Best Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids Of 2025, According To Audiologists

To determine the best OTC hearing aids, the Forbes Health editorial team consulted several audiologists on the Forbes Health Advisory Board for specific product recommendations based on their years of experience fitting various hearing aid models for a wide array of patients. Each expert was careful to consider the newest technology available in the hearing aid space when providing their recommendations, as well as newer brands and the roles they’re playing in this constantly evolving industry.

We also partnered with Western Washington University (WWU)’s audiology hearing department to conduct extensive laboratory testing, including sound quality, speech clarity and intelligibility (including smoothness, internal noise and bandwidth) and feedback resistance. Plus, two Forbes Health editors conducted an in-person focus group with five participants at WWU to explore OTC device comfort and functionality.

Star ratings were solely determined by the editorial team, based on detailed methodology points, including:

• Ziphearing starting price for a pair/brand, starting price for a pair (OTC) and Hearing Tracker price for prescription: 20%
• Speech intelligibility, sound quality, output and safety and responsiveness scores: 20%
• Number of board members who recommend this hearing aid: 10%
• If it has tinnitus management specific features: 10%
• Whether it performs well for background noise reduction: 10%
• If it performs well for music: 10%
• If it has a disposable and rechargeable battery option and maximum battery life on a single charge (rechargeable only; in hours): 7.5%
• Whether it is Bluetooth compatible and if it connects well with iOS and Android devices: 7.5%
• Whether it has an app for customization, remote management, etc.: 5%

Starting price information is reflected from the device manufacturers themselves. All OTC hearing aids can be self-fitted.

Read more about our hearing aids review methodology.

OTC hearing aids improve access to and affordability of these medical devices for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. These hearing aids are available at stores and online retailers without the need for a medical exam, prescription or fitting adjustment by an audiologist or hearing health professional.

Similar to prescription hearing aids, OTC hearing aids contain a microphone, amplifier and speaker. The microphone picks up sound and converts it into a digital signal, which is then amplified to increase the strength of that signal. The speaker then sends the amplified signal into the ear, providing a louder and clearer sound for the wearer.

“We know for sure that OTC hearing aids are for [adults with] perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, not severe (or worse) hearing loss,” says Dr. Cherukuri. “If you have some trouble hearing in crowds or you turn the television [volume] up a little bit, there’s a hearing aid for you in the OTC space.” However, he adds that OTC hearing aids won’t help people in need of stronger hearing assistance, such as those who need people to repeat themselves even in quiet settings or those who can only hear a TV at full volume.

Adults at least 18 years old with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss are eligible to purchase OTC hearing aids, but Dr. Cherukuri notes that older adults specifically are likely to benefit from this new product category, given their need for these devices.

If you’re wondering whether your hearing loss might benefit from an OTC hearing aid, here are signs you may have mild to moderate hearing loss:

• You miss syllables and high-frequency consonants. For example, if someone says, “Let’s go to the pool,” you hear, “Let’s go to school,” or “Let’s go to tool.”
• You frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
• You have trouble understanding when someone whispers to you, such as in a movie theater or auditorium.
• You often confuse similar words. For instance, when someone tells you “15 minutes,” you hear “50 minutes.”
• You’ve started making behavioral modifications, such as sitting closer to a speaker during a weekly lecture or asking your spouse to stop talking to you from another room because you can’t hear them.

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What Level of Hearing Loss Requires a Hearing Aid?

OTC hearing aids are intended for adults at least 18 years old with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, states the FDA. Children and adults with severe to profound hearing loss still need to see a hearing health professional for an assessment and an appropriately fitted hearing aid.

There are four general degrees of hearing loss, according to the CDC.

• Mild hearing loss, meaning individuals have difficulty hearing soft sounds but still able to hear some speech at a normal level.
• Moderate hearing loss, meaning individuals can hear minimal speech when another person is talking at a normal level.
• Severe hearing loss, meaning individuals are unable to hear another person speaking at a normal level, but they can hear some loud sounds.
• Profound hearing loss, meaning individuals are unable to hear any speech and can only hear very loud sounds.

Other auditory problems may require medical treatment or a more personalized solution from a hearing specialist, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, including:

• Tinnitus, or ringing in one or both ears
• Ear pain or discomfort
• Sudden change or loss of hearing
• History of earwax buildup

How Much Do OTC Hearing Aids Cost?

OTC hearing aids are typically more affordable than prescription hearing aids, which are often sold bundled with audiology services.

“We expect the consumer marketplace to help determine the cost of OTC hearing aids,” says Dr. Cherukuri. “Where the average price of a prescription hearing aid is $2,300, we expect OTC hearing aids to cost $300 to $1,000 for a pair. So they’re much more affordable. However, they’re not going to be custom programmed for a specific person’s hearing loss, and they won’t necessarily have all the advanced bells and whistles that a prescription product can have.”

Here are the costs of the five Forbes Health winners:

PRODUCT	STYLE	COST
Elehear Beyond	Behind-the-ear	$449
Sennheiser All-Day Clear	Receiver-in-canal	$999.95
Sony CRE-E10	In-the-ear	$899.99
Zepp Clarity Pixie	In-the-ear	$1,999.00
Lucid Engage	Receiver-in-canal	$649.99

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Does Medicare Cover Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids?

Medicare and most private insurance plans don’t cover hearing aids (OTC or prescription devices). However, select insurance plans, including some Medicare Advantage plans offered by certain private insurance providers, may cover some costs.

The FDA’s final rule regarding OTC hearing aids applies to certain devices that use air-conduction technology, which work by amplifying sound and sending it down the ear canal. This technology is used in most common hearing aids.

Traditional hearing aids are available in five main types, or styles.

• Behind-the-ear (BTE): A small plastic case hooks behind the ear and delivers sound through a piece of clear tubing to an earmold placed in the ear.
• Receiver-in-canal (RIC): Similar to a BTE, but the casing is smaller and more discreet. A very thin wire connects the hearing aid to the ear canal, allowing the ear canal to remain more open. Or, it can be coupled with an ear mold, depending on the severity of hearing loss.
• In-the-ear (ITE): Casing holds all parts of the hearing aid and fills most of the outer ear. There are no external tubes.
• In-the-canal (ITC): ITC aids are similar to ITE aids, but they’re smaller and fit directly in the ear canal.
• Completely-in-canal (CIC): CIC aids fit directly in the ear canal like ITC aids, but are even smaller and less noticeable.

Only one in five people who would benefit from a hearing aid uses one, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America^[1]Hearing Loss Facts and Statistics. Hearing Loss Association of America. Accessed 4/27/2022. . Cost, confusion about and access to hearing care, and gradual hearing loss going unrecognized are all reasons for this underutilization. Vanity also plays a role, though hearing aids continue to become smaller and sleeker.

“Having hearing loss is like you’re backing out 10 feet from a conversation,” says John Coverstone, an audiologist in New Brighton, Minnesota, and host of the AudiologyTalk podcast. “People feel more isolated,” he says.

Untreated hearing loss increases your risk of anxiety, depression, social isolation, falls and cognitive decline, research shows.

OTC hearing aids can help address the early stages of hearing loss as a person begins to experience hearing difficulty. By removing multiple barriers to entry—an audiology exam, a prescription and high costs—people can access this type of hearing aid faster and easier than prescription hearing aids, encouraging early intervention and, hopefully, improved health outcomes.

Why Do Hearing Aids Matter, and What Happens When Hearing Health is Neglected?

The primary function of hearing aids is to make speech audible for those suffering from hearing loss, says Dr. Bailey.

Aside from not hearing your best, untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, which increases the risk of developing chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and dementia. Untreated hearing loss is also linked to anxiety, depression, dependence on others, lowered confidence and decreased earning potential.

While OTC hearing aids come with benefits, such as more affordable prices compared to prescription hearing aids, these devices also have a few drawbacks to consider.

PROS	CONS
No prescription required	Not suitable for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss
Can be purchased directly by consumers	Limited customization ability compared prescription hearing aids
More affordable than prescription hearing aids	Limited technology levels and advanced features compared prescription hearing aids
Self-fitting technology suitable for tech-savvy consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss	—

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Wearing hearing aids—either prescription hearing aids or OTC hearing aids—can result in some side effects when not sized or used correctly, including:

• Soreness around the ear where the hearing aid sits
• Skin irritation
• Itchiness in the ear canal
• Trouble hearing properly
• Headaches
• Tinnitus
• Excessive feedback from the hearing aid

With OTC hearing aids, incorrect wear could become more common since users aren’t required to see a hearing health professional to first diagnose their specific degree of hearing loss. Users who opt for OTC hearing aids also aren’t required to work with an audiologist to program the devices for their needs, so the potential for user error may be higher than that of prescription hearing aid users.

As you learn about the types of hearing aids and their features and technologies, take these steps before making a purchase.

Shop around. Consider your options at in-person retailers offering OTC hearing aids and at your local hearing aid clinic or audiology office. “You’ll be surprised by the very little difference in price at some clinics where you can get a fully customized instrument with an audiologist or doctor helping you along the way,” says Dr. Cherukuri.

Get a hearing health examination. Hearing tests are especially easy to get, says Dr. Cherukuri, noting they’re available at a variety of places, almost always covered by insurance under a doctor’s order and sometimes even offered for free. Even though an exam isn’t required to purchase OTC hearing aids, confirm with a hearing health professional (such as an audiologist) that you do, in fact, have hearing loss that can be addressed with a hearing aid and the specific degree to which you’re experiencing hearing loss so you can explore hearing aid products designed for your situation. Online hearing tests are also available if you have the right equipment and environment at home, though they may not be as accurate as a test performed by a professional, he says.

Ask about a hearing aid trial period. When speaking with a retailer about OTC hearing aid options, ask if you can test them out for a given period of time to make sure they are the best fit for you. “In the traditional setting, it’s very common to get a patient to try two or three different models of hearing aids before they decide which one is the best fit—very similar to test driving a car. So it’s very important to read the fine print—including the return policy of the product,” notes Dr. Cherukuri.

Ask about the full capabilities of the hearing aid. Even if you only have moderate hearing loss now, that may change in the future, and hearing aids are expensive. Rather than planning for an additional purchase down the line, ask about hearing aids with adjustable settings to treat more significant levels of hearing loss in the future.

Gather warranty information. Most OTC hearing aids come with warranties on parts. Make sure you’re happy with the level of coverage the warranties provide.

Confirm that the manufacturer and specific hearing aid model is registered with the FDA. “The FDA is supposed to do an audit of the manufacturing facilities to make sure they’re following good manufacturing practices (GMPs) because these are medical devices—not simply consumer electronics,” explains Dr. Cherukuri. “Make sure it’s a reputable company following the regulations.”

OTC hearing aids are designed to meet the needs of adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The self-fitting hearing aids available on the market today, like Elehear Beyond and Sennheiser All Day Clear are capable of meeting the needs of someone with mild to moderate hearing loss, so it comes down to your preferences on style and comfort, says Dr. Bailey.

The Elehear Beyond hearing aids fit behind the ear, with a small speaker resting in the ear canal. These [devices] will be super comfortable and easy to wear all day long. They will also leave your ear canals open, meaning no boomy voice or strange sounds while you’re chewing.

Elehear Beyond Hearing Aid

5.0

Shop Now

On Elehear's Website

Sony CRE-E10

4.9

Shop Now

On Sony's Website

Sennheiser All-Day Clear

4.9

Shop Now

On Sennheiser's Website

Zepp Clarity Pixie Hearing Aid

4.7

View More

Lucid Engage Hearing Aid

4.7

View More

PRODUCT	FORBES HEALTH RATINGS	LEARN MORE
Elehear Beyond Hearing Aid	5.0	Shop Now On Elehear's Website
Sony CRE-E10	4.9	Shop Now On Sony's Website
Sennheiser All-Day Clear	4.9	Shop Now On Sennheiser's Website
Zepp Clarity Pixie Hearing Aid	4.7	View More
Lucid Engage Hearing Aid	4.7	View More

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Alena Hall also contributed to this article.