offer a tool to shorten the treatment time
- It has an app to track your process
- Regular virtual Smile Check-ins™
- Aligners should be changed every one to two weeks
- Movemints included to help you seat the aligners on your teeth
Comparison of Results and Effectiveness
In terms of results and effectiveness, both companies have shown promising outcomes for patients seeking to straighten their teeth. However, it’s crucial to check and compare these aspects before choosing one or the other because there are some factors like the predictability of results may affect the final outcome.
- The brand sends you a 3D visualization of your current smile and what it could look like after your treatment
- Byte offers free refinements called ‘overcorrection aligners’
- Mostly positive reviews: 4.2 start out of 5 in Trustpilot
- Based on a clinical trial, Byte is more likely to need more overcorrections if you change your aligners after the minimum time (7 days).
- Before starting your plan, you can see a before and after 3D visualization of how your teeth will move with treatment
- Thanks to SDC guarantee, if you need refinements, you’ll get them for free
- Mostly positive reviews: 4.6 start out of 5 in Trustpilot
- Based on evidence, due to the fact that SDC requires aligners to be changed every 14 weeks, this treatment is less prone to refinements
Related to the results, it should be noted that all at-home teeth straightening treatments may pose certain risks. Byte has a specific page on its website where you can find a list of the risks, some of them are: allergic reaction, black triangles, damage to nerves and root resorption. But, if you want to know which are the risks related to SmileDirectClub, the brand doesn’t provide any information about it; however, we were able to find some articles with real SDC customer testimonials complaining about side effects like crossbite or tooth loss (even though based on Smile Direct Club reviews found online the brand is a bit better than Byte).
Byte Vs Smile Direct Club Reviews: The Timeline
During your comparison of Byte vs Smile Direct Club, you also need to consider the timeline. This will let you know what to expect during the process.
Byte
- Use the at-home kit
- Use the at-home An orthodontist reviews your scans, medical history, and photos to see if you’re a candidate.
- If approved, you’ll receive your treatment plan (an 3D interactive model) shortly after you send your impressions in.
- If you're happy with your treatment plan, you'll receive your aligners within two weeks
- You’ll use the clear aligners and Hyperbyte system to straighten your teeth which can shorten your treatment to four months
SmileDirectClub
- Go to a SmileShop to undergo a scan or use the at-home kit
- Your impressions will go to a dentist or orthodontist who will review them along with your medical history and photographs
- You will receive the treatment plan (3D visualization) within 72 hours to review
- If you agree to the plan, you’ll receive your clear teeth aligners within 4-5 weeks
- You’ll use the clear aligners and finish your treatment in about 6 months
Overview of Byte Aligners
Based in Philadelphia and co-founded by Dr. Jon Marashi -a famous dentist among celebrities- in 2019, Byte may seem the same as other clear aligner brands. Still, they offer some differences that make it worth it. They offer a different methodology for determining your treatment, an accelerated tooth alignment system (the HyperByte tool), and a lifetime guarantee for your aligners. Besides, we also may highlight its excellent customer experience, which makes this company one of the best invisible aligners companies you can find, and that the brand offers the quickest treatment plan on the market, as you can get your teeth straightened in as little as four months.
Overview of SmileDirectClub Aligners
SmileDirectClub ranks as one of the best clear aligners brands, primarily because of their continued success with teeth straightening aligners and customer service initiatives. The company is based in Nashville, TN, and has been in business since 2014. Their main goal has been to provide affordable oral care to everyone, and their customer service is responsive and focused on the customer. One of the key differences between SmileDirectClub and other brands is that, even though it is a 100% at-home treatment, they have locations all over the country where you can get a free 3D scan.
Why Choose Byte?
Byte is an excellent choice for clear aligners. First, the Hyperbyte technology makes Byte stand out for all the right reasons. You’ll likely have straight teeth in three months, which is superior to other options out there. Also, because the Hyperbyte technology ensures an accurate fit, the aligners are more comfortable.
Byte’s warranty is also outstanding. While SDC offers a warranty that you must apply for within 30 days of treatment, Byte has a byte-for-Life Guarantee. Your warranty lasts your entire lifetime. If your teeth move after you finish treatment, just contact Byte for additional aligners at no cost to you.
Treatment time with Byte aligners is usually shorter compared to SmileDirectClub. Thanks to the HyperByte tool, you can get quicker results compared to other at-home teeth aligner brands.
Speaking of great deals, you’ll also get free retainers with Byte. You’ll need to wear retainers after finishing your treatment plan, so your newly aligned teeth don’t move out of place. While lots of companies charge for retainers, you don’t have to worry about paying extra with Byte.
Paying is even easy with Byte. If you don’t have the money to pay upfront, you can finance it without a credit check. This is great news if you want straight teeth but don’t have great credit.
And last but not least, Byte's customer services is outstanding. If you take a look at Byte's customer reviews, everybody highlights its excellent responsiveness and will to help their customers with any problem.
If you want fast results, Byte is a top option. It’s fast, convenient, and countless people are pleased with the results. Although, if you’re not entirely sure about which’s best, you can read Byte Reviews to clear your doubts or check other Byte alternatives in TheTeethBlog.
And if you want to research more about online teeth aligners brands, and you like this Byte comparison review, we have more! Like our Candid vs Smile Direct Club comparative review or Smilelove vs Smile Direct Club post or our review of the best invisible braces brands.
FAQ
The three brands are similar, in a way, as they are teeth alignment brands that treat alignment issues with a dental plan curated by a dental professional that consists of a series of clear aligners. However, there are some differences; for example, Invisalign can treat more complex cases, it does not offer a 100% remote treatment as regular office visits are mandatory, and the final price is more expensive than both Byte and Smile Direct, being the final cost on average from $3000 to $8000.
Byte is usually cheaper than Smile Direct Club because Byte doesn’t have any location to get 3D scans, and the treatment time is shorter (making the brand use fewer resources as they send you fewer aligners and the dental professionals work less time).
Yes, they can be covered. First, however, you have to go through your insurance details and check if you have orthodontic benefits included in it; in that case, part of the treatment can be covered. Some of the orthodontic insurance options are Humana, Delta Dental, or Cigna.
Yes, both of the brands offer discounts, and, from time to time, they also offer promotional codes to get the treatments at an affordable price. In addition, you can also find permanent promos for both brands like students and military discounts to cut the treatment cost up to 20% off.
No, neither of the brands are suitable for everyone. Both brands only cover mild to moderate cases of misalignment, and customers that have crowns most of the time don’t qualify either. This is because they are 100% remote dental brands and those type of cases need an in person monitoring to avoid possible complications.
Customers have varying opinions about Byte and Smile Direct Club aligners. While some have had positive experiences with the treatment and the companies, others have raised concerns about customer service, treatment effectiveness, and pricing. Byte has a 4,7 stars, while Smile Direct Club has 4,6 stars in Trustpilot.
Yes, it is possible to switch from Byte to Smile Direct Club aligners or vice versa. However, it is important to note that the treatment plans of each company may vary, and switching between the two brands may require additional assessments and costs (as you will start your alignment treatment all over again). Before making a switch, it's best to consult with your orthodontist or dental professional and discuss your options with the customer service teams of both Byte and Smile Direct Club.
Sources
- Predictability of orthodontic tooth movement with aligners: effect of treatment design. (2023). Retrieved 28 April 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9840984/
- 'Things didn't feel right': Some SmileDirectClub customers report problems. (2020). Retrieved 28 April 2023, from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/things-didn-t-feel-right-some-smiledirectclub-customers-report-problems-n1134056
- Overcorrection Aligners: How They Work & Their Effectiveness. (2023). Retrieved 28 April 2023, from https://www.byte.com/community/resources/article/overcorrection-aligners-work-effectiveness/
Can I use byte with implants?
Yes, you can. But, first, the byte team will have to take a look at your impressions to make sura that the treatment will. In case you take those impressions and you aren’t a candidate, byte will refund the entire price.
thanks for the article.. very informative
Can I use byte with a 3 teeth bridge?
Hi, Dana!
Normally, yes, you can use byte even though you have teeth bridges. However, you must ask the company first because it will depend on your case.
Hope this helps!
How does Byte correct for off center misalignment (i.e., centerline of front teeth is left or right of center of nose/face),
without having to push one side molars back?