When researching teeth straightening treatments, keep an eye on your wallet and bank account, because it’s an investment. But don’t let that scare you off! At-home aligners have made orthodontic treatment much more affordable. Still, depending on your condition and the treatment you choose, you could be looking at anywhere between $1,500 and $8,000.
At-home aligner systems like Byte are more affordable than traditional options (like Invisalign) because they cut out the expense of office visits. But the prices advertised on a company’s website aren’t always what you end up paying. Byte’s sticker price is already pretty affordable, but a few factors can alter it. In this guide, we’ll lay out everything that could contribute to the cost of Byte aligners.
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Byte Cost: At a Glance
Byte costs $2,199 if you choose their All-Day plan and $2,599 if you go with Byte At-Night. However, you’ll also need to purchase the impression kit, and if you enroll in BytePay financing, you’ll end up paying a little more in the long run.
| Byte All-Day | Byte At-Night | |
|---|---|---|
| Sticker Price | $2,199 | $2,599 |
| CareCredit Financing Plan | $94/month for 36 months. | $111/month for 36 months. |
| Impression Kit | $95 | $95 |
| Byte Protection Plan (Optional) | $849 | $849 |
| Total (No Financing) | $2,294 | $2,594 |
| Total (CareCredit Financing) | $3,302 | $3,914 |
What is Byte?
Byte is a company that produces customized clear aligners designed to correct cosmetic dental misalignments. Using dental molds from the impression kit you’ll purchase, the company’s dental team will create a treatment plan to address your specific issues, then deliver a series of clear aligners to your door.
And you won’t need to make a single trip to the dentist’s office. So even though Byte can’t address severe misalignments like braces or Invisalign, it’s much more convenient and affordable.
For a deep dive into all of Byte’s features, check out our full Byte review.
How Much Does Byte Cost?
Byte is a bargain compared to traditional in-office treatments — but it’s still an investment. While most people will pay around the same price, there are several factors that contribute to the cost of Byte.
Sticker Price
Byte’s total cost is $2,199, which places it right around the home aligner industry average. This price includes your full aligner treatment, a protective case, BrightByte whitening treatment, your first set of aftercare retainers, and the HyperByte high-frequency vibration device.
They also offer a nighttime-only treatment called Byte-At-Night, which costs $2,599 because of its specialized design and materials. The only piece of your treatment process this price doesn’t include is the impression kit.
Impression Kit
Before they can develop an effective treatment plan and ensure it will deliver the results you want, Byte’s network orthodontists need to get a look at your teeth. So, you’ll need to submit impressions of your dental arches. Their impression kit, which allows you to create these molds, costs $95 (although we’ve seen them on sale for as low as $29.95).
Retainers
After you complete your treatment, you’ll need to wear retainers to ensure that your teeth don’t shift back. You’re required to keep them in all day for the first two weeks after treatment, then overnight after that. These retainers are with you for the long haul, since dental professionals and researchers recommend wearing them for life.
Even though Byte includes your first set in the initial cost, you will need to replace your retainers every six months, and each additional set costs $140. These subsequent sets aren’t included in the cost of treatment, so you’ll have to work this ongoing expense into your budget.
Byte Protection Plan
You’ll need to order new retainers every six months, and those costs can add up. If you enroll in the Byte Protection Plan, you’ll get five years’ worth of retainers for $849. Instead of placing individual orders twice per year, Byte will ship your replacements automatically. You’ll get ten sets in total, so you’ll pay around $80 per set instead of $140 per set.
Whitening Products
Byte’s $2,199 sticker price includes one bottle of “BrightByte” whitening foam, which you can pump into your aligners during your treatment. After you’ve finished your aligner plan, you can continue using BrightByte with your retainers, but additional bottles cost $30 each.
If you want a higher-powered whitening experience, you can purchase BrightByte Pro for $150, or a set of three BrightByte Pro Travel Pens for $40.
Refinements
What if your treatment doesn’t go quite as planned? Byte won’t offer refunds after you’ve begun your treatment, but their Aligner Guarantee ensures your satisfaction with your new smile. So, if you’re dissatisfied with your results, they will re-evaluate your plan to get you back on track.
The best part? If they approve your re-evaluation, Byte’s orthodontists will modify your treatment and create new aligners for free. This is assuming, of course, that you wore your aligners for the recommended 22+ hours per day — or ten hours per day with Byte At-Night — and used your HyperByte device correctly during treatment.
And Byte takes this a step further with their Byte for Life Guarantee, which protects your smile forever, as long as you purchase two retainer sets per year and wear them as directed. If your teeth shift out of alignment down the road, even years in the future, Byte will provide additional aligners to correct it.
Discounts & Promotions
If you’re a bargain hunter, you might be on the lookout for Byte sales and promo codes already. However, Byte’s pricing is fairly consistent. They don’t often run promotional discounts like some of their competitors. Certain times of the year, like Cyber Monday and around the holidays, they will run sales on some of their products, but otherwise, you probably shouldn’t bank on any promotional price cuts.
You may find coupons from third-party sites online, and some of them might be legitimate, but you should always verify a site’s trustworthiness and reliability to avoid falling for a scam.
We stay on top of the latest Byte discounts, and you can take advantage using our Byte discount guide.
Financing Options
Paying the full price right off the bat might not be reasonable for your current budget, and that’s okay! Byte has a variety of financing options, most notably CareCredit and BytePay (their own financing plan). Through CareCredit, you can pay just $94 per month for 36 months with no down payment. Or, if you choose Byte-At-Night treatment, it’s $111 per month for 36 months with no down payment.
When you include interest, the total for for All-Day treatment via CareCredit is $3,207 and $3,819 for At-Night — not including the impression kit or other expenses — so it’s more expensive to finance via CareCredit than upfront. Other financing options are available and can be discussed with your Byte Advisor.
What About Insurance?
Your dental insurance probably covers most (if not all) of your necessary procedures, things like cleanings, fillings, root canals, etc. The issue with clear aligner treatment is that some insurance providers will consider it a cosmetic treatment and, therefore, not eligible for coverage. This is especially true for at-home aligners, which typically treat milder misalignments. So, you’ll want to consult your insurance provider to determine whether they offer orthodontic benefits specifically for Byte’s treatment.
If your plan includes orthodontic benefits, they’ll likely cover part of the cost rather than the entire thing. Byte cannot accept these payments directly from your insurer, but they will help you submit the forms necessary for reimbursement. They even have partnerships with a few insurance providers, including:
You’re not automatically guaranteed coverage if you have one of these providers, but there’s a chance they might help out. It all depends on your plan.
Alternatively, if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Byte accepts payments from either. These tax-free funds — which may receive contributions from your employer — could be more convenient than paying out of pocket.
How Does The Cost Compare to Other Treatment Options?
Byte isn’t the cheapest option out there, but it’s far from the most expensive one. The $2,199 All-Day price is right around the standard for home aligner systems, especially considering everything that’s included. For reference, in-office treatments like Invisalign often cost between $3,000 and $8,000. And specialty treatments like lingual braces can be up to $10,000, making Byte a much more affordable option.
Even so, you’ll notice that other home aligner companies like AlignerCo and NewSmile offer lower prices. Although Byte’s costs are slightly higher, we still think they provide an incredible value. As part of your aligner package, they’ll include a high-frequency vibration device called the HyperByte. Devices like this are intended to seat your aligners better, providing a more comfortable fit for some customers. Research reviewed by our non-clinical team also suggests that they might encourage faster dental shifts in certain cases. That, paired with their Byte for Life Guarantee, makes Byte well worth the extra couple hundred dollars in our opinion.
Learn more about other at-home aligner companies in our review of the top five options. And for the most budget-friendly options, see our guide to the most affordable aligner treatments.
What Are Customers Saying?
Every teeth-straightening treatment is an investment — whether it’s Byte, Invisalign, or any other option — and we understand that taking the plunge can be intimidating. Sometimes, the best way to evaluate your options and gain confidence is to see how each treatment worked for other people.
Want more customer feedback? We’ve got these, plus 200+ more unbiased Byte reviews we’ve gathered from real users at various stages of the treatment process. Or, check out some of the video reviews our readers have submitted below!
Final Thoughts
Fitting clear aligner treatment into your budget can feel like a puzzle, so cost might be one of the first and only factors you analyze. While each company has different prices, they all offer their own unique advantages, so it’s important to measure them against your goals and financial circumstances. Choose Byte and you’ll get a reasonably affordable option from a reputable company that offers strong customer guarantees and claims an average treatment plan length of just 4–5 months.
While it’s tempting to choose a company solely based on price, it shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision. Clear aligner systems are multifaceted and vary not just in price, but also in scope of treatment, convenience, appearance, and customer support. Look for a treatment that doesn’t just match your budget, but also delivers the results you want in the other four categories. Lay out your priorities, then measure each company against them, and soon you’ll be taking the first steps toward your ideal smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Byte cost altogether?
Byte’s sticker price is $2,199 for All-Day treatment or $2,599 for their At-Night plan. Plus, their impression kit is $95, and although they provide one set of retainers for free, they’re $140 per set after that (unless you enroll in the Byte Protection Plan). Discounts and insurance coverage may reduce that price, and a financing plan can make it more manageable.
Is Byte worth it?
We think so. If you have a mild or moderate misalignment, it’s a cheaper and more convenient alternative to traditional in-office treatments. However, if you have a severe misalignment or bite issue, you might need a more robust treatment.
Does insurance cover Byte?
It might, but it depends entirely on your plan. Byte has partnerships with Aetna, Anthem, Empire, and Guardian, although that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get coverage if you work with one of those companies. If your plan has orthodontic benefits, it might cover a portion of your Byte treatment. Just remember: many plans have lifetime spending and age limits.
Contact your insurance provider to know for sure if your plan will work for at-home clear aligners.
Is Byte FSA or HSA eligible?
Yes! You can use an FSA or HSA to help pay for Byte aligners. Contact your account administrator for details.
How does Byte work?
You’ll use an impression kit to make molds of your teeth, which Byte’s dental team will use to determine your candidacy and design your treatment plan. If you approve it, they’ll manufacture a series of aligners and mail them to your home. If you wear these aligners as prescribed, they’ll gradually shift your teeth into alignment.
What are some Byte alternatives?
If you’d prefer at-home clear aligners, we’d suggest looking into SmileDirectClub, NewSmile, or AlignerCo. Candid also has an intriguing hybrid treatment that incorporates visits with a local dentist. And if you have a more severe misalignment or prefer in-person care, ClearCorrect, SureSmile, 3M Clarity, and Invisalign are solid options.
Check out our guide to the six best clear aligners for a lot more info.
How long does Byte take?
Byte claims their standard treatment plans are usually 4–5 months long, and they say their At-Night plans are 5–6 months long, on average. However, your timeline depends almost entirely on your specific misalignment.
Kim Toensfeldt says
This is moreso a testimonial than comment/question. I am a 32 year old woman who has struggled with every young woman’s worst insecurities, Gapped teeth, bad acne, and hair that just never really has it’s good days. I have tried to get over insecurities like this because I am aware that people shouldn’t be judged by their appearance but rather by their character, but it’s a mantra that is much more easily said than done. I have 2 lovely parents who both had perfect teeth without any procedures, and a bully of an older brother who was a constant pest and loved to play off of my insecurities more than anything, so he was (and still is) just smitten that my parents didn’t “opt in” on braces for me when I was in grade school. It seems so silly to be self conscious of gaps that could be so much worse, but it isn’t so easy to control how you see yourself when you look in the mirror. With anxiety, I just hope I can look in the mirror without crying or having a breakdown because of my skin/teeth, so if that makes me a “spoiled baby” I guess I’m a spoiled baby. I promise these things aren’t done because I enjoy feeling and looking like a nervous wreck all day. I just need a leg up, and unfortunately I just don’t have it.