Top 5 Most Affordable Aids Based On Effectiveness, Quality & Value For Price.
Over 100 + Hearing Aids tested by our local 
Audiology expert, the winner may surprise you.
- Updated 15th June, 2022.
Have you noticed that you’re missing important parts of conversations or hearing words incorrectly? Does your family tell you that the television is always too loud? You may greatly benefit from getting a hearing aid device.
Hearing aids can revitalize the lives of those with hearing loss—a condition that impacts over two-thirds of U.S. adults who are age 60 and older, as reported by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
Until recently, getting a hearing aid meant paying upwards of $5000; not something everybody can afford. However thanks to recent changes in regulation new startup companies have been able to enter the market and offer affordable OTC hearing solutions to all Americans.
We tested over 100+ popular hearing aids of all prices and ranked them based on effectiveness, quality, design, affordability and value for money. Our research revealed that paying $1000s for overpriced brands was a huge mistake.
To our surprise, our test winner was actually made by a smaller US start up company that managed to out perform the big brand names in in all these factors.
Here’s a list of our top 5 picks for 2022, with a full review of our top pick at the bottom of the page.
Product
Our Rating
Key Features
Where to Buy?
9.8
“Outstanding”
PicoBuds Pro
Price: $79 $259
- Best Value For Money
- Significant Hearing Improvement
- Discreet & Comfortable
- Crystal Clear Sound Quality
- Long Battery Life
- Risk Free Trial
- Multiple Ear Tips For Perfect Fit
- No Annoying Feedback
Money Back Guarantee: Try Risk Free For 30 Days.
#2
9.5
“Excellent”
HearingAid MAX
Price: $79 $149
- Non-Invasive Device
- Adjustable Amplification Level
- Easy To Setup
- Silicone Buds For Superior Insulation
- Long Battery Life
Money Back Guarantee: 30 Days Money Back.
#3
8.7
“Good”
Bose SoundControl
Price: Starting from $599
- Bluetooth Enabled Streaming
- Mobile App Included
- Long Battery Life
- Multiple Fit Styles
- Highly Unaffordable
BEST OVERALL HEARING AID
9.8
“Outstanding”
PicoBuds Pro
Price: $79 $259
- Best Value For Money
- Significant Hearing Improvement
- Discreet & Comfortable
- Crystal Clear Sound Quality
- Long Battery Life
- Risk Free Trial
- Multiple Ear Tips For Perfect Fit
- No Annoying Feedback
Money Back Guarantee: Try Risk Free For 30 Days.
STONGEST HEARING IMPROVEMENT
We were able to measure high level of sound amplification with this device.
BEST VALUE FOR PRICE
For an unbeatable price of just $79 you can a high quality, comfortable & discreet hearing aid.
EASY TO SETUP
We found the Picobuds as one of the most simplest hearing aids to setup & personalize.
We Bought and Tested the Most Popular Hearing Aids, Here's Why PicoBuds Pro Is Our #1 Pick.
Summary: Until recently there was no affordable way to fix hearing problems. So-Called Premium Devices sold by doctors and greedy Hearing- Enhancer companies cost an average of $4500 – and only last a few years at best!
PicoBuds Pro challenges the status-quo in America by offering a Premium Hearing Enhancer at a fraction of the cost. American consumers can save 90% on hearing Enhancers, with average savings of $4300!
UPDATE 14th June: Due to frequent media coverage and high consumer demand, PicoBuds Pro are currently sold out in retail stores nationwide. However, it may still be available on their online website HERE.
When I began my research into the best hearing aids of 2022, I expected the average device to cost around $4500. After all, that’s the way it’s been for 10s of years.
I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that a recent regulatory change in the hearing loss industry had allowed new companies to enter the market and compete with the greedy big tech corporations. One of these companies that really stood out was PicoBuds.
Picobuds is a US start up company which was made by a small team of hearing experts which previously worked at a big brand hearing company. Their goal was to bring a hearing solution that was powerful, discreet and affordable to all Americans.
Did they really manage to design such a cutting edge solution while keeping the price low? I was excited to find out.
First Impressions
The package we ordered arrived in a couple of days so we were off to a good start already. I personally hate having to wait weeks for something I ordered online to arrive.
Upon opening the package and examining the PicoBuds I was immediately impressed. The material, build quality and design was comparable to that of $4000+ hearing devices.
We’ve all experienced the difference of a cheap or brittle product and a high quality one, whether its sunglasses, clothes or shoes… well hearing aid devices are no different and this one felt and looked amazing.
Design
The problem with previous budget hearing aids that I’ve tested was that they weren’t built to be discreet. Sure they may have worked okay, but they stuck out of my ear and made it really obvious that I was wearing a hearing aid.
The PicoBuds however, were designed to be basically invisible. The buds themselves were tiny, and they were painted as a beige skin tone on the outside in order to blend in with your ear.
This design aspect is really important to many people as they don’t want to walk around with some massive device sticking out of the ears, attracting attention. So far I was impressed with the design of the PicoBuds and it was now time to test how comfortable they really were.
Comfort
Comfort is an extremely important factor to consider when buying a hearing aid. After all, who wants to wear a device that constantly falls out or irritates their ear?
The PicoBuds came with a set of different gel domes to accommodate all ear sizes. I tried on the buds using the default dome they came with and they were… decently comfortable.
I then proceeded to test out different sizes and finally found one that was perfect for my ear. I tested countless hearing aids of all prices and I can confidently say that the PicoBuds were some of the most comfortable ones I’ve tried. Not only did these look invisible they also FELT like I wasn’t wearing any hearing aid at all!
Sound Amplification
After examining the design and comfortability of the PicoBuds, I was finally ready to test just how good the sound amplification and quality of them were.
In order to do this I ran a Real Ear Measurement (REM) test on one of my co-workers who has moderate hearing loss. I don’t want to bore you with too many technical details but in this test you basically insert a special probe in the person ear which can objectively measure how well the hearing aid is amplifying pre-recorded sounds.
After a few volume adjustments we saw astonishing results. The Picobuds were able to amplify all relevant decibel levels. My coworker was so impressed she immediately asked me where she could get a pair for everyday use.
Easy To Setup
The PicoBuds are extremely easy to configure out of the box. The instructions that come with the device are very clear, and if there’s any problems you can just call their friendly support team.
All you need to do is find the silicone gel dome that fits your ear best and then play around with the volume adjustment until you find the perfect amplification level for yourself. The whole setup process takes around 10-15 minutes.
Value For Money
Most hearing aid companies are taking advantage of Americans by charging them $1000s of dollars for their devices. Picobuds usually sells for around $250 which is already infintely cheaper than any product of the same calibre.
However PicoBuds is currently having a limited time sale of up to 70% off their flagship hearing aid meaning you can grab them for just $79. With this offer the PicoBuds definitely win the “best value for money” award!
How Can It Be So Affordable?
There are two reasons why the PicoBuds are so affordable right now. One is that they sell only through their online store, saving the cost of renting out multiple brick and mortar stores.
The second reason is that big brands spend billions on advertising and pass all those costs on to the consumer unlike Picobuds which just relies on word of mouth referrals for sales.
What Makes The PicoBuds Different From Other Products?
You simply cannot compare PicoBuds to any other products in it’s price class. Here’s why:
🗹 Better And Clearer Sound Quality – due to the high tech sound processors inside them, wearing the PicoBuds Pro is like switching from cheap $5 earphones to a pair of $300 professional studio headphones.
🗹 Long Battery Life – It would be very annoying to have to switch batteries or charge your hearing aid everyday. The PicoBuds are optimized to use the least possible power, allowing for up to 3 months of use without needing to switch out the batteries!
🗹 Almost Invisible- The design is seamless and almost invisible, skin colored and just a little clear piece of silicon to help you pull it out when you need to. No-one will know you’re wearing them.
🗹 Balanced Sound- Both buds work together to give you clear and balanced auditory information individually for each ear, so that your brain can more clearly discern what direction sound is coming from.
🗹 Noise Limit Protection -The automatic gain protection means that any loud sounds will be reduced in volume, thus actually helping prevent farther damage to your hearing!
🗹 Lightweight & Comfortable -wearing heavy devices in your ear constantly can be very uncomfortable, and that’s a problem you’ll never have with PicoBuds Pro.
But...Is It Really Worth All This Hype?
So far, the PicoBuds Pro has sold multiple thousands of units directly to consumers. It’s has been selling out every time they re-stock, it’s become THAT popular.
All of the success can be attributed to word of mouth referrals. People like you and I are loving it so much they’re posting about it on social media.
Here’s what people are saying about this revolutionary hearing aid on social media:
It’s clear that the Picobuds Pro are developing a cult like following online.
Purchase & Delivery Process
The PicoBuds Pro are easy to purchase as long as they are in stock. They offer free delivery & an iron clad 30 days return policy in the case that you are not satisfied with the product. We got our package delivered in just a few days.
Their current 70% off sale is automatically applied at checkout and they even have multi pack deals with even greater discounts.
Also, while they don’t offer physical installation services, they do have a free customer support number you can call to get installation assistance. Based on our tests you probably won’t need it, but it’s nice to have a backup option just in case. We found that the wait time is around 5-10 minutes.
A Recent Problem with Availability
Due to frequent media coverage, high consumer demand and a 70% Off sale, the PicoBuds Pro has become very popular amongst all people with internet issues, causing some supply problems.
That and some recent supply chain difficulties has lead to the hearing device being out of stock frequently.
Make sure to check stock levels and order only from the official website HERE.
If you’re still on the fence about it, just remember that the PicoBuds Pro come with a 30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked.
So if you’re not sure, you can always buy one and just return it later if you don’t like it.
Where Can I Buy The PicoBuds Pro?
To take advantage of the current 70% discount and order simply follow these steps:
1. Visit the official website to check stock
2. Select the amount of devices you want to purchase
3. Fill your shipping information and payment method
4. Enjoy fast internet in every corner of your house!
Meet Our Head Audiology Expert, David.
David has over 25 years of experience in the Audiology field. He started out his career in the hearing aids development sector, then moved on to specialise in hearing aid testing and optimization. He finds working for Top Tech Report a perfect opportunity to express his views of all kinds of new and exciting products. When he's not researching and testing new products, he enjoys travelling with his wife and bird watching.