Best Affordable Hearing Aids Of 2025, According To Experts

At $449 per pair, Elehear Beyond is the most affordable option on our list, and users appreciate the device’s functionality.

During in-person focus group testing, the Elehear Beyond stood out for its ability to improve, clarify and amplify sounds across the experiences of three participants. In fact, all three testers rated the hearing aid with four out of five stars for overall sound quality of speech. Participants also appreciated the control center within the Elehear app, which provided a user-friendly experience.

“Everything you would want in an OTC hearing aid…excellent sound quality, rechargeability, Bluetooth streaming for both Android and iOs, affordability as well as tinnitus masking” – Lindsey Banks, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Elehear Beyond scored a 73 out of 100 in sound clarity based on laboratory data.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Scored 4.3 out of 5 based on focus group participant responses.
• Customization: Offers a personalized experience via the Elehear app, which focus group participants enjoyed (particularly the “speech focus” feature)
• Cost and Insurance Coverage: Scored 4 out of 5 based on consumer sentiment data.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 74 out of 100 based on laboratory testing results.
• Comfort Score: Rated 4.3 out of 5 based on participant feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

Three individuals tested the Elehear Beyond. Steven, a first-time hearing aid user, found the device easy to set up and comfortable to wear, as well as enhancing sound volume and clarity. Two other participants, Jim (a first-time hearing aid user) and Timothy (who currently uses hearing aids), agreed the device immediately improved sound. All three reviewers said they were able to insert the hearing aids into their ears without difficulty. They also appreciated the features within the app and the level of control allotted when adjusting the hearing aid’s settings.

“Better isolation features than the other OTCs I’ve tried.” – Timothy, 65, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

“[I] really like the all around or front-facing mode.” – Steven, 59, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

With its reasonable price point, this model stands out as a cost-effective option in the OTC hearing aid market. Our focus group participant found the Sony CRE-E10 easy to set up and insert into their ear, as well as fairly comfortable. Users can adjust volume control, sound balance and directionality of this self-fitting, OTC hearing aid—all from its accompanying app. Its features include wind noise reduction (which improves outdoor listening), advanced acoustic processing, which provides for ease of listening, impact sound smoothing technology for sudden loud noises and more.

• Sound Quality: Sony CRE-E10 scored a 73 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Scored 2 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Customization: Our focus group participant felt there was adequate “headroom” for additional amplification and found the “tone” setting to be useful
• Cost and Insurance Coverage: Scored 4 out of 5 based on consumer sentiment data.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 76 out of 100 based on laboratory testing data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 3 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

Our reviewer of the Sony CRE-E10 hearing aids, Timothy, noticed an immediate improvement in speech and sound intelligibility and found the device setup to be simple. While he experienced a strange “flanging” or “chorus” effect while listening to music and pure tones, he found the hearing aid to be fairly comfortable and stayed in place well. In comparison to other hearing aids he’s used, the Sony CRE-E10 was more noticeable than his behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, but the experience was overall similar. Timothy added that while sounds were quite loud, and frequencies may have been amplified that shouldn’t have been, the hearing aid had the ability provide additional amplification, if necessary. Though he experienced minor connection difficulties initially, he found the tone setting to be useful and said all voices seemed to be amplified in a crowded room.

“Quite easy to insert. I like the shape of the dome/eartip. They seem to stay in place fairly well.” – Timothy, 65, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

Priced moderately, this device stands out for its self-fitting capability, meaning an audiologist may not need to adjust the aid for comfort and performance. Instead, users can set up and fit the device on their own time with the help of the Sennheiser Smart Control app.

“An affordable OTC hearing aid with excellent sound quality from a well-known brand. It is rechargeable and has Bluetooth streaming capabilities for both Androids and iPhones.” – Lindsey Banks, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: The Sennheiser All-Day Clear scored an 80 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Not scored due to Bluetooth connectivity malfunction during focus group.
• Cost and Insurance Coverage: Rated 4 out of 5 based on consumer sentiment data.
• Customization: Unable to confirm customization features or capacity during focus group testing.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 78 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 3 out of 5, based on focus group participant feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

While our focus group participant, Steven, was unable to achieve a Bluetooth connection between the Sennheiser All-Day Clear and its accompanying app, he rated the hearing aid 3 out of 5 for comfort, 4 out of 5 for ease of set up, 4 out of 5 for appearance and 3 out of 5 for speech quality.

In our focus group testing, our participant appreciated the music quality and app pairing abilities of the Lucid Engage. We chose this hearing aid due to its unique speaker-in-the-ear format, which gives the wearer high-definition natural sound with greater clarity, and it comes at a price point that won’t break the bank. This product also comes with a one-year warranty.

“RIC style (most preferred style) hearing aid with good sound performance test results.” – Abram Bailey, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Lucid Engage scored a 73 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Scored a 1 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Cost and Insurance Coverage: Rated 3.8 out of 5 based on consumer sentiment data.
• Customization: Our focus group participant appreciated being able to customize the amplification profile and was able to accurately toggle between streaming and ambiance.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 76 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 2 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

Our tester for the Lucid Engage hearing aid, Margaret, was satisfied with how easy it was to insert the device. However, she found issues with the technicalities of the device and the feeling of the tips in the ears to be uncomfortable, saying her ear felt “full.” While she was comfortable using the accompanying app, she felt there weren’t enough ways to make adjustments and found customizing her amplification profile and toggling between streaming and ambience settings difficult. She also found the hearing aid did not isolate voices well in a crowded or noisy room.

“I don’t love them and probably wouldn’t spend much money on them. The gain I get in speech in multitalker babble is not worth the background noise. Music quality and app pairing was good. Lack of individualization to [the] hearing profile. [I] like that they are rechargeable, but I would want a battery option as well.” – Maggie, 38, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

Out of all of the hearing aids our focus group tested, the two participants who tried the Lexie B2 Plus were extremely satisfied with the sounds, noise reduction and overall feel of this hearing aid. Both testers felt it was their favorite or the best model they had tried. Plus, it scored well in sound quality and affordability, making this a well-rounded option.

“Has good sound quality, rechargeability, [Bluetooth] call streaming and an easy-to-use app with a self-fitting function.” – Lindsey Banks, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Lexie B2 Plus scored an 83 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction: Scored 4 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Cost and Insurance Coverage: Rated 3.4 out of 5 based on consumer sentiment data.
• Customization: One of our focus group participants felt there were not enough options for adjustment in the app.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored a 70 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 4 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participants

Two of our focus group participants, Maggie and Steven, tested the Lexie B2 Plus hearing aids. Both individuals found the hearing aid comfortable; however, Maggie stated that the thin tips are not her personal preference. Both also claimed the Lexie was the best out of the hearing aids they had tried in spite of connectivity issues, either with Bluetooth syncing or connecting to an Apple device.

Maggie was comfortable using the app, but she felt it didn’t have enough options for adjustment. She explained that she was unable to localize sound as well as she was able to with other hearing aids and couldn’t get the settings quite right for conversation in a noisy environment.

“Of the three I tried, these are my favorite. [They] just feel natural.” – Steven, 59, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

“I don’t like the tips but otherwise [these are] comfortable (I haven’t liked any of the thin tips with BTE so these aren’t standing out, I think this is just personal preference).” – Maggie, 38, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester