Jun 29, 2024 11:00 AM

The Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

These WIRED-tested hearing aids are affordable, audiologist-approved alternatives to prescription devices. No doctor’s appointment necessary.

In 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids to supplement traditional prescription options, increasing accessibility and affordability to millions of Americans affected by untreated hearing loss. But how do OTC models measure up to prescription hearing aids? And more importantly, do budget OTC devices treat hearing loss well?

There’s been a healthy level of skepticism around these products since they first hit the shelves from medical professionals and long-time hearing aid users. After all—how can a non-prescription product serve the needs of every patient, considering their hearing needs are invariably unique? And if there’s no doctor, who can you turn to for guidance when problems arise?

These are the kinds of questions I got to the bottom of with the help of licensed audiologist Ruth Reisman, who tested each device on this list to ensure it was medically sound. I wore each of them personally for an extended period to gauge sound quality, ease of use, and overall comfort, putting over 20 OTC hearing aids to the test so you don’t have to. In addition to our top picks, we’ve also included a general primer on hearing aids below, diving into key differences between prescription and OTC models, as well as some suggestions on paying for your new hearing aids.

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What Are Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids?

Over-the-counter, or OTC, hearing aids are any FDA-approved hearing assistance device you can purchase without a doctor’s prescription. Because they’re not custom-fitted like prescription devices, OTC hearing aids are marketed to patients with mild to moderate hearing loss.

How do they work? While there are some key differences between over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids, all hearing aids work the same way. Namely, they use built-in microphones to pick up sounds in the user’s environment and send them back to the ear through a tiny speaker called an amplifier. These types of hearing aids are collectively referred to as “air-conduction” hearing aids, regardless of whether or not they require a prescription.

Where can you buy OTC hearing aids? You can order OTC hearing aids online directly from the manufacturer or through commercial online retailers like Amazon. Alternatively, you can pick up an OTC hearing aid in any brick-and-mortar store that carries health care devices, including Best Buy, Costco, Walmart, and Walgreens.

How I Tested OTC Hearing Aids

Photograph: René Fielder

I partnered with licensed audiologist Ruth Reisman to conduct hands-on testing with 22 hearing aids. We analyzed each product on numerous dimensions, including quality, comfort level, and performance baselines determined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Read our Best Hearing Aids guide for all the details about our testing process.

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Photograph: Jabra Enhance
Best OTC Hearing Aid
Jabra Enhance Select 300
Jabra has been manufacturing quality hearing aid devices since the FDA ruling took effect, and it has raised the bar with its “Select” series. Despite the relatively simple (but reasonably stylish) behind-the-ear (BTE) design, the Jabra Enhance Select 300 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are some of the company's most advanced offerings to date. They are equipped with medical-grade tech based on the prescription OMNIA hearing aid from ReSound, and they offer the best sound quality on the OTC market based on my testing. I found the company’s patented SoundScape technology makes good on its promise of delivering high-quality speech-in-noise and noise-canceling features across all kinds of listening environments. The accompanying Enhance Select smartphone app allows you to switch between four basic settings: All Around, Restaurant, Music, and Outdoor, and you can also switch on a “noise filter” or “speech clarity” setting within each of those for additional fine-tuning.
The Enhance Select 300 is loaded with key features: rechargeable batteries, Bluetooth connectivity, a sturdy case (which holds a 72-hour charge), and 70+ eartips. Admittedly, these hearing aids may pose a bit of a learning curve for less tech-savvy users, but Jabra’s customer service is unmatched in the OTC arena to help you along. They even make a point of scheduling a Zoom orientation between you and an in-house audiologist when you first receive your hearing aids to get you started.
While the Enhance Select 300 is costlier than most OTC options, it’s reasonably priced for the sound quality and features you get, and you can always opt for a 12- to 36-month payment plan if the lump sum seems too steep. If you can afford it, the Enhance Select 500 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) cost a tiny bit more and are lighter and smaller.
Compatible with iOS and Android. Rechargeable. Battery life of 24 to 30 hours.
$1,995 at Jabra
Photograph: Eargo
Best Upgrade
Eargo 7
Eargo’s OTC hearing aids are often praised for their discreet look and streamlined setup process. Its in-the-ear (ITE) Eargo 7 aids (7/10, WIRED Review) offer impressive improvements over past releases, with exceptional amplification and battery life. The only trouble is the price, though you can nab them with financing at $83 per month for 36 months. (Mind the APR.)
The third iteration in the company’s OTC line, the Eargo 7 offers improvements over past models in processing, filtering, and noise reduction, and I found them to provide clean, high-quality amplification across all settings and listening environments. When it comes time to recharge the Eargo 7—which shouldn’t be too often since the buds boast an impressive 16 hours of continuous battery life per charge—the process is as easy as placing the buds back into their pocket-sized charging case, which itself provides an extra 48 hours of running time.
Compatible with iOS and Android. Rechargeable. Battery life of 16 hours.
$2,550 at Eargo
$2,950 at Amazon

Photograph: Ruth Reisman
Best Invisible Fit
Sony CRE-C10
While the in-the-ear (ITE) Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are billed as the audio behemoth’s “entry-level” OTC devices, they easily win on style. Unlike the other hearing aid devices on this list, the C10s slip completely into your ear for a look that’s basically invisible. The catch? With great discretion comes a modicum of inconvenience. The C10 aids don’t use rechargeable batteries but rather replaceable ones, which you’ll need to swap out every five days or so with heavy use. These hearing aids also don’t support Bluetooth or wireless connectivity of any kind—even though you control them via the Sony Hearing Control smartphone app through high-pitched audio tones.
Connecting these aids requires following a complex installation process, but the effort is worth it because the C10s are so comfortable, offer excellent sound quality, and are incredibly discreet. Leave them in long enough and you might forget they’re even there.
Compatible with iOS and Android. Disposable batteries. Battery life of 5 to 7 days.
$1,000 at Sony
$998 at Amazon
$1,000 at Best Buy
Photograph: Lexie
Best Value
Lexie B2 Plus
With the B2 Plus, Lexie hits the sweet spot between quality and affordability. Released in January of this year, the behind-the-ear (BTE) B2 Plus upgrades its existing tech, including an in-app hearing test for increased customization and a revamped charging case that offers an additional 18 hours of running time per charge, for a total of 36 hours of battery life before you have to plug back in.
While it’s a capable hearing aid with a well-designed app, intuitive interface, and plenty of customization options, getting started with the aids can be tedious. And while I didn’t have issues with the sound quality, the design is a bit dated. However, at $999 for the pair, I can’t complain too much. What matters most is that these OTC hearings actually work, and they work pretty well.
Compatible with iOS and Android. Rechargeable. Battery life of 18 hours.
$999 at Lexie Hearing
$999 at Walmart
$999 at Best Buy

Photograph: Eargo
Other Hearing Aids to Consider
Honorable Mentions
We've reviewed dozens of hearing aids, and many of them are good but not perfect. Here are alternatives to consider:
Eargo Link for $799: Eargo’s Link (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the company’s entry-level offering, and while it strips out several features (such as a mobile app), it’s still worth considering if you like Eargo’s design aesthetic. The earbud-like design looks great too.
Sony CRE-E10 for $998: The CRE-E10 (7/10, WIRED Review) hearing aids are a wholly different type of product than Sony’s CRE-C10, featuring rechargeable batteries and a bigger, chunkier, earbud-like look. I didn’t like the audio experience quite as much as the C10, but they’re still top-notch aids at a fairly low price.
Elehear Alpha Pro for $499: For users with mild hearing loss, the Elehear Alpha Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) is worth a look. These are traditional BTE aids that are tuned via a professional when you first unbox them. Battery life is solid at 20 hours per charge, with a case that provides a week’s worth of top-ups. Best of all they can be had for under $500.
Photograph: Jabra Enhance
What to Look for in an OTC Hearing Aid
If you’re spending hundreds or thousands of dollars buying an OTC hearing aid, make sure you’re getting a product that offers a sustainable long-term solution to your hearing loss needs. Aside from the obvious things like sound quality, take a few minutes to look into these specs.
What size and style works best for you? Most hearing aids on the market are classified as either behind-the-ear (BTE) or in-the-ear (ITE). BTE hearing aids are probably what you think of when you picture a hearing aid, consisting of a plastic case that contains the electronics, a thin cable that goes over the ear and inside the canal, and a tiny speaker known as a “receiver,” which sends boosted audio from a person's surroundings into their ear. By contrast, ITE models are self-contained units that look like a standard pair of wireless earbuds. In-the-ear hearing aids are popular for their incognito aesthetic, and they tend to be a lot easier to pop in and out than their behind-the-ear counterparts. Still, contemporary BTE hearing aids are significantly smaller than the ones “back in the day.” It just comes down to what fits you most comfortably.
Replaceable or rechargeable batteries? Much like wireless earbuds, most OTC hearing aids are equipped with rechargeable batteries and (usually) a portable charging case for easy transport. If you take the case’s battery life into account, you’ll find most OTC models last about a week before you need to connect to a power source. Without the case, rechargeable hearing aids offer anywhere from 10 to 24 hours of battery life per charge (but this goes down by a few hours if you’re using them to stream via Bluetooth). Replaceable batteries, such as those found on the Sony CRE-C10, can last for 70 hours or more before the battery dies. Sounds great, but it means having spares on hand and wrestling with tiny cells, which can be difficult for people with dexterity problems.
Are you comfortable making adjustments? While prescription hearing aids are fitted in-office by a licensed hearing care specialist, OTC devices are self-fitting. In most cases, OTC hearing aid users are expected to be able to tune the devices to their ears, usually with the help of a smartphone app. It’s certainly nice to make your own adjustments on the fly, but it may cost you in the way of personalized care.
What’s the company’s customer support like? If only you could count on quality support from every hearing aid manufacturer! Unfortunately, OTC hearing aid companies are just that—companies. There’s no “standard” for customer service in the industry. Companies like Jabra offer patients comprehensive support, but other brands may leave you on your own.
Is there a trial run? If you’re not happy with your hearing aids, you’ll probably want to have the option to return them without writing all that money off as a sunk cost. Most states require manufacturers to provide patients with a minimum trial period, but I recommend playing it safe by seeking out this info before buying.
What about warranties? Equally important to a reasonable trial period is the inclusion of a comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty. Most brands cover manufacturing defects for up to a year, but it goes without saying that the longer the coverage period, the better the deal. No matter which OTC hearing aid you end up with, make sure the warranty covers loss, damage, and wear and tear.

Photograph: Eargo; Getty Images
OTC vs. Prescription Hearing Aids
The main thing that sets OTC hearing aids apart from prescription devices is the need for a prescription. Similar to reading glasses or orthotics you might pick up from the local drugstore, OTC hearing aids offer a broad level of improvement, but they’re not necessarily the best choice for everyone. OTC hearing aids aren’t designed for severe to profound cases of hearing loss, or for patients under the age of 18.
Hearing care specialists conduct extensive auditory tests and physical examinations to tailor prescription devices to a patient’s unique level of hearing loss. By their very nature, OTC devices are unable to offer this level of custom care. Almost all of them are self-fitting, typically using an app-based or online test to give users a general idea of their hearing loss needs.
It’s important to note that online tests can be misleading, as there are multiple causes behind hearing loss, some of which don’t require the help of hearing aids. When it’s caused by an obstruction like wax buildup or the presence of a foreign object, hearing loss can quickly and easily be remedied by an in-person doctor’s visit. But you’d never know that just by taking an online test—which is why I recommend scheduling an appointment with an audiologist regardless of the type of hearing aid you choose.
If nothing else, OTC hearing aids are a great way to dip your toe into the proverbial pond of assistive hearing technology without having to foot the costly bill associated with most prescription models.
Photograph: Halfdark/Getty Images
How Much Do OTC Hearing Aids Cost?
The average pair of OTC hearing aids will usually run you around $800 to $2,000 for a quality pair. The US government notes that OTC hearing aid options save the average consumer $3,000 compared to prescription products.
Financing Options: Many hearing aid manufacturers offer monthly financing plans or subscription models where users can lease aids instead of purchasing them outright. These packages often include benefits like maintenance, support, accessories, loss and damage protection, software updates, and regular hardware upgrades. This may save money upfront while also guaranteeing you have the latest tech on the market.
Does Insurance Cover OTC Hearing Aids? Usually not. It’s extremely rare for a provider to cover the cost of the devices themselves. Most providers only offer hearing benefits with the purchase of a supplemental insurance plan, available to members for an additional monthly premium. Even federal programs like Medicaid don't cover hearing aids unless you pay extra for Medicare Advantage Plans. Terms for hearing aid coverage through Medicaid for low-income individuals greatly vary from state to state. Check out this list from the Hearing Loss Association of America to see what each state’s Medicaid program covers.

Photograph: Audien Hearing; GETTY IMAGES
Avoid These Hearing Aids
Buyer Beware
While these OTC models have some desirable features and low prices, they didn’t measure up when we put them to the test.
We tested three models from MDHearing: the Air, Volt, and the Neo XS. Only the latter passed our audiologist’s speech map testing, with both the Air and Volt overshooting their estimates for mild and moderate hearing loss. In layman’s terms, these hearing aids amplify sounds much louder than they ought to, resulting in uncomfortable, teetering-on-the-edge-of-dangerous listening levels.
At $899 per ear, the Audicus Spirit Series 2 just didn’t perform well, producing a noticeable hiss in all kinds of indoor environments (though it’s especially grating in quieter settings). And unless you’ve got some really big pockets to work with, don’t expect to take the bulky charging case on the go.
At just $98 per pair, the Audien Atom Pro 1 (5/10, WIRED Review) is the cheapest FDA-approved OTC hearing aid we’ve seen. Alas, you get what you pay for. All settings come with heavy levels of background hiss. There’s no smartphone app, no Bluetooth compatibility, and pretty much nothing else to recommend them.

Christopher Null, a longtime technology journalist, is a contributor to WIRED and the editor of Drinkhacker.

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