No one likes to go to the dentist. Frankly, it’s a hassle: you have to set up an appointment and endure the annoyance of the dentist’s office.
Then they give you a referral to the orthodontist, making you repeat the process. All. Over. Again. Is a straight smile worth all the trouble?
Luckily, there’s an alternative: you can get a million-dollar smile from the comfort of your own home with home clear aligners. Using a home clear alignment system, you can ditch the dentist and straighten your teeth on your own. Home clear aligners aren’t just convenient, either. For many people, they’re also much faster and cheaper than braces.
Byte is just one of the many clear aligner companies on the market. And quite frankly, they’re one of our favorites. But is Byte right for you? In this review, we’ll give you the full scoop on Byte: the good, the bad, and how to know if they’re right for you.
Smile Tip: According to our research, Byte provides a better customer experience than any other clear aligner service.
Is Byte Legit?
Byte is just one of several companies in the teledentistry scene, which is still a relatively new industry (the “oldest” company started in just 2014). Byte got started in 2018, so if you’re wondering whether they’re “too good to be true,” you’re not alone.
But there’s a lot to love about Byte. In the few years they’ve been on the market, Byte has already served thousands of customers. And there’s a lot to love about them: the fastest treatment times, thousands of positive third-party reviews, and giving back to the community. In a short time, they’ve proven themselves as an excellent resource for teeth-straightening.
Honestly, there aren’t a ton of negatives to Byte’s treatment (although we’ll cover them in-depth later). The primary downside is that Byte only works for mild to moderate cosmetic cases.
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How Does Byte Work?
Byte is relatively simple: they ship you an impression kit. Then, you take molds of your teeth, and send them back so Byte can design and ship custom aligners to kick off your treatment. For most people, treatment lasts 3 months. Here’s a fly-by of what to expect when using Byte:
- Step 1: You order an Impression Kit from Byte and “Impress Yourself.” Using their kit, you’ll create molds of your teeth and send them back to Byte; shipping is easy thanks to a prepaid shipping label.
- Step 2: Byte analyzes the mold you’ve created to develop a treatment plan that’s unique to you.
- Step 3: Pay for your treatment all in one go, or sign up for Bytepay and pay as you go.
- Step 4: You wear the custom aligners sent to you by Byte and gradually make your way to a straighter smile.
Byte Pros & Cons
Byte and other home clear aligner systems are all pretty convenient, but there are other perks, too. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of using Byte to straighten your teeth:
Byte Advantages
✔ Byte’s HyperByte device ensures that your treatment goes as fast as possible. This high-frequency vibration therapy, provided you use it for five minutes daily, makes your teeth move faster and helps your aligners fit better.
✔ Byte is buyer-friendly. Their base price is a great value, and if you’d rather pay in installments, Byte doesn’t require a credit check for Bytepay.
✔ Byte offers a lifetime smile guarantee: if your teeth shift after treatment, Byte sends you new aligners at no additional cost. Your first set of aftercare retainers are free, too.
Byte Disadvantages
✖ Byte is best suited for cosmetic dental cases. They can handle some complicated cases, but if you need extensive corrections, you’d be better off visiting your orthodontist or using an in-office treatment.
✖ Byte’s payment plans tack on several hundreds extra to your total treatment cost (granted it’s spread out over the course of 32 months, but it’s worth mentioning).
✖ Byte doesn’t have retail locations like Candid or SmileDirectClub, so ordering an impression kit is the only way to get started.
Treatment Efficiency
Everyone will have a slightly different experience with Byte. That’s because everyone’s smile is different. Your treatment timeline depends on a few factors:
- The severity of your teeth crowding or spacing
- How long you wear your aligners each day
- Whether or not you regularly use the HyperByte
Byte prides themselves on their ability to perfect your smile faster than their competitors. Most treatments take about 6 months; but with Byte, the average treatment lasts just 3-4 months.
This speed advantage is thanks to their HyperByte device, which uses vibrations to help shift your teeth faster than aligners alone. Not only does this speed up your treatment, but it also reduces discomfort for most customers.
Customer Reviews of Byte
Buying anything on the internet is convenient, but sometimes it’s hard to trust. In the “old days,” you could just ask your family and neighbors for their recommendations. Now, word of mouth often gets replaced with online reviews. What are other customers saying about Byte?
It’s important to account for both the good and the bad. So, here are a few of the things customers like about Byte:
- Easy to use the impression kit
- Noticeable results within a matter of weeks
- Excellent customer support thanks to personal Byte advisors
But there are a couple drawbacks, too:
- Mix-ups can occur with dental insurance billing
- Monthly financing adds a substantial amount to the treatment cost
On the whole, it seems that Byte is a pretty safe bet when it comes to customer satisfaction. There’s always the potential for something to go wrong, but in all the cases we’ve seen, Byte’s customer support team is always able to find a solution.
Bottom line: Byte aims to provide a great experience for their customers. If you have any issues, you can trust that Byte’s US-based customer support team won’t leave you hanging.
Byte Prices & Features
Byte is more affordable than braces, but there is still cost involved. Here’s the impact Byte will have on your wallet:
- Impression kit, $95: The impression kit gets the ball rolling with your treatment. The kit’s cost is non-refundable unless you’re not a candidate for treatment. That said, the impression kit includes an orthodontist or dentist review and a customized treatment plan at no extra cost. And sometimes you can catch it on sale for as low as $19.95.
- Total cost of treatment, $1,895 or $2,295: The system includes everything you’ll need to straighten your teeth without stepping foot in the orthodontist’s office. You’ll get all the aligners in your treatment, the HyperByte system, and a free month of Byte’s whitening treatment. Keep in mind that Byte At-Night is their premium service, so it costs $2,295 instead.
Byte offers two payment options: you can pay the $1,895 or $2,295 all in one go, or you can enroll in Bytepay. There is no credit approval involved, so less-than-stellar credit scores can still get straight smiles. Bytepay requires a $249 downpayment, and then it’s $82/month for 32 months.
Customer Support
Byte keeps their customers at the center of all they do, and it shines through in their customer support. For example, if you opt into text messaging, a Byte representative will reach out through each step of the process: impressions, ordering your treatment plan, wearing your aligners, and so on.
But if you ever need to initiate contact, you’ll find it’s pretty easy to get in contact through phone, email, and even social media. A phone call is the fastest method—you can call them from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PST). Social media and email queries take a bit longer, though – you may wait up to 24 hours for a response.
Regardless of how you contact Byte, customers rave about their support service, even mentioning their customer service agent by name.
Each Byte customer also gets their own personal byte advisor. This advisor checks in periodically to ensure your journey to a straight smile is going well. No other home aligner company provides this level of personalized care.
Byte Alternatives
Is Byte right for you? (Sorry for the cheesy rhyme; we had to at least once!) But in all seriousness, your smile is a big decision. You keep it for life! So, you’ll also want to consider all the alternatives that are available. Byte’s our favorite service, but we still wanted to mention some other options to consider:
Candid
Candid offers more treatment oversight than any of their competitors, due to their CandidMonitoring system. Your aligner package includes a special imaging device that helps you send in regular photo updates to the Candid clinical team throughout your treatment. This ensures your treatment goes off without a hitch and stays on track!
AlignerCo
Byte is many things, but “cheapest” isn’t one of them (though we think they’re a fair value). That honor goes to AlignerCo. AlignerCo prides themselves on being the most affordable home aligner treatment—with a price tag of $1,145.
Smile Direct Club
With Smile Direct, you can take advantage of a nighttime treatment option to avoid wearing your aligners all day. They also have more than 300 SmileShop locations across the country, so it’s convenient to get started.
Should You Use Byte?
Byte has a lot of positives, but that doesn’t mean that they’re right for everyone. Let’s talk about when you should use Byte and when you should steer clear.
✔ When to use Byte:
Byte can treat most mild and moderate cases, even if you’ve had braces before. If you’re in a hurry, Byte is the best option: they’re twice as fast as most competitors.
✖ When NOT to use Byte:
If you have a bite issue like underbite or a severe case of crowding or spacing, then you’re probably not a good candidate for any home alignment system—Byte or otherwise. If your budget is super tight, Byte is not the cheapest method (although we think they’re a great value).
Final Verdict:
All told, we think Byte is a reliable option for anyone looking to correct a mild-to-moderate case of misalignment in a timely manner. They offer high-quality, efficient treatment at an affordable price. Plus, with their lifetime guarantee, you can be sure you’ll keep your new smile for life.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Byte ever offer discounts?
Byte runs sales fairly frequently, especially around the holidays. You can also take advantage of our exclusive byte discount any time of the year.
Additionally, Byte has a Military Discount Program. All military service members get $150 off their treatment, and they have discount programs for students and first responders. If you’re on their email list, you might also receive special offers for aligner or impression kit deals in your inbox.
What if I’m not happy with the outcome?
Byte is (largely) a non-refundable service. The only refund they offer is for their impression kit, which goes to individuals who aren’t good candidates for treatment. However, Byte does promise that you’ll love your smile for life. If your teeth shift after finishing treatment, even years down the road, Byte will give you new aligners, free of charge.
Does Byte offer nighttime-only treatment?
Yes! If you use Byte’s nighttime-only treatment, Byte At-Night, then your treatment schedule will look a touch different. You’ll change your aligners less often and use HyperByte twice as long each day. But you’ll only need to wear them 10 hours per day to see results. Rather than the average 3-4 month treatment time, Byte At-Night treatment lasts an average of 5-6 months.
Do I need an X-ray before Byte treatment?
No X-ray needed with Byte! The impression kit is all you need to get started, and it measures the spaces and orientation of your teeth, not your bone structure. That’s assuming you have a relatively normal bone structure, though. If you suspect that your jaw is a slightly different shape or that you have a bad overbite or underbite, then you may want to get an X-ray to be sure.
How does Byte compare to Candid, AlignerCo, and Smile Direct?
Candid gets the win in the ‘treatment oversight’ department. Byte is not the cheapest service (that honor goes to AlignerCo), nor is it the most experienced service on the market (Smile Direct). But Byte does blend a great value with exceptional customer service. Their biggest merit is their sheer treatment speed, however; it’s just 3-4 months (on average) thanks to their HyperByte system. That’s really short compared to Smile Direct’s 6 months and the 18-month average for braces.
Is Byte better than braces and Invisalign?
Yes! Byte is cheaper than both traditional braces and Invisalign. Before insurance, Byte costs $1,895 (or $2,295 for byte At-Night). Invisalign can cost several thousand dollars before insurance. The same goes for braces. Ultimately, Byte can cost thousands less.
Is Byte cheaper than braces or Invisalign?
Yes! Byte is cheaper than both traditional braces and Invisalign. Before insurance, Byte costs $1,895 (or $2,295 for byte At-Night). Invisalign can cost several thousand dollars before insurance. The same goes for braces. Ultimately, Byte can cost thousands less.
Does Byte treatment last forever?
Occasionally, teeth will shift post-treatment. As you age (or during a pregnancy), teeth have a tendency to move. If that happens, Byte promises to help. Their unrivaled Byte-For-Life guarantee ensures your smile for life. Just let them know that your smile has changed, and they’ll provide you with new aligners free of charge.
Does Byte offer teeth whitening services?
Yes! Byte includes BrightByte with every new customer kit. If you ever run out, you can buy a new bottle for $30 each. Buy a 6-bottle supply to get a unit price of $20 per bottle.
I’m in a rush – is Byte the fastest at-home treatment option available?
Byte prides themselves on their HyperByte system, which can halve treatment time for most users. That makes them the fastest treatment option on the market today.
Does Byte have a refund policy?
Byte does not offer refunds for their aligners or impression kits. The only exception to this: if you take impressions and turn out not to be a good candidate for treatment, they’ll refund the impression kit price along with anything you prepaid on your aligners. But if your smile doesn’t progress as expected, their orthodontists will work with you to get it back on track.
What happens if I mess up my impressions?
We’ll let Byte speak for themselves here: “If you send your impressions back and we can’t create an accurate set of aligners, we’ll contact you and send another impression kit.” Simple, right?
Does Byte have upsells?
Byte doesn’t have any hard upsells during their order process. They do have a soft one by including a free bottle of their whitening treatment, but that’s it. And since there’s no commitment to buy the whitener, it’s not really a true upsell.
Is there an age requirement for using Byte?
Byte treats anyone ages 12 and up. However, they do need written parental consent to treat anyone younger than 18. A related note: Byte recommends that you think about your wisdom teeth before getting alignment treatment. If you suspect you’ll need them removed, it’s in your best interest to take care of that first. Then your treatment will be the most effective.
Will Byte make me talk funny?
With any home aligner system, you have a foreign object in your mouth. That’s unavoidable. So, your mouth might feel a bit funny, and you could have the slightest hint of a lisp. For most people, though, the aligners are minimally invasive and practically imperceptible to others.
How many hours a day should I wear my Byte aligners?
If you use traditional Byte treatment, you need to wear your aligners for 22 hours a day. If you opt for the nighttime version, you’ll only wear them for 10 hours each day. You’ll have to use HyperByte for 10 minutes instead of the usual 5, though.
Can I drink coffee while using Byte?
With any aligners, you should not eat or drink anything (except water) with your aligners in. That said, you can remove them during meals and snacks, drink, replace them, and repeat as needed.
What happens if I lose my aligners (or retainers)?
Byte doesn’t offer free replacements for lost aligners. However, you can get a replacement for $129. Byte also recommends that you wear your most recent aligner in the meantime while waiting on the replacement.
Is Byte covered by insurance?
Byte works hand-in-hand with many insurance companies, but not all insurance types cover orthodontic treatment. Curious? Byte will run a free coverage check for you; just send them the details on your insurance card.
How Can I Contact Byte’s Customer Support?
You can contact Byte through their social media channels, but for more traditional support, it’s best to contact them via phone or email.