💨 In a hurry? Our top invisible hearing aid picks are Eargo, Starkey Genesis AI and Audicus Mini
I recently put on a pair of Eargo invisible hearing aids for a dinner out with my wife. At the end of the meal, I asked if she noticed anything different. She hadn't.
When I pointed out that I was wearing a new pair of hearing aids, she came closer, looked directly at my ear, and saw my new devices for the first time.
As technology gets smarter and smaller, hearing aids are becoming less and less visible. Of course, not all invisible-style hearing aids are created equal. In this guide, we'll condense our research into a quick breakdown of the best invisible hearing aids on the market.
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5 Best Invisible Hearing Aids In 2023 - Smallest and Smartest
Soundly conducts regular research to guide prospective hearing aid wearers. We update this guide regularly with the latest products. Our work is funded through reader support. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
To get to this list we underwent the research below:
- 50+ Hours Research Conducted Each Month
- 3 Licensed Audiologists Consulted
- 32 Total Brands Reviewed
- 1,000+ Customer Reviews Considered
Overview of "invisible" hearing aid styles
There are four common types of in-the-ear hearing aids that you will find online or at an audiologist.
Invisible In The Canal (IIC) - This tiny style sits inside your ear canal with only a pull tab visible to remove the device.
Completely In Canal (CIC) - The top of the hearing aid is visible to those looking from the side, but the device is very discreet.
In The Canal (ITC) - Comfortable but visible. More easily accessed to change the volume or mode.
ITE: This style is even more accessible and allows for more power and, in some cases, rechargeability and Bluetooth.
Most people who prefer invisible hearing aids will gravitate towards IIC or CIC styles.
Pros and cons of invisible (IIC) hearing aids
Invisible hearing aids come with some obvious benefits but they aren't for everyone. Here are a few pros and cons to consider:
Invisible hearing aid pros:
- Hard to Notice - Here's the obvious one. Invisible hearing aids are...well invisible. Most styles are unnoticeable unless someone looks in your ear.
- Masks and Glasses - Invisible hearing aids sit inside the ear and don't interfere with masks and glasses.
- Convenience - Lyric (listed #2 below) stays in your ear 24 hours a day and doesn't require battery changes or charging.
Invisible hearing aid cons:
- Limited Functionality - The smallest designs come with limited Bluetooth and charging functionality.
- Dexterity Challenges - Smaller devices can be frustrating for those with limited dexterity.
- Fewer products to choose from - There are fewer invisible hearing aid products to choose from, and typically they come at a slightly higher cost
One more thing...
I started my own search for hearing aids to find something invisible. Ultimately I discovered that my receiver-in-canal hearing aids were far more discreet than I had expected. Most people have no idea I'm wearing hearing aids.
The list below is made up of hearing aids that sit entirely in your ear, BUT if you don't find what you are looking for, remember that RIC hearing aids can be invisible in many ears. Here's a picture of me wearing my Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids.
Ok, let's get to the list. These are the best invisible hearing aids for 2023.
#1. Starkey Genesis AI - Bluetooth Enabled
We'll start with a classic. Starkey Genesis AI is broadly considered the leader among custom-molded products. Starkey's slightly larger CIC hearing aid comes with Bluetooth streaming (the smallest Bluetooth device in the category).
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Starkey is a U.S.-based manufacturer with a full line of hearing aids that includes behind the ear and in-the-ear styles. They make the list for their elite status in custom molded (nearly invisible products). If you can afford to pay medical-grade prices and want an invisible style, you won’t be disappointed by Starkey.
Starkey is known for intelligent features like fitness tracking, a virtual assistant, and the smallest Bluetooth hearing aid on the market.
- Overall Notes: Starkey Genesis AI is broadly considered the best for custom mold hearing aids. If you want a custom mold, and lead an active lifestyle, this product is a great choice.
- Price: The national average price for Starkey Evolv Custom hearing aids is $6,443 per pair. My research indicates that you can get Starkey Custom devices for as low as $2,998 for a pair, and the national average is around $5,500 per pair. Click here for more on prices.
- Features: Full range of styles and features including Bluetooth, rechargeability, and fitness tracking for larger devices.
- What audiologists say: “Starkey has been making the smallest and best custom hearing aids for decades. Genesis AI is currently the smallest custom device on the market with Bluetooth streaming capabilities.” - Ramsay Poindexter, AuD
Smallest models are almost entirely invisible
Starkey is a leader in comfortable custom molded products
Larger sizes come with Bluetooth streaming and rechargeable batteries
This is a premium device which costs $3,000-$7,000 per pair
Custom molds require additional lead time and replacement time
The smallest versions of Starkey Genesis AI customs are not Bluetooth enabled or rechargeable
#2. Lyric - 100% Invisible
Lyric is the only product we can guarantee will never be seen. The unique design sits deep inside the ear 24 hours a day.
The Phonak Lyric is a non-traditional option that is sold as an annual subscription. The devices are placed deep in your inner ear by a hearing professional every 8 weeks and stay in your ears all day instead of coming out at night.
You can shower, work out, and even swim (without fully submerging) with the hearing aid in your ears. Lyric wearers receive a magnetic “magic wand” tool that turns the hearing aid up or down and remove the device if needed.
Many people find this option more comfortable than traditional invisible hearing aids and enjoy hearing at night if they have kids.
- Overall Notes: Lyric can be thought of as contact lenses for the ears. Patients who are successfully fit with Lyric often never go back and share that they forget they are wearing hearing aids.
- Price: Lyric hearing aids are sold on a membership that averages around $4,000 per year
- Features: Lyric hearing aids use analog technology and boast an impressively small size
Totally invisible
Wear 24 hours a day including workouts and water
Clear sound that uses the shape of the ear
Expensive at $4,000 per year
Includes in-person changes every 8 weeks
Lack of background noise suppression technology
#3. Eargo - Smallest Rechargeable
Eargo makes the smallest rechargeable hearing aid on the market. It's not even that close. I love Eargo's innovative form-factor and impressive sound-quality.
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Eargo is the disruptor in hearing health. Their product is rechargeable, invisible, and designed with a patented tip that allows your ears to breathe.
Eargo 7 was released in 2023 with new features that adapt to your environment as you move through your day. Eargo has raised hundreds of millions to design their product from scratch and what they've pulled off is impressive.
Think of this product as the Tesla of hearing health. Eargo is best for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. If you want to try something new, this is a great option.
- How it works:
✔️ Start by purchasing Eargo online or over the phone (or get a free sample product here).
✔️ Once the product arrives at your home, you’ll receive instructions to download the app and self-program the hearing aids to match your hearing loss.
✔️ If you need further adjustments, Eargo has a team of licensed professionals who can make remote updates or provide advice.
- Overall notes: Eargo stands out for its design, innovation, size, and telecare team. The price is a bit higher than other OTC options but still lower than the national average.
- Price: $2,950 for Eargo’s newest product (currently on sale)
- Features: Invisible, self-programmed, rechargeable
- What audiologists say: “If you are looking for invisible devices Eargo is one of the best options on the market.” - Ramsay Poindexter
Eargo is a tiny device that sits entirely inside the ear
Eargo is more affordable then custom mold hearing aids
Eargo is self fit using an app
Only appropriate for those with mild to moderate hearing loss
Requires some tinkering to fine tune the product
Eargo is not Bluetooth enabled due to the tiny size
#4. Audicus Mini - Telehealth Leader
Audicus customizes their "Mini" hearing aids remotely and offers convenient Telehealth follow-up care. The non-traditional care model helps cut down costs.
Audicus sells hearing aids that are manufactured by top hearing aid manufacture, Sonova. They offer customizable and feature-rich hearing aids for less by cutting out the middle man and selling direct. This means you won’t see Audicus at your local audiologist, and that margin comes off the price.
The Audicus Mini is a completely in canal (CIC) hearing aid that is slightly larger than Eargo and Genesis AI. The product is available at $699 per ear and comes with support from a remote Audicus audiologist. The brand offers a 45-day trial and 1-year warranty.
- Overall notes: Audicus has more than 7,000 reviews with an impressive average of 4.7 stars. Their customer service and lifetime specialist support are unique to the industry. If you are on a budget and want fully customized hearing aids, Audicus is among the best options available.
- Price: Audicus Mini costs $999 per ear
- Features: Audicus Mini is a simple hearing aid that is customized remotely by a hearing professional
- What audiologists say: “Audicus is an affordable and mostly-hidden hearing aid. It has some drawbacks when compared to industry leaders, but Mini is far from a cheap amplifier.” - Garrett Thompson, AuD
Discreet style and size
Affordable price
Professionally programmed
Larger than other invisible options
Volume control requires tapping the ear (the hearing aid does not have buttons or an app)
#5. Sony CRE-C10 - Most Affordable
Sony jumped into the hearing-aid market in 2022 with this OTC and (nearly) invisible hearing aid. It's a great starter option.
Sony teamed up with WS Audiology (the second-largest hearing company in the world) to co-create its products. Sony's CRE-C10 devices are nearly invisible and offer prescription-grade sound quality controlled through your smartphone. CRE-C10 does not offer Bluetooth streaming or rechargeable batteries.
CRE-C10 uses a size 10 disposable battery that offers over 70 hours of continuous wear. Size 10 batteries are widely available and commonly used in small devices. Sony's hearing aids were released in mid-October, so there are few reviews of the product, but it's safe to say this will be a leading consideration for those who want an in-the-ear style device.
- How it works:
✔️ Start by purchasing Sony hearing aids online (likely coming to brick-and-mortar stores soon)
✔️ Once the product arrives at your home, you'll download the Sony Hearing Control app and self-program the hearing aids to match your hearing loss.
✔️ Use the app to make real-time volume and sound quality adjustments.
✔️ If you need customer support, you can contact Sony's customer service team. - Price: $999 on Crutchfield
- Features: Self-fit using an app, nearly invisible in most ear canals
Nearly invisible
High quality sound for a lower price
Self-fit at home
Not as small as OTC competitors like Eargo
Not rechargeable
Does not allow Bluetooth streaming
That's the list, friends.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to the best invisible hearing aids available. We update this page regularly and will be back with new models as they come.
We created this site to make finding hearing products and care more accessible.
Use the compare tab to compare all the leading products on the market (with prices), or check your hearing with our 5-minute hearing test.
If you have questions, you can email our team at any time hello@soundly.com.
Frequently asked questions
Invisible hearing aids work much like traditional hearing aids. Most devices have a pair of microphones that pick up sounds, and the onboard processor then customizes the sound to match your hearing loss, and a speaker plays an amplified sound.
Invisible hearing aids are typically custom-molded to match your ear canal. To create a custom earmold, an audiologist will fill your ear with a silicone paste and let it set. They will then remove the dried mold and ship that mold to the manufacturer.
The manufacturer then builds a one-of-one hearing aid to match your ears and fits the components into that mold.
The result is a comfortable device that sits deep inside your ear.
Prices for invisible hearing aids vary fairly widely, and Prescription-level devices are typically 5K-7K per pair. You can find lower-cost care on this site by following the “find care” button on any page.
Invisible OTC devices start at $999 (Sony CRE-C10) and go up to around $2,600 (Eargo 7).
Most hearing aids last around 3-5 years. Warranties typically last for three years.
Most do not. Starkey’s completely-in-canal hearing aid (one size bigger than their smallest) does come with Bluetooth, and Starkey currently makes the smallest Bluetooth hearing aid on the market.
Most invisible hearing aids require a custom earmold, but there are some newer designs that push back on this trend. Eargo, Signia Silk, and Sony all use read-to-wear styles with various tips or domes to match your ear canal.
Some users report that ready-to-wear invisible hearing aids are less comfortable or don’t sit as far inside the ear canal.
Generally yes. Custom-molded devices should sit comfortably in your ear and will stay out of the way of glasses and masks.
Starkey is the leader in custom-molded products and Eargo is a clear favorite for ready-to-wear products. Full invisible hearing aid guide here.
Yes. Eargo and Sony are the leading invisible OTC hearing aid makers.
Invisible hearing aids can be challenging if you struggle to handle small pieces and batteries. Phonak Lyric can be a good option for seniors who want to set it and forget it until their regular appointments.
If you have small ear canals and want invisible hearing aids, you’ll likely want to get a custom-molded device like Starkey. We’ve found that Eargo can also work well in some small ear canals.
Yes. A quality pair of invisible hearing aids can be fitted to most hearing loss types. Some people with great hearing in low frequencies prefer open-fit hearing aids (these sit behind the ear) because that style allows natural low-frequency sound into the ear instead of blocking it.
Good question. A lot of hearing aids call themselves invisible, but the reality is that every ear canal is different. Phonak Lyric is truly invisible. Most of the others on this list are so discreet that they would rarely be noticed in most ears.
Click the “compare” section of this site. Each invisible-style hearing aid we’ve reviewed has numerous verified customer reviews.
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