About 28.8 million American adults could benefit from hearing aids, but fewer than 1 in 5 actually use them. For decades, hearing aids meant expensive audiologist visits, prescriptions, and price tags that could rival a used car. The FDA's October 2022 OTC ruling changed that — and brands like Audien, Oricle, Lexie, and Jabra Enhance are why.
The average person waits nine years after noticing hearing difficulty to act. This comparison exists to make that decision easier. Here is what the data shows across four leading OTC brands.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Brand | Price (pair) | FDA Status | Rechargeable | Bluetooth | App Required | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audien | $98–$289 | Registered | ✓ | — | No | 45 days |
| Oricle Our Pick | $149.99–$289.99 | Registered | ✓ | — | No | 30 days |
| Lexie B2 Plus | ~$500–$999 | Registered | ✓ | iPhone only | Yes | 45 days |
| Jabra Enhance 700 Top Rated | $1,195–$1,995 | Registered | ✓ | ✓ | Yes | 100 days |
A few things stand out immediately. Only Audien and Oricle let you skip the smartphone entirely — a meaningful advantage for seniors or anyone who prefers simplicity. Jabra offers the longest trial at 100 days; Oricle's 30-day window is the shortest in this group. And the price span — nearly $1,900 from bottom to top — means the right answer depends entirely on what you need.
Audien — Best for the Tightest Budget
Audien's lineup includes the Atom Pro 2, ION Pro 2, and the newer Atom X (launched September 2025 with touchscreen controls). At $98 to $289 per pair, it's the most affordable option in this comparison by a clear margin.
In NCOA testing, the ION Pro 2 scored 5 out of 5 for features and 4 out of 5 for sound quality — a solid showing for this price tier. Audien also accepts FSA and HSA payment, which can meaningfully reduce out-of-pocket cost.
The trade-offs are real. Audien devices cannot be programmed to match a hearing test and function primarily as sound amplifiers rather than personalized hearing aids. Audiologists generally recommend them for mild hearing loss only. If your loss is moderate or progressing, you'll likely outgrow these quickly.
Oricle — Best Value for Everyday Wearability
Oricle offers three models: the Oricle 2.0 at $149.99, the Oricle Pro at $199.99, and the Oricle TrueFit at $289.99. All three are FDA-registered, fully rechargeable, and designed for mild to moderate hearing loss — no prescription required.
What separates Oricle from basic amplifiers is audiologist-designed multi-program settings and advanced noise cancellation built into each device. These are features typically found in hearing aids at two or three times the price. And critically — no app, no smartphone, no pairing required. Open the box, charge the device, put it in. For first-time buyers and seniors, that matters more than spec sheets suggest.
The discreet, lightweight in-ear design addresses another real concern. Hearing aid stigma remains a barrier, especially for adults in their 40s and 50s experiencing early hearing changes. Oricle's form factor is nearly invisible when worn.
Over 100,000 customers and a 4-star Trustpilot rating across 1,163+ reviews. Positive feedback consistently highlights affordability, ease of use, and discreet fit. Some reviews note fit variability for certain ear shapes — the TrueFit model was designed to address this specifically.
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Shop Oricle Hearing Aids →Lexie B2 Plus — Best Mid-Range, Bose-Powered
The Lexie B2 Plus carries real brand credibility thanks to Bose's sound engineering heritage. Features include directional microphones, background noise reduction, feedback management, and a companion app for fine-tuning.
Bluetooth call streaming is supported — but only on iPhones. Android users cannot stream calls, a notable limitation affecting roughly half of all smartphone users. The device is available only in light gray, making it one of the less discreet options here.
In 2025, Lexie merged with Eargo under HearX USA. Both brands continue to operate separately, but the competitive landscape in this tier is shifting as a result.
Jabra Enhance Select 700 — Best Near-Prescription Performance
Jabra Enhance is backed by GN Group — the same parent company behind ReSound prescription hearing aids — giving it the strongest technological pedigree of any brand in this comparison. In 2026, NCOA and audiologists.org ranked the Enhance Select 700 Best Overall OTC hearing aid, scoring "great" or "excellent" across all 13 quality measures tested.
The key differentiator is personalization. Jabra pre-programs each device to your submitted audiogram or online hearing test before shipping — blurring the line between OTC and prescription in a way no other brand here matches. After purchase, a 30-minute orientation call with a licensed hearing professional is included.
At $1,195 to $1,995 per pair, it's the most expensive option by a significant margin. Jabra also offers the longest trial at 100 days. One important note: Jabra discontinued its original self-fitting OTC model in 2024. The current model requires an audiogram submission, making it a hybrid approach closer to a prescription service than a standard OTC purchase.
Which One Is Actually Right for You?
Specs only tell part of the story. Here are four buyer profiles that map directly to each brand.
Both Audien and Oricle serve buyers who want plug-and-play simplicity with no smartphone dependency. If the person buying — or the person the device is being bought for — doesn't regularly use a smartphone, these are the only realistic options in this comparison. Lexie and Jabra require apps for full functionality.
Check whether the brand accepts HSA and FSA payment. Oricle accepts both directly at checkout, which can bring the effective price of a $149.99 device to around $117 for someone in the 22% federal tax bracket. Don't leave pre-tax dollars on the table.