CareNotes vs
ButterNote
Two dentist-built scribes that both keep audio on the device. The split is price model and what happens after the note is written. Checked 30 October 2026.
Side by side
CareNotes is ours, so read this with that in mind. The ButterNote column quotes ButterNote's own website, with a link on each fact to the page it came from, checked 30 October 2026. We have not tested ButterNote's accuracy and do not quote review sites. If something is out of date, email info@cnotes.ai and we will fix it.
| CareNotes | ButterNote | |
|---|---|---|
| How it captures | Ambient. Records the visit on iPhone, Apple Watch, Android, or the Chrome extension; dictate afterwards if you forgot to record. | Ambient listening, or a click-through note generator with dental templates (no recording). [source] |
| Runs on | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, web, Chrome extension | iPhone, Apple Watch, web [source] |
| Into your PMS | Copy and paste into any PMS (free). Direct upload into Open Dental, Dentrix Ascend, Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Curve Dental and others (Premium). [source] | Works with any PMS by copy and paste; no integration. [source] |
| Voice perio charting | Yes. Voice perio charting; structured upload live on Open Dental and Dentrix Ascend. [source] | No voice perio charting. [source] |
| Published price | Scribe (recording, on-device transcription, AI dental note, templates, paste into any PMS): $0, unlimited users, no note cap. PMS connection (direct upload, schedule sync, CareAssist, Morning Huddle): $99.99/mo or $719.93/yr per location. [source] | $39.99/mo per clinician. Practice $159/mo up to 5 clinicians; Practice Plus $299/mo up to 12. [source] |
| Billed | Free plan: nothing. Premium: per location. | per clinician (banded practice plans) |
| Trial or free tier | Free plan is permanent, not a trial. No card, no demo. | First note free, no card. 14-day trial on every plan. [source] |
| Audio handling | Speech-to-text on device; audio not uploaded. Text processed under BAA, zero data retention at the AI provider, PHI not used for training. [source] | Transcribed on device; vendor says only a de-identified note reaches the cloud. [source] |
| Note without recording | Dictate after the visit, or talk to it like a scribe. No click-to-build chart mode. | Yes. Click-through note generator with dental templates and your own defaults. [source] |
| Schedule and pre-visit | Premium: today's and tomorrow's schedule from the PMS, CareAssist summary, Morning Huddle briefing. [source] | Not offered. Notes sync to a web dashboard. [source] |
| Android | Yes | Not listed; iPhone, Apple Watch, web. [source] |
| Built by | Dentist-founder Billy Choi, DDS, inside two Manhattan group practices. | A practicing dentist. [source] |
Who should pick which
These two are closer than any other pair in the category. Both are built by dentists, both transcribe on the device, both run on iPhone and Apple Watch, and both are self-serve with no demo call. The differences are practical.
Price. ButterNote is $39.99 a month per clinician, $159 for up to five, $299 for up to twelve. The CareNotes scribe is $0 with no note cap; the only paid part is the PMS connection, $99.99 a month for the whole location. A solo dentist who pastes notes pays $39.99 at ButterNote and $0 at CareNotes. A three-dentist, two-hygienist office pays $159 at ButterNote and either $0 (paste) or $99.99 (notes uploaded into the chart) at CareNotes.
Into the chart. ButterNote stops at copy and paste for every PMS. CareNotes does that for free, and Premium uploads the signed note into Open Dental, Dentrix Ascend, Eaglesoft, and Curve Dental, pulls the schedule in, and charts perio by voice.
Click-to-build. ButterNote has a tap-the-chart note mode with no recording. CareNotes does not; if you never want to record, that is a real reason to pick ButterNote.
Pick ButterNote if
- You want a tap-to-build note with no recording at all.
- You are a single associate paying your own way and $39.99 a month is fine for notes you will paste yourself.
- You do not need Android.
Pick CareNotes if
- You want notes free, with no cap, before deciding on anything paid.
- The note has to land in Open Dental, Dentrix Ascend, Eaglesoft, or Curve without pasting.
- Two or more providers share an office and you want one bill for the location.
- You want voice perio charting, schedule sync, Morning Huddle, or CareAssist.
- Some of the team is on Android or records from the operatory computer with a Chrome extension.
Questions
Is CareNotes cheaper than ButterNote?
Yes. The CareNotes scribe is free with no note cap; ButterNote is $39.99 a month per clinician. For an office, CareNotes Premium is $99.99 a month per location for unlimited users; ButterNote Practice is $159 for up to five clinicians and $299 for up to twelve. ButterNote is cheaper only for a single clinician who wants a paid plan and does not need PMS upload.
Does ButterNote integrate with Open Dental?
No. ButterNote states it works with any PMS by copy and paste, with no integration. CareNotes uploads signed notes into Open Dental on Premium and also supports copy and paste for free.
Does ButterNote upload patient audio?
ButterNote says audio is transcribed on the device and only a de-identified note reaches the cloud. CareNotes also transcribes on the device and does not upload audio; text is processed under a BAA with zero data retention at the AI provider.
Does ButterNote do voice perio charting?
No, ButterNote's own comparison page lists no voice perio. CareNotes charts pockets, bleeding, recession, mobility, and furcation by voice, with structured upload on Open Dental and Dentrix Ascend.
Which one has Android?
CareNotes runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, web, and a Chrome extension. ButterNote lists iPhone, Apple Watch, and web.
Compare the output yourself
CareNotes core notes are free with no trial cap. Record one visit and judge the note.