The Bola AI alternative for associates and solo dentists
ButterNote is the no-frills AI dental scribe: complete notes, a price on the website, and nobody else to sign off. Here is how it compares with Bola AI, and when Bola AI is the better pick.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Bola AI?
Possibly. Bola AI does not publish a price, so you find out after a demo. Bola is the better choice if you want hands-free perio and restorative charting by voice, and the note sent straight into Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve and Fuse. If you are an associate or solo dentist who wants complete notes without the extras, ButterNote is the most affordable AI dental scribe, at $39.99 a month. You sign up on your own with no practice buy-in, and it works with any PMS by copy and paste.
ButterNote is ours. Every fact about Bola AI below comes from Bola AI's own website, linked under the table and checked 13 October 2026. Where they don't say, we write “Not stated” rather than guess. Click through before you decide.
Bola AI and ButterNote, side by side
| Bola AI | ButterNote | |
|---|---|---|
| How it captures | Ambient, plus voice commands for perio and restorative charting | Records the visit, or click-build from templates with no recording |
| Runs on | Not stated (uses a USB or Bluetooth microphone) | iPhone, Apple Watch, web |
| Into your PMS | Integrates with Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve, Fuse | Works with any PMS, no integration needed |
| Voice perio | Yes | No |
| Price | Not published. Demo only | $39.99/mo per clinician |
| Trial | Not stated | First note free, no signup. Practice plans: 14 days |
Bola AI sources: AI Scribe, PMS partners
ButterNote: Pricing, How it works
When Bola AI is the better choice
- You want the note written straight into your PMS: Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve and Fuse.
- You want voice commands for perio and restorative charting.
- Worth knowing: it can draft insurance narratives from the encounter.
- You are rolling it out across the practice and are happy to book a demo to get a price.
When ButterNote is
- You want the most affordable AI dental scribe: $39.99 a month per clinician.
- You are an associate or solo owner and want to sign up on your own, with no practice buy-in.
- You want something that works with any PMS, no integration needed. Copy, paste, done.
- You want to click-build a note with no recording, or record on your iPhone, Apple Watch or the web.
- You want transcription on the device, so the audio never leaves it and only de-identified text is sent to write the note.
No voice perio, no frills. Need something it doesn't do? Request a feature and we'll build it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Bola AI cost?
Bola AI does not publish a price. As of 13 October 2026, its site offers “Get a demo” instead. ButterNote is $39.99 a month per clinician, published on our pricing page.
Which practice management systems does Bola AI work with?
Bola AI says it integrates with Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve and Fuse. ButterNote has no integration to set up: it works with any PMS, and you paste the finished note in.
Does ButterNote do voice perio charting like Bola AI?
No. ButterNote writes the clinical note; it does not chart perio by voice. If hands-free perio charting is the reason you are looking, Bola AI is the better fit. If there is something you want ButterNote to do, request it and we will build it.
Can I write notes without recording the patient?
With ButterNote, yes. Click-build lets you tap the visit type, procedures and findings and writes the sentences with no audio at all. When you do record, transcription runs on your iPhone, Apple Watch or browser, so the audio never leaves your device, and only de-identified text is sent to write the note.
I am an associate. Do I need the practice owner to sign up?
Not for ButterNote. You sign up on your own for $39.99 a month per clinician, use it on your iPhone, Apple Watch or the web, and paste the note into whatever PMS the office runs. Nothing to install on the practice computers and nobody else to convince.
Other alternatives: Denti.AI · Overjet Voice · DentScribe
Try it on your next note
Record a visit or click-build the note, review it, then paste it into your PMS.
Create your first note