The Best Places To Buy Hearing Aids

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If you’re looking for the best place to buy a hearing aid, there are a number of ways you can go: online retailers, big-box stores, directly from the manufacturer, etc. Unfortunately, hearing aids vary greatly in cost and can be quite overpriced. 

I have researched the prices and process of buying hearing aids at a variety of popular retailers to see where you’ll get the best deal and the best customer experience. In this article, I’ll take a close look at six of the best places to buy a hearing aid in 2023. 

Where To Buy Hearing Aids

Figuring out where to get the best deal on hearing aids can be challenging. In fact, money expert Clark Howard says that buying hearing aids is the hardest it’s ever been in the United States. 

Unfortunately, hearing aid prices in the U.S. are also some of the highest. Clark says that while they may cost as little as $200 per pair elsewhere in the world, we’ve had a completely different system here that led to our unbelievably high prices: between $2,000-$4,000 per pair on average. Thankfully, the costs are starting to go down. 

“It’s a gradual thing though, so that’s why knowing where to shop is so important, says Clark. “The price differences of places that are following the market down are so much better than places that are holding to the traditional pricing.” 

Warehouse clubs and online retailers are two great places to shop for hearing aids that seem to be following the market trend with lower average prices. In this article, I’ll take a close look at both types of retailers as well as a few traditional hearing centers that may be worth considering. 

6 of the Best Places To Buy Hearing Aids

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to choosing where you’ll purchase your hearing aid(s). Based on cost, convenience, follow-up care and customer experience, some of the best places to buy hearing aids include Costco, Connect Hearing and Sam’s Club. However, since the prices aren’t the same across the board, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best overall deal.

“We have an industry where you can go in one place and pay $1,400 for a pair of hearing aids, then go into another one and pay $6,000 for the equivalent hearing aids,” says Clark. “The difference between the two of them is the money, not anything about the quality of the hearing aids.” 

After researching the pricing and process of visiting several popular retailers, I’ve determined that these are six of the best places to buy hearing aids: 

Hearing Aid
Starting Price Range
(Per Pair)
Cost of Hearing EvaluationSelectionBest For
Costco$1,600-$1,700Free for members3 brands including Jabra, Rexton and PhilipsOverall customer experience
MDHearingAid$800-$1,200Free3 different MDHearingAid modelsTrying hearing aids for the first time
Connect Hearing$1,000-$6,000Free2 brands including 14 different modelsFree hearing aid batteries
Sam's Club$350-$4,000Free for members2 brands including exclusive Liberty hearing aidsFollow-up services
HearUSA$2,400-$8,000Free250+ models available to orderA large selection of models
Miracle-Ear$2,000-$8,000Free4 different Miracle-Ear modelsFinancial aid

The prices above are accurate as of January 2023. Below, you’ll find additional information on each retailer including how much you can expect to pay, what follow-up services are included and more.


Costco

Costco is a great place to buy your next hearing aid. Members have access to free hearing tests, free hearing aid cleanings and great prices on quality devices. Plus, Consumer Reports ranks Costco as its top choice for where to buy hearing aids. CR members can view the full survey online.

The warehouse carries three different hearing aid brands, including Jabra, Rexton and Philips. After you make your purchase, you’ll have access to free follow-up appointments, hearing aid cleanings/check-ups, loss and damage coverage and warranty periods that vary by model.

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While you will have to be a Costco member to purchase a device from the warehouse, the $60 annual membership fee will pay for itself. In fact, Clark says: “If you are required to be a member to buy hearing aids at a warehouse club price, it is well worth the membership fee to do so.”

To learn more about buying a hearing aid from Costco, check out these five things to know


MDHearingAid

MDHearingAid is another great place to purchase your next hearing aid. One thing to note is that this retailer is completely online. 

With MDHearingAid, you can choose from four different models including the MDHearingAid Air, MDHearingAid VOLT and the MDHearingAid NEO.

The prices at MDHearingAid are some of the cheapest prices you’ll find for hearing aids. The Air begins at $399.99 per device, and prices range all the way up to $599.99 per device for the VOLT model, which is a rechargeable device.

Fortunately, there’s almost always a sale at MDHearingAid. In January 2023, you could get any pair for $299.98. That’s a great deal!

“Most people have no insurance that will pay for hearing aids, so it’s straight of your pocket,” says Clark. “That’s why the discounters matter so much.” 

You don’t have to have a professional audiogram from a doctor, and you don’t have to take any specific hearing test to decide which device you want to order from MDHearingAid. Still, the website does offer a free online hearing test. The results will tell you if your hearing level is healthy or if you have hearing loss that’s mild, moderate, severe or profound. 

Team Clark actually ordered a pair of the formerly available MDHearingAid PRO devices and I asked my grandfather, who’s worn hearing aids for years, to try them out. You can read about our experience here.


Connect Hearing

Connect Hearing, a division of Sonova, is another great place to buy hearing aids. Here, you’ll find 14 different models by Phonak and Audionova that range from $499 to $3,000 per device. 

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Consumer Reports ranks Connect Hearing second, following Costco, compared to other hearing aid retailers. In 2021, survey respondents gave Connect Hearing above-average scores in a variety of categories including evaluation, courtesy, follow-up services and price transparency. Consumer Reports members can view the full survey online.

In addition to budget-friendly devices and a great selection, the company also offers free in-person hearing exams, free two-week hearing aid trials and three years of free batteries with your hearing aid purchase. All hearing aids come with a three-year manufacturer repair warranty as well as three years of loss and damage coverage. 

If you’re thinking about having your hearing evaluated or buying a hearing aid at Connect Hearing, be sure to check out these five things to know before your first visit.


Sam’s Club

You’ll find great prices and great follow-up services at Sam’s Club

Like Costco, you will have to be a member to buy a hearing aid from this retailer, but the savings can definitely be worth it. “The warehouse clubs have been at the leading edge along with some online sellers in the new price points,” says Clark. 

Sam’s Club carries Liberty Hearing Aids in several different models including behind-the-ear, in-the-canal and custom-fit devices. You can check out a small selection online before visiting the store, but you may find a bigger selection at your nearest warehouse. Still, this is a great way to get an idea of pricing. The cheapest price I saw for a pair of hearing aids was $350 for the Lucid Hearing OTC 10081 Enrich Hearing Aid.

If you do buy a hearing aid from Sam’s Club, you’ll have access to a variety of services as long as you maintain your membership. This includes free programming and/or adjustments, use and maintenance training, repair services, annual follow-up tests and more. 

Before you decide where to buy your next device, be sure to check out these five things to know about buying hearing aids at Sam’s Club.


HearUSA

If you’re looking for a large selection of hearing aid models to choose from, HearUSA will likely have what you need.

You’ll find the biggest selection at HearUSA with more than 250 hearing aid models available to order. Of those models, the cost typically falls between $1,200 and $4,000 per ear. Plus, you may be able to find discounts and offers online available to anyone. At the time of writing, HearUSA was offering a $25 gift card when you take a free hearing screening, which is a great deal!

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To learn more about buying hearing aids from HearUSA, be sure to read these five things to know.


Miracle-Ear

Miracle-Ear is one of the most popular hearing aid retailers in the industry with good reason. It has more than 1,500 hearing aid centers throughout the country, and in 2021, Consumer Reports survey respondents gave the company 5/5 stars in courtesy and follow-up service categories.

The retailer offers four different exclusive hearing aid models including completely-in-the-canal, receiver-in-canal and behind-the-ear styles. Generally, the cost ranges from $1,000 to $4,000 per device. The total price includes a free hearing evaluation, hearing aid fitting and lifetime aftercare.

Additionally, most Miracle-Ear devices come with a three-year limited warranty that covers accidental loss and damage with repair and replacement services. 

If you’re thinking about buying your next hearing aid at Miracle-Ear, take the time to check out these five things to know.


Final Thoughts

Deciding where to buy a hearing aid can be overwhelming, and unfortunately, it can be easy to overpay. 

If you’re looking for our recommendation, Costco is a win-win. Your membership fee will pay for itself with the money you’ll save after your first hearing aid purchase, and if you choose to keep your membership, you’ll have access to great free services. 

If you’re thinking about trying out a hearing aid for the first time, MDHearingAid may be a good option for you. Since the prices can begin at $300 per pair, you won’t be out thousands of dollars if you end up not wearing them. 

For more great deals, check out Connect Hearing. There, you can get a free two-week hearing aid trial and three years of free batteries included with your purchase. 

While you won’t get any free batteries, Sam’s Club is another hearing aid retailer that offers excellent follow-up care as long as you stay a member. Alternatively, for a larger selection, you’ll likely find what you’re looking for at HearUSA. 

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Finally, if you don’t have insurance and can’t pay out-of-pocket, you may be eligible for financial aid to cover the costs of your hearing care. Check to see if you’re eligible for assistance from the Miracle-Ear Foundation

No matter where you decide to buy your next hearing aid, be sure to take the time to compare prices and make sure you’re getting the best deal. In addition to the total price, also be sure to ask about the warranty and the price of follow-up services.

Where have you had the best experience with buying hearing aids? Let us know in the Clark.com community!

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