Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

What separates the best OTC hearing aids on this page?

Speech in noise is where these five split apart. The Jabra Enhance Select 500 scored 8.7 and posted a 4.5 dB QuickSIN improvement, the largest of the OTC pairs here. The Lexie B2 Plus Powered by Bose scored 8.1 at $999, with free Lexie Experts coaching and a 45-day trial. The Sony CRE-E10 scored 7.9 at $1,299.99, with a 26-hour battery and an app hearing test that set a usable prescription in ten minutes. The Eargo 7 scored 7.0 at $2,699 and is invisible when worn. The Audien Atom Pro 2 scored 5.7 at $289, with 0.9 dB speech-in-noise gain.

Price and support track the scores. The Jabra includes three years of remote adjustments by licensed audiologists and a 100-day trial. The Eargo 7 includes lifetime remote support. The Sony offers no audiologist support and a 30-day trial. The Audien has 45-day returns and four presets.

What should you check before buying OTC hearing aids?

We scored on speech in noise (30), sound quality and fit (20), features (15), support and trial (15) and value (20). Run your shortlist against those five.

• Speech in noise: the number that decides whether a restaurant works. The Jabra's 4.5 dB and the Audien's 0.9 dB sit at opposite ends.
• Fit and occlusion: the Sony's earbud shape made one tester's own voice sound boomy; the Eargo's open-fit petals produced little occlusion.
• Features: the Sony streams music and calls and runs 26 hours per charge; the Lexie's 18-hour battery is the shortest of the rechargeables and Android streaming is not supported; the Eargo has no Bluetooth streaming or calls.
• Support and trial: three years of remote audiologist care and a 100-day trial on the Jabra, free coaching and 45 days on the Lexie, lifetime remote support on the Eargo, 30 days and no audiologist support on the Sony.
• Value: $289 for the Audien, $999 for the Lexie, $1,299.99 for the Sony, $1,995 for the Jabra, $2,699 for the Eargo.

If speech in noise matters most

The Jabra Enhance Select 500, at $1,995, with the 4.5 dB QuickSIN improvement and three years of remote audiologist adjustments.

If you want to stay under $1,000

The Lexie B2 Plus Powered by Bose at $999, with free Lexie Experts coaching and a 45-day trial.

If you want earbud looks and streaming

The Sony CRE-E10 at $1,299.99, with a 26-hour battery and Bluetooth streaming.

If you want them invisible

The Eargo 7 at $2,699, completely-in-canal and open-fit, with lifetime remote support.

If the budget is $289

The Audien Atom Pro 2, rechargeable with a UV-cleaning case, for TV and one-to-one speech at home.

For speech in noise and audiologist support, the Jabra Enhance Select 500 is the pick. The Lexie B2 Plus Powered by Bose suits anyone staying under $1,000 who wants free coaching, and the Sony CRE-E10 suits earbud wearers who stream. The Eargo 7 is for buyers who want invisible aids, and the Audien Atom Pro 2 is the $289 option for TV and one-to-one speech at home.