Best Costco Hearing Aids Review 2023: What to Know Before You Buy

• Costco sells three brands of prescription hearing aids with in-person and remote support from hearing instrument specialists (state-licensed hearing professionals trained to evaluate common types of hearing loss and fit hearing aids). At this time, Costco doesn’t sell over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
• You can find affordable hearing aids at Costco, but the store does require an active membership for hearing aid purchases and services.
• The company has poor customer ratings online, and our Reviews Team found that customer service varies widely across store locations.

Costco has become a major retailer of hearing aids in the United States since opening its first hearing aid center in 1989. The company sells hearing aids at more than 750 locations around the world.¹ Costco is a full-service hearing health provider, with in-person hearing tests, prescription hearing devices from three major brands, hearing aid programming, and after-purchase maintenance and repairs.

If you’re looking for affordable hearing aids and wondering which budget-friendly models are among the best hearing aids at Costco, read our review for details on styles, features, and costs. Our Reviews Team visited several Costco hearing aid centers and spoke with corporate staff to help you make an informed decision when buying hearing aids.

Costco only carries prescription hearing aids, but over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are sold online and in other stores that sell health care devices.

Costco in-store hearing aid center

• Best Sound Processing: Philips HearLink 9030
• Best Product Variety: Rexton
• Best Receiver-in-Ear: Jabra Enhance Pro 10

Our Reviews Team recommends products and services we believe provide value in the lives of our readers. We’ve spent more than 5,000 hours conducting in-depth research on hearing aid devices to give you the most accurate hearing aid review. To make these selections, we:

• Consulted with audiologists and geriatric care experts
• Mystery shopped 18 brands
• Surveyed hundreds of hearing aid users
• Tested various models of hearing aids
• Interviewed experts in the field
• Read thousands of verified customer reviews

Read more about our hearing aid review methodology.

• Starting cost per pair: $1,599
• Style of hearing aid: Multiple options
• Degree of hearing loss: Mild to profound
• Battery type: Disposable or rechargeable
• Bluetooth streaming: Yes
• How to adjust: App, buttons on hearing aid, or remote control

The Philips HearLink series available at Costco comes in two options, both of which employ SoundMap 2 technology. This artificial intelligence (AI) technology allows for better processing of speech in noisy environments, which is why our Reviews Team named it “Best Sound Processing.”

Rather than applying unchanging rules for how your hearing aids process sound, the AI in SoundMap 2 learns how to filter sound better as you wear your hearing aids and continues to improve over time. According to the company’s internal research, the new generation of SoundMap 2 technology comes with 50% better sound resolution compared with previous models.

Table 2 outlines the similarities and differences between the Philips models.

Table 2 Comparison of Philips HearLink hearing aids sold at Costco, as of April 2023

Smartphone app

Philips HearLink hearing aids can connect to the Philips HearLink 2 app and stream Bluetooth from Android devices version 8.0 or newer and iOS devices version 16 and newer that are compliant with Google’s Android Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA). You can check the Philips website to see if your smartphone or tablet is compatible with the Philips HearLink hearing aids and app.

If you have an older smartphone or an Android device that isn’t ASHA-compliant, you can still stream Bluetooth and control your hearing aids remotely with the Philips AudioClip accessory (sold separately).

Accessories

The Philips HearLink also works with the following accessories:

• TV Adapter: for streaming sound from a TV to your hearing aids
• Remote control: for making adjustments to the volume and settings on your hearing aids without using the app or hearing aid buttons

• Starting cost per pair: $1,599
• Style of hearing aid: Multiple options
• Degree of hearing loss: Mild to profound
• Battery type: Disposable or rechargeable
• Bluetooth streaming: Yes
• How to adjust: App, buttons on hearing aid, or remote control

Rexton hearing aids are made by WS Audiology, the same company that manufactures prescription hearing aid brands Widex and Signia, as well as Sony OTC hearing aids. Because Rexton offers four models in three different styles (the other companies on this list only offer one style each), our Reviews Team named Rexton “Best Product Variety.”

You’ll find two groups of Rexton hearing aids at Costco: the BiCore and M-Core. The major differences between these lines are in their design and technology. Rexton M-Core hearing aids include MotionCore technology, which detects changes in your listening environment and adjusts the settings as needed without your input.

M-Core styles include:

• Behind-the-ear (M-Core B-Li)
• Receiver-in-canal (M-Core R)
• Slim receiver-in-canal (M-Core SR)
• Completely-in-canal (M-Core iX)

Rexton BiCore hearing aids are the brand’s newest line. BiCore technology processes speech and background sounds separately, which the company says provides a more natural listening experience. This type of sound processing is standard among prescription hearing aids, but the starting price of Rexton devices is about $400–$800 less than other leading brands.

Table 3 below gives an overview of the features of each type of Rexton hearing aid sold at Costco.

Table 3 Comparison of Rexton hearing aids sold at Costco, as of April 2023

For more information on each of the styles of hearing aids listed above, read our hearing aids buyer’s guide.

Special features of Rexton hearing aids at Costco

We found some unique features of Rexton hearing aids in our research. The list below can help you make an informed decision when choosing among the hearing aid options offered at Costco.

Battery life

All Rexton hearing aids except the M-Core iX offer a rechargeable battery option. One model, the Rexton M-Core B-Li, stands out with a battery lasting up to 61 hours on each charge. That’s more than twice as long as most other rechargeable hearing aids.

If you wear your hearing aids for an average of 12 hours each day, you can go for five days before needing to charge the M-Core B-Li again.

The BiCore C R-Li has a much shorter battery life than the M-Core B-Li, but at 21 hours it’s still long enough for more than a full day of use. Keep in mind that the amount of Bluetooth streaming you do will affect the length of each battery charge.

Automatic adjustments

The Rexton website and brochure advertise that all of its models operate on the Sound Pro 2.0 operating platform, giving them the ability to automatically adjust to your sound environment. This feature comes standard in all prescription hearing aids, but it’s not something you’ll find in lower-priced OTC devices.

The app also includes a feature called Rexton Assist, which can help you fine-tune your hearing aids if they aren’t giving you a sound that’s as clear or easy to understand as you need.

Wearing hearing aids that don’t require setting changes throughout the day make them more convenient and easier to wear.

Accessories

The following accessories are available for Rexton hearing aids:

• Chargers: Multiple options, all of which offer a 30-minute quick charge
• Smart Key: Remote control for making hearing aid adjustments
• Smart Mic: For hands-free calls or to stream sounds from someone speaking in a large room (such as a conference room, classroom, or auditorium)
• Smart Transmitter 2.4: To stream sound directly from a TV or stereo

• Starting cost per pair: $1,699
• Style of hearing aid: Receiver-in-ear
• Degree of hearing loss: Mild to severe
• Battery type: Rechargeable
• Bluetooth streaming: Yes
• How to adjust: App or buttons on hearing aid

The Jabra Enhance Pro 10 is sold exclusively at Costco and includes a variety of features for improved speech understanding and ease of use. The Pro 10 has the longest battery life of any receiver-in-ear hearing aid from Costco, which is why our Reviews Team named it “Best Receiver-in-Ear” (RIE) hearing aid. Philips also offers a receiver-in-ear hearing aid at Costco, but its battery life is 18 hours, compared with the 30 hours for the Jabra Enhance Pro 10.

The Jabra Enhance Pro 10 automatically adapts to your listening environment, a feature you’ll find in the Rexton and Philips hearing aids as well as most other prescription brands.

The Jabra Enhance Pro 10 comes in eight colors, all in an RIE style. It includes a waterproof coating, although hearing specialists advise hearing aid wearers to remove their hearing aids before showering, swimming, or using hair products like hairspray.

Bluetooth streaming, app, and battery life

You can stream audio from iOS and ASHA-compliant Android devices to the Jabra Enhance Pro 10. This hearing aid can also be used with the Jabra Enhance Pro app to make hands-free phone calls, but you’ll need an iPhone or newer iOS device to do so. Unlike Rexton and Philips devices, Jabra Enhance hearing aids aren’t compatible with Android devices for hands-free calls.

The battery in the Jabra Enhance Pro 10 will last up to 30 hours per charge, which is about half of the life of one charge of a Rexton M-Core B-Li battery. This length is about the same as most other rechargeable prescription hearing aids, though. Jabra offers two chargers: one that needs to be plugged in while in use, and a second that can charge your hearing aids on-the-go without a power source.

Accessories

Jabra has a variety of accessories for the Enhance Pro 10:

• Micro Mic
• Multi Mic
• Phone Clip +
• Remote Control
• Remote Control 2
• TV Streamer 2

For more information on this brand, read our Jabra Enhance hearing aids review.

Read on for a list of advantages and disadvantages of buying hearing aids at Costco.

If you need your hearing aids adjusted or reprogrammed, call your local Costco hearing aid center to make an appointment. One salesperson we talked to said they recommend monthly cleanings to lengthen the life of your hearing aids. They said many customers make an appointment and drop off their hearing aids for cleaning while they shop.

If your hearing loss profile has changed or you’re having trouble with the sound quality of your devices, make an appointment for a reprogramming. This will take place in the hearing aid center’s soundproof booth and can take up to an hour.

Both cleaning and reprogramming services are provided at no cost for as long as you own the hearing aids and maintain a Costco membership.

Costco Kirkland hearing aids have traditionally been “locked,” meaning they can only be reprogrammed at Costco hearing aid centers. This is a common practice among large hearing aid manufacturers, such as Beltone, Miracle Ear, and Nu Ear. Locking devices is a way to keep sales and service within their own company.

The brands described in this article and currently sold at Costco are made specifically for Costco, so they can only be serviced at the company’s hearing aid centers as well. The limitation on where you can go for service is an important consideration before buying. Many people decide the lower price and convenience are worth the trade-off, but hearing clinics that carry other prescription hearing aids do not have this restriction.

Disposable batteries at a local Costco hearing aid center

In addition to hearing aids, Costco also sells supplies, such as batteries and hearing aid accessories, for each brand.

Our Reviews Team contacted a Costco hearing aid center in Ohio to find out how to buy accessories like TV streamers and remote controls. They said many customers buy them when they purchase their hearing aids, but you can come into the store at any time and place an order for an accessory. The store will order it for you and call you when it’s ready to be picked up.

Hearing aids at Costco range in price from $1,599–$1,699 per pair. While this isn’t inexpensive, it is at the lower end of the price range for many prescription hearing aid brands. ReSound, for example, the maker of Jabra Enhance Pro, charges $3,500–$6,500 per pair for models in the ReSound line.

Factors that affect the price of Costco hearing aids

Some degrees of hearing loss require a power hearing aid, such as the Rexton M-Core B-Li HP and/or a custom ear mold for proper correction. Custom earmolds will add to the cost of your devices; a Costco hearing specialist told us hearing aids with custom earmolds generally cost about $2,700 per pair.

Unlimited adjustments and reprogramming services are included with the price of Costco hearing aids, though, and that’s not always standard with prescription hearing aids. Some hearing clinics charge extra for those services, and others will give you only a certain number of appointments for free.

Finally, the generous warranty coverage Costco offers with its hearing aids adds to their value. The terms of prescription hearing aid warranties can vary widely among clinics because every hearing aid company negotiates its own contract with each clinic. Since Costco is a large retail chain with massive buying power, it’s able to provide a warranty that’s one of the best in the industry.

Having the ability to bring your hearing aids in for repair or replacement at no charge due to manufacturer’s defects, damage, or loss for the first three years is something that can definitely save you money. Our Reviews Team’s survey of 600 older adult hearing aid users found that among people who bought hearing aids at Costco, 55% needed repair services during the warranty period. Hearing aid repairs can be expensive, so a good warranty like the one Costco provides is something to look for when shopping.

Payment Options

The Costco website lists the following options as acceptable forms of payment at U.S. Costco warehouse locations:

• All Visa cards
• The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
• Most PIN-based debit/ATM Cards
• Costco Shop Cards
• Cash
• Personal checks from current Costco members
• Business checks from current Costco Business members
• Traveler’s checks
• EBT cards
• Mobile payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)

Costco doesn’t offer financing or payment plans for its hearing aids or any other products.

Can I use insurance to pay for hearing aids?

Without the option to finance hearing aids at Costco, you may be wondering about other ways to fit this expense into your budget. Unfortunately, Medicare Parts A and B don’t currently cover the cost of hearing aids.²

The good news is some Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part C) and private health insurance plans do include hearing aid benefits.³ Talk to your health insurance provider to see if your plan will cover the cost of hearing exams and hearing aids.

Costco doesn’t offer financing or payment plans, but you can still cut down on the price of hearing aids from the company by using the tips below.

Costco store credit card

Use the Costco credit card to earn 4% cash back on in-store, gas, and other qualifying purchases. The company sends out the cash you’ve earned over the past year each February, and you can put that money toward your hearing aid purchase. Or simply use your Costco credit card to pay for your hearing aids and earn 4% from that purchase to use or save for later.

Other money-saving tips for hearing aid customers

Regardless of where you buy your hearing aids and whether you need prescription or OTC devices, they are an expensive purchase. Hearing aids don’t need to break your budget, though, and getting help for hearing loss is just as important as buying glasses to improve your eyesight. Read on for ways to save money on your next pair of hearing aids.

FSA and HSA funds

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), you can use those funds toward the purchase of hearing aids, as they are considered a medical expense.

Medicaid

Medicaid offers some hearing aid coverage in some states. The Hearing Loss Association of America has more information on Medicaid coverage for hearing aids and exams in each state.

Veterans benefits

Hearing issues—including hearing loss and tinnitus—rank as the number one service-connected disability⁴ among U.S. veterans, defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs as “an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service.”⁵ If you’re a veteran receiving VA health care benefits, you can also get free hearing exams, hearing aids, and hearing aid supplies. Check the VA website for more information on hearing benefits.

State vocational rehabilitation programs

If you need hearing aids to get a job or to function in a role at your current job, your state’s vocational rehabilitation program may pay for them. Check out the Rehabilitation Services Administration website to contact the vocational rehab program in your state.

Hearing aid donation programs

Organizations such as Help America Hear and the Hearing Aid Project donate used and refurbished hearing aids across the country. Visit their websites to fill out an application.

Other hearing aid financial resources

This list provides links to other sources of financial aid for hearing aids:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Hearing Industries Association
• Hearing Loss Association of America
• National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders

Use NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp to find other benefits in your area you may be eligible for.

Read on for important details to know before purchasing Costco hearing aids.

Trial period

Costco provides a 180-day trial period, during which you can return the hearing aids if they aren’t a good fit for your needs. This trial period, which equals a full six months, is longer than any other hearing aid company we’ve researched.

Most states require a minimum trial period of 30 days for hearing aids, and the majority of manufacturers provide up to 45 days.⁶ But we haven’t seen any other companies that give you 180 days to test the hearing aids with the guarantee of a full refund if you need to return them.

Warranty

Our Reviews Team visited a Costco hearing center and were told by the hearing aids center manager that the company doesn’t share warranty terms until after customers have signed a purchase agreement. We also contacted the regional hearing aids manager and the corporate office multiple times, both of whom said they could not share warranty information.

Finally, after calling four Costco hearing aid centers, we reached a helpful salesperson who was able to give us this information on the company’s hearing aids warranty:

• Two-year loss and damage warranty with one-time replacement per ear and unlimited repairs
• Three-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

Follow-up appointments

While the corporate office also declined to share details about the care you can expect after purchasing Costco hearing aids, the same salesperson explained that customers can get unlimited repairs and cleanings at no cost.

You can contact the Costco customer service department in the following ways:

• Phone: 800-774-2678
  • 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday
  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday
• Online chat
• Online store locator to find and call a Costco hearing aid center near you

From our experience searching for information on Costco hearing aids and customer policies, we found customer service varies widely depending on who you talk to. Some hearing aid centers didn’t answer the phone even after we called multiple times, while two centers had helpful, friendly salespeople who readily answered our questions.

The regional managers and corporate offices we reached out to were not helpful in sharing information about Costco hearing aids to help potential customers. This may explain why as a company, Costco does not have favorable customer reviews.

Costco Ratings

Company-wide ratings for Costco on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is 1.2 out of 5 stars, with many negative reviews citing poor customer service. TrustPilot reviews are about the same, with 1.6 out of 5 stars. While the Costco hearing aid center has an A+ rating on BBB, it is not BBB accredited and doesn’t have any customer reviews.

While Costco offers a variety of competitively priced prescription hearing aids, you can also find hearing aids at other hearing clinics, stores where health care devices are sold, and online. Read on to see what your options are and what types of hearing loss they can treat.

OTC Hearing Aids

In October 2022, over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids came on the market following a final rule from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).⁷ OTC hearing aids are regulated medical devices intended to treat mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss in adults 18 years and older.

OTC hearing aids tend to cost less than prescription devices, although there is some overlap in price ranges. Keep in mind, too, you’ll get less sophisticated technology and fewer features with budget brands.

The lowest-priced OTC hearing aids currently on the market, made by manufacturers like Audien and Go Hearing, cost between $100–$300 per pair. Both brands offer rechargeable, in-the-ear hearing aids that come with only one to three listening profiles and require the use of a screwdriver to change the volume. Not nearly as convenient or high-tech as prescription devices, but they are much easier on your wallet.

Mid-range OTC hearing aids cost between $300–$1,000 per pair and offer features like compatibility with smartphone apps for adjustments (but not audio streaming), rechargeability, and the ability to fine-tune your devices to suit your listening needs. If this price range fits your budget, Lexie Hearing, MDHearing, and Lucid may have what you’re looking for.

Jabra Enhance Select, Audicus, and Eargo all make self-fitting OTC devices that can be fine-tuned at home and will automatically adjust to your environment like Rexton and Philips hearing aids. They also cost about $500 more than Costco hearing aids, though, and you don’t have the option of in-person programming like you do with Costco.

Hearing care clinics

Hearing care clinics are staffed by hearing instrument specialists or audiologists who conduct in-person hearing exams, help clients choose a hearing aid to meet their hearing loss profile and lifestyle, program the hearing aids, and provide ongoing care and support.

Some, but not all, hearing care clinics carry a variety of brands. Many clinics offer a wider variety of styles than Costco does, and this is an important factor. While RICs and BTEs are very popular for their ease of use, ability to treat a wider range of hearing loss, and discreet look, they aren’t always the best choice for every client.

Stephanie Godbey, AuD, works at Ohio Audiology in Cincinnati, Ohio. She says each client’s personal preferences and needs must be taken into account when choosing a hearing aid style. “For some patients, the RICs don’t work as well. Maybe they wear glasses, or a nasal cannula because they have problems oxygenting their blood … so we do have options that can go in the ear. We really have to look at the patient to figure out what’s best for them.”

Based on our research and mystery shopping experiences at Costco, it seems the level of individualized care, which is important to your long-term success with hearing aids, may be easier to find at an independent hearing care clinic.

Discount networks

Shopping for prescription hearing aids through a discount network such as Yes Hearing is another way to purchase a hearing aid—for any degree of hearing loss—at lower prices than you’ll find at some hearing care clinics. YesHearing provides in-clinic and at-home hearing exams and hearing aid fittings at prices up to 40% below retail.

Costco provides a free online hearing screening to give you an idea of your degree of hearing loss. While it can’t be used as a diagnostic tool and isn’t nearly as detailed as an in-person hearing exam (which is also free at any Costco hearing aid center), it’s a great starting point and took our Reviews Team only about five minutes to complete.

You’ll need a pair of wired (not Bluetooth or wireless) earbuds or earphones and a quiet place to take the screening. After answering a few questions about your hearing health, which covers conditions that may be underlying your hearing loss, you’ll listen to a series of numbers spoken over background noise, with instructions to type in the numbers as you hear them.

We like the fact that the online hearing screening combines questions about hearing health along with the hearing test. Questions about symptoms like ear pain, sudden loss of hearing, or issues with dizziness and balance can help guide users to make an appointment with their doctor to address underlying medical causes of hearing loss.

We also like that you don’t have to enter an email address or other personal information to get your results. The final screen gives you a rating of your degree of hearing loss, along with a link to find a hearing aid center near you.

Costco online hearing screening results

One thing that’s difficult with this hearing screening, which is made by hearX (the manufacturer of Lexie hearing aids), is that when you click on each number as it’s spoken during the test, you can’t go back and change your answer if you accidentally hit the wrong button. This could result in a false hearing loss rating. You can always take the test again, though, if you feel that you made a few mistakes the first time.

Cost

Costco hearing aids range in price from $1,599–$1,699 per pair, but can get more expensive if you need custom earmolds. Every rechargeable hearing aid purchase includes the charger, but you’ll pay extra if you need accessories like a remote control or TV streamer.

Features

Think about the features you will use in a hearing aid. Do you want to stream music or phone calls to your hearing aids? You may want a model with Bluetooth capability. Do you like to exercise or work outside? A model with water resistance, such as the Jabra Enhance Pro 10, may be a good fit.

Style

If you want a discreet model that other people won’t notice, think about a receiver-in-canal (RIC) or receiver-in-ear (RIE) model, which are available among all three brands sold at Costco. The tiny wire that runs from the hearing aid body at the back of your ear into your ear canal is so slim that it’s almost invisible.

The Rexton M-Core iX is a hearing aid that is truly invisible once inserted into your ear canal. Keep in mind, though, that it’s too small to accommodate a rechargeable battery, and also cannot treat more severe forms of hearing loss.

Battery type

Are you interested in a disposable or rechargeable hearing aid battery? Many hearing aid users we’ve interviewed like the convenience of rechargeable hearing aids. You won’t need to buy disposable batteries, which can save money over time, but you will have to go without your hearing aids for several hours while they charge. Many people get around this by simply charging them at night so they’re ready to go in the morning.

Buying hearing aids at Costco can be a good solution if you need prescription hearing aids. They are able to treat all degrees of hearing loss, from mild to profound, and are priced at the lower end of what you can expect to pay for prescription devices.

Even so, you need to have an active Costco membership to buy hearing aids in the store, you need to keep your membership active for as long as you have the hearing aids in order to get service for them, and Costco doesn’t offer financing or payment plans like many hearing care clinics do. We also found that customer service varies widely across hearing aid center locations, and it can be hard to get details about what’s included with your purchase until you sign a contract.

For more information on how to make a wise decision when shopping for hearing aids, read our hearing aids buyer’s guide.

Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.

1. Costco. Keep Your Ears Open. Feb. 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.costco.com/connection-buying-smart-keep-your-ears-open-february-2023.html
2. Medicare.gov. Hearing Aids. Found on the internet at https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hearing-aids
3. Medicare.gov. Medicare Advantage Plans Cover All Medicare Services. Found on the internet at https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/what-medicare-health-plans-cover/medicare-advantage-plans-cover-all-medicare-services
4. U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Research and Development. Found on the internet at https://www.research.va.gov/topics/hearing.cfm#research4
5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. April 21, 2015. Found on the internet at https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/benefits_chap02.asp
6. Hearing Loss Association of America. Consumer Protection Laws. May 2013. Found on the internet at https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/ConsumerProtectionLaws.pdf
7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-COunter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans. Aug. 16, 2022. Found on the internet at https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finalizes-historic-rule-enabling-access-over-counter-hearing-aids-millions-americans
8. Hearing Health and Technology Matters. Sonova to End Sales of Hearing Aids at Costco as It Eyes Future of Brand. Nov. 21, 2022. Found on the internet at https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-news-watch/2022/costco-stops-selling-phonak-hearing-aids/
9. NCOA Adviser Hearing Aids Survey. 328 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched March 2022.