Full Review
I’ve been wearing Relate® hearing aids for over a month, and they’ve quickly become one of my favorite prescription hearing aids I’ve tested. At Soundly, we evaluate dozens of hearing aids every year — and Relate stands out as our best prescription value pick for 2026.
Relate combines clinic-quality performance, modern Bluetooth technology, and professional local care, all at a price point that’s significantly more accessible than most traditional prescription hearing aids.
In this review, I’ll walk through sound quality, comfort, Bluetooth streaming, the Relate app, pricing, and who Relate hearing aids are best for.
Prefer to watch? Here’s our full video review below — or keep scrolling for our detailed written breakdown.
Where Relate Fits in Your Hearing Journey
At Soundly, we believe the best hearing outcomes start with understanding your hearing.
That’s why we offer a free online hearing test — a simple way to get an initial sense of your hearing levels and see whether you may be a candidate for over-the-counter hearing aids. For many folks, we also recommend confirming your results with a licensed hearing care professional. This is an especially critical step if you’re considering prescription hearing aids.
Once you understand your hearing profile, the next step becomes clearer.
If your hearing test chart looks like the lighter curve, you may be a good candidate for over-the-counter hearing aids like Sennheiser All-Day Clear or Jabra Enhance Select.
If your audiogram dips below moderate into the severe range—or outside of the OTC mild-to-moderate range—prescription hearing aids with local clinic care are often the better solution.
This is where Relate fits.
Starting in 2026, Soundly began offering prescription hearing aids — and Relate is our best overall value pick in that category. It delivers clinic-level performance, professional fitting, and local care, while staying far more affordable than most traditional prescription options.
Relate is designed for people who need more than OTC hearing aids can provide — without paying premium brand pricing.
What Are Relate Hearing Aids?
Relate hearing aids are prescription hearing aids manufactured by Sonova, the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturer.
Relate is a private-label hearing aid brand, which allows it to offer top-tier technology at a lower price point than larger consumer brand names.
At Soundly, we believe Relate delivers premium hearing aid performance at a more affordable price, making it one of the strongest values in the prescription hearing aid market today.
Relate Hearing Aids Pricing: Affordable Prescription Hearing Aids
One of the biggest challenges in hearing healthcare is the cost gap between:
- Over-the-counter hearing aids
- Prescription hearing aids with local clinic care
Relate hearing aids help bridge that gap.
Through Soundly, Relate hearing aids start around $1,598 per pair, including:
- Local clinic fitting and care
- Free hearing test
- 60-day return period
- Manufacturer warranty and protection options
Even the highest Relate technology level is typically far less expensive than many clinic-branded prescription hearing aids, which often range from $6,000 to $8,000 per pair.
If you’re searching for affordable prescription hearing aids with local care, Relate is one of the best options we’ve seen.
Design and Comfort: Receiver-in-Canal Prescription Hearing Aids
Relate uses a receiver-in-canal (RIC) design:
- Small device behind the ear
- Thin wire over the ear
- Speaker in the ear canal
This design is widely considered one of the most comfortable and versatile styles for prescription hearing aids.
Relate feels light, secure, and easy to wear all day. After extended daily use, I’ve found it extremely comfortable with no pressure or fatigue.
Relate Sound Quality Review
Relate hearing aids deliver a balanced, smooth, and natural sound profile.
Some hearing aids lean toward a sharper, more aggressive sound. Relate instead offers:
- Natural speech tone
- Strong voice separation
- Excellent background noise management
In real-world environments—like restaurants, conversations, or meetings—Relate consistently pulls voices forward while keeping surrounding noise controlled. Voices come through clearly without sounding harsh or artificial. For example, I can easily hear my wife and daughter when they’re speaking, even when there’s other activity happening around us. Their voices sound distinct and natural, making conversations feel effortless and more engaging.
That clarity carries into everyday moments as well. I was recently pushing my daughter on the swing and was still able to hear her clearly, even when she was facing the opposite direction. Relate makes it easier to stay connected in these small but meaningful moments, without having to strain or constantly adjust my focus.
From a sound quality standpoint, Relate performs on par with top prescription brands I’ve tested.
Prescription Power for Mild to Severe Hearing Loss
Relate hearing aids are fully prescription-grade devices, not over-the-counter hearing aids.
That means:
- A licensed hearing professional programs them to your hearing test
- They can be fine-tuned over time
- They support more advanced hearing losses, including severe ranges
Relate is built for long-term hearing care, not just light amplification.
Bluetooth Streaming and Connectivity
Relate hearing aids use Bluetooth Classic, which allows:
- Easy pairing with iPhone and Android
- Stable connection
- Multi-device pairing
- Hands-free calling options
Streaming quality depends on ear dome style, but overall Relate provides reliable, high-quality Bluetooth performance for phone calls, music, and media. Bluetooth Classic is my preferred connection option, as it offers a simple, dependable experience for both Android and iPhone users.
Optional tap controls can be enabled by your provider for answering calls or controlling features directly from the hearing aids.
Battery Life and Charging
Relate hearing aids are rechargeable and provide up to 24 hours of battery life per charge.
Two charger options are available:
- Standard plug-in charger
- Portable charger with built-in battery for travel
Both options provide convenient daily charging for all-day use.
Relate Hearing Aids App: Simple Navigation with Powerful Personalization
The Relate smartphone app is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and your local hearing care professional will typically help set it up during your initial fitting. Once you’re home, the app is intuitive and easy to navigate — even for first-time hearing aid users.
At the center of the experience is Automatic mode, where the hearing aids continuously adjust to your environment for the best overall sound. From there, you can quickly fine-tune your listening experience by moving between comfort and clarity, adjusting volume, or splitting volume between ears if needed.
You can also access and create additional listening programs for specific situations like quiet conversations, noisy environments, or outdoor settings. Within each program, you’re able to:
- Focus the microphones forward to hear what’s in front of you
- Enhance speech clarity
- Reduce background noise
- Adjust sound balance using an equalizer (highs, mids, and bass)
These controls make it easy to personalize how Relate sounds in different parts of your day — without needing to return to the clinic for every small adjustment.
Beyond sound controls, the app also includes helpful lifestyle features like environment tracking, activity and step monitoring, Find My Device, and optional remote support with your provider. You can even rate your listening programs and leave feedback, which your hearing professional can use to fine-tune future adjustments.
Overall, the Relate app strikes a great balance between simplicity and customization — giving you meaningful control over your hearing while keeping the experience approachable and easy to use.
Who Should Choose Relate Hearing Aids?
Relate hearing aids are ideal if you want:
- Prescription hearing aids with professional fitting
- Local clinic care and long-term support
- Excellent speech clarity in noise
- Bluetooth for iPhone and Android
- Rechargeable battery convenience
- Premium performance at a lower price
If you’re comparing Relate vs OTC hearing aids, Relate offers significantly more customization, power, and long-term hearing care.
Final Verdict: Relate Hearing Aids Are Our Best Value Pick
Relate hearing aids offer clinic-quality performance, advanced technology, and professional support—all at an outstanding value. If you’re searching for the best-value prescription hearing aids in 2026, Relate should be at the top of your list.
At Soundly, we’re proud to offer Relate because it makes high‑quality hearing care more accessible without traditional price barriers. All prescription devices purchased through Soundly include a free hearing test, 60‑day returns, a three‑year warranty, loss and damage coverage, and ongoing support.
If you’re ready to explore Relate, you can visit Soundly.com, text or call our team, or enter your zip code to find a local clinic. We’d love to help you schedule an appointment, compare technology levels, and choose the right pair of hearing aids for your needs.
Thanks for taking the time to learn more—and good luck with your research.
Ready to start? Click “Find Local Care” at the top of the page or get in touch via text or phone at 1 (833) SOUNDLY.
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