SmileDirectClub is by far the biggest name in the home teeth alignment industry. They were the first company to start offering clear aligners for at-home applications, and they have more experience than most of their competitors combined. Due to their constant advertising, they’re often the first name that comes to mind for at-home teeth alignment, but these days, there are several other options.
There are now several companies that we feel offer better deals for home teeth alignment in Australia than SmileDirectClub. That’s why we put together this article that will examine the finer details of SmileDirectClub and its competitors. Is SmileDirectClub the best choice for you? Or can another company beat their offer?
Let’s walk through the top three SmileDirectClub alternatives in Australia and determine which you should use for your teeth alignment.
Table of Contents
#1: Byte
Byte combines exclusive technological advancements and top-notch customer support, making them our top pick for SmileDirectClub alternatives. While SmileDirectClub has much more experience, Byte has shorter average treatment lengths, while still slightly undercutting SmileDirectClub’s pricing. They’ve only been around for a few years, but Byte is unquestionably worth a look.
Pros
- No competitor can beat Byte’s alignment times. Thanks to their “HyperByte” device, which vibrates against your teeth to encourage them to shift faster, Byte offers an average treatment timeline of 4–5 months.
- The Byte for Life Guarantee promises that you’ll love your newly aligned smile for as long as you live. Even if your teeth shift several years down the road, Byte will work with you to achieve the results you want, at no extra charge.
- Byte has the best customer support in the home teeth alignment industry. Their representatives are knowledgeable and friendly, and they do a great job of staying in touch throughout the alignment process.
- With Byte, you’ll receive your first set of retainers for free. SmileDirectClub charges an additional $165 to purchase aftercare retainers.
Cons
- SmileDirectClub gives customers the choice between an at-home impression kit and an in-office professional teeth scan. Unfortunately, Byte has no retail locations, so your only option is a DIY impression kit.
- When it comes to experience, SmileDirectClub outpaces Byte by a long shot. SmileDirectClub was the first company to sell home aligners, and they’ve already straightened more than 1.5 million smiles.
Byte: The Bottom Line
In our opinion, Byte is the best SmileDirectClub alternative in Australia. Byte’s proprietary HyperByte device encourages fast and effective tooth shifts, and they come out ahead when it comes to pricing and customer feedback. It’s tough to top what Byte has to offer!
Special Offer: Get 50% off impression kit + $100 off aligners
#2: EZ Smile
EZ Smile is a well-rounded company offering affordable teeth alignments backed up by the industry’s best guarantee. They don’t have the lowest prices or most experience, but EZ Smile has many strengths and very few weaknesses. EZ Smile says they can align your smile in 4–8 months, which is roughly comparable with SmileDirectClub’s 4–6 month timeframe, and they beat SmileDirectClub’s prices by hundreds.
Pros
- Do you want to save some money compared to SmileDirectClub and Byte? EZ Smile undercuts those companies’ prices, as they charge just $2,499.
- This is not an industry known for having generous refund policies. Thankfully, EZ Smile is the exception. They give customers 90 days to decide if they’re pleased with their alignment progress. If you aren’t, they will gladly refund your money for any reason, minus a $300 planning fee.
- EZ Smile has four different payment options — including paying outright, two that don’t require down payments, and one that doesn’t need a credit check — to make their services widely accessible.
- Like SmileDirectClub, EZ Smile gives customers the choice of a home impression kit or an in-office teeth scan. However, EZ Smile has 13 dental partnerships across Australia.
- EZ Smile is based in Australia, whereas both SmileDirectClub and Byte are American companies. If you prefer to buy Australian, EZ Smile is a great option.
Cons
- Most of their competitors offer nighttime-only alignment plans for people who are too busy to wear aligners all day. Unfortunately, EZ Smile only offers all-day alignments, meaning you’ll need to wear your clear aligners for 22 hours per day.
- Unlike some other at-home aligner companies, EZ Smile doesn’t require virtual check-ins to monitor your progress beyond one photo upload halfway through treatment.
#3: SmilePath
If you want the lowest prices available for teeth alignment in Australia, look no further than SmilePath. Their $1,899 price point is impressive enough before you consider the fact that they offer frequent sales that can save you even more money. SmilePath might not be the most fully-featured SmileDirectClub alternative, but who can complain about these great rates?
Pros
- SmilePath is easily your cheapest option for teeth alignment in Australia. At just $1,899, they’re the only company offering alignments for less than $2,000. Even more impressive is the fact that they frequently offer discounts that make their prices even more affordable.
- Impressively, those low prices include some great features. You’ll receive your first set of retainers for free, while SmileDirectClub charges extra.
- Like SmileDirectClub and Byte, SmilePath offers nighttime-only alignments for people who would rather not wear aligners all day long.
- SmilePath has a fabulous reputation for customer satisfaction. They have hundreds of reviews available online and they maintain high average scores. Their customers seem pleased with the convenience and value SmilePath offers.
- Just because they have low prices doesn’t mean SmilePath offers subpar customer support. Their representatives are easy to reach, and they’ve always provided us with accurate responses to our questions.
Cons
- With SmilePath, your only option to start the alignment process is to take molds of your own teeth at home. They do not have any physical office locations or dental partnerships in Australia, so you can’t get an in-person teeth scan.
- Unlike SmileDirectClub, SmilePath doesn’t have a proprietary app for remote oversight. Any photos you submit for SmilePath’s team to review will need to be sent over email. That’s not the end of the world; it’s just a much less streamlined system.
SmilePath: The Bottom Line
Is pricing your top priority? If so, SmilePath is certainly worth considering as a SmileDirectClub alternative. They don’t have an app for customers or any retail locations, so they’re not an industry leader when it comes to additional features. Still, if you just want to affordably align your teeth, give SmilePath a long look.
What About Invisalign?
Invisalign was the first company to offer clear aligners, and they’re still the most popular. Invisalign has straightened millions of smiles, and the in-office aspect of their process allows your dental care team to generate more significant shifts than any at-home aligner can.
Invisalign’s big advantage over the home alignment competition is the way your dentist or orthodontist can incorporate attachments to fix issues like crossbite, overbite, or underbite. While at-home aligners can align mild or moderate spacing and crowding issues, they can’t fix those more serious issues.
This is a big reason that Invisalign costs so much more than these home aligner companies. The in-person appointments with your dentist or orthodontist drive up your prices considerably, but the added personalization makes it worthwhile if you’re experiencing significant alignment problems.
How Should I Evaluate My Options?
When making your final decision for which company to use, it’s important to evaluate several key areas of each company’s services. We typically analyze the following five categories — if you’re having trouble making a decision, consider how each option compares to the others in these areas.
- Effectiveness: How quickly can each company align your teeth? Do they cut your aligners straight across the gums to make them more powerful, or do they trim them to match your unique gumline? Factors like these help determine how effective each company’s services are.
- Affordability: Pricing always matters, but it’s not just about the sticker price. Make sure to evaluate the total value of each company’s offering, incorporating free bonuses like aftercare retainers and whitening products. Payment plans are also a crucial part of this category, especially if you can’t afford to pay for your alignment in an up-front payment.
- Convenience: Every at-home aligner company is more convenient than Invisalign or braces. But it’s important to analyze how these companies compare to each other in this area too. Do they offer in-person professional teeth scans? Do they provide a nighttime-only option?
- Appearance: All clear aligners are more discreet than braces. However, each company uses different materials and designs. Some craft aligners from frosted, textured plastic, while others use smooth, transparent material. Some let their aligners overlap the gums while others trim them to match the gum line. Which looks best depends on your personal preferences.
- Customer Experience: This category includes analyzing customer support networks and customer feedback. How does the company provide customer service? Do they receive high-quality reviews? These questions are always important, especially considering that home aligner companies don’t require office visits, so if anything goes wrong or you have some questions, you need to know that your alignment company has your back.
Depending on your priorities, we put these companies together into categories, showcasing which company is your best bet for each individual criterion.
- Most Effective: Byte
- Most Affordable: SmilePath
- Most Convenient: SmileDirectClub
- Best-Looking: SmileDirectClub
Final Thoughts
SmileDirectClub is an excellent company with many advantages, and we think you’ll be a satisfied customer whether you use their services or one of the other companies in this guide. However, they’re not the cheapest or most efficient option for home teeth alignment in Australia, so it’s important that you look into all your options.
If you want more information about any of the four companies in this article, feel free to check out our full-length reviews of each company, or our in-depth comparison review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most convenient SmileDirectClub alternative?
EZ Smile has 13 partnerships with dentists across Australia to provide in-office professional teeth scans, while SmileDirectClub has just six. If you’re looking for nighttime alignment, Byte and SmilePath are both great options too.
Which clear aligners are the least noticeable?
We think SmileDirectClub’s frosted plastic makes their aligners the least noticeable of the four companies profiled in this article.
Which at-home aligner companies offer nighttime-only treatment?
All of the companies in this article offer night-only alignment plans, except for EZ Smile.
Which at-home aligner company is right for me?
You should evaluate each company on its customer support, appearance, convenience, affordability, and effectiveness. This will help you determine which one has your best interests in mind.
Which conditions can at-home aligners treat?
For the most part, home alignment is only for mild instances of crowding and spacing. If you have a more significant alignment issue — like a severe bite misalignment — traditional orthodontics might be your best bet.
Does insurance cover clear aligner treatment?
In most cases, insurers consider clear aligner treatment an optional cosmetic procedure, and refuse to cover it. Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask your insurance company.
How do I get started with home aligners?
With any home aligner service, the first step is providing your dental care team with high-quality images of your teeth so they can determine whether you’re a good candidate for their treatment. EZ Smile and SmileDirectClub give customers the option to scan their own teeth at home or get a professional teeth scan in person, but Byte and SmilePath only offer home impression kits.
Are home aligners safe?
Yes. We understand if you have some reservations about aligning your teeth at home, but the aligners you’ll use are still professionally designed and implemented. Millions of people have already successfully aligned their teeth using home aligners.
Do home aligners hurt?
It’s possible that you will experience some mild discomfort when you switch to a new set of aligners because they might be a tighter fit than you’re used to. However, it’s likely that this discomfort will fade quickly, and you’ll barely even notice your aligners within a day or two.
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