NewSmile vs. Byte Clear Aligners: The Core Differences

You’ve got a vision of a new, dazzling smile, plus a plan for how to get it — but there might be a couple of obstacles in your way. Maybe it’s the cost, or the office visits, or even the length of treatment. At-home aligner companies are knocking these barriers down, making it easier for adults to straighten their teeth and love their smiles.

Both Byte and NewSmile deliver clear aligners directly to your home, letting you straighten your teeth quickly and affordably with no office visits. But which one is better for you? This comparison guide digs into all the details, so you can make the right decision for your smile.

Byte vs. NewSmile: Overview

Byte and NewSmile are both affordable invisible aligner treatments. Either one can typically handle mild and moderate misalignments, but they boast different prices, products, and benefits.

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$1,899

$1,999

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Both NewSmile & Byte offer huge savings and convenience, but we think Byte is the better choice for two reasons:

• The HyperByte Device: Byte is the only at-home aligner company that includes high-frequency vibration device in the price of treatment. They say the HyperByte may help provide a more comfortable aligner fit. Plus, research suggests that devices like this, used daily, may encourage faster dental shifts for some customers.
• Exceptional Customer Support: Byte assigns each customer a personal advisor who can help you get started, and their My Byte app gives you a quick, easy way to access customer support. Plus, once you’re done with treatment, their Byte for Life Guarantee protects your smile forever.

Is Byte Right for You?

Everyone’s smile is unique, so the best treatment for you might be different than the best treatment for someone else. That said, we think Byte is a high-quality option for most people with mild or moderate misalignments. After reviewing their scope of treatment, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer support, we gave them a 4.3/5 overall — a higher rating than any other provider.

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Before you decide, talk to your dentist.

They know your teeth better than anyone, and they’ll know which treatment would work best for you. They’ll examine your teeth and take X-rays to make sure your mouth is healthy enough for clear aligners. Plus, they’ll check to see if you have any cavities, gingivitis, or other issues to address beforehand.

Now, let’s get into the details.

Scope of Treatment Comparison

NewSmile and Byte have each helped lots of adults love their smiles. But before you get your heart set on either choice, you need to know one thing: can they actually address your misalignment? If you have mild-to-moderate crowding in the front six teeth of either arch, they’ll both be solid bets. Anything beyond that, and you might end up needing in-office treatment instead.

What NewSmile and Byte Can Treat

According to the NewSmile representative we spoke with, their aligners can treat the following conditions:

• Mild-to-moderate crowding
• Mild-to-moderate spacing
• Mild-to-moderate overbite and overjet
• Localized crossbite
• Limited underbite
• Limited open bites

Additionally, their representative said their aligners help stop damage caused by bruxism (aka, tooth grinding).

According to Byte’s website, their aligners can treat:

• Mild-to-moderate crowding
• Mild-to-moderate spacing
• Some cases of overbite
• Some midline misalignment cases

At first glance, it sounds like NewSmile has a wider treatment scope, but the truth is that both companies are pretty much neck-in-neck here, primarily good for mild or moderate cases of crowding and spacing. And since neither can move the molars, they aren’t likely to tackle the more complex types of misalignments mentioned above.

What NewSmile and Byte Customers Say

Many at-home aligner companies have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of reviews online. NewSmile doesn’t just yet. They’re a newer company, but the minimal reviews they do have back up their treatment scope claims, as many reviewers appear to have received treatment for milder cases of crowding and spacing.

Quite a few customers have shared their Byte reviews with us. Of these, most addressed crowding, spacing, and overbites, though some did use the system for more complex issues, like crossbites and underbites. In general, people with simpler cases awarded 4 and 5 stars to Byte at a higher rate than those with harder-to-treat issues.

Clinical Oversight

One of the biggest concerns people have when looking at remote clear aligners is the level of oversight. In-office aligners include in-person check-ups, sometimes as often as every 4 weeks. NewSmile requires you to check in with them every two weeks, uploading images of your smile using their app. This means you’ll have eyes on your teeth more often than with in-person care, but the oversight won’t be as intensive as a hands-on exam.

Byte recommends that you use their My Byte app to submit monthly photos but only requires it in cases they feel need monitoring. If they don’t require it for your case, you can still choose to check in for consistent oversight.

Quality of Materials

NewSmile uses plastic made by RaintreeEssix, a trusted manufacturer whose premium orthodontic plastics have been used in clear aligners since 2005. In 2020, Byte was acquired by Dentsply Sirona, who also owns RaintreeEssix. Byte doesn’t disclose which plastics they use, but it is possible they’re the same as NewSmile.

Affordability Comparison

An aligner’s teeth-straightening capabilities won’t get you far if you can’t afford treatment. NewSmile and Byte are both much more affordable than their in-office counterparts, and NewSmile is one of the most affordable clear aligner options out there, even among other at-home treatments.

Sticker Price

We might as well start with the most important detail: sticker price! NewSmile and Byte have two different prices depending on if you want to use all-day or nighttime-only aligners. NewSmile’s all-day option costs $1,595 while their night system is $1,695. Compare this to Byte’s all-day aligners, which are $1,999, and Byte-At-Night, which goes for $2,399. Choosing NewSmile over Byte means you’ll save a lot right off the bat — but sticker price isn’t the only factor that determines affordability.

Bonus Items

While the sticker price tells you what you will need to pay for treatment, it doesn’t cover everything you’ll get. The aligners are obviously a given, and most companies include at least one bonus item. Both NewSmile and Byte include multiple freebies that help increase the value of their treatment.

NewSmile gives you a free teeth whitening kit and your first set of retainers. Byte goes a little further; you get teeth whitening, one set of premium retainers, and their HyperByte device. This last item retails for $699, so it closes the value gap between the two companies — at least when comparing their all-day systems.

What About Insurance?

At-home aligners are still fairly new, and some insurance companies still refuse to cover them. However, others will. If you have dental insurance with orthodontic coverage, it doesn’t hurt to contact your provider to ask if they cover Byte or NewSmile. If they offer coverage, you may need to pay for treatment yourself, then apply for reimbursement.

Don’t forget about FSAs and HSAs. If you have one, ask your account administrator if you can apply the funds to remote clear aligner therapy.

Financing Options

NewSmile and Byte both offer financing for those who can’t quite swing the cost of treatment outright. NewSmile has two different financing plans: one that requires a credit check and another that doesn’t. Byte only has one plan, but everyone qualifies. Here are the basics:

If you go for nighttime-only treatment instead, here’s how the plans look:

Retainers

After any orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to wear retainers for the rest of your life to keep your teeth from shifting back — first all day long, then just overnight. Both companies make clear retainers you’ll need to replace every 6–12 months. As we mentioned, both include one set for free, and after that, Byte charges $129 for every replacement, while NewSmile charges $149 (or $250 for a pack of two).

However, the Byte Protection Plan provides five years’ worth of retainers for $749. 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 $75 per set instead of $129. NewSmile doesn’t have a comparable plan.

Convenience Comparison

Lower prices are often the biggest draw for remote aligners, but the other big advantage they have over traditional treatment is their convenience. Without office visits, they leave your schedule more open. But convenience goes beyond dentist visits, and even though all at-home services are less time-consuming than in-person care, we think Byte goes further than their peers to give each customer a smooth, streamlined treatment.

Getting Started

Clear aligner treatment always starts with dental impressions — either physical ones made with putty or digital scans taken during an in-person appointment. Some at-home aligner companies have retail locations where you can get professional teeth scans, and certain studies have shown that digital scans can be more accurate than conventional impressions. But NewSmile and Byte both require you to make molds of your teeth at home using trays and putty. Using an impression kit might let you do everything from home, but some customers have a hard time making perfect molds of their teeth. We recommend watching video tutorials before you take yours.

Byte’s impression kit costs $95, although we’ve seen it on sale for as low as $29.95. NewSmile’s kit costs $49, but they’ll include it if you purchase the full treatment up front.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

One of the most significant aspects to consider is the length of your treatment. In-office aligners typically take 12–24 months — that’s a long time! At-home options might be faster, though they also treat less complex cases, which take less time to correct.

NewSmile claims their all-day treatment takes 4–6 months on average, while their nighttime-only plan lasts 8–10. On the other hand, Byte says their average treatment plan length is 4–5 months for their standard plan, and 5–6 months for Byte At-Night.

This all depends on the severity of your condition. More complex misalignments simply take longer to correct, so if you need to make significant corrections, your treatment might even fall outside those ranges — or you might need to go with an in-office option.

Turnaround Times

So, you’ve mailed in your impressions and the company says you’re a candidate for treatment. Great! But you won’t find your aligners on your doorstep the next day. In fact, NewSmile takes about 7–8 weeks to produce and ship your aligners, which is slightly longer than many other companies, including in-office options like Invisalign. Byte moves faster, delivering your aligners around 4–6 weeks after you purchase your impression kit, depending on how fast you submit your impressions and approve your treatment plan.

What About Nighttime-Only Treatment?

We think clear aligners are more convenient than braces, but there are still some aspects that can get annoying, like taking them out to eat and drink (besides plain water), then cleaning your teeth and the aligners before putting them back in.

Nighttime treatment lets you skip this routine. You’ll put the aligners in after your last meal — after brushing and flossing — and keep them in for at least ten hours. Not all companies offer this form of treatment, but NewSmile and Byte both do.

Appearance Comparison

There are many reasons to love clear aligner therapy, but adults originally flocked to them because of their appearance. Practically invisible when worn, they were revolutionary for patients who didn’t like the look of braces. But not all clear aligners look the same, and each person has different aesthetic preferences. So although Byte and NewSmile aligners look similar, you might find one more appealing than the other.

Aligner Material

There are many dental-grade plastics on the market, and each offers its own look. In our opinion, textured, translucent, matte plastic is typically the least noticeable, while smooth, transparent, shiny plastic is usually the easiest to see. That’s because teeth are porous and naturally matte — so we think frosted, textured aligners better mimic their appearance, while smooth aligners can look artificially shiny.

NewSmile and Byte both use smooth, shiny plastic, so we think their aligners might be easier to spot. However, some people prefer this look, since they think it gives them a gleaming smile.

Aligner Cut

NewSmile’s scalloped aligner cut loses points for power, but it gains points for appearance. Scalloped cuts hide the edge of the aligners in your gum line, making it harder to see. Byte’s straight cut is more noticeable, especially if a lot of your gums show when you smile.

Supplemental Attachments

In-office treatments use supplemental attachments to give their aligners better control and a higher range of tooth movement. Even though these attachments blend in with the teeth, they can still make your aligners more noticeable. But at-home aligners can’t use them, since they require direct supervision, so you won’t run into that issue with Byte or NewSmile.

Patient Experience Comparison

The patient experience is a multi-faceted part of aligner treatment, so even though remote treatments don’t have one-on-one in-person interaction, there are still plenty of ways they can provide satisfactory support and customer care.

How you feel about your smile journey depends heavily on the customer support team and your provider’s policies. Both companies aim to deliver an amazing experience, but in our opinion, Byte provides one of the more personalized, supportive smile journeys you’ll find among at-home aligner companies.

Communication Channels

You should expect treatment to go smoothly, but it’s important to know you can get help, just in case. You can reach NewSmile or Byte by phone and email. Byte also connects you with a Byte advisor, who can help you get started with treatment and find the right payment option for you. Plus, they let you contact their support team directly through the My Byte app. NewSmile’s app doesn’t have this function.

We think both companies have solid operating hours, though Byte gives you a bigger window: NewSmile is available Monday–Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm PST and Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm PST, while you can reach Byte representatives from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm PST, seven days a week.

Refund & Warranty Policies

There is an industry-standard refund policy for at-home aligners: if you send in your impressions and they determine you aren’t a candidate, they refund you what you’ve already paid. Other than that, you won’t receive refunds from either company unless there’s a manufacturing defect in your aligners.

However, they’ll both work with you if you’re unhappy with your results. It’s rare, but sometimes teeth don’t move as planned. If you reach the end of your treatment and your smile doesn’t match your original treatment preview, NewSmile and Byte will create free refinement aligners to put the finishing touches on your teeth. To maintain eligibility for this guarantee, you need to wear your aligners as directed, complete all your virtual check-ins (for NewSmile), and use your HyperByte diligently (for Byte). Otherwise, you might have to pay extra for refinements.

Byte also has the Byte for Life Guarantee. It states that if your teeth ever shift through no fault of your own, they’ll send you an impression kit and make you more aligners. To maintain eligibility for this guarantee, you need to purchase new retainers once per year and wear them as directed. NewSmile doesn’t have a comparable warranty.

What Are Customers Saying?

When we review a company like Byte or NewSmile, we start by digging through online user reviews to understand the common issues customers face, and how the company handles them. Here’s how these two services stack up.

Byte

Generally, Byte users express positivity and satisfaction with their experience. Many customers say they’re pleased with their results, the friendliness of the customer support representatives, and the ease of the whole process.

Some customers, however, have noted that Byte’s aligners didn’t straighten their teeth as much as they’d expected, and they had to seek refinements, extending their treatment time. Others were pleased with their results, but frustrated by going back and forth with customer support. These cases seem to be the exception rather than the rule, but they’re definitely something to consider as you research various aligners.

In the cases where something goes wrong, it seems like Byte worked to resolve the issue. So you can be confident that if you experience any issues during treatment, their support team can probably help.

You can find these full reviews, plus experience from 200+ other customers on our Byte customer review page. Plus, here are a few helpful video reviews.

NewSmile

Some companies in this industry have hundreds or even thousands of reviews, that’s not the case for NewSmile, as they’re a newer and somewhat smaller company than some other options.

They don’t have a wealth of online reviews, but many of the reviews we could find were positive and enthusiastic. NewSmile’s customers generally love the quality of their aligners, as well as the friendliness of their support team. Those who did register complaints mainly expressed disappointment with delayed turnaround times and issues with manufacturing defects — although these complaints are few and far between.

Here are some quotes from videos submitted by real customers, along with links to a couple of their full video reviews below:

Company Backgrounds

NewSmile and Byte are two very similar companies. They both are fully remote treatments with no retail locations in the US and no required visits to the dentist. As a result, they can only make cosmetic dental corrections, closing small gaps and opening up mild crowding, all in the front six teeth.

After seeing the success of online clear aligner services like SmileDirectClub and Byte, NewSmile joined the party in early 2020. Founded in Vancouver, Canada, they operate in the United States and Canada, and they’ve already made a name for themselves with their low prices and quality products. They have a dedicated team of dentists and orthodontists who review photos of your teeth every two weeks throughout treatment, keeping you on track, and claiming to deliver final results in 4–6 months on average.

Founded in 2018, Byte emerged from the world of high-profile cosmetic dentistry. Co-founder and Chief Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jon Marashi has a star-studded portfolio of A-list patients, but started Byte to bring clear aligner treatment to a broader audience. They’re making waves with their innovative technology, efficient treatment, and exemplary customer support, and they’ve quickly become one of the industry’s top competitors, taking the #1 spot in our home aligner rankings.

Which Should You Choose?

We think both NewSmile and Byte are great companies that deliver excellent results. Although we’re confident you’ll love your smile either way, one is probably a better fit for you than the other.

Who Should Consider Byte?

Go with Byte if:

• You’re intrigued by their HyperByte technology.
• You want a more experienced aligner company.
• You want a lifetime warranty on your smile.

Who Should Consider NewSmile?

Go with NewSmile if:

• You want a low price, especially on nighttime treatment.
• You’re okay with slightly less customer service availability.
• You want required regular oversight.