Audicus Hearing Aids Review (2024): What Experts Say

Audicus provides a range of affordable, direct-to-consumer hearing aids with advanced features. Customers can test for, purchase and, in some cases, adjust these hearing aids entirely online. Audicus also partners with Albertsons to provide in-person appointments in a few markets.

Key Features

• Testing, purchase and maintenance can all be conducted online, though you can try Audicus products in person at the company’s in-person hearing clinic in New York City.
• New features are introduced regularly, such as Bluetooth connectivity and adaptive-directional microphones designed to work in crowded settings.
• Audicus’ online experience may be a good option for people with mild to moderate hearing loss who are accustomed to other telehealth settings.

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Audicus Hearing Aids

• Unlimited, lifetime expert support
• Custom-programmed hearing aids without the markups
• Choose from four sleek colors
• Invisible, rechargeable and Bluetooth-enabled models
• Take the Audicus online hearing test or submit an existing test to get started
• 45-day risk free trial period

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On Audicus's Website

Audicus sidesteps doctors and audiologists to deliver a hearing aid experience directly to consumers online. The company estimates it cuts hearing aid costs by 70% compared to traditional in-person prescription hearing aid providers. The devices’ components, according to the company, are manufactured by the same manufacturers other more expensive hearing aid companies use. Audicus hearing aids can be programmed to custom specifications on the company’s website and can be shipped back to the company for repairs or reprogramming.

According to Audicus CEO and founder Patrick Freuler, when he launched the hearing aid business in 2012, “things were so stark for the end user—so expensive, so limiting.” But now, “we see people in the 55-plus crowd have all become more astute with technology. You’re seeing an acceleration of digital health that is unprecedented, he says. His company strives to make hearing care more affordable and accessible by selling directly to consumers online, focusing primarily on adults between the ages of 55 and 79. “Our customer segment, in the majority of cases, is buying hearing aids for the first time ever. They also come to us with slightly less serious hearing losses than what you’d be seeing in a traditional audiology clinic,” says Freuler.

U.S. adults can buy Audicus and other direct-to-consumer hearing aids without a prescription. As of October 2022, companies can also attempt to register such devices with the FDA as self-fitted hearing aids and enter the new over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids market intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. People with severe or profound hearing loss, however, still need to obtain a prescription for a customized hearing aid suitable for their specific hearing needs.

• Cost: Audicus hearing aid prices range from $1,398 to $2,798 for a pair of receiver-in-canal (RIC) devices. The completely-in-canal (CIC) Mini model costs $2,498 per pair. Customers can also lease hearing aids through the Audicus Plus membership program for a one-time set-up fee ($249) and a monthly fee ($99 to $199). This membership also comes with perks like replacement insurance, cleaning supplies and an upgrade every 18 months.
• Size and style: Most Audicus models are RIC-style hearing aids, with a battery and processing unit resting behind the ear. They come in beige, black, silver or gray. The most affordable model is the Spirit 1 RIC hearing aid, which has a 30.6-millimeter-long plastic case that perches behind the ear. Audicus also offers one CIC model.
• Technology: All models are true hearing aids customized to each patient’s level of hearing loss and coordinated between the two ears, according to the company. Earpieces come in a variety of sizes to help ensure a proper fit. The Omni 2, Audicus’ most expensive offering, includes RIC-style hearings aid with Bluetooth connectivity to iOS and Android devices. They come with rechargeable, high-density lithium batteries that last for days before requiring recharging, phone control to toggle through various volumes and modes, and adaptive-directional microphones designed to enhance listening in crowded settings. Disposable battery options are also available in the Omni series.

To purchase an Audicus hearing aid, you can either take a hearing test with a licensed audiologist or hearing health professional and upload the resulting audiogram to the Audicus website or take the company’s free online hearing test to generate an audiogram. Audicus’ hearing test takes about 10 minutes to complete and requires only a quiet room and a pair of headphones. (Be sure to rule out earwax buildup and other blockages in the ear canal before purchasing a hearing aid.) The results of the hearing test are then used to customize hearing aid settings. The more accurate the audiogram, the better the hearing aid(s) will work.

Audicus hearing aids come with a 45-day free trial period. Customers can call their hearing specialists (who can provide hearing aid tech support) as often as they like and can get adjustments to their hearing aid settings over the internet or in person at the company’s hearing clinic in New York City.

The RIC Omni and Spirit models are waterproof and have Bluetooth compatibility with iOS and Android devices. These hearing aids also come with the option of disposable or rechargeable batteries.

There are two ways to purchase a direct-to-consumer hearing aid from Audicus: Pay the entire cost to own the devices or lease them in monthly installments via the Audicus Premier membership plan. The company also runs periodic sales, which may help reduce the price of a pair of hearing aids.

The starting price for a pair of hearing aids costs:

• Mini (CIC): $2,498
• Spirit 1 (RIC): $1,398
• Spirit 2 (RIC): $1,798
• Omni 1 (RIC): $2,398
• Omni 2 (RIC): $2,798

The Audicus Premier membership program starts at $99 per month, but it also requires a $249 one-time fee. Membership for the top-of-the-line Omni Series 2 model costs $199 a month, plus the $249 upfront fee. Audicus Premier includes the rental of the hearing aids, replacement devices every 18 months, an unlimited warranty, free cleaning services (which otherwise costs $100), cleaning and maintenance supplies (otherwise $12 per month), and loss and damage protection (otherwise $299 per pair).

For those who purchase their hearing aids outright and want to get a new pair, the company provides a $50 to $100 trade-in value per unit, even if it’s damaged.

Customers can also purchase a remote control for $299 to self-adjust the volume on Spirit and Omni models.

Though many Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing aid exams and offer discounts for devices and maintenance, most other health insurance policies, including Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement insurance, don’t cover the cost of hearing aids.

How to Save Money on Audicus Hearing Aids

Hearing aid users can save money on Audicus hearing aids by enrolling in the company’s Audicus Premier monthly membership plan. Premier members gain access to hearing aid upgrades every 18 months, unlimited access to hearing aid specialists, insurance and hearing aid supplies. However, Premier membership is only available with the purchase of Spirit Series 2 and Omni Series 2 models. Premier membership costs $99 to $199 per month.

Those with a Medicare Advantage health insurance plan may be able to receive full or partial coverage for their Audicus hearing aids. Check with your insurance provider to determine whether hearing health benefits are included in your plan.

Eligible veterans and active duty military personnel may also be able to get their hearing health costs (including hearing aids) covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) classifies hearing aids, batteries, repairs and maintenance as medical expenses that can be included as deductions on your tax return. You can also pay for hearing aids and other related costs with HSA and FSA funds.

Audicus offers a variety of payment options to help make the cost of purchasing hearing aids more affordable. Buyers have the option of financing their hearing aids via Care Credit, which allows consumers to pay off their hearing aids over 12 months without interest fees.

Additionally, the company offers payment plans for six, 12 or 18 months. Upon checkout, select “switch to pay overtime” and select the payment plan that best suits your needs.

Audicus also partners with Allegro to offer financing options for buyers with low credit scores. However, financing with Allegro is only available for those who purchase the Omni Series 2 or Spirit hearing aid models.

Audicus was an early entrant into the direct-to-consumer hearing aid market, which is about to get much more competitive, as the FDA recently approved the new OTC hearing aids category. Until recently, hearing aid devices were registered with the FDA, but they didn’t need to conform to federal standards—meaning each state could set its own or none at all. Now, the FDA has set performance criteria, output levels and more to ensure both the safety and efficacy of these devices, says Frank Lin, M.D., director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins.

Hearing aids aren’t the only part of the industry about to get an overhaul. Audicus’ proprietary online hearing test was once an innovative way to save customers time and money, but Dr. Lin thinks consumer electronics companies will compete for hearing tests as well, noting that those companies will likely seek FDA approval to have their equipment classified as an audiometer.

Dr. Lin also expresses concern that the Audicus online hearing test may not provide the accuracy of an in-office test. ”Any type of test over the internet is questionable at best because it depends on the earphones you use [and] your sound card,” he says. “You can’t really standardize.” He thinks using devices you pair with your phone or doing the hearing test with hearing aids in place might produce a more accurate result. However, the company has validated its test over the last several years and provides free adjustments for the life of its devices, according to Freuler.

OTC hearing aids—including Audicus hearing aids—are generally best suited for individuals with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, according to the FDA. Those with mild to moderate hearing loss may experience:

• Hearing speech and other sounds as muffled
• Difficulty hearing in group settings, in noisy environments or over the phone
• Needing to ask others to repeat themselves more slowly, clearly or loudly
• Needing to turn up television, radio or music volume louder than others prefer

Meanwhile, those with more severe degrees of hearing loss may need to visit a hearing health professional to determine whether they would benefit from prescription hearing aid options.

The right hearing aids for an individual depends on factors like type of hearing loss, degree of hearing loss, hearing aid cost and personal preferences. OTC hearing aids are best suited for those with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss whereas individuals with severe to profound hearing loss may benefit from prescription hearing aid models. Consult with an audiologist or other hearing health professional to determine the best hearing aids for your needs.

As of publication, reviews for Audicus with the Better Business Bureau averaged 2.43 out of 5 stars.

One reviewer shared her satisfaction with the company: “My brother recommended Audicus, and they were offering the same pair [I saw before for $8,000] for just over $3,000. I purchased [them] and the entire process was great. Everyone was super helpful and the hearing aids work great. I’d say if support is something that is important to you, Audicus is the way to go.”

However, several reviewers describe high-pressure sales tactics. One unhappy customer writes, ”Pestering! Constant phone calls, text messages and emails after requesting twice by email and answering their calls that I am not interested in buying their products.”

The company reports that it invests heavily in supporting clients throughout the purchase and maintenance cycle. “​​The vast majority of our [staff] is really dedicated just to that user experience before, during and after [the purchase] on the support sites and on the product specialist side,” says Freuler.