SmileDirectClub and Byte have a lot in common. Both clear aligner services offer at-home teeth straightening for significantly less than braces or Invisalign—and both companies also offer nighttime-only clear aligner treatment. While these nighttime options might seem similar at first glance, there are a lot of differences below the surface.
We’re here to help you decipher these differences and home in on your priorities. In this comparison review, we’ll take you on an in-depth tour of SmileDirectClub’s Nighttime Aligners and Byte At-Night, providing everything you need to choose the best option for you.
Table of Contents
Overview & Recommendation: Byte Wins
Two Great Companies, but We Give the Nod to Byte.
Both of these nighttime options trade the traditional 22+ hour/day schedule for ten-hour overnight wear. But each company handles this innovative treatment differently. While SmileDirectClub’s Nighttime Aligners are exactly the same as their daytime ones, Byte designs theirs specifically for nighttime wear, using a thicker, grind-resistant plastic.
SmileDirectClub might have been the first company to introduce a nighttime option, but we think that Byte’s innovation, efficiency, and customer service improve on an already-attractive treatment.
Why do we rank Byte higher than SmileDirectClub? Two reasons:
- The HyperByte Device: There’s evidence that the gentle micropulses from high-frequency vibration devices like the HyperByte can reduce discomfort and encourage faster dental shifts for some customers. Byte says their average At-Night treatment plan is five months long — although it depends largely on your specific misalignment.
- Exceptional Customer Support: Byte assigns each customer a personal advisor, who can address any questions and concerns. Plus, once you’re done with treatment, their Byte-for-Life guarantee protects your smile forever. That means if your teeth ever shift after treatment, even years down the line, they’ll realign your smile for free — as long as you’ve been purchasing two sets of retainers per year and wearing them as directed.
When you’re looking at a nighttime aligner plan, it’s important to look at the company behind the treatment. Read on and you’ll find an in-depth comparison of Byte and SmileDirectClub specifically as it pertains to their nighttime-only options.
Is Byte Right for You?
Your ideal clear aligner treatment depends largely on your unique condition, goals, and budget. But Byte is a great option for most people with mild-to-moderate misalignments. They scored 4.3/5 overall based on our five review criteria (effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer support) — a higher rating than any other provider.
Special Offer: Save 80% off your impression kit + $100 of your treatment + free BrightByte Pro whitening
Scope of Treatment Comparison
As we mentioned above, SmileDirectClub designs and manufactures their aligners the exact same way for both daytime and nighttime treatment. The only difference is when and how long you wear them. Byte, however, designs their nighttime aligners specifically for nighttime wear, using thicker, grind-resistant plastic.
Considering each company’s manufacturing partnerships, design process, and dental team, we think they both offer reliable treatments for mild misalignments.
Byte Scope of Treatment
SmileDirectClub Scope of Treatment
- Uses specialized designs for nighttime aligners.
- Primarily for mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing.
- Byte says their aligners can handle many cosmetic cases of crowding and spacing, but that bite issues often require an in-person treatment.
- Recommends photo check-ins every month.
- Nighttime aligners are identical to daytime ones.
- Primarily for mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing.
- SmileDirectClub says their aligners can correct crowding, spacing, and some bite issues.
- Requires virtual check-ins every 90 days throughout treatment.
What Can Byte At-Night and SmileDirectClub Nighttime Aligners Treat?
Byte and SmileDirectClub don’t give any indication that their nighttime aligners can treat a narrower range of conditions than their standard plans. So in most cases, if you’re approved for standard treatment, you’ll also be eligible for nighttime-only treatment.
According to Byte’s website, their aligners can treat:
- Mild-to-moderate crowding.
- Mild-to-moderate spacing.
- Some cases of overbite. They say they can “lessen the appearance,” which means they can likely take on mild overbites that don’t involve jaw misalignments.
- Some midline misalignment cases.
Byte says they “can improve the appearance” of some midline misalignment cases, which likely means they can make your midline appear centered. But if your case stems from a significant bite issue, you might also need a more robust treatment.
According to SmileDirectClub’s website, their aligners can correct:
- Mild-to-moderate crowding.
- Mild-to-moderate spacing.
- Mild-to-moderate overbite or overjet.
- Underbite involving single pairs of upper and lower teeth.
- Localized crossbite.
At first glance, it might look like SmileDirectClub can treat a wider range of conditions than Byte. However, it’s pretty even. If your bite issue stems from a skeletal jaw misalignment, it will probably require extra attachments you can only get from in-person care. If you have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or other bite issue, know that at-home aligners can typically only treat minor bite issues that stem from crowding or spacing.
Clinical Oversight
So, you send off your impressions, and weeks later, you receive your aligners. Who, exactly, designed them? Both companies maintain dental networks consisting of state-licensed dentists and orthodontists. You won’t get to choose who gets assigned to your case, so you could get either one. However, they’re both qualified to design and oversee clear aligner treatments, so you can be confident you’re getting a dental expert.
Those dental teams want to keep track of your treatment to make sure your teeth move as expected. We don’t think remote oversight is as robust as in-person office visits, but it still helps keep your treatment progressing toward the goal. SmileDirectClub requires every customer to upload photos of their teeth on a mobile app every 90 days. Byte has a mobile app too, and they recommend that you submit photos once per month.
Manufacturing
SmileDirectClub once partnered with Align Technology (the creators of Invisalign) to manufacture their clear aligners. These days, however, SmileDirectClub produces its aligners in-house, and they’ve implemented a design they call “Comfort Sense,” which is a proprietary soft, medium, and firm aligner plastic progression that they claim can ease teeth more comfortably into place. Align Tech aligners are top of the line, but based on customer reviews, it seems like SmileDirectClub is still producing quality aligners in-house.
In late 2020, Byte was acquired by Dentsply Sirona, a reputable dental manufacturing company that makes cleaning instruments, scanning machines, retainers, and virtually any other dental equipment you can imagine. They don’t disclose the exact plastic they use, but considering the experience and resources of Dentsply, we’re confident that Byte’s products are well-designed.
Nighttime Aligner Downsides
During the treatment process, your teeth will likely want to shift back to their original positions when you have your aligners out. Therefore, the longer you have your aligners out, the more your teeth will shift back. With nighttime-only treatment, you’re not wearing your aligners for 14 hours per day, giving your teeth ample time to shift back. The aligners will correct this at night, but the constant back and forth can put additional strain on your mouth, extend your treatment time, and make treatment more uncomfortable.
There’s a small chance that this extra strain on your teeth could lead to injured tooth roots. Keep in mind, however, that this risk is always present during orthodontic treatment, and we hope the dental teams at SmileDirectClub and Byte have done their due diligence in affirming that these treatments are safe before bringing them to market.
Affordability Comparison
Because SmileDirectClub’s Nighttime Aligners are identical to their daytime ones (they just follow a different wear schedule) their price is the same too. Byte, on the other hand, uses different materials and designs to ensure a specialized nighttime aligner experience. As you might expect, this specialty service costs a little more. Even though SmileDirectClub is less expensive, we think Byte At-Night still offers great value.
Byte Affordability
SmileDirectClub Affordability
- $2,499 sticker price.
- Includes one set of aftercare retainers in the initial cost.
- Impression kit is $95.
- Financing requires a down payment and soft credit check.
- $2,250 sticker price.
- Charges $125 for retainers after treatment.
- Impression kit is $59 (or free at a SmileShop location).
- Financing requires a down payment, but everyone is approved.
Sticker Price
If you’re making a decision based purely on the initial price, SmileDirectClub is cheaper. But there’s a lot more to consider here. SmileDirectClub charges $2,250 for their Nighttime Aligners, while Byte At-Night costs $2,399. Byte justifies that extra cost with their efficiency and by including the HyperByte device, which retails for $699.
On top of that, the sticker price isn’t often the number that ends up on the bottom line, because there are other expenses. Take impression kits, for example. SmileDirectClub’s impression kit is $59, whereas Byte’s is $95, and neither is included in the sticker price.
SmileDirectClub, however, gives you the option to skip the impression kit by visiting one of their SmileShops for a free teeth scan, or one of their 1,000+ partnering dental offices. Byte does not have any physical locations, but they include one set of retainers in their sticker price. In contrast, SmileDirectClub charges an additional $99 for retainers at the end of treatment. Even after this give-and-take, Byte At-Night is more expensive, but for some customers, Byte’s other advantages might make it worth the price.
Payment Plan Options
As you think about cost, you should also keep in mind how you might finance your treatment. Again, SmileDirectClub and Byte offer financing. Here are the details:
- SmileDirectClub offers a 28-month financing plan ($89/month) that requires a $250 down payment.
- Byte’s 36-month plan ($84/month) requires a $299 down payment and soft credit check.
With both services, you’ll pay slightly more to finance your care when you factor in the interest paid over time, so it’s more cost-effective to pay upfront if you can make the finances work!
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 around twice per year. As we mentioned, Byte includes one set for free, but charges $129 for every replacement, while SmileDirectClub charges $125.
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. SmileDirectClub doesn’t have a comparable plan.
Extra Features
Both companies include free whitening to accompany your aligners, which is a nice touch that allows you to brighten your smile while you straighten your teeth. Byte also includes their HyperByte device with your treatment cost. Purchased separately, the HyperByte device costs $699, so you get a great deal with the full aligner package.
In the end, we think both companies offer strong value, especially when compared to Invisalign or braces, which will typically set you back $5,000 or more.
Convenience Comparison
Nighttime-only treatment plans might take slightly longer, but that could be worth it if you don’t want to wear your aligners all day. You don’t need to wear them during the day and there’s no hassle in removing and replacing them every time you eat or drink.
These conveniences are the same whether you choose Byte or SmileDirectClub, since their nighttime-only treatment schedules are nearly identical. However, each company has its own unique convenience advantages.
Byte Convenience
SmileDirectClub Convenience
- No physical locations that offer teeth scans, so you’ll need to use an impression kit.
- Takes around four weeks to design, produce, and ship your aligners.
- Byte says their average At-Night treatment plan length is five months.
- Has 100+ SmileShops for free teeth scans as an alternative to impression kits. Also has 1,000+ dentist partners nationwide.
- Takes 4–6 weeks to design, produce, and ship your aligners.
- SmileDirectClub claims their average treatment plan is 8–10 months for Nighttime Aligners.
Getting Started
When getting started with SmileDirectClub or Byte, you’ll need to send the company images of your teeth. You can purchase an impression kit from either company and use it to create molds of your top and bottom dental arches. However, some customers think impression kits can be difficult, especially considering most customers have never made molds of their own teeth. And if you choose Byte, this is the only option.
Go with SmileDirectClub, however, and you can visit any of their 100+ SmileShops for a free teeth scan. If you’d rather not deal with the hassle of taking impressions, or if you’re eager to start treatment, you can pop into a SmileShop where a dental assistant will scan your teeth for free. The impression kit or teeth scan process is the same whether you choose regular or nighttime aligners.
Plus, the SmileDirectClub Partner Network includes more than 1,000 dental offices nationwide, where you can begin your treatment with an in-office consultation and teeth scan, if you’d prefer.
Nighttime Aligner Schedule Advantages
In our opinion, both companies’ nighttime aligner treatments are more convenient than their standard aligner schedules. First off, on a nighttime-only plan, you don’t need to wear your aligners to work, school, or any other public place. You can simply put them on after dinner and take them out in the morning. People will rarely ever see you wearing them.
Plus, you won’t need to go through the whole process of removing your aligners to eat, then brushing and flossing before putting them back on (unless you’re a late-night snacker).
As we mentioned earlier, these flexible schedules leave plenty of time for your teeth to shift back. So, while it’s nice to avoid daytime wear, a nighttime-only schedule can ultimately cause some extra strain on your teeth.
Turnaround Times
The startup process for both regular and nighttime aligners involves some back-and-forth. After you ship your impressions or get your teeth scanned, the company will develop a treatment preview and send it back. Then, if you choose to move forward with treatment, they will produce and ship your aligners. You should expect to wait at least a few weeks before receiving your full aligner package.
Producing your aligners isn’t necessarily a quick process. You won’t find them waiting on your doorstep the day after you finish your impression kit. Go with Byte says this entire process takes around 3–4 weeks, while SmileDirectClub claims they’ll take 2–3 (depending on how quickly you return your impressions).
If you get started at a SmileShop, you may have the option to sign up for a “Fast Track” service, which gets your aligners to your door as fast as possible. However, it also means you need to pay the full treatment cost upfront. And according to some customer reviews, after agreeing to fast-track their aligner production, they weren’t able to see their full treatment plan before receiving their aligners, so make sure you consider it carefully before signing up.
Total Treatment Time
How long your treatment lasts ultimately depends on the severity of your misalignment, no matter which company you choose. However, Byte claims that the average length of their At-Night treatment plans is around five months, while SmileDirectClub says their Nighttime Aligners typically take 8–10.
Appearance Comparison
When you go with a nighttime-only schedule, you’ll keep your aligners completely out of the public eye. So, compared to standard daytime wear, either of these options is a less-noticeable option. But when you look at the aligners themselves, which ones are more discreet?
Nighttime aligners don’t look any different than regular ones, but Byte and SmileDirectClub use different aligner designs, so they’ll look slightly different in your mouth, depending on which one you choose. Aesthetic tastes vary from person to person, so it just comes down to which one you think looks better.
Byte Appearance
SmileDirectClub Appearance
- Uses a smooth, translucent, shiny plastic.
- Byte At-Night aligners are slightly thicker than Byte’s standard aligners.
- Cuts their aligners straight across the top.
- Reasonably stain resistant.
- Uses a frosted, textured plastic that better matches your tooth surfaces.
- Their aligners slightly overlap the gums.
- Reasonably stain resistant.
Aligner Material
SmileDirectClub fashions their aligners from matte, textured plastic, while Byte aligners are smooth and shiny. What’s the difference? Our opinion is that aligners made from frosted plastic are actually more discreet because they mimic the naturally matte surface of your teeth. Shiny material can be reflective and actually more noticeable.
However, this debate is largely subjective and depends on your preferences. Some customers, for example, appreciate Byte’s shiny plastic because they think it makes their smiles gleam. You should consider which you prefer before making your final decision.
To customize them for overnight wear, Byte designed their At-Night aligners to be thicker than their All-Day counterparts. Consequently, they could be slightly more visible or cause a tiny lisp. But since you’re just wearing them at night, this isn’t a huge concern.
Aligner Cut
Both Byte and SmileDirectClub’s aligners slightly overlap the gums, which can improve their force transfer and stress distribution, according to this 2022 study. These aren’t quite as discreet as aligners that are trimmed to match your gum line, however, since people nearby might notice the overlap.
Stain Resistance
All aligners are susceptible to certain stains, so we would not recommend drinking colored beverages while wearing them. If you discolor your aligners with coffee or wine, you’ll still have to wear them until you’re ready for your next set.
Customer Experience Comparison
When you’re undertaking a newer treatment schedule like nighttime aligners, you might have questions or uncertainties about the process, and that’s totally natural! Getting quick, satisfying answers to your questions can give you peace of mind and make you feel like a valued customer.
In our opinion, neither company can match the personal touch of in-person care from a dentist or orthodontist, but both have attempted to replicate that care remotely — with varying degrees of success. Reviews indicate that SmileDirectClub has had some rough patches with their customer service, but that they’ve made recent improvements to turn it around. Aside from a few complaints about response times, we think Byte consistently provides quality, personalized support.
Byte Customer Experience
SmileDirectClub Customer Experience
- Offers standard communication avenues (phone, email, webchat, Facebook Messenger, and text) plus support via the My Byte app.
- Provides each customer with a personal Byte advisor.
- Receives consistently positive customer reviews.
- The Byte for Life guarantee protects your smile forever.
- Offers numerous communication avenues, including phone, email, text, and webchat. Also has a mobile app with a customer support interface.
- Received some negative reviews in the past, but recent reviews are more positive.
- Will work to modify your plan if you’re not satisfied, plus offer full refunds within 30 days of starting treatment and prorated refunds after that.
- Their Lifetime Smile Guarantee protects your smile forever.
Support Options
Both companies are available during standard business hours on a variety of support platforms — phone, webchat, text, and email. They’re both very active on social media and will respond to questions and concerns there as well.
Both companies let you track your progress on a mobile app and submit photos to their dental team for feedback. You can also contact their customer support teams through these apps, which could be the quickest and easiest method. According to the SmileDirectClub website, this dental team is available via chat and text for questions 24/7, and Byte says their team is available seven days a week during regular business hours.
Each mobile app serves as a central hub for all of your treatment information and feedback. If you ask us, having everything in one location is pretty convenient, especially for staying on top of your aligner schedule and getting answers to pressing questions.
Responsiveness & Helpfulness
Based on many reviews we found, customers have historically felt that Byte offers more responsive and thoughtful support than SmileDirectClub.
In fact, SmileDirectClub’s customer support has received mixed reviews over the years. Many SmileDirectClub customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the level of support they received or reported frustrating delays in aligner shipments. The volume of negative reviews and Better Business Bureau complaints increased around 2017 as SmileDirectClub attempted to grow its business extremely rapidly, creating inconsistencies in its customer support.
Since then, SmileDirectClub has improved its service quality and customer support issues. These efforts appear to be paying off—especially with their Smile Check-ins and mobile app. According to some of the customer feedback we’ve seen, Byte’s support team is pretty helpful, although some customers have told us that their response times can be slow.
Even better is the fact that Byte assigns each customer their own personal advisor, who can address any questions or concerns throughout treatment.
Satisfaction Guarantee
SmileDirectClub offers a 30-day full refund window from the start of treatment if you have an immediate change of heart. They’ll also issue prorated refunds for unused and unopened aligners at any time during treatment.
Beyond that, these companies have fairly similar satisfaction guarantees. Either one will work with you to modify your treatment if your finished smile doesn’t match your treatment preview. As long as you followed your treatment plan, they’ll create new aligners to get you the results you want.
Plus, both companies have policies that ensure you keep your new smile for life. Byte’s is called the Byte for Life guarantee, and SmileDirectClub calls theirs the Lifetime Smile Guarantee. They might have different names, but they operate the same way.
Imagine that your teeth shift five years after you complete treatment. Byte or SmileDirectClub will send you new aligners to shift them back. Ten years? New aligners. Twenty years? You guessed it — they’ll send you new aligners. However, to qualify you must order replacement retainers as often as each company directs.
Company Backgrounds
Byte Company Background
SmileDirectClub Company Background
- Founded in 2018.
- Quickly gained popularity because of their innovative technology and excellent customer service.
- Currently one of the industry’s largest and most popular companies.
- Founded in 2014.
- Largest home aligner company in the industry.
- Has transformed over 1.8 million smiles to date.
Byte was founded in 2018, and since then, they’ve had a quick rise to the top of our rankings because of their innovation and efficient treatment times. Meanwhile, SmileDirectclub has been a mainstay on the home aligner scene. They helped revolutionize the industry when they started delivering home aligners in 2014, and they’ve remained the largest, most recognizable brand on the market.
At first, we were unsure if Byte could compete with an established industry giant like SmileDirectClub, which then had over 2,000 employees and had served over one hundred thousand customers. But Byte proved us wrong, jumping at an opportunity to become a formidable company themselves.
Today, SmileDirectClub has maintained its position as the largest home aligner in the country, having transformed over two million smiles to date. But with their bold innovations, efficient treatment times for many customers, and exemplary customer service, Byte is right there with them as a top option for at-home clear aligners.
SmileDirectClub was the first company to introduce a nighttime-only option, showing that they’re still a leader and innovator in the field. Shortly after, Byte announced their own nighttime aligner plan. While there aren’t a ton of reviews specific to nighttime treatment yet, customers appear to be satisfied with each company’s results so far.
Which Nighttime-Only Aligners Should You Use?
SmileDirectClub and Byte’s nighttime aligner treatments have a lot in common, but their differences are where you want to focus when making a final decision. If you’re still not sure which one to choose, let’s look at a couple of scenarios that might help you figure out which is the better option for you.
Choose Byte if You Are:
Looking for aligners specifically designed for nighttime wear, innovative technology incorporated into your treatment, and solid customer support.
Choose SmileDirectClub if You Are:
More comfortable purchasing from the most well-established and convenient brand name. Bonus points if you live near a SmileShop location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will oversee my nighttime treatment?
SmileDirectClub and Byte are both at-home aligner companies, so you won’t schedule and attend office visits with a dentist like you would for Invisalign. However, you will have an assigned professional remotely overseeing your case. Both Byte and SmileDirectClub have dental teams that consist of state-licensed dentists and orthodontists.
Am I a candidate for nighttime aligners?
If you have a mild case of crowding or spacing and no jaw misalignments, you’re likely eligible for nighttime treatment. To find out for sure, complete and submit an impression kit or visit a SmileShop.
Do nighttime aligners cost more?
For SmileDirectClub? No. For Byte? Yes. SmileDirectClub’s nighttime treatment uses the same exact aligners as its standard daytime treatment, so the price is identical ($2,250). Byte At-Night uses aligners specially designed for nighttime treatment and fast results, so it costs slightly more ($2,499).
Do other companies offer nighttime aligners?
Aside from Byte and SmileDirectClub, AlignerCo and NewSmile also have nighttime-only options.
How long do I need to wear my aligners each night?
10+ hours. We realize that you probably don’t sleep for ten hours every night, so just pop them in a couple of hours before bed and you’ll be good to go.
Do nighttime aligners hurt?
Most customers find home aligners fairly comfortable. Nighttime aligners allow your teeth to shift back and forth a bit more, which can cause some additional discomfort. But you’ll be asleep most of the time you’re wearing them anyway.
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