Audicus Hearing Aids: Everything You Need to Know

Audicus was one of the first companies to market affordable hearing aids online with professional hearing care services, and today offers four hearing aid models—all manufactured by two of the world's largest hearing aid companies, Sonova (parent company of Phonak and Unitron) and WS Audiology (parent company of Rexton, Signia, and Widex). Their most popular advanced receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids range in price from $649 to $999 per ear (e.g., about $1,300-$2,000 per pair) and can also be purchased using a unique subscription plan we'll detail below.

Audicus does everything in-house, including hearing aid programming, shipping, and remote customer care. Founded by Patrick Freuler in 2012, the Manhattan-based company's mission is to provide easy access to fairly priced hearing aids. And, as mentioned, you can either pay upfront to own the hearing aids or lease them through the Audicus Premier membership plan which adds additional perks.

Who are Audicus hearing aids for?

If you have difficulty understanding people in noisy environments or wish you could “turn up the volume” to hear well, you might need a hearing aid. Audicus is a good over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid option for people who want to save money but may still want some assistance from a hearing care provider.

Audicus sells hearing aids suitable for mild to moderate and severe hearing loss. You can pick from models with Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable batteries, telecoils, and tinnitus maskers—as well as accessories like remote controls or remote microphones. If you're tech-savvy and self-motivated, Audicus could be a great fit.

The company also has what HearingTracker considers one of the best subscription and leasing hearing aid programs—what Audicus calls its "Premier Membership" program (see below).

The main downside—unless you live close to an Audicus health clinic—is that Audicus won't arrange a professional hearing test or in-person fitting for you like its competitors Yes Hearing and Hear.com. However, the company does offer the option to upload a third-party professional hearing test—something we highly recommend.

This means you'll need to be relatively self-sufficient in purchasing the devices online, fitting and maintaining your hearing aids, and navigating Bluetooth pairing and app control through your smartphone. Likewise, if you struggle to hear loud sounds like traffic or sirens or have trouble with one-on-one conversations in quiet, you likely have a more severe hearing loss and should consult an audiologist or ENT before buying online hearing aids.

Although it's always best to get a comprehensive audiological evaluation from an audiologist, several hearing screening websites can give you a good, fast estimate of your hearing status. You should also be sure to check your risk of ear disease before purchasing any hearing aids online.

How much do Audicus hearing aids cost?

Prices for Audicus RIC hearing aids range from a base cost of $649 to $999 per ear, which equates to $1,298 to $1,998 per pair. The price, based on the specific model you choose, depends on your hearing loss, lifestyle, and desired features.

Audicus offers subscription plans to cover insurance and supplies.

• Audicus Protect is a 3-year beefed-up warranty, including unlimited repairs, Clean & Care services, and a one-time hearing aid loss replacement. You must initiate the subscription within 60 days of acquiring your hearing aids. The subscription costs $198 for a pair of hearing aids. Audicus Protect covers the hearing aid(s), but a $195/device copay will be charged in the event of loss, and a $50/device copay may apply for each repair if damaged by the user.
• Audicus Care covers supplies, including domes, batteries, earwax guards, wipes, desiccant drying capsules for rechargeable devices, and cleaning brushes. You'll receive a shipment every 3 months, but you can request up to one shipment per month at no extra charge. This subscription is $12 per month.

Rather than paying for your hearing aids upfront and adding on individual subscriptions, you can buy an Omni Series 2 or Spirit Series 2 hearing aid through the Audicus Premier subscription.

• Audicus Premier includes a member-only phone support line, unlimited warranty, free cleanings (a $50 value), comprehensive loss and damage protection, regular delivery of supplies, and a hearing aid replacement every 18 months. This program is offered only on the new rechargeable Omni 2 and Spirit 2 Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aids. The cost is $99 per month for Spirit 2 and $119 per month for Omni 2. Previously, this "Members-only" subscription program was offered only on an 18-month contract, but now there is no contract, and you can cancel at any time. Note that there is a one-time sign-up fee of $249 (which was the lowest price for the previous membership program).

Does Audicus offer financing?

Yes, Audicus offers financing for hearing aids CareCredit and Allegro (both belong to the Synchrony Financial group), with the options of 6-, 12-, or 18-month payment plans. However, you can't finance the subscription plans.

Does Audicus accept insurance?

No, and they caution that most insurances won't reimburse for monthly payments. They also can't submit insurance claims on your behalf. For more information, see HearingTracker's webpage about paying for hearing aids with insurance and our Guide to Paying for Hearing Aids.

Audicus hearing aid technology and models

Audicus offers three different receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid models: the flagship Omni 2, mid-level Spirit 2, and essential-level Wave 2 hearing aids, which are situated behind the ear and have an almost-invisible wire that connects to a receiver (sound generator) and dome earpiece. These models have the option of rechargeable or disposable battery.

There is also the "instant fit" Audicus Mini, a small Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aid that is almost invisible in the ear, but has the trade-off of offering fewer advanced features and limited user controls.

All the RIC devices feature Bluetooth and offer a battery-powered or rechargeable option, with the latter being $100/pair more expensive. The CIC does not provide Bluetooth and uses a size 10A disposable battery.

All Audicus hearing aids come with a standard 2-year manufacturer warranty. Available colors for the RIC-style aids are beige, black, silver, or gray.

When looking at the Audicus product line, you might ask yourself, "Why is there a '2' after most hearing aid brands?” Audicus once had a lower-tech level called “Series 1” for Omni and Spirit, which was phased out in May 2024 and replaced with the RIC essential-performance level RIC, Wave Series 2.

Audicus Hearing Aid Features and Prices

Audicus Omni 2

Audicus’ flagship product line, Omni 2 is a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid that sits behind the ear and offers two choices of receivers (standard and medium), suitable for moderate to severe hearing loss. Manufactured by Sonova (maker of Phonak and Unitron hearing aids), its Made-for-All Bluetooth capabilities connect to Apple and Android devices, so you can make calls and stream audio from your TV or phone. Both Omni 2 and Spirit 2 were launched in August 2023.

Audicus told us that Omni 2 provides the "LATEST technology, best sound experience, and everything you need under $2,000." The rechargeable battery model costs $1,998 per pair or $119 per month with Audicus Premier. The disposable battery model costs $1,898 per pair.

Both Omni and Spirit feature two directional microphones and universal auto-adaptive programs that adjust to different listening environments, amplifying close sounds while minimizing background noise. Omni features 16 channels, giving your hearing provider room to make the hearing aids sound just right for you. A soft-speech intensifier selectively amplifies soft speech sounds so that they are easier to hear and understand.

One significant difference between Omni and Spirit is that Omni has the Speech Finder feature. Audicus says this technology finds and enhances speech sounds within your environment, regardless of which direction it’s coming from. Your hearing aids determine the location of the speech and direct the microphones to focus on the speech source.

Grab some good-quality headphones and listen the Audicus Omni Series 2 sound samples below:

The Hearing Remote app provides additional controls over volume and the 6 listening programs, and an added customization control with an equalizer is provided for your fine-tuning—making it the most adjustable and potentially the best-sounding hearing aid Audicus has to offer.

The app also gives you access to customized hearing care from an audiologist with the push of a button. For example, you can change through programs like “Conversation in Noise” and “TV/Music” to fit your environment and easily adjust between 10 volume settings. Likewise, you can apply equalizer settings through the app, and your hearing provider can also remotely adjust its settings. The hearing aid also has onboard buttons that give you control over on/off, volume, and program changes.

Omni can pair with up to 8 Bluetooth devices with active pairing for two at any one time. Having two active connections is definitely a convenience because, if you're a frequent user of more than one wireless device (e.g., TV connector and smartphone), you don't have to constantly access the menu to switch between them—just tap the hearing aid to switch from one to another.

All Audicus RIC hearing aids feature onboard buttons to control the volume and switch between programs.

Like Spirit, Omni is offered in both rechargeable and size 312 battery versions, with the rechargeable version having a telecoil option but costing $50 more per ear. Both versions support an optional tinnitus masker for providing tinnitus relief.

Audicus Spirit 2

Audicus told HearingTracker that Spirit 2 offers the "LATEST technology and quality sound experience for under $2,000.” The disposable battery model costs $1,648 per pair; the rechargeable model costs $1,748 or $99 per month with Audicus Premier. Spirit 2 is almost identical to the Omni 2, except it features 14 instead of 16 channels, giving your hearing provider slightly fewer tools. There are also only 4 instead of 6 listening programs to choose from.

However, essentially all of the processing and programming features described above for Omni—except Speech Finder—are employed in Spirit. Both lines aim to analyze your environment, filter out background noise, and improve speech recognition.

As with Omni, Spirit can connect to the Hearing Remote app. Inside the app, you can control the volume and switch between programs, as well as make adjustments with the equalizer. A multifunction button on the hearing aid itself can be used to adjust the volume and change programs.

The rechargeable battery lasts up to 18 hours, but you can also get Spirit with a replaceable (size 312) battery with longer battery life. Both versions support the Binaural Phone and tinnitus masker, and the rechargeable model comes with a telecoil.

Audicus Wave 2

Wave 2 is the "essential" or value line of RIC hearing aids from Audicus, priced at $1,398 per pair for the disposable-battery model or $1,498 for the rechargeable model. However, you'll still get a good deal of the valuable processing features found in Omni and Spirit like directional microphones, Bluetooth streaming for both iOS and Android phones, the Audicus app, and the same remote adjustment capabilities. The key differences are only 2 listening programs (Omni and Spirit provide 6 and 4, respectively), and the Enhanced Clarity and Speech Finder algorithms are absent in Wave.

Audicus also promotes the fact that their higher-tier products have more channels (20 and 16 channels for Omni and Spirit, respectively, versus 12 for Wave). However, we think audiological evidence supports the idea that once you get above about 8 channels, it doesn't really matter (particularly for the mild-to-moderate losses addressed by OTC hearing aids). In other words, Wave might not have the same adjustment capabilities for the online hearing care professional who is adjusting your hearing aids as Omni and Spirit, but they're all good in practical terms.

Audicus recommends these hearing aids for "casual lifestyles" and says they are “ideal for intimate conversations, watching TV, and small gatherings at home." Like the Mini, it does not come with the option of a Premiere Membership and the subscription payment option.

Audicus Mini

Mini sits in your ear canal, making it almost invisible; it's Audicus' only completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid. It also comes with a hefty price-tag at $2,498.

Although it doesn't have any buttons, you can control the hearing aid from its Rexton app where you can adjust the volume, programs, and sound balance. The Mini's compact size limits the technology it can pack, making it slightly less powerful than all other models, but still suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss. Unlike Audicus' RIC models, it does not offer Bluetooth wireless audio streaming (e.g., for music, podcasts, etc), and remote adjustments are not supported with Mini. The replaceable battery (size 10A) can power your aid for up to 70 hours.

Like Wave, it does not come with the option of a Premiere Membership and the subscription payment option.

How does the fitting process work?

Technically, you don't have to leave your house to get your Audicus hearing aids fitted. Before you make a purchase, however, you need to submit a hearing test and wait for your free consultation.

If you don't have a recent hearing test at hand, you can take Audicus' free online hearing screener. The test takes about 15 minutes and is done using headphones in a quiet place. While this test is incredibly thorough, we still strongly recommend seeing a local audiologist for a comprehensive hearing test and audiogram taken in a test booth. Once you have your results, you can upload, fax, text, or email your audiogram to Audicus.

Next, a hearing specialist reaches out to discuss your options, helps you pick a suitable hearing aid, and advises you on your next steps. After purchasing one of their recommended hearing aids, the specialist customizes them for your unique hearing profile and mails them to your house.

Once the product arrives, the Audicus hearing specialist reaches out to help you fit and fine-tune your hearing aids. If needed, they adjust the frequency range and volume (gain) of your hearing aids and help you with the pre-installed programs. This is done remotely through the Audicus app for the Bluetooth-enabled RIC models.

Note that remote adjustments can't swap out programs or help you pair hearing aids.

Your ongoing Audicus support specialist is available via phone, video, text, and email, depending on what you prefer.

Post-fitting support from Audicus

From the day your hearing aids are shipped, you have 100 days to try them out and decide if you want to keep them. If you're not convinced, make use of the 100-day money-back guarantee and return them for a full refund.

Your Audicus hearing aids come with access to free lifetime expert support. As an Audicus Plus member, you'll have direct access to the team through a Plus-only phone number.

If your hearing changes or should you not be satisfied with the performance of your hearing aids after remote adjustments, you can ask Audicus for a reprogramming. Reprogrammings are free for the life of your hearing aids, but you may have to fill in a survey and return the aids to Audicus.

What are people saying in consumer reviews about Audicus hearing aids?

In independent lab testing, Audicus Omni 2 scored high in overall hearing aid performance, with a SoundScore of 4.3 (out of 5), making it a 2023 Expert Choice Award honoree by HearAdvisor. The lab reports:

“Audicus Omni 2 performed above average on speech in quiet, above average on speech in noise, below average on feedback handling, above average on occlusion results, and well above average on music streaming quality. The overall fit score in the initial condition for the Audicus Omni 2 was well above average.”

At the time of this writing, Audicus has a 4.5/5 rating on the website Consumer Affairs. Almost three-quarters (72%) of 312 reviews gave Audicus a 5-star (the highest) rating. Most people were happy with the sales process, and many reported a great experience with their new hearing aids. Comments about customer support, however, were somewhat mixed but generally positive.

Several Audicus clients criticized slow communication and long return times for aids sent in for reprogramming or repair. A few people complained about static noise as a problem that did not get resolved.

Many other issues, such as hearing aids falling out or being uncomfortable, are likely rooted in a poor fit. Audicus will walk customers through re-fittings and ask them to send photos of them wearing the hearing aid. This can be a frustrating process. Issues like this are more easily addressed with an in-person fitting, especially for people struggling with dexterity.

On HearingTracker, Audicus Spirit has a 4-star (out of 5) rating, but you should note this is only from two reviews. One person noted their left hearing aid "no longer works" (they did not comment about getting help or sending it back for repair), but this anonymous user seemed quite happy with Spirit:

Audicus has worked for me. It's a long drive to the nearest town with a hearing clinic, so having the hearing aids delivered to my home saved me a lot of time in the car. And the customer service has been good. This is my second pair of hearing aids from them, but the first time I've had rechargeable ones. I love not changing batteries anymore. The bluetooth is also helpful for my phone.

In the HearingTracker Forum, user "dhthinker" posted that he received immediate hearing improvement from the Audicus hearing aids after purchased. However, during his 45-day trial period, he also visited Costco and received a professionally administered hearing test then tried a Costco KS10 hearing aid which he perceived "to be identical" in technology to Spirit (both are made by Sonova). Because of the professional fitting, he ended up opting for the KS10:

That said, when the Hearing Specialist configured a set for me to walk around the [Costco] store they seemed to work better than the Audicus—even though the exact same product apparently. This goes to show you the value of a human hearing test versus an online test. I’m a technology guy so online stuff doesn’t give me any angst. However, it appears this is one case where a thorough hearing test conducted in a sound proof room can provide a better solution.

Pros & Cons of Audicus hearing aids

Should you buy Audicus hearing aids?

With Audicus, you'll receive first-hand remote care and support. It's a great choice if your hearing loss has been properly diagnosed and you already have experience with hearing aids. Unless you can visit a physical Audicus clinic, you will only receive virtual help with fitting your hearing aids and learning how to use them.

The Audicus Plus membership significantly lowers your upfront cost. In the long run, however, the subscription model could cost you more than purchasing your aids with bundled care from a local provider. Although Audicus hearing aids should last for 3-7 years, the Audicus Plus plan allows you to upgrade your aids every 18 months. This makes Audicus an attractive option for those eager to keep their technology up-to-date.