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The Sony CRE-E10 hearing aids are a well-rounded auditory solution with great sound and iOS Bluetooth audio streaming. Read More
If you want a hearing aid that sounds just like a prescription-level hearing aid at a value price, the Lexie B2s are our top pick. Read More
The HP Hearing Pro OTC hearing aids aren't perfect, but their ability to stream audio on Android and iOS makes them special. Read More
The Audien Atom Pros are a grab-and-go OTC hearing aid that's simple enough for almost anyone to figure out. Read More
The Eargo 7 hearing aids are expensive compared to others, but you get next-level sound quality for the price. Read More
We’ve spent the last few months testing the latest over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids from the likes of Bose, Sony, and Eargo to see which ones offer the best experience with regard to app use, amplification quality, comfort, and more.
While the Sony CRE-E10 hearing aids (available at Best Buy for $1,299.99) are considered our best overall choice to suit a wide variety of use cases from watching TV to streaming music via Bluetooth, there’s no denying that finding the best over-the-counter hearing aid for you or a loved one can be a very personal decision depending on what the buyer values most.
Whether you want a product with the most advanced features or just need something that gets the job done without fuss, we’ve tested a hearing aid worth considering. Here are the best OTC hearing aids on the market today.
The Sony CRE-E10 hearing aids are a great pair of hearing aids, but their audio streaming features are iOS exclusive.
The Sony CRE-E10 hearing aids receive our best overall award because they do everything reasonably well. As a widely recognized maker of high-quality electronics, Sony does not disappoint with its flagship entrance into the over-the-counter hearing aid market. The Sony CRE-E10 devices are comfortable and rest in the ear, they have rechargeable batteries, and their sound quality and fine tuning are impressive. The Sony Hearing Control app is also among the easiest to use and pair on both iOS and Android devices, given that these hearing aids had no pairing difficulty throughout our extensive testing period.
These reliable, self-fitting hearing aids cost around $1,300, which is reasonably priced compared to the competition. Perhaps most importantly, the devices offer many contemporary conveniences modern buyers might expect. There are app controls for volume and sound balance, as well as fine tuning settings that allow for a truly personalized hearing experience. The Sony CRE-E10 rechargeable batteries last about 26 hours on a single charge.
The only noteworthy shortcoming the Sony CRE-E10s have is a lack of Android support for audio streaming. Though the Hearing Control app can be accessed on either iOS or Android devices, Android users will find themselves unable to stream music or phone calls, which is not entirely uncommon, as very few hearing aids actually have Android streaming support.
For iOS users, however, these are far and away the best overall OTC hearing aids I have tested. For Android users these devices are still probably the best overall, though the Lexie B2s Powered by Bose are also a great choice for several hundred dollars less and have roughly similar features and performance. Read the full Sony CRE-E10 product review.
Great sound quality and fine-tuning
The Lexie B2s fit and sound great, but they have a larger size profile and limited streaming capability.
The Lexie B2 Powered by Bose are an outstanding value and a personal favorite of mine in the OTC hearing aid space. During our testing, these felt the most like prescription devices, and the hearing test was a near identical match to what I get from my own audiologist.
The B2s feature a rechargeable battery with an acceptable 18 hours per charge. The included carrying case does not hold any additional charge, but the devices recharge quickly, taking about 3 hours to replenish from zero to 100%.
Unlike other hearing aids we tested for this article, the Lexie B2s feature a behind-the-ear design, meaning the receivers are placed in the ear canal and the hearing aid body, which consists of a power button and volume controls, is tucked away behind the ear. This means you don’t always need the app to control the device’s volume.
This deviation accounts for the most comfortable design I’ve tested, and no sound quality is lost because of it. Many hearing aids with in-the-canal designs are bought down by uncomfortable ear fatigue with all day usage, which may lead to headaches or ear discomfort and pressure. The B2s exhibited none of these flaws. I also found that these hearing aids do a great job tailoring to one’s hearing loss needs by allowing users to easily adjust bass, treble, and world volume without affecting your initial hearing test results. This makes the user experience simple but sophisticated.
The Lexie B2 Bose hearing aids use Bluetooth to pair with devices and adjust noise levels, but it should be noted that only iOS devices are capable of audio streaming, and only newer models of the hearing aids support this feature. Streaming is limited to just phone calls as well, but the results are serviceable. Read the full Lexie B2 product review.
Excellent sound quality and features
Case holds no additional charge
The HP Hearing Pros aren't without their faults, but they are the only hearing aid we've tested that offers universal Bluetooth streaming.
If you are seeking a high-quality media streaming device with hearing-enhancement features, the HP Hearing Pro may be the best pick for you. The HP Hearing Pros are an unexpected choice to be on a “best of” list given their many faults, however, while they are not the best as a hearing aid alone, they are the best hearing aid we’ve tested for streaming media and phone calls from a connected smart device.
This is the only hearing aid we’ve tested that supports streaming media from both Android and iOS devices, and the streaming quality is impressive. Amplified sound from music is crisp, and phone calls come in clear.
The HP Hearing Pros are closer to wireless earbuds than a full-fledged hearing aid, but the amplification and hearing-enhancing abilities are comparable to other low-end hearing devices. That said, there is little to no customization despite having an app, and noise cancelation is mediocre. Once you complete the in-app hearing test, the only adjustment you can make to the device is its “world volume,” or general loudness. The sound quality is good, though, and it does do a great job amplifying speech specifically.
In contrast to our other top contenders, these are not extremely comfortable over longer periods of time. They also have a battery life of only eight to nine hours, less if streaming media. Despite these drawbacks, the HP Hearing Pros may still be a godsend to Android users who want a hearing aid that streams. So far this is the only one we’ve seen to accomplish that feat, which is noteworthy in its own right. Read the full HP Hearing Pro product review.
Not everyone wants to use a companion app with their hearing aids, which is the main reason why the Audien Atom Pros are a great buy.
Audien Atom Pro cuts out the bells and whistles in favor of something simple. The product features no app or Bluetooth and instead relies entirely on manual dials to turn amplification up or down.
Given their smaller technical footprint, the Atom Pro OTC hearing aids have the longest battery life of any rechargeable hearing aid we’ve tested, with an estimated run time of 24 hours per charge. Once adjusted, the hearing aids are the easiest to use out of the box with no additional features to complicate the user experience. Despite this simplicity, we found the Audien’s sound quality and amplification to be satisfactory. And Audien Atom Pro is by far one of the least expensive in-the-ear-canal hearing aids tested, priced at $249, making them highly affordable for most people seeking over-the-counter hearing aids.
If all you are looking for is a set-it-and-forget-it hearing aid and are willing to sacrifice modern features like streaming and apps, then Audien Atom Pro may be perfect for you. Read the full Audien Atom Pro product review.
Impressive amplification and sound quality
Difficult to find proper fit
The Eargo 7 hearing aids are top notch when it comes to raw sound quality and noise cancelation.
The Eargo 7 hearing aids are a cut above with regard to sound quality. Though similar to the previous-gen Eargo 6, the Eargo 7s have Sound Adjust+ and improved noise reduction technologies that push their sound quality beyond the competition and its maker’s existing models. The Eargo 7s sound nearly identical to prescription hearing aids and allow users to carefully adjust their amplification and noise reduction within the Eargo app. There are also environmental presets, like restaurant or television, that quickly adjust your hearing aid to suit common situations you might find yourself in.
While the Eargo app is sometimes buggy during setup, its Sound Match Technology hearing test does a great job identifying your hearing limitations to emphasize lost frequencies without being particularly overbearing.
Eargo devices are also very comfortable and feature a completely-in-canal (CIC) design, making them virtually invisible to others. The battery life is suitable for daily use with a 16-hour lifespan, and the included carrying case stores a full recharge if necessary. As great as the results sound, though, this is still a $2,600 hearing aid that cannot stream phone calls, music, or video from your smart device. But if you value sound quality above all else and your budget is high, then Eargo 7 won't disappoint. Read the full Eargo 7 product review.
Sound Match hearing test works well
If you want an OTC hearing aid that uses standard batteries, the Sony CRE-C10s are your best option.
The Sony CRE-C10s are the only hearing aids we’ve tested that use disposable batteries. Otherwise, they are nearly identical in sound quality, amplification, and app experience to the aforementioned CRE-E10s. With this omission, though, the C10s are smaller in size, which could be good for those who want something discreet, but they aren’t capable of audio streaming.
Outside those tradeoffs, there are huge benefits to the C10s with regard to longevity, as the lithium-ion batteries used in all rechargeable products are only expected to last 3-5 years with consistent use. In this case, one can keep slotting in new size-10 batteries for as long as they’re sold. And each charge lasts a whopping 70 hours, which means users could feasibly get away with replacing batteries just once per week.
Currently priced at $998 per pair, the Sony C10s are a budget-conscious hearing option with potential longevity that’s impossible for current rechargeable models to match. Read the full Sony CRE-C10 product review.
Hearing aids come in in-canal and behind-the-ear designs. Our tester prefers behind-the-ear style for its comfort, but others may want something more discreet.
As you may see from the above descriptions, there’s a lot to consider when purchasing the best OTC hearing aid for your situation. Here are a few factors that we think should possibly weigh the heaviest:
OTC means "over the counter," which is a term used for a medical device or product that can be purchased at traditional retailers without need for a doctor's referral or a costly prescription. Unlike prescription hearing aids, the products featured in this article don't require adjustment from trained audiologists and are instead controlled entirely by the user.
OTC hearing aids have emerged as a simple solution to combat a growing threat. The World Health Organization estimates that hearing loss impacts roughly 200 million Americans, with that number swelling to 322 million by 2050. In that spirit, legislation passed in the fall of 2022 offered consumers their first chance to buy technologically sophisticated hearing aids at a fraction of their prescription cost.
OTC hearing aids generally aren't FDA approved, but many pairs are monitored by the FDA to ensure they're safe and effective.
The short answer is they are not. Most hearing aids use well-established tech and need minimal testing and regulation. Full FDA approval is reserved for new technologies and devices like defibrillators used in high-risk scenarios. Approval requires extensive testing and studies to reassure the FDA of a device’s efficacy, which isn't needed for OTC hearing aids.
When it comes to OTC hearing aids, you’ll likely hear the phrases “FDA cleared” or “FDA registered.” These are two different classes of regulation with different meanings.
That’s not to say an FDA registered product is automatically worse than an FDA cleared one, but there is less FDA oversight happening when only registered. What this often means, though, is that, without having to work through a 510k submission, FDA-registered devices are often cheaper to buy.
Here’s how our featured hearing aids stack up with regard to their FDA status.
For the most part insurance programs like Medicare or Medicaid will not cover these products, but Eargo does have a partnership with NationsBenefits supplemental insurance that could help with Eargo specifically.
All the hearing aids listed above, however, do have financing options or gradual payment plans either directly through the manufacturer or via a third-party seller like Amazon or Best Buy when using a store credit card. It’s also worth noting that OTC hearing aids are FSA and HSA eligible. Those who have a Flex account can pay for the hearing aids now, and then submit the claim later.
So, while proper insurance coverage likely isn’t happening, there are ways to purchase these products on a budget.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Robert Rekowski is a freelance writer and small business owner from Whitman, Massachusetts. He graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. At Reviewed, Robert leverages his experience with moderate hearing loss to be the outlet's primary reviewer of hearing aids and assistive hearing devices.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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