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Hearing aids with Bluetooth streaming open up a world of functionality for people with hearing loss. Millions of people use Bluetooth earbuds for listening to music or taking phone calls. Hearing aids also offer this technology, but they often have better sound quality along with amplification tailored to your hearing loss.
Unfortunately, hearing loss can lead to depression and social isolation. But Bluetooth hearing aids are uniquely suited to help people maintain connections with others and improve quality of life. Bluetooth hearing aids are also more convenient, as they let you stream audio from music, shows, and phone calls directly to your hearing aids.
Bluetooth technology transforms hearing aids into personalized wireless headsets, tailoring sound to individual hearing needs. This enhancement provides a crucial boost in speech clarity during phone conversations, ultimately deepening and enriching social connections for users.
Rebecca Lewis, chief of audiology at the University of California San Francisco Health
Bluetooth hearing aids come in a wide range of prices and with various styles and features. It’s great to have options, but more choices can make it hard to know which device is optimal for your hearing needs. We tested 14 Bluetooth hearing aids to help you choose a brand and model that fits you best.
Which Bluetooth hearing aid is right for you?
For the best OTC hearing aid with Bluetooth: Jabra Enhance
For the best value: Lexie
For the best sound quality: Phonak
For the best lifestyle hearing aid: Starkey Genesis AI
Why HelpGuide cares about hearing loss
Mental health and hearing are closely linked. In fact, people with hearing loss tend to experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation, which can result in loneliness and frustration, according to research.
Hearing loss is also associated with dementia. Recent research shows how older adults at increased risk of dementia experienced less cognitive decline after using hearing aids.
It’s clear that hearing loss has far-reaching effects on physical and mental health. This is why at HelpGuide, we’ve made it our mission to give every person access to the best information about hearing aids, so we can help get quality products into the hands of people who need them.
Our Handbook Team hand-tests every hearing aid brand we review, so we can feel confident recommending the best products for our readers. We also consult with hearing health researchers, audiologists, industry leaders, and mental health providers. These experts thoroughly vet our choices and help us better understand the nuances of how hearing health impacts physical and mental health.
We also put ourselves in the consumer’s shoes by mystery shopping brands and walking through the set-up process as new customers. Additionally, we interview real people with hearing loss and survey hearing aid users.
By compiling our testing data, interview and survey responses, and insights from hearing care providers, we’ve developed a strongly informed perspective that we’re sharing with you here.
Learn more about our hearing aids review methodology.
What you need to know about our hearing aid research and testing
Here are the five most important things to know about Bluetooth hearing aids.
Best OTC Bluetooth hearing aids: Jabra Enhance, Lexie, and Go Hearing.
Best prescription Bluetooth hearing aids: Phonak and Starkey.
Bluetooth connectivity and Bluetooth streaming serve different functions.
Bluetooth usage shortens battery life, so look for models with Bluetooth LE (low energy).
Streaming audio with your hearing aids can make them more enjoyable to wear, improving your hearing and brain health at the same time.
Our testing experience
After our Handbook Team hand-tested 14 hearing aids, mystery shopped 11 brands, and gathered insights from hearing professionals, four stood out as the best hearing aids on the market.
Our testers tried multiple devices and answered a checklist of 25 questions about each. We used these answers to look for outstanding performers. The process looked like this:
Purchase hearing aids as mystery shoppers.
Set up and adjust hearing aids.
Wear hearing aids and adjust volume.
Evaluate sound quality, comfort, and ease of use.
Charge them or remove and replace the batteries.
Remove and reinstall the domes and wax guards.
Clean hearing aid with provided tools and instructions.
Test all features, including Bluetooth streaming.
Download app and test features.
We encountered a number of surprises during the testing process. Batteries that were hard to change, hearing aids that didn’t stay in our ears, distracting background noise, confusing user manuals, and customer service marked by long wait times were among the biggest drawbacks of certain brands.
But we were impressed with the helpful audiology support, fine-tuning adjustments, Bluetooth sound quality, and user-friendly apps offered by other hearing aid companies.
From our tester
“I was very pleased by how easy certain hearing aids and their accompanying apps were to set up and use but surprised by the poor quality of other devices. Only by hand-testing each model did I uncover the small details of each hearing aid that can make all the difference when you’re using this type of device every day.”
Our experts selected the top two over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid brands for their stellar products and service. Keep in mind, OTC hearing aids are only appropriate for adults 18 and over with mild to moderate hearing loss, and they can be purchased and set up without help from a hearing professional.
Prescription hearing aid companies offer a greater variety of models for all degrees of hearing loss. We chose two of the top brands based on our testing results. You’ll need to visit a hearing care clinic and have an in-person hearing exam before buying a prescription hearing aid. Read on to see which of our picks is the best choice for you.
Compare the best Bluetooth hearing aids of 2024
| Brand | Price per pair | Hearing aid type | Degree of hearing loss | Battery type | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $799–$1,995 | In-the-ear, receiver-in-canal | Mild to moderate | Disposable, rechargeable | Visit Site | |
| $799–$999 | Behind-the-ear | Mild to moderate | Disposable, rechargeable | Visit Site | |
| $2,475–$5,445* | Behind-the-ear, receiver-in-canal | Mild to profound | Disposable, rechargeable | Visit Site | |
| $2,365–$5,945* | Receiver-in-canal, in-the-ear, in-the-canal, completely-in-canal, invisible-in-canal | Mild to severe | Rechargeable | Visit Site |
*Prescription hearing aid prices can vary based on the retailer.
The best Bluetooth hearing aid reviews
Jabra Enhance
Jabra Enhance
Our verdict
Jabra Enhance offers four models of Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids with the best customer service and customization options in the OTC hearing aid market.
Features
- Price: $799–$1,995 per pair.
- Type of hearing aid: ITE (in-the-ear), RIC (receiver-in-canal), and miniRIE (receiver-in-ear).
- Degree of hearing loss: Mild to moderate.
- Battery type: Disposable and rechargeable.
- Standout feature: The best quality Bluetooth hearing aids among OTC brands, with excellent remote audiology care and top-notch sound quality.
Compare models
- Plus: Rechargeable, Bluetooth streaming, hands-free calling, 45-day trial period.
- Select 50: Disposable batteries, Bluetooth streaming, 100-day trial period.
- Select 100: Rechargeable, Bluetooth streaming, 100-day trial period.
- Select 300: Rechargeable, Bluetooth streaming, hands-free calling, 100-day trial period.
Additional information
OTC hearing aids with Bluetooth capability and great sound quality can be hard to find. Jabra Enhance delivers on both points with its four hearing aid models, all of which come standard with Bluetooth streaming and outstanding customer service from the company’s technical staff and audiology team. This comprehensive package is why we named Jabra Enhance the best OTC hearing aid with Bluetooth.
In testing the four Jabra Enhance hearing aids, we were impressed with the comfort, fit, and Bluetooth sound quality of the 50, 100, and 300 models. All three models stream audio (including music, TV, and phone calls), but only the 300 can take hands-free calls as well. You’ll need an iPhone 11 or newer with iOS version 15 or later for this capability. All other phones and Jabra Enhance hearing aid models require the Phone Clip+ accessory for hands-free calling.
From our tester
“The Select 300 is very comfortable. In fact, I thought I misplaced it, but it turned out to still be in my ear.”
The fourth model is the Enhance Plus. These hearing aids looks like earbuds and were comfortable as well, but we noticed they made our ears feel hot after the first 30 minutes due to the fact that they filled up the ear bowl. RIC and BTE hearing aids, which sit behind the ear with only a small tip resting in the ear canal, don’t create that issue for most people.
Our team also liked the functionality of the Jabra Enhance Select app, which is different from the Plus app. Here’s what one of our testers said: “This is a great app, one of the best I’ve tried. It’s very thorough and detailed with lots of information, but it’s well-organized so it’s easy to use.”
Jabra Enhance Plus vs. Enhance Select
The Jabra Enhance Plus app allows you to conduct a quick hearing screen, after which it adjusts your hearing aid settings. The Plus also offers fewer fine-tuning options than the Enhance Select and only three listening programs.
Jabra Enhance Plus hearing aids are compatible with iOS and Android devices for Bluetooth streaming, but they can’t take hands-free calls.
As opposed to the do-it-yourself programming process of Jabra Enhance Plus, the company’s audiology team will program all three Select models (50, 100, and 300) based on the results of your audiogram or online hearing test. Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids can be used with Android OS version 9 and newer and iOS 14 and newer, although hands-free calling on the 300 requires an iOS device with 15.3.1 or newer. Check the list of compatible devices on the Jabra Enhance Select website to make sure yours is compatible. Enhance Select models also have more customization options and four listening programs, and we like having more options for adjusting the sound settings based on our preferences and listening needs.
From our tester
“I love the fact that the 300 has a smart start feature. When you remove the device from the charging case, the power-on function is delayed for a few seconds while you insert it into your ear to avoid any whistling or feedback.”
Unlike other OTC brands, Jabra Enhance offers two levels of support: a basic package and a premium package.
Basic package:
- Price varies by model.
- Hearing aids are programmed by the audiology team before being shipped.
- Ongoing audiology support is not included.
Premium package:
- $200 more than the Basic package.
- Includes initial hearing aid programming and ongoing remote audiology care for adjustments, reprogramming, and troubleshooting.
The warranty length is the same, and customer support and technical support are always available with both packages.
The audiology team was friendly and knowledgeable every time we contacted them by phone, video call, chat, or email. Overall, we found that Jabra offers quality Bluetooth hearing aids and unbeatable customer service at a competitive price.
Learn more in our in-depth Jabra hearing aid review.
Lexie
Lexie
Our verdict
The top-of-the-line model from Lexie, the B2, is powered by Bose technology and provides excellent sound quality for an OTC hearing aid, along with Bluetooth hands-free calls and a user-friendly app. The Lumen and B1 are affordable compared to most other OTC hearing aids with Bluetooth connectivity for app-enabled adjustments.
Features
- Price: $799–$999 per pair.
- Type of hearing aid: BTE (behind-the-ear) and RIC (receiver-in-canal).
- Degree of hearing loss: Mild to moderate.
- Battery type: Disposable and rechargeable.
- Standout feature: Good quality OTC hearing aids, a feature-rich app that’s easy to use, and one of the most friendly and knowledgeable customer support teams we’ve found.
Compare models
- Lumen: Telecoil, disposable batteries, connects by Bluetooth to app for adjustments.
- B1 by Bose: Disposable, connects by Bluetooth to the app for adjustments.
- B2 by Bose: Hands-free calling, rechargeable.
Additional information
Lexie offers high-quality OTC hearing aids with Bluetooth that are less expensive than many other brands, with excellent sound and professional support, making it our pick for the best value among OTC Bluetooth hearing aids.
The Lexie B1 hearing aid
Two of Lexie’s models, the Lumen and B1, only offer Bluetooth connectivity to a smartphone for making adjustments. They can’t be used for streaming audio. But the B2 offers Bluetooth for hands-free calling (although not audio streaming for music), and the sound quality was second only to Jabra Enhance among the OTC brands we tested. Android versions 8 and newer and iPhones 6 and newer are compatible with Lexie hearing aids.
What makes this hearing aid the best value is that it has comparable sound quality to the Jabra Enhance 200 and costs $1,000 less.
From our tester
“Downloading the app is pretty easy and intuitive, as is connecting to Bluetooth. The app has a really handy walk-through with videos, images, and diagrams for how to fit the hearing aid correctly. It’s much better than other apps.”
We found the disposable batteries hard to change in the Lexie Lumen and B1 because they’re so tiny, and they tend to fall out as soon as you open the battery door. But we loved using the app and really appreciated the voice prompts from the hearing aids, which tell you the setting you’re on as you choose from preset programs. The B1 and B2 can also be fine-tuned within each program. You can adjust left-right balance, bass, and treble amplification.
All of the Lexie models are self-fitting, so you take a quick hearing screen with the app, and it adjusts the hearing aid settings to your results. At this price, Lexie is a winner among affordable OTC Bluetooth hearing aids. Keep in mind, though, that the Bluetooth ability does have limitations. If you want full streaming features, look to Jabra Enhance or a prescription brand like the ones we’ve listed below.
Phonak
Phonak
Our verdict
Phonak offers the best sound quality among the Bluetooth hearing aids we tested, and we love the variety of accessories available for different listening environments.
Features
- Price: $2,475–$5,445 per pair (prices can vary based on retailer).
- Type of hearing aid: RIC (receiver-in-canal), BTE (behind-the-ear).
- Degree of hearing loss: Mild to profound.
- Battery type: Disposable and rechargeable.
- Standout feature: Top-notch hearing aids with universal Bluetooth connectivity, accessories, and advanced sound processing to make listening easy even in large, noisy spaces.
Compare models
- Audéo L-R: Mild to profound hearing loss, health tracking, tap control.
- Audéo L-RT: Mild to profound hearing loss, health tracking, telecoil.
- Audéo L-RL: Mild to profound hearing loss, health tracking, waterproof.
- Naída L-PR: Mild to moderately severe hearing loss, rechargeable.
- Naída L-UP: Severe to profound hearing loss, telecoil.
Additional information
Phonak is one of the best prescription hearing aids on the market and a favorite of both audiologists and respondents to the Handbook Team’s hearing aid survey. Of the people who bought Phonak hearing aids, 86 percent said the devices improved their quality of life. This brand stood out for its pure sound quality and minimal background noise.
From our tester
“Very good audio quality and clarity. Probably the best I've tested—when you put it on for the first time, there are hardly any background noises, tinny sounds, or sound distortion. It just sounds like the audio is amplified and that's it.”
Phonak’s newest line of hearing aids, the Lumity, includes the Audeo, Naida, and Sky models. All three are characterized by the company’s most up-to-date processing platform, AutoSense OS, which includes the following technology:
- AI-powered automatic sound adjustments and feedback reduction.
- Sophisticated directional microphones for improved understanding of speech.
- Continuous change in sound focus, depending on the environment you’re in.
In addition to the natural sound, we also love that Phonak hearing aids offer universal Bluetooth connectivity that works with most Android and Apple mobile devices (including Android 8 and newer and iOS 15 and newer). You can use the online compatibility checker to see if your device will connect directly to your Phonak hearing aids via Bluetooth. TVs can be connected using the company’s TV Connector, which allows you to set the TV volume at a level that’s right for you without affecting the volume for other people.
Phonak also makes Roger wireless accessories that stream sounds in noisy spaces and over longer distances than Bluetooth can accommodate. This can be a great help for understanding conversations in classrooms, conference rooms, or loud environments.
The Phonak Audéo Lumity hearing aid
The combination of stellar sound technology and accessories adds up to an outstanding listening experience for users, which is exactly what we found during testing.
Starkey Genesis AI
Starkey Genesis AI
Our verdict
Starkey is the only hearing aid to offer fall detection and language translation along with health tracking, eight-layer waterproof protection, and the longest battery life on the market, making it our choice for an all-around lifestyle hearing device.
Features
- Price: $2,365–$5,945 per pair (pricing varies based on retailer).
- Type of hearing aid: RIC (receiver-in-canal), ITE (in-the-ear), ITC ( in-the-canal), CIC (completely-in-canal), IIC (invisible-in-canal).
- Degree of hearing loss: Mild to severe.
- Battery type: Rechargeable and disposable.
- Standout features: Industry-leading rechargeable battery life (51 hours), AI-powered processors, waterproof rating on four models, health tracking, fall detection, heart rate monitoring, step tracking, and language translation.
Compare models
- Genesis AI R: Mild to severe hearing loss, rechargeable, Bluetooth, waterproof.
- Genesis AI RT: Mild to severe hearing loss, rechargeable, telecoil, Bluetooth, waterproof.
- Genesis AI NW: Mild to severe hearing loss, rechargeable, no Bluetooth.
Additional information
Starkey released its newest hearing aid in early 2023, the Genesis AI, with a new sound processor and app. The processor scans the listening environment a mind-blowing 22,000 times per second. It uses the information from those scans to determine the best combination of settings for you, resulting in a totally natural sound, or as close as possible to the way your ears would process sound on their own.
The Starkey app includes a long list of features, and we found it intuitive and easy to use even on our first try. However, we did consider that it might be too much for some people. If you don’t need or want features like step counting or fall detection, or aren’t comfortable using apps on your phone, you might prefer a hearing aid with a simpler app.
From our tester
“The app is very easy to navigate but also includes a lot of information. Activity tracking and the ability to add hearing health goals, fall alerts, and Hear Share (a caregiver network) are excellent. I also love the Find My Hearing Aids feature.”
The Genesis AI is compatible with iOS devices 15 and newer and Android 10 and newer. You can check your smartphone’s compatibility on the Starkey website.
The Starkey Genesis AI hearing aid
Starkey hearing customers appear to be satisfied with their hearing aids for the most part as well: 85 percent of our survey respondents who purchased Starkey hearing aids said their quality of life improved as a result, and 69 percent would recommend that others give hearing aids a try.
Pros and cons of Bluetooth hearing aids
Bluetooth hearing aids open up a world of possibilities when it comes to controlling your devices with an app and listening to music, shows, and phone calls through your hearing aids.
Streaming phone calls and media to hearing aids via Bluetooth significantly enhances auditory experiences by allowing users to utilize both ears together, supporting improved speech understanding and reduced listening effort through the benefits of binaural hearing. Additionally, some hearing aids even feature the ability to reduce environmental background noise, further improving focus during your most important phone conversations.
Rebecca Lewis, chief of audiology at the University of California San Francisco Health
What we like about Bluetooth hearing aids
- Increased functionality allows hearing aids to act as wireless earbuds.
- Bluetooth LE, available in most newer hearing aids, uses less energy than traditional Bluetooth technology.
- Bluetooth hearing aids come in a wide variety of styles and price ranges.
What we don’t like about Bluetooth hearing aids
- Bluetooth usage shortens battery life.
- It can take multiple attempts to connect Bluetooth hearing aids to the app.
- Bluetooth hearing aids tend to cost more than hearing aids without Bluetooth.
Key features to look for in a Bluetooth hearing aid
When shopping for a hearing aid with Bluetooth, look for the following key features:
- Audio-streaming, hands-free calling, and an app for making adjustments.
- Excellent sound quality.
- Reliable customer service.
- The battery type you want: disposable or rechargeable.
Bluetooth hearing aid costs
The cost of Bluetooth hearing aids has come down quite a bit over the past year. The least expensive hearing aids we’ve found with Bluetooth streaming are from Go Hearing, which is made by HearX, the same manufacturer that makes Lexie hearing aids. The Go Ultra model from Go Hearing includes Bluetooth streaming and is priced at $499 per pair, roughly half the cost of Bluetooth hearing aids from Lexie or Jabra Enhance.
All prescription hearing aids come standard with Bluetooth streaming, and they start at around $1,600 per pair. That cost can rise upwards of $8,000 depending on your degree of hearing loss and the level of sound technology you need and want in a hearing aid.
As prescription hearing aids are customized to your hearing loss by an audiologist, Phonak and Starkey, along with Oticon, ReSound, Signia, and Widex, come with more sophisticated sound technology, greater amplification power, and often more features than OTC hearing aids. They also offer the option of in-person service, which isn’t available from most OTC hearing aid manufacturers.
We talked with Kate Carr, president of the Washington, DC-based Hearing Industries Association, about the difference between OTC and prescription hearing aid prices. “It’s the technology along with the services that drive the cost,” says Carr. They also pointed out that a person’s needs and preferences can influence which type of hearing aid is a better fit for them.
Part of it depends upon the individual. Some people need highly individualized services, and some people are able to do this on their own.
Kate Carr, president of the Hearing Industries Association
When shopping for hearing aids, think about your personal preferences, budget, and level of hearing loss to help in your decision-making process.
Our final verdict
Hearing aids with Bluetooth connectivity and streaming can be a game changer for people with hearing loss. This feature allows you to adjust your hearing aid settings with your phone, so you can do so discreetly and easily. You can also get remote assistance from your audiologist through the app and, of course, stream music, shows, and phone calls.
For all these reasons, we’ve been excited to see a variety of Bluetooth hearing aids enter the market over the past few years. Among OTC brands, we like Jabra Enhance and Lexie for their quality, comprehensive remote support, and value. Our two favorite prescription brands are the Phonak Lumity line and Starkey Genesis AI for their outstanding sound quality, high customization capabilities, and robust apps with lifestyle features like activity tracking and fall detection.
Read our full lineup of the best hearing aids of 2024 to find even more hearing aid options.
Frequently asked questions
Some Bluetooth hearing aids are covered by health insurance, but it depends on the brand of hearing aid and your insurance plan. Contact your insurance provider to find out if you have hearing coverage, and if so, which hearing aid brands are covered.
Prescription Bluetooth hearing aids like those from Phonak and Starkey are available for purchase from hearing clinics, where an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist will conduct a hearing exam and then program your new hearing aids to match your hearing loss profile.
OTC hearing aids, like Jabra Enhance and Lexie, can be purchased online. You’ll take an online hearing test with Jabra or use the app with Lexie hearing aids to take a quick hearing screen. Jabra’s audiology team will program your hearing aids before sending them to you, and Lexie hearing aids are self-fitting, which means they automatically adjust to your hearing screen results using the app.
Some OTC hearing aids, such as Sony, GoHearing, and Eargo, can be purchased online and in retail stores.
Anyone who wants to stream audio, TV shows, or phone calls may enjoy using Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.
For an outstanding pair of OTC Bluetooth hearing aids, we like Jabra Enhance and Lexie the best. Phonak and Starkey are our two favorite brands of prescription Bluetooth hearing aids due to their robust feature set and top-notch sound quality.
Bluetooth hearing aids can cost anywhere from $299 to upwards of $8,000 per pair. Cost is greatly influenced by the level of technology and power included in the hearing aid.
- Bigelow, R. T., Reed, N. S., Brewster, K. K., Huang, A., Rebok, G., Rutherford, B. R., & Lin, F. R. (2020). Association of hearing loss with psychological distress and utilization of mental health services among adults in the United States. JAMA Network Open, 3(7). Link
- Depression and hearing loss. American Academy of Audiology. (2022, May 27). Link
- Lin, F. R., Pike, J. R., Albert, M. S., Arnold, M., Burgard, S., Chisolm, T., Couper, D., Deal, J. A., Goman, A. M., Glynn, N. W., Gmelin, T., Gravens-Mueller, L., Hayden, K. M., Huang, A. R., Knopman, D., Mitchell, C. M., Mosley, T., Pankow, J. S., Reed, N. S., … Coresh, J. (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (achieve): A Multicentre, randomized controlled trial. The Lancet, 402(10404), 786–797. Link
- Hearing Aid Users Survey. 600 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched August 2023.