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Learn about the best affordable hearing aids: Jabra Enhance, Audien and Lexie are our top picks.
For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of hearing aids is how expensive they are. With an average price tag of $4,600 and limited insurance coverage, the expense of hearing aids keeps approximately 84% of people aged 20 to 69 with hearing loss from seeking treatment.
Experts say that hearing loss should be addressed as soon as you realize it, just like getting glasses for vision problems. Hearing loss can lead to a host of other health issues, including falls, depression and even dementia. Hearing health should be a priority when budgeting for expenses since it can affect your overall wellness for years to come.
What are the best hearing aids on the market that are also budget-friendly? With hearing aids ranging in price from $99 to more than $7,000 per pair, it can be hard to know if cheap hearing aids are worth buying. Note that the hearing aids below are not intended for users with profound hearing loss. Read on for our review of the best affordable hearing aid options, including costs, features, customer support and more.
This is the obvious selling point of low-cost hearing aids, and for good reason. Affordably priced hearing aids run in the $100–$2,000 range, much lower than higher-end devices which are about $4,600 on average. And now that OTC hearing aids have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more manufacturers are expected to enter the market and drive prices down even further.
Many budget hearing aids are sold online directly from the manufacturer to the consumer without the need for an in-person exam or hearing aid fitting. You can take a free online hearing test, choose your hearing aid, order everything you need and start using them — all without leaving your house. This is an attractive option for many people and allows customers to buy hearing aids and get support on their schedule.
Most of the affordable hearing aids, including every brand in this review, are available without a hearing exam or prescription. They also don’t require an in-person fitting, and cutting down on visits to a hearing professional can lower your costs. With many manufacturers offering free audiology support with a purchase, more customers are taking advantage of inexpensive hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
Lower-priced hearing aids don’t typically include as many features as higher-priced prescription hearing aids. For example, Audien offers the best inexpensive hearing aids on the market by far at a starting cost of less than $100 per pair, but its devices lack many of the features that most other brands include, such as Bluetooth capability, water resistance, an app for making adjustments, multiple listening profiles and directional microphones.
Hearing aids sold at hearing clinics can be fully customized for your exact degree and type of hearing loss. Some online brands claim to provide this same degree of customization, but audiologists are skeptical of those claims.
Dr. Hadassah Kupfer, an audiologist in Brooklyn, N.Y., explained the difference between online hearing aid programming and customization based on in-person exams.
“When we check hearing, we check all the keys on the piano (frequencies) and measure the softest sound that one can hear at each pitch. The entire plot of responses turns into your prescription. Although there is a general trend for presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), it is rare to find two people with identical hearing loss,” she said.
Kupfer also pointed out the importance of a correct fit to ensure maximum performance of your hearing aids and help prevent issues such as discomfort and whistling due to feedback.
“When you get hearing aids in person, your [hearing] professional can measure your ears properly — even make custom-shaped hearing aids for maximum comfort and invisibility — which will help with the best sound and best feeling,” she said
Because many of the more affordable hearing aid brands are sold online or through retail stores not staffed by hearing specialists, the chances of in-person support are lower. That may be fine for someone with mild to moderate hearing loss who is comfortable using technology and doesn’t mind getting remote support.
However, audiologists say that your chance of success with hearing aids can be even more dependent on your relationship with your hearing care provider than on the devices themselves.
Faivre added that, “some audiology clinics will provide service to people with OTC HAs. The patient will pay for that service and there may be limited adjustments or repairs that the audiologist can perform, but it is an option people can ask if they need it.”
If price is one of your main considerations when purchasing hearing aids, there are sacrifices you may have to make. For example, you may get less features or a shorter or more limited warranty if you choose a less expensive device. Below are some things to consider when looking for affordable hearing aids.
Think about which features are most important to you when shopping for hearing aids. Then, narrow down your choices by finding models that include those features.
Features to consider are:
When considering hearing aids, understanding the difference between prescription and over-the-counter options can help you decide what’s best for your needs.
Every company has its own warranty structure and type of coverage. Before purchasing, it’s important to find out how long the standard warranty is and what it covers. Does it only provide coverage for manufacturer’s defects, or loss and damage as well?
Jabra Enhance and Eargo, for instance, offer comprehensive coverage for the length of their standard warranties, while Lexie and MDHearing only cover issues due to manufacturer’s defects.
Not all customer support is created equal. Check to see who provides the support with a given hearing aid brand. If you have problems with your device, can you speak to an audiologist or other hearing care specialists, or will you get a salesperson when you call? While salespeople may be knowledgeable about the products, they aren’t trained to adjust hearing aids.
We like the hearing specialist support offered by brands such as Jabra Enhance, Eargo, Lexie and MDHearing.
Along with choosing one of the most affordable hearing aid brands in our review, you can use the following tips to save even more money on hearing aids.
Hearing aid companies, especially online brands, frequently run sales. As with other retail products, holidays are a great time to find lower prices on hearing aids.
Once you’ve settled on a brand and a specific model, keep an eye on the company’s website to see if you can catch a sale price when you order. You can also look into your local technology store, like Best Buy, to check for seasonal promotions.
Most hearing aid companies, including all the brands on our list, provide financing options to help make their hearing aids affordable for more people. Some options offer rates as low as 0% while others are calculated using your credit score and the total cost of the device. If you’re looking for a membership option, you can try a company where you get new hearing aids every 18 months, supplies and warranty coverage all for a monthly fee.
Although not all plans cover hearing aid-related expenses, some may. “About half of commercial insurance plans have some sort of hearing benefit,” said Dr. Jacqueline Lovitt, an audiologist with Capital Institute of Hearing and Balance in Silver Spring, Md. It’s worth a call to your Medicare or private insurance provider to see if your plan includes coverage for hearing aids.
If you have health insurance through your employer, you may have access to a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). These are accounts that can be used for out-of-pocket medical expenses and to purchase hearing aids.
Hearing aids are complex devices that can be expensive, but there are multiple options and financing plans to fit many budgets. We recommend Jabra Enhance, Audien, Eargo, Lexie and MDHearing for budget-friendly, quality hearing aids with reliable customer support and a range of features.
Regardless of which route you decide to go — inexpensive or high-end, online or in person — don’t wait to seek treatment for hearing loss.
Yes, budget-friendly hearing aids can be a great choice for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and no underlying medical conditions that affect their hearing.
The average cost of hearing aids is $4,600 per pair. However, the affordable hearing aids on our list are anywhere between $99 and $2,998 per pair.
The Audien Atom priced at $189 is the best hearing aid on our list that’s under $200.
The best inexpensive hearing aid offers a good balance between cost and functionality. Look for devices with essential features like adjustable volume control, feedback suppression and noise reduction. Brands like Audien and Lexie offer cost-effective solutions at varying prices, and Jabra Enhance was our top pick for its combination of hearing and Bluetooth technology. Always consult a hearing care professional to determine the most appropriate option for you.
Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids, fittings or routine hearing exams. Some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) may offer partial coverage for hearing aids, but it can vary depending on your plan. It’s important to review your plan’s details or contact your provider directly to understand what hearing-related products and services may be covered.
Resources:
The White House, FDA Takes Action to Deliver Low-Cost, Innovative Hearing Aids to Millions More Americans
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Quick Statistics About Hearing
Journal of the American Medical Association (2020), Association of Hearing Loss With Psychological Distress and Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Adults in the United States
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans
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