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Best invisible hearing aids of 2024

By Tom Horton

Edited By Leslie Gornstein

Updated on: July 23, 2024 / 4:30 PM EDT / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Young woman with hearing aid taking selfie with smartphone — Westend61 via Getty Images

If you're one of more than one billion people worldwide who live with some degree of hearing loss, you deserve a hearing aid with top-notch sound features: directional amplification, background noise cancellation, all that good stuff. But some hearing aids can be bulky. If you're interested in investing in a small, easily managed hearing aid that's nondescript, we have the best invisible hearing aids of 2024 for you below.

Let's be honest. It's easy to feel self-conscious about a big, noticeable hearing aid that wraps around your ear. While you should go over any concerns or worries with your doctor, audiologist or hearing aid specialist to find the right device for you, it's understandable to want to avoid larger hearing aid models in favor of something "invisible."

If you want the most imperceptible hearing aid, you'll need to partner with an audiologist to discuss prescription-grade, completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids, which aren't sold over-the-counter. But if you want a larger variety of devices to choose from -- and a much smaller price tag to deal with -- we suggest checking out the invisible hearing aids highlighted below, which include a number of OTC hearing aids you can purchase yourself.

What is the best invisible hearing aid?

Whether you're looking for impressive sound features, a simple design, or the best deals on hearing aids in 2024, we have something for you in our roundup below.

Best deal: Sony
Most discreet: Phonak
Most feature-rich: Jabra
Most affordable: MDHearing
Best with low financing options: Eargo

Shop the top invisible hearing aid models from trusted brands like Sony, Audien and Jabra below.

Best deal: Sony CRE-E10

Whether you're tryinging listen to music, focus on a conversation or simply relax along with the ambient sounds of everyday life, crisp sound quality is important. This nearly invisible hearing aid offers that and more, such as speech enhancement and feedback reduction at a quality to rival many prescription hearing aids.

If you want a premium, discreet hearing aid that you can fit yourself with perks like Bluetooth connectivity and an exceptional battery life, this is the hearing aid for you.

The best part about this high-quality hearing aid? Right now, you can save a whopping $300 off the original price ($1,300) by picking this device up online from Amazon or Sony today.

Pros:

Exceptional sound quality for OTC hearing aids.
With a battery life clocking in at more than 25 hours per charge according to Sony, these hearing aids are the longest-lasting devices on this list.

Cons:

Higher price than most OTC hearing aids.
Although there are automatic adjustments that kick in based on your environment, there are no touch controls or physical buttons -- all adjustments can be made via a mobile app, which can take some getting used to.

$698 at Amazon

Most discreet: Phonak Lyric

Branded as the "world's only 100% invisible hearing aid," The Phonak Lyric device is designed to help with hearing loss while sitting entirely out of sight within the ear canal.

Another key feature here is the Phonak Lyric's low power consumption, which allows you to get away with wearing this hearing aid for months at a time. This offers a great long-term solution to anyone interested in enjoying unrestricted living in spite of their hearing loss (without the hassle of daily maintenance).

This CIC hearing aid is only available with a prescription, so talk with your provider or follow the link below to find a provider for you.

Pros:

Smallest and most discreet invisible hearing aid on our list.
Great long-term lifespan thanks to low energy consumption.
CIC design means you can sleep comfortably with this hearing aid in as well.

Cons:

Prices for this and other prescription hearing aids from Phonak can range from the already high $2,000 to $6,000 and up per pair.
Getting this hearing aid fitted and molded to your ear will require a trip to your audiologist.

$2,000 and up at Phonak

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Most feature-rich: Jabra Enhance Plus

The first OTC hearing aid from Jabra, the Enhance Plus is a tiny device that could pass for a pair of wireless earbuds at first glance. This design offers a sleek, almost invisible look that won't stand out.

The best features for this hearing aid include a long battery life (10-plus hours per charge), great speech amplification, and a lower price point than most prescription hearing aids.

Prices start at $799 for the Jabra Enhance Plus hearing aids.

Pros:

Easy set-up and maintenance using the Jabra Enhance app.
Great battery life.
Nice balance of affordability and accessibility, making these our pick for best OTC hearing aids.

Cons:

Jabra mobile app is currently only available for iOS.
Sound quality and background noise cancellation features could be better.

$799 at Jabra

Most affordable: MDHearing Neo XS

MDHearing has the competition beat when it comes to reliable hearing aids that are as affordable as they are discreet. The Neo XS design is MDHearing's smallest model yet, making it an ideal choice for that nondescript, invisible look.

This rechargeable hearing aid comes with a few key features that have been improved upon over previous models including upgraded noise reduction and the option to set up multiple environmental sound programs. Background noise and feedback cancellation are a few other prominent features of this small device.

This virtually invisible hearing aid is available from Amazon for the low price of $397 per pair.

Pros:

Impressive range of features for an ITE hearing aid, such as multiple programmable sound programs.
No batteries needed with this rechargeable device.
Daily adjustments are super easy with this hearing aid's simple controls.

Cons:

In-ear design can make these slightly more difficult to insert and remove than other invisible hearing aids on our list.
Some customers claim the sound profile of this device is less crisp and robust than other models and brands.
No Bluetooth capabilities.

$99 at Amazon

Best with low financing options: Eargo 7

The latest OTC hearing aid from Eargo, the Eargo 7 fits snugly in the ear canal. This model builds upon previous Eargo devices with a sleek, nondescript design and tech improvements regarding audio processing, filtering, and noise reduction features.

The sound design of the Eargo 7 is high quality and beats out previous designs by the hearing aid brand. But the standout feature here is the device's comfortable fit: These hearing aids stay in place thanks to small, interlocking "petals" that keep everything in place.

With prices starting at $2,450, these are some of the most expensive hearing aids on our list, but the fit is more than worth it.

Pros:

Snug and discreet design makes for an easy in-ear fit.
Exceptional battery life (15+ hours per charge).
Great sound quality for OTC hearing aids.

Cons:

Expensive for OTC hearing aids.
Unique design can make routine cleaning a hassle.

$2,450 at Eargo

How much do invisible hearing aids cost?

Smaller, ITC hearing aids tend to be cheaper than other styles like behind-the-ear, or BTE hearing aids. These smaller devices are typically less bulky and may be easier to maintain. Many discreet hearing aids you can buy today are OTC devices, which tend to be cheaper than their alternative, prescription hearing aids.

OTC hearing aids tend to cost less than $1,000 a pair. These may come with less robust tech features (making them ideal for people with mild to moderate hearing loss) and none of the complex extras that you get with a prescription hearing aid, which can come with costs that vary widely -- anywhere from $1,000 to more than $8,000 per hearing aid.

How to choose an invisible hearing aid for you

The first thing to decide on is whether a small, discreet invisible hearing aid is best for you. Other styles and designs exist including BTE hearing aids, which may come with more robust audio features -- ideal if you have significant hearing loss. For those with mild to moderate hearing loss, the more budget-friendly invisible hearing aids are likely more than sufficient to improve your daily life.

Talk with your doctor or audiologist to figure out whether OTC hearing aids or prescription-grade devices are best suited to your needs. The best device for you may be something that offers certain features like customizable sound profiles or Bluetooth connectivity. If you have other issues related to hearing, such as symptoms of tinnitus or a diagnosis of age-related hearing loss, it's important to discuss which hearing aid brands and devices are best suited to address any and all concerns before you buy.

How we selected the best invisible hearing aids of 2024

For a closer look at how we rate certain products and services, here is what we prioritized while looking at the best invisible hearing aids:

Sleek design: The best invisible hearing aid is easy to use but hard to spot thanks to a small, nondescript design.
Comfort: We paid attention to the design, shape, and fit of each hearing aid to ensure only the most comfortable hearing aids made the list.
Sound quality: We looked for important features like deep background noise cancellation and crisp speech amplification.
Customer reviews: All of our hearing devices hold a four-star review or higher from happy customers just like you.

Tom Horton

Tom Horton is a resident health expert for CBS Essentials, with deep experience in topics ranging from chronic conditions to health-care devices to diet options. He lives in upstate New York, and draws his power from local bookstores, long hikes on a sunny day, and his cat Sammy.