Candid vs Byte

Is Candid or Byte Better?

Byte is better for treating mild cases of teeth misalignment, while Candid is a great choice for mild to moderate cases.

Both are trusted at-home aligner brands that provide teeth straightening treatments for thousands less than braces and Invisalign.

Unlike braces or Invisalign, you don’t have to visit an orthodontist throughout treatment. Byte offers fully remote treatment; Candid follows a hybrid setup, where you visit a CandidPro provider for your initial consultation, followed by remote monitoring through their app.

In this article, we’ll compare Byte and Candid in-depth to ensure you pick the best aligner for your needs.

Candid vs. Byte Comparison

Here are the main differences between Byte and Candid: 

1. Treatment Costs 

Byte treatment costs $1,999 (all-day aligners). The night aligners cost $2,399 and treatment takes longer. The impression kit is an additional $95. Byte does not have an in-person consultation option.

We recommend regular aligners over night aligners. Learn why.

Candid treatment costs $3,300 (on average, depending on the provider). The only way to begin treatment is by visiting a qualified CandidPro provider in your area. The rest of your treatment will be monitored remotely by a Candid orthodontist.

Retainers

With Byte, you’ll get free replacement retainers biannually. They’ll also replace two stolen or lost retainers free of charge.

With Candid, your first set of retainers is free. They recommend replacing them every six months ($99 per set).  

Payment Plans & Insurance

• With Byte, pay as low as $70/month ($249 down) for 36 months. The night aligners cost $84/month ($299 down). No credit check is required; everyone is approved for financing with BytePay. Byte is also in-network with a few insurance providers.
• With Candid, ask your provider about payment plans. This depends entirely on your dentist.

2. Brand Track Records

Byte and Candid are trusted at-home aligner brands. Both companies have good track records when it comes to quality at-home aligner treatments.

Candid, having been around since 2017, is the second-largest at-home aligner company. They offer the most hands-on remote monitoring and provide comprehensive care.

Despite being a younger company than Candid, Byte's popularity has grown. Customers praise the company for their high-quality treatment and great customer service.

Byte currently offers the best deals on refinements and has a Lifetime Guarantee. Both Byte and Candid work with licensed dentists and orthodontists to create treatment plans for their customers.

3. Treatment Quality & Safety

Based on our research, Candid and Byte are both safe and effective at-home aligner options.

However, Candid is better in terms of overall treatment quality because they use the ‘full arch’ straightening method. In other words, Candid aligners move all of your teeth, rather than just the front teeth. 

Candid also doesn’t have a ‘night aligner’ option. There is no proof that night aligners are safe or effective.

Byte aligners only move your top six and bottom six teeth. This form of treatment is referred to as 'social 6' or 'social 12.' It consists of flaring the front teeth out without moving the molars.

4. Remote Monitoring

Both Byte and Candid have monitoring apps that help dentists monitor people's treatment progress.

Candid treatment is monitored remotely through the CandidMonitoring™app, available on iOS and Android. It allows you to connect to your virtual orthodontist office at any time.

You’ll send in progress photos every 2 weeks using the scan box, which connects to your phone and takes detailed images of tooth movement. You can also set up push notifications to ensure you don’t miss a scan.

Byte uses the My Byte app, available on both iOS and Android. Every month, you answer a few questions regarding your treatment and send progress photos. The app also notifies you once it's time to switch out your aligners.

If you have questions about your treatment plan, the My Byte app has up-to-date information about it. You can also use it if you have any questions or concerns about your treatment.

5. Treatment Speed 

Candid treatment takes between 4 and 12 months. Byte treatment takes between 4 and 6 months. 

Moving teeth too fast can result in an improper bite, more pain, and/or root resorption. This is why we recommend Byte for minor cases of teeth misalignment. Candid is a better choice for complex cases. 

6. Appearance

Candid and Byte aligners are cut straight across the top and slightly overlap the gums to increase tooth movement effectiveness. Both aligners are stain-resistant, durable, and BPA- and phthalate-free. In addition,

Byte aligners are made of shiny, smooth, clear plastic. This can make your teeth look abnormally shiny. Despite this, many reviews say the aligners are still very natural-looking.

Candid aligners are a textured, frosted plastic that looks similar to your tooth surfaces.

7. Customer Service

Candid and Byte both have good customer service. You can expect a reply within 24 hours, although they usually respond within a few minutes. 

Candid's app allows you to connect to a customer service representative very easily. Byte is available via app, phone, email, and social media channels.

8. Refinements, Guarantees & Refunds 

If you aren’t a candidate for treatment, Byte offers refunds on impression kits. But you can't get a refund once you accept the treatment plan and pay for the aligners.

If you are unhappy with your results after treatment, Byte offers refinements (additional aligners). They also offers a 5-year Smile Protection Plan and a Lifetime Guarantee. If your smile moves out of alignment, they’ll help get it back at no additional cost. 

The in-person consultations with Candid are usually free. But this depends entirely on your provider. Candid may or may not offer refinements, depending on your provider.

9. Getting Started With Treatment 

To begin treatment with Byte, take a candidacy quiz online before ordering an impression kit. The kits cost under $100. 

With Candid, you must visit a qualified CandidPro provider to begin treatment, which can be inconvenient for some people. CandidPro providers are licensed dentists who take digital scans and impressions of your teeth.

After this consultation, the provider will send your scans to a Candid orthodontist, who designs your custom treatment plan.

10. Convenience

Byte treatment is 100% remote, while Candid treatment starts in person and is monitored remotely. This means Byte is slightly more convenient, but not everyone is a candidate for treatment.

For example, since Byte treatment is fully remote, we only recommend them for minor alignment issues. Candid treatment is starts with an in-person consultation. For this reason, we recommend Candid for minor to moderate misalignment cases.

Byte Aligners Overview

Byte is known for its fast treatment time (between 3 and 6 months). Every customer receives a HyperByte® with their aligners. This is a dental movement acceleration device that claims to reduce treatment time by about 50 percent.

Byte offers two treatment options:

1. Byte's All-Day Aligners are worn for 22 hours a day. They cost $1,999.
2. Byte's At-Night Aligners are worn for 10 hours a night. They cost $2,399.

Byte aligners can treat most minor to moderate cases of teeth misalignment. We recommend them for minor cases. More complicated cases typically require longer treatment times. 

Although 'quick treatment' is convenient, NewMouth is concerned about the safety of straightening teeth too fast. We also recommend regular aligners over night aligners. Learn why.

How Byte Works

1. Order an impression kit online
2. Once it arrives, take your impressions and send them back within 3 days
3. After reviewing your impressions, a dental professional will make a custom treatment plan using Byte's SmileScience system
4. You will see a digital 3D model that shows your smile before, during, and after treatment 
5. If you approve the plan and buy the aligners, they should arrive within 3 weeks
6. Wear your aligners for 20+ hours daily and switch them out every 1 to 3 weeks
7. Send progress photos every few weeks to ensure your teeth are correctly tracked
8. Use the HyperByte® for a few minutes each day; this device claims to straighten teeth faster with HFV (high-frequency vibration)
9. After treatment, you’ll get a free retainer to keep your teeth straight; it should be worn every night 

Candid Aligners Overview

Candid treatment outcomes are similar to Invisalign but the aligners might cost less ($3,300 on average vs. up to $8,000). They address function first and cosmetics second.

Candid treatments are designed to move all of your teeth, rather than just the front teeth. This is known as a full arch orthodontic treatment.

You’ll receive high-quality care from a dental professional with years of experience in the industry. The same orthodontist who creates your treatment plan will track your progress via the CandidApp. 

How Candid Works

1. Set up an appointment with a qualified CandidPro provider for an initial consultation
2. Your CandidPro provider will digitally scan yuur bite and take impressions to determine if you're a good candidate for treatment (most mild to severe cases are accepted)
3. If you're approved, the provider will send the scans to a licensed Candid orthodontist
4. The orthodontist will personally design your treatment plan
5. Once the treatment plan is made and approved, you’ll receive the aligners within a few weeks
6. Wear each set of aligners for at least 22 hours a day and swap them out every 2 weeks (unless told otherwise).
7. During treatment, your progress is monitored remotely via CandidMonitoring™, the company’s telehealth platform (mobile app)
8. The same Candid orthodontist who designs your treatment plan will track your progress in the app
9. Your final set of aligners acts as your retainers, which you'll wear every night to maintain your new smile

The Final Verdict: Which Aligner is Right for You?

Byte and Candid are both good options for at-home aligner treatment. Here are the main differences:

1. Treatment costs — $3,300 (average) for Candid vs. up to $2,399 for Byte.
2. Track records — Candid has been around since 2017 and comprehensive care. Byte has been around since 2018 and offers affordable, 100% remote treatment.
3. Treatment quality — Candid aligners move all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Byte aligners move your front teeth only (best for minor cases).
4. Remote monitoring — Candid offers remote monitoring via a mobile app, requires in-person consultations, and works exclusively with orthodontists. Byte is less expensive and has a monitoring app.
5. Treatment speed — Byte treatment times are typically faster than Candid. Because of this, we only recommend Byte for minor cases of teeth misalignment. Candid is best for most mild to severe cases. 
6. Aligner material — Based on reviews, both aligners are clear, discreet, and relatively comfortable. The main difference is that Candid aligners are ‘frosted’ to blend in with your natural tooth structure. 
7. Customer service — Based on reviews, both Byte and Candid have responsive customer service.
8. Refinements, guarantees & refunds — Byte offers a ‘Byte for Life’ guarantee. If your teeth shift after treatment, Byte will send you new aligners to fix your smile. Candid refinements are not guaranteed.
9. Getting started with treatment – Byte allows you to start treatment remotely, while Candid requires in-person consultations.