Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids on the Market

Value: For their price, Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids offer incredible value by providing effective and modern technology, ongoing audiology support, and an unmatched trial period.

Comprehensive support: After completing their free online hearing test you can do in the comfort of your own home, an audiologist will review your results to verify whether a set of OTC hearing aids is the right solution for you. After receiving your Enhance Select hearing aids, you’ll receive initial and as-needed support from their licensed audiology specialists, including adjustments, troubleshooting, and answers to any other questions or concerns you may have.

Jabra Enhance does provide an in-depth initial video consultation after receiving your hearing aids, where a hearing professional will discuss these points and answer any questions you may have. Even so, you may need a few chats with their audiology team to fine-tune your experience or get to the right settings and fit remotely. With OTC hearing aids, you don’t typically get the benefit of an in-person audiologist consultation to discuss things like features, fit, and usage preferences. “All hearing aids purchased and programmed online set gain levels conservatively for comfort. This means a person won’t get all the high frequencies back that their hearing loss warrants, meaning clarity of speech is sacrificed a little,” said Dr. Rachel Magann Faivre, an audiologist and owner of Oklahoma City-based ASH Audiology.

Unmatched trial period: We love Jabra Enhance’s 100-day trial period, which is longer than most other competitive models and brands. A longer trial period gives you time to make these adjustments and see how they play out on a daily basis, so you can be sure that it’s the right hearing aid for you.

Audiologist approved: Dr. Faivre noted that since Jabra Enhance Select Hearing Aids is made by GN ReSound, a major hearing aid company, you’ll have the added assurance that the company will likely be around and able to service your device for the long-term. “Lively (Jabra Enhance Select) hearing aids also have accessories that can be purchased, which is a nice option that most OTC HAs don’t have,” she said. 

Product quality: We got to test Enhance Select hearing aids in our research lab and were impressed with the packaging, clarity of instructions, and overall quality of the product. Two highlights included the accessibility of support and Jabra Enhance Select’s user-friendly app. After sending a request through the app, we received a response from customer support in less than a minute. We also liked that changing settings and volume through the app was quick and easy, as opposed to messing with small buttons or dials on the hearing aid like many other brands.

Reputation: Jabra Enhance has 4.33/5.0 on Better Business Bureau (BBB), with excellent reviews from current and former customers. Most of the reviews mention outstanding customer service, as well as an overall positive experience getting a great-quality hearing aid at an affordable price. Lively has responded to each visible review on BBB, which shows their attention to customer service and customer satisfaction. 

Affordable protection: If you want an affordable hearing aid that comes with an amazing protection plan, the Audien Atom is the cheapest we’ve found on the market, but the lifetime protection plan covers everything from loss to device damage. Even better, the protection plan only costs $4 per month.

Simple design: Audien Atom has long-lasting batteries and a discreet, in-the-canal design. Although relatively simple compared to others on the market (and on this list), these hearing aids are ideal for people with uncomplicated or mild hearing loss, or even people hesitant to spend much money who may want an inexpensive option to try out a hearing device. With the combination of exceptional affordability and an excellent protection plan, the Audien Atom is certainly a safe choice.

Reputation: Reviews of Audien on Trustpilot and BBB are mixed, although they seem to be generally positive. They have a B rating and 3.97/5.0 stars out of 462 reviews on BBB and 3.4/5.0 stars out of 242 reviews on Trustpilot. The negative reviews we found referenced customer service. However, Audien appears to do a good job of addressing and responding to negative reviews to explain each situation, both clarifying customer concerns and offering contact resources for further support.

Discreet and comfortable: If you want a hearing aid that nobody will know you’re wearing, Eargo’s professional-quality hearing aid devices are completely invisible thanks to their in-canal design.

The Eargo 7 is their smallest and most discreet model yet, using a Varta lithium ion microbattery to keep them tiny while also offering up to 16 hours of run time per charge. Eargo 7 prioritizes comfort and fit by offering two dome shape options, one with more closed “petals” and one with a more open petal design. The closed petal design reduces sound leakage and distortion while the open petal design allows more air to surround the hearing aid and enter your ear, offering a more natural-sounding experience. We love that this model comes with two distinct options, as using the best dome for your ear canal shape and comfort is essential for a more natural sound. “Feedback (squealing) is a common issue for anyone with more than a mild hearing loss or an ear canal where the device doesn’t fit well,” added Dr. Faivre.

Size challenges: Due to the intricate (and a little wild-looking) shape of Eargo’s domes, it’s easier for them to accumulate earwax and debris than it is for other dome styles. It’s also important to note that the size of these hearing aids may be difficult to manipulate for people with dexterity issues like arthritis or decreased finger sensation. The device removal thread grip, used to remove the hearing aid by gripping it and gently pulling the hearing aid out, is roughly the size of a small pinhead.

Charging case: The handy carrying case protects your hearing aids and keeps them fully charged, which is a convenient alternative to many models that have a separate charging station. A single charge will power your hearing aids for up to 16 hours.

In-app adjustments: The Eargo 7 allows you to personalize and adjust your setting preferences with Sound Match, offering up to three custom listening environments that you can set and adjust through the app. The Sound Adjust function automatically adjusts settings to your hearing environment, intuitively moving from one to another in as little as ten milliseconds. Sound Adjust can also be disabled through the app if you’d prefer to adjust to your listening environment manually, either through the app or by quickly double-tapping your ear to move from one setting to the next. The unique double-tap feature is activated by an accelerator in the hearing aid, which senses the rapid tapping motion. If you’re not tech-savvy or ever need assistance with adjustments and settings, remote support with a hearing professional is available for help and you’ll have access to lifetime support via phone or chatting through the app.

Reputation: Eargo has 4.4/5.0 stars on Trustpilot out of 39 reviews, with consumers praising the sound quality and comfort of these invisible hearing aids. On BBB, Eargo has 3.56/5.0 stars with an A- grade. Users praise the quality of the hearing aids and the size. Negative reviews were focused on poor customer service, the price, and receiving faulty devices.

Battery life: These rechargeable hearing aids provide high-quality audio and noise control, are water-resistant, and come with a handy charging case that holds up to three full charges. A single charge will keep the devices powered for up to 24 hours. These hearing aids have simple controls for sound adjustments, making them perfect for people who prefer not to use apps. They forego more advanced technologies like Bluetooth and telecoil, but MDHearing provides customers with lifetime support and access to on-staff audiologists.

Limited warranty: One point we’d warn users about is the limited warranty and trial periods. While the company says they’ll replace or repair a faulty unit for free, the warranty only covers the device for 90 days. While relatively affordable (you can often find them for $300 per pair and up), the MDHearing Volt+ is certainly not the least expensive option, so you’ll want to take advantage of the company’s customer support to make sure they fit well and are working properly. It can be difficult to identify or remedy some fit issues within the 45-day trial period of many other models, like if you only wear glasses on occasion or for short periods and don’t quickly notice discomfort, but it’s worth noting that reviewers mention VOLT hearing aids are an excellent pick for people with glasses because they fit so snuggly.

Reputation: Although these hearing aids don’t work for everyone due to their simplicity, reviewers on BBB all agree that the customer service is top-notch and MDHearing currently has 4.22/5.0 stars for an average user rating. On Google, the VOLT has almost 900 reviews with a score of 4.4/5.0, with many people praising the price and high performance of the hearing aids.

Value: Although OTC hearing aid devices tend to be cheaper than prescription models, pricing is still pretty steep across the board. But Lexie’s B2 offers some of the best inexpensive over-the-counter hearing aids. They aren’t the least expensive, but for a reasonable price they boast similar features to much more expensive hearing aids, like rechargeability and Bluetooth connectivity. Lexie B1 is the cheaper model at $899 per pair, but it has disposable batteries. After approximately one-and-a-half years of purchasing disposable batteries, you’ll surpass the cost difference and the Lexie B1 will become more expensive.

Subscription option: After taking a virtual hearing test using the brand’s app, you’ll be able to purchase a set of B2 hearing aids either outright or by signing up for a subscription payment plan. The one-time cost of $249 per pair is affordable for many compared to other brands and models, and for tighter budgets, the $49 monthly payment plan makes these accessible. With Lexie you also get access to online support six days a week, resources and promotions through the app, and are eligible for a hearing aid upgrade every two years.

Reputation: Lexie has an A+ rating with the BBB and an excellent average customer rating of 4.85/5.0 stars. Reviewers praise how the price and payment plan makes the hearing aids accessible. Customer service and the quality of the product received high marks as well from consumers. Trustpilot reviews are similar, but with a lower average rating of 3.4/5.0 stars due to a few negative reviews. However, there are currently only five reviews posted. The negative reviews mention what seem to be infrequent occurrences like faulty batteries and user-error issues like the inability to sync with the app.

Battery options: The Audicus Omni hearing aids can come with either rechargeable or disposable batteries. They come with disposable batteries as the default option. You’ll have to pay $400 more for rechargeable batteries, adding up to $3,398 per pair.

Telecoil: Although Audicus Omni doesn’t come with telecoil by default, you can still request the feature without additional cost. Many new hearing aid models are prioritizing compactness, which makes it hard to offer both telecoil and Bluetooth hardware in a device. Since telecoil is still a desired feature for those who often use a telecoil loop system, the Omni’s rechargeable battery is small enough to leave room for telecoil if you need it.

Telecoil technology helps the hearing aid filter environmental noise to reduce acoustic feedback and better pick up sound from other listening devices like landlines, so connecting directly through Bluetooth avoids this need altogether. Telecoil loop systems are used in some public venues to broadcast sounds to those wearing hearing aids which Bluetooth can’t pick up on.

Device settings: The Omni has built-in programs that allow you to quickly adjust device settings depending on your environment, like when going from a quiet car into a busy restaurant. These programs are set by Audicus according to your needs and results from your hearing test. You can change the programs by pressing and holding the volume buttons or managing them on the Hearing Remote app.

Membership option: You can pay Audicus Omni in full upfront or by signing up for a monthly membership. Membership perks include accessories, a new pair of hearing aids every 18 months, free cleaning, and damage and loss protection.

If you still want to own your hearing aids but also desire the benefits that come with a membership, there’s an option to purchase Audicus Care or Protection subscriptions. Audicus Care costs $36 every three months and offers a care kit with replacement rubber domes, eight wax guards, cleaning wipes, and a drying capsule. Audicus Protect is a three-year warranty that costs $198 at checkout. It helps to cover professional cleaning services, repairs, and one-time loss replacements.

Reputation: Audicus has an A+ rating with the BBB and 3.09/5.0 stars. While there are minimal reviews with only 13 currently posted, the poor reviews cite customer service issues including bothersome sales calls. In response, Audicus has addressed negative comments with apologies for poor service. On Facebook, Audicus has 3.4/5.0 stars out of 25 reviews. Negative reviews seem to be focused around delays in delivery and the hearing aids not fitting right for some people.