Hearing Aids That Are Actually Affordable (and Good)

According to a recent HearingTracker survey, the average price of a professionally-fit set of hearing aids is $4,672. But you may think, "I don't have or want to spend that much on hearing aids."

Don't worry. Hearing healthcare is changing rapidly, and there are more options than ever—ranging from over-the-counter (OTC) self-fitting hearing aids to telehealth-supported products, and mass merchandisers like Costco and Sam's Club. And there are also many ways to save money or cut initial costs on in-person services at local clinics, as well as hearing aid financing.

In this article, we'll explore the more-affordable options offered by both the traditional medical-model hearing aid manufacturers and the alternative products available in 2023.

Whatever you do, don't ignore your hearing problems

Hearing loss is a widespread and often-neglected condition—of the 26.7 million Americans aged 50 or older living with hearing loss, only 3.8 million (1 in 7) use hearing aids. Younger people, and those with milder hearing loss, are even more likely to pass up on hearing devices. And that’s a mistake.

Even mild hearing loss makes it harder for your brain to process speech. And hearing loss has been associated with global cognitive function, executive function, processing speed, and memory declines. Over time, as your hearing inevitably worsens, you may experience significant cognitive decline, dementia, anxiety, and even depression. Along with these, hearing loss is also linked to many chronic illnesses and diseases.

Of course, it’s not just the lack of knowledge about health consequences or the stigma preventing people from seeking hearing loss treatment. Hearing aids are also known for being prohibitively expensive.

Why are hearing aids so expensive?

A standard medical-model hearing aid will set you back anywhere from several hundred dollars to over $4,000 per device.

When you purchase a hearing aid, the first thing you’re paying for is the hardware—which is expensive on its own. Hearing care professionals order hearing aids through wholesale accounts and often pay $1,000-2,000 per device, depending on the technology level. Hearing aid manufacturers claim that the prices are this high due to the research and development that goes into creating the products. There are also some substantial costs associated with distribution, including honoring warranties and returns-for-credit and helping to train professionals on the use of their products.

The next thing you’re paying for is the professional services required to fit your hearing aid, which may include up to 5 years of free follow-up care. While most hearing aids come bundled with services, it is possible to find providers who will sell you follow-up services as an add-on when you purchase your hearing aids, and some others offer follow-up care on a pay-per-appointment basis.

Let’s not forget that modern hearing aids are more than just a battery-powered microphone with an amplifier. Recent advances in chip technology, artificial intelligence, and digital data processing have massively improved the sound quality these high-tech listening devices can achieve, especially for more severe hearing loss. On top of that, wireless technology, mobile apps, and new battery technology have taken convenience to the next level.

Features that may fetch a premium

Rechargeable Batteries

Disposable batteries cost money, can be difficult if you have dexterity issues, and are bad for the environment.

Rechargeable batteries can go bad, too. Hence, be sure to follow best practices, such as avoiding deep discharges or too frequent recharges. Even with proper care, Lithium-ion batteries have a finite usable life. Almost all hearing aids have at least a 1-year warranty. It’s advisable to ask your provider to send your hearing aids into the manufacturer for repair prior to warranty expiration to verify that the sealed internal battery is working optimally.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth connectivity means you can control your hearing aid from a smartphone app and stream audio directly to it. Many hearing aids also support hands-free calling over Bluetooth.

To stream audio directly to your phone, your hearing aid needs to support Bluetooth LE and your smartphone needs to support ASHA (Android 10 or up) or MFi (Apple). Also watch out for Bluetooth LE Audio, which is the latest wireless standard that is rolling out shortly. Alternatively, you can use a Bluetooth accessory, like Signia’s StreamLineMic, to connect your hearing aids to your phone for audio streaming.

Artificial Intelligence

Hearing aids with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning use massive datasets to process sound in real-time. This lets your hearing aid adapt to its environment or filter out noise or sound artifacts, like wind, and increase speech clarity. A number of Deep Neural Network (DNN) systems have now been implemented in hearing aids that require “training” in millions of different sound scenes.

Some hearing aids even "learn" your preferences by analyzing how you adjust the devices in different listening situations. Others can use geolocation to figure out if you've just entered your favorite coffee shop and then change your hearing aid settings to your usual preferences.

Adaptive directional microphone

Directional microphones are scientifically proven to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, thus increasing your chances of hearing well in background noise. "Adaptive" means directional mics are automatically steered to optimize speech amplification.

Directional microphones provide less benefit with open-fitting hearing aids, which are by far the most common type. They also provide less benefit with diffuse multi-talker babble, which is common in difficult situations, like restaurants.

Tinnitus features

Your hearing aid can play sounds to mask your tinnitus and help you focus or relax.

Most hearing aids feature tinnitus sound generators. Some also offer tinnitus retraining programs that may facilitate tinnitus habituation and adaptation. However, those typically involve a subscription service.

Healthable features

Hearing aids can contain motion sensors and other sensors for detecting movement and body metrics like step-counting, heart rate, wearing time, and social engagement, to name a few.

"Healthables" are a growing class of products. In the case of hearing aids, some of these features are offered in special models geared for more active or fitness-conscious people (e.g., Phonak Audéo Fit); others are useful for people who want fall alerts or their health parameters to be shared with a loved one or caretaker (e.g., Starkey Genesis AI) for enhanced safety and independent living.

Of course, hearing aid manufacturers benefit from progress in other fields. Still, considering their limited niche, their research and development cost per unit sold is enormous, compared to, for example, a set of consumer earbuds, where the market is so much larger. What’s more, with only a handful of manufacturers controlling the hearing aid market, it’s much less competitive than the markets for most consumer electronic devices.

Below is an overview of what you can expect to pay for the flagship models offered by leading medical-model hearing aid brands. These numbers are based on data provided to HearingTracker by hearing care professionals across the country.

Typical pricing for low- and high-level technology

When buying hearing aids, you can almost cut your costs in half if you're willing to settle for a lower technology level. Below, we show how you can also cut your costs substantially. But, in exchange, you may have to compromise on technology, features, and services.

Another reason we’re so acutely aware of the price of hearing aids is that, unlike many other medical aids and services, they’re typically not covered by health insurance. However, that might change in the future.

Should you wait for Medicare to cover hearing aids?

Presently, Medicare offers no coverage for hearing aids. In fact, Medicare coverage for hearing aids and related services was expressly excluded from the Social Security Act of 1965, meaning it would literally take an Act of Congress to change it. The Biden administration’s Build Back Better Act—a vast omnibus bill that included the addition of hearing aid coverage under Medicare—was passed by the U.S. House in late-2021 but died in the Senate. While it seems likely Medicare will one day provide at least some coverage for hearing aids, we definitely don’t recommend waiting; currently, there are no promising changes on the legislative horizon.

And any bill that might make it into law would take some time to be enacted and necessarily exclude some people due to costs. For example, even if passed in 2022, the Build Back Better Act wouldn't have been in effect until January 2024. It also provided aids only for those with moderately severe to profound hearing loss—excluding the vast majority of people who could benefit from hearing aids.

Acknowledging the above, some Medicare Advantage plans do have a hearing aid benefit. If you are enrolled in one of these plans, call the number on the back of your Medicare Advantage card and ask, ”What is my hearing aid benefit?” Increasingly, states are mandating that insurance plans cover hearing aids. There are several other ways you might get help paying for hearing aids (e.g., VA benefits and TRICARE, Medicaid, etc.). Check out HearingTracker's article "Paying for Hearing Aids with Health Insurance" and A Guide to Paying for Hearing Aids for money-saving tips.

In the meantime, let’s see how you can get affordable hearing aids to help you now.

Over-the-counter hearing aids: Will they help?

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids may bring down the price of hearing devices—at least at first glance. Since you won’t have to consult a hearing care professional before purchasing OTC hearing aids, they are essentially unbundled by default. The lower price makes those listening devices more accessible, but it comes at a cost: a lack of service and individualized fitting.

OTC hearing aids are suitable for adults with self-perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. But, we’re notoriously bad at judging our own hearing. Chances are, you won’t know how bad your hearing really is until you’ve completed a hearing test. You can quickly use HearingTracker's test or several other free online hearing tests. However, we always recommend getting a comprehensive hearing examination from an audiologist to get a baseline and confidently rule out medical pathology. If you’re determined to skip the office visit, at minimum, we recommend taking the Consumer Ear Disease Risk Assessment offered by Mayo Clinic and Northwestern University.

A significant challenge of owning hearing aids is device maintenance issues. According to Doctor Cliff, 20% of appointments at his clinic are related to servicing hearing aids—and he often finds that hearing aids fail to meet manufacturer specifications after long periods of use. In other words, the sound quality of a hearing aid can degrade over time—often unbeknownst to the wearer because, like hearing loss, it happens so gradually. With OTC hearing aids, you will miss out on these quality checks unless you can find a care provider to service them which, of course, will cost extra.

And sometimes, it’s your hearing and not the hearing aids that get worse. The annual checkups provided by a hearing care provider assess both the performance of the hearing aids and your hearing. If your hearing deteriorates, your provider should tune up your hearing aids to accommodate the change, ideally with verification from real-ear measurements.

On the bright side, due to the lower price, OTC hearing aids will get more people interested in hearing devices. This should hopefully put a big dent in the “unaided” population that has been sitting on the sidelines, doing nothing about their hearing problems. Moreover, the increase in competition may lead to technological innovations that improve performance and outcomes across the board.

However, remember that OTC hearing aids aren’t suitable for everyone. Adults with severe or profound hearing loss (or medical red flags) and children should always see a professional. ASHA warns that children treated with OTC hearing aids “are at risk for severe complications due to untreated ear disease; inadequate amplification leading to severe, permanent, and disabling language impairment; as well as additional hearing loss due to inappropriate levels of amplification.”

Moreover, if you have any of the conditions listed below, the National Institutes of Health recommend to “see a licensed physician promptly,” as you may have an underlying medical condition:

• Fluid, pus, or blood coming out of your ear within the previous six months.
• Pain or discomfort in your ear.
• A history of excessive ear wax or suspicion that something is in your ear canal.
• Episodes of vertigo (severe dizziness) with hearing loss.
• Sudden hearing loss or quickly worsening hearing loss.
• Hearing loss that has gotten more and then less severe within the last six months.
• Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing) in only one ear, or a noticeable difference in how well you can hear in each ear.

OTC hearing aids aren’t for everyone, but they will help some. Other options aren’t good for anyone.

Options NOT recommended: Don't get scammed!

Not every affordable hearing device will meet OTC guidelines. Many unscrupulous brands offer cheap hearing aids that promise relief but don’t actually work. Some companies market these devices as “FDA-approved” OTC hearing aids but are not technically OTCs. Unfortunately, the FDA rarely takes action on these illegal online hearing aid companies.

Online hearing aids — do your homework!

• Watch out for aggressive marketing, unrealistic promises, short trial periods, and false claims. Another frequent red warning light is the lack of an address, contact information, or customer service desk. As we mentioned, all hearing aids can malfunction; if yours breaks, you'll need a company that stands behind its products and gives you a solution. The Brattleboro Hearing Center breaks down other common hearing aid scams.
• Don’t trust testimonials on the seller’s website. Instead, check the company’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and any customer reviews or complaints posted to its BBB listing.
• Read independent reviews. If you’re a member of Consumer Reports, review their hearing aid ratings.
• Use the HearingTracker search engine to look up the product and company. We provide expert reviews on the best (and some not-so-good) hearing aids, implants, and hearables. In many cases, you can find the products on our Comparison Page, which allows you to listen and compare individual products lab-tested by HearAdvisor in several different listening environments.
• Use our Hearing Loss Forum, an online community affiliated with HearingTracker, to search for firsthand experiences about the product(s) you're considering. Also consider becoming a member and helping others in your situation!
• Generally, beware of fake online reviews. These can be hard to spot, but sometimes you’ll notice dead giveaways, like the exact same wording showing up in multiple reviews or comments posted in quick succession with only a few newer comments.
• Is it a new or generic brand? See whether you can find a white-labeled (unbranded) product version on sites like Alibaba or AliExpress, online marketplaces stocked by Chinese manufacturers. If you do, examine the price difference; that’s the scammer’s margin!

Ivory Hearing has debunked another cheap rechargeable hearing aid. Most online hearing aids follow a similar pattern: to promise the best hearing aids at an incredibly low price, supported by false claims and fake testimonials. Often, they also discredit hearing care professionals.

Using eBay or online marketplaces

You can buy cheap brand-name hearing aids in online marketplaces like eBay, but it's dicey at best. One commenter on our forum recommends getting the serial number and verifying its legitimacy with the manufacturer. Otherwise, you might end up with stolen goods. Some of these "second-hand" or “never-used” hearing aids are old and require programming software clinicians no longer use. Depending on the style and technology—and how it matches up with your unique hearing profile and needs—you may find that hearing care professionals are reluctant, or even say it's impossible, to fit you with that hearing aid. Finally, be aware these hearing aids do not come with a warranty for loss or damage.

Can’t I buy just one hearing aid?

Is buying a monaural (one) hearing aid a possibility—even if the professional says you need a binaural (two hearing aids) solution? The technical answer is “yes,” but it’s a poor solution for several reasons. Having two ears isn’t simply for back-up or “system redundancy,” any more than your right eye exists because you might poke out your left. Binaural hearing has many advantages, including notably better sound processing, the ability to hear in three-dimensional space so you can locate and “zoom in” on sound sources, and better hearing in noise. In fact, there is a range of amplification options for people who have hearing loss in only one ear (e.g., see our articles about CROS / BiCROS hearing aids and bone-anchored hearing aids).

Since most people have bilateral hearing loss and almost all studies point to much better outcomes for those who opt for binaural hearing aids, your hearing care professional is probably correct in urging you to buy two hearing aids. There is also the issue of auditory deprivation in the unaided ear, meaning that the longer that ear remains without sound, the more your brain is going to rewire itself and the harder it might be for you to use hearing aids on that ear in the future.

The bottom line is yes, you could get one hearing aid, and yes, that should allow you to hear better. If that's literally your only option then, by all means, do it. But in almost all cases, there are better alternatives which we'll cover below.

Best Options for Affordable Hearing Aids

Hearing aid prices aren’t regulated. While some hearing clinics may not be willing to slim down their margins, you may find better deals by shopping around. It always comes down to finding the right care provider and product for your needs.

1. Check your insurance coverage and compare prices

As noted above, while Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids, many private health insurances do. Third-party care providers like Epic and TruHearing work with insurance companies to provide hearing care benefits to their members. If your insurance is among them, you could get a large portion of the cost covered.

If your insurance covers hearing aids, be sure to ask whether they will accept out-of-network care providers. If they do, you could reach out to different hearing clinics to compare prices. Often, hearing care clinics can offer you a better deal than your insurance’s third-party care provider.

2. Buy a lower-end or basic technology model from a local provider

Depending on your type of hearing loss, you may not need the most advanced technology level—or want to pay for it! For most hearing losses, a well-fitted basic hearing aid will give you all (or most) of the benefits of better hearing while not breaking the bank. In fact, a study by the late-great audiologist-researcher Robyn Cox, PhD, showed that a quality economy-level hearing aid could attain very similar outcomes to a premium-level hearing aid—if it's fit by a professional who knows what they're doing and uses clinical best practices.

Ask your hearing care provider if you really need the additional features of more advanced and expensive models. For example, will you stream audio from your phone to your hearing aids, do you need a tinnitus program, or would a rechargeable device really make your life that much easier? If the answer is no, you might do fine with a simpler model.

Because most hearing care practices now have to compete with the likes of Costco and Sam's Club (see below), it's becoming fairly common for them to offer hearing aids for around $1,500 a pair—if you insist on their lowest-technology level aid (and if that hearing aid is suitable for your hearing needs).

3. Pay for services as you go

Another way to reduce the upfront cost is to purchase hearing aids independently of additional services. Here's a little-known fact about hearing healthcare (and much of healthcare in general): if you have a relatively simple problem that requires only a couple of office visits, you'll still pay about the same as a person with a complex problem who requires double the number of visits. We can debate the merits or fairness of this, but in most hearing care practices, you'll pay the same as everyone else for services—no matter how many appointments you require.

Recognizing this, it's becoming increasingly common for clinics to unbundle their prices, so you can purchase a hearing aid and pay separately for the services—such as a hearing test, real-ear measurement, device programming, orientation, replacement parts, and maintenance—as you go.

Depending on your situation, this may or may not save you money in the long run, but it could help reduce the initial purchase price. Some practices even offer different service packages based on hearing loss and needs. Moreover, if you’re not happy with the service you’re receiving or have to relocate, you’ll be able to switch providers more easily.

Alternatively, if unbundling is not an option, you could inquire how to finance your hearing aids. Just be careful to review the payment terms to ensure interest payments don’t balloon the overall cost excessively, and also make sure to pay off the hearing aids by the agreed-upon date(s) so you don't incur extra interest charges.

4. Weigh the merits of a subscription hearing aid plan

If you want to take the sting out of the initial hearing aid payment, you can also look into subscription hearing aids like Lyric and Audicus. With these devices, rather than buying them outright, you can pay a monthly fee that covers your aids and additional benefits, including maintenance, support, accessories, loss and damage protection, software updates, and regular hardware upgrades. Since you're essentially leasing the aids, you can cancel your contract anytime, though restrictions and penalties may apply. In some cases, you can also get free upgrades. Generally, the support for these aids consists of only online assistance, but some companies offer in-person office visits, too. Check out our article “Pros and Cons of Subscription Hearing Aid and Financing Plans” for details, as well as some of the OTC aids below.

5. Veterans Affairs (VA) hearing aid care

If you’re eligible for VA healthcare, you might also qualify for its hearing aid care. Members can schedule an appointment to have their hearing evaluated. If the audiologist recommends a hearing aid, the VA will cover the hearing aid and all associated costs.

Unfortunately, not everyone with hearing loss automatically qualifies for coverage under the VA. The VHA Directive 1034, which governs the prescription and provision of hearing aids to veterans, refers to 38 CFR 17.149 in regard to which veterans are eligible for hearing aids.

To get VA healthcare, veterans first need to apply for eligibility. This is typically done by applying for disability starting with the VA’s Form 10-10EZ. If the veteran is registered with the VA and receives healthcare services, they can make an appointment directly with a VA audiologist to determine their hearing status and the need for a hearing aid. For more information about obtaining a hearing aid from the VA, visit the VA Rehab and Prosthetics page.

6. Look into reputable online hearing aid retailers

There are a few trusted online retailers, like ZipHearing, that work with local clinics to offer fixed price hearing aid + service bundles. We know that ZipHearing works directly with reputable hearing aid manufacturers, which is important because some retailers sell “grey market” products that have dubious product warranties. The company also has a good reputation with the audiology community. Note: HearingTracker partners with ZipHearing and other national providers to offer discounted hearing aid prices to its visitors.

7. Consider purchasing at Costco or Sam's Club

Both Costco hearing aids and Sam's Club hearing aids are dispensed by state-licensed hearing care professionals at a great price point. Here’s how these companies can sell hearing aids at such low prices:

• Being mass wholesale clubs, they enjoy huge volume discounts on their devices. Costco is one of the largest distributors of hearing aids in the United States and buys hearing aids in bulk, which brings down the price significantly; Sam's Club Hearing Aids are staffed and run by Lucid Hearing and has its own hearing aid brand.
• Both employ a shop-in-shop model, which minimizes overhead substantially vs. traditional brick-and-mortar offices/clinics.
• Both usually employ state-licensed hearing aid specialists, which are generally paid less (on average) than audiologists.

Costco and Sam's Club hearing aids can be a great deal if the hearing aid center you visit is staffed with a skilled provider who adheres to best practices and isn't over-taxed in terms of having available time to spend with existing clients. Given the latter, these stores may not be the best for people with more severe or complex hearing losses who require more professional time, counseling, accessories, etc.

At Costco, you can get brand-name hearing aids from Jabra, Philips, and Rexton. Costco even mandates the use of real-ear measurements at all of its hearing centers. Additionally, because they sell hearing aids from global hearing aid manufacturers, you can get these aids reprogrammed and serviced at most hearing aid clinics (i.e., unlike Sam's Club, they are not "locked" so other providers can adjust them). Costco’s standard 3-year warranty covers repairs and replacements, as needed. During a 2-year loss-and-damage warranty period, you can even get one hearing aid per year replaced, free of cost.

Sam's Club's Lucid Hearing Aids offer good sound quality and a range of options in terms of Bluetooth, rechargeability, extended warranty/care packages up to 3 years, with prices ranging from about $1,299-$5,000 per pair (although costs can vary depending on add-on features and services). We think Sam's is also a good place if you're torn between a prescription or OTC hearing aid. For example, Lucid Engage received an Expert Choice 2023 Award from the HearAdvisor test lab, and a Lucid-certified clinician will even program your OTC aid for $198—or you can trade it in for a prescription aid if you're still in the 90-day trial period. However, Lucid hearing aids are "locked,” meaning you can't get them reprogrammed by another professional outside the network.

8. Check out the better-performing OTC hearing aids

Try searching for hearing aids on Amazon or your favorite search engine, and you’ll be flooded with options. To help you find the right OTC solution, we recently updated our Top-10 Best OTC Hearing Aids for 2024 page. You can also visit the HearAdvisor Leaderboard, select "OTC hearing aids" and view the ranking

Lexie hearing aids

Lexie B1 and B2 Powered by Bose are both receiver-in-canal (RIC) OTC hearing aids that offer good sound quality, on-device volume control, directional microphones, noise reduction, smartphone app controls, and free, remote expert support from Lexie. Both the B1 and B2 use Bluetooth wireless technology to connect with the Lexie app, but only the B2 can stream phone calls from an iPhone at this time. We’ve seen the B1 and B2 offered online for $764 and $999, respectively, but check the latest price. Listen to sound samples by clicking the red buttons below or comparing them to our Comparison Page. (Note: You'll hear the different comparisons better if you wear headphones.)

Lexie also offers Lexie Lumen, an OTC self-fitting behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid with replaceable batteries currently offered for $719 or $42/mo for a pair. Like the B1/B2 Powered by Bose, Lexie Lumen has a 45-day trial, remote professional care, and a 1-year warranty. And, like the B1 model, it uses Bluetooth for linking to the Lexie app for control of the hearing aids, but does not offer audio streaming for phone calls.

JLab HEAR OTC

Are you looking for an inexpensive ($99) OTC hearing aid that works well in quiet, gives you at least some benefit in noise, and is made by a reputable manufacturer? Or maybe you're in the market for a "back-up hearing aid" that you can wear if you know you're embarking on an activity that could imperil your expensive hearing aids (e.g., football or boating) or can serve as replacement hearing aids if your devices are being repaired? If so, check out the JLab HEAR OTC, an earbud-type hearing aid that scored well in HearAdvisor testing (SoundScore of 3.6 on a 5-point scale). This hearing aid / earbud hybrid punches above its weight class and features rechargeability, iPhone and Android audio and call streaming, and good sound quality. It doesn't quite match the performance of a high-end prescription or OTC hearing aid, but hey, it's $99.

Jabra Enhance hearing aids

Lively, one of the most successful direct-to-consumer hearing aid companies prior to the establishment of the OTC rules, was renamed Jabra Enhance after global hearing aid manufacturer GN Hearing purchased it in 2021. Jabra Enhance offers three technology levels of its Enhance Select RIC hearing aids. These include fully remote online hearing testing and app-based care, with prices ranging from $995 to $1,995 per pair. You can try these hearing aids for 100 days, they offer financing for as low as $39 to $58 per month, and all three models include 3 years of remote follow-up care if you opt for the Premium Care & Protection Package.

The more affordable Jabra Enhance Select 50R ($1,195-$1,395) comes with a 1-year supply of batteries and offers Bluetooth streaming for calls and music on iPhone and Android, but does not offer hands-free calling on iPhones like the more expensive rechargeable Enhance Select 100 and Enhance Select 300 models.

The company also offers Jabra Enhance Plus earbuds, a rechargeable OTC hearing aid found online and in big-box retailers, as well as participating Beltone offices. It features audio streaming with hands-free calling for iOS devices at $799.

Jabra Enhance hearing aids share technology with the medical-model hearing aid brands ReSound and Beltone, which are also part of the GN Group.

Eargo hearing aids

Eargo OTC hearing aids aren’t cheap, with prices starting at $1,850 for a pair of Eargo 5 aids, but they’re legit. Along with Lexie Powered by Bose, they were the very first true OTC hearing aids on the market. What sets Eargo 7 apart from other OTC models is that they include a 2-year warranty, ongoing professional telecare support, and you can buy them on Amazon which offers additional buyer protection. Eargo 7 at $2,690 per pair is their latest discreet Completely-in-Canal (CIC) model, offering the company's newest Sound Adjust+ with Clarity Mode.

Audicus hearing aids

Audicus offers five different hearing aid options, ranging from $499 to $1,399 per ear. However, you can opt for a monthly membership of $39 - 89, instead. Whether you pay monthly, upfront, or go with a payment plan, you’ll start your journey with a hearing test, which you can either take online or complete by submitting existing test results. Programming adjustments are free for the life of the hearing aid.

While Audicus hearing devices come with a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty, this only covers manufacturing defects. If you paid for your hearing aids upfront, any cleanings, repairs, or replacements are charged extra. However, you can opt for the monthly Audicus Protect Subscription, which will have you fully covered, even for loss replacement, for 24 months. Likewise, the Audicus Care Subscription ensures you never run out of accessories. Those who choose the monthly membership receive all those benefits plus a replacement pair every 18 months.

Audicus is independently-owned but sells hearing aids manufactured by Sonova, the parent company of popular hearing aid brands Phonak and Unitron.

Yes Hearing Aids

Yes Hearing is a good option for people who don’t wish to travel and want to receive home-based professional face-to-face service at lower device prices. The company markets itself as “America’s concierge hearing care solution,” connecting its customers with over 400 licensed hearing specialists in 42 states. Yes Hearing offers all the major hearing aid brands with prices from $1395-$3995 per pair (and financing options), and this includes a range of services like an at-home hearing test, front-door delivery, and hearing aid fitting with telecare support. With this are offered "care bundles" for remote and in-person professional visits for $25-55 per month, which largely determine the number of covered in-person follow-up appointments you receive and other care options.

For their prescription hearing aids, both Sam's Club and Costco offer full-service packages. Before you commit to a product, you receive a free hearing test and product demonstrations. When you make a purchase, you will receive custom earmolds if you need them (which may cost extra), free remote or in-person follow-up appointments for the lifetime of your hearing aids, and free cleanings, check-ups, and programming adjustments.

Check out our Sam's Club and Costco hearing aid pages for more detailed information.