Key Takeaways:
- Costco is a compelling option for its cost-effective hearing aids, unlimited free follow-ups, six-month return policy, and two-year loss and damage warranty.
- Philips, Jabra, and Rexton are all quality Costco hearing aid options and made by some of the top six hearing aid manufacturers.
- Costco is one of several hearing healthcare options. While it's particularly popular among budget-focused consumers, it's not the right option for everyone (i.e., complex ear history, asymmetric or profound hearing losses, etc.)
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🔎 Research notes:
Costco currently offers three brands (Jabra, Philips and Rexton)
You can also get Jabra hearing aids through Telehealth here click "am I a candidate" at the top of the screen
Did you know - Sam's Club also offers free hearing tests. Learn more here.
Costco added its first hearing center to a local club in 1989. In the 30+ years that followed, the big-box retailer slowly added hearing capabilities to 754+ clubs in 13 countries. Today, Costco dispenses an estimated 15% of all hearing aids in the U.S.
Here at Soundly, we conduct hands-on reviews of all the top hearing aids and hearing health services on the market, so it only made sense to take a trip to Costco for a first-hand look at the process.
In this review, I’ll take you through my recent trip to America’s favorite big box store, where I tested my hearing, reviewed available products, and...got a hot dog for just $1.50.
In my review, I was specifically on the lookout for a few things:
- How does the Costco hearing test and sales process work?
- Is the booth test consistent with local clinic results?
- What are the best hearing aids at Costco?
Let’s dive in!
Watch my full Costco experience here. 👇
Costco hearing aid basics.
Before we talk about the best hearing aids at Costco, it's worth sharing a few basics on how the Costco hearing center process works.
Process Overview:
- Costco hearing centers are inside local clubs (typically near the pharmacy)
- Members receive a free hearing test in a sound-treated room and offered one of three brands (more on this below)
- Members can wear a pair of hearing aids through the store to test them out before purchase
- All Costco hearing aids come with unlimited free follow-up appointments (follow-up appointments sometimes take a while to secure)
- Clean your hearing aids any time at Costco for free while you shop
- Costco offers a great two-year loss or damage replacement for free
Other Considerations:
- Costco hearing aids start at $1,599 per pair for behind-the-ear style hearing aids and go up to $2,700 a pair for custom mold hearing aids (prices may vary slightly by location). These prices are significantly lower than the national average of $4,500 per pair.
- Costco relies mainly on hearing instrument specialists (HIS) rather than audiologists. While many of their professionals are excellent (including the one I saw), Costco hearing professionals have significantly less training than doctors of audiology.
- Costco does not sell online. If you're not near a Costco, you're out of luck—they don't sell online. And if you live in a rural area, expect to make multiple trips for fittings and cleanings.
Now that you have a sense for Costco's offering, let's take a closer look at the process.
Step 1: Make an appointment at Costco.
Here's what you need to know to get a hearing appointment at Costco.
- Search for a local Costco store here.
- Sign up for a Costco Membership ($60 basic package here or $120 executive package here)
- Call the store and ask for the hearing center. A Costco hearing center representative will help you schedule an appointment (I had to wait around a week for an open slot).
- Fill out your intake form ahead of time by printing this out or show up 10 minutes early and fill out the form in person.
- Ok, you're ready to go!
FAQ: Do I need an appointment for my Costco hearing test?
While you can technically walk-in for an appointment in some locations, it is probably best to schedule time via a phone call ahead of time because some Costco hearing centers are booked for days or weeks in advance.
Step 2: Take the Costco hearing test.
On appointment day, I headed to my local Costco. If you have been to Costco, you know what to expect: pallets of bulk items from outdoor tents to snacks.
A representative at the front door checked my membership and pointed me in the direction of the hearing center. Most Costco hearing centers are near the pharmacy. I checked in 10 minutes before my appointment and filled in my intake form live (you can do this ahead of time here if you'd prefer).
A licensed hearing professional came to get me in the waiting room and took me to the Costco hearing test booth. He placed two foam wires in my ears.
I clicked the button each time a beep became audible. This first part of the test established my audiogram and hearing aid programming targets. Try the Soundly online hearing test for a quick example of how this works.
The hearing professional tested my speech comprehension by speaking various words into a microphone and asking me to repeat them. He then took out the earbuds and placed a bone conduction headphone on my head to test my bone conduction hearing.
The Costco professional tested my hearing in each ear with static in the other ear to test the interaction between both sides and finished by playing louder beeps to test my responsiveness to loud noise.
The process took about 10 minutes, and we reviewed the results together. My care provider explained why certain sounds are more challenging for my hearing loss.
FAQ: How long does a Costco hearing test last?
My test took about 10 minutes. At the end of the process the hearing professional walked me through my results.
Step 3: Choose a Costco hearing aid.
With the test out of the way, it was time to discuss treatment options. I'll break each one down in some detail below. Regardless of product, all Costco hearing aids come with the same benefits:
- Free follow-up appointments
- One $0 free replacement for loss or damage (lasts two years and covers everything from dog chews to water damage)
- Remote program adjustments (available for most models)
- Free cleanings while you shop
What is the best hearing aid at Costco?
Costco offers three brands of hearing aids from three of the largest global manufacturers. Within each brand, Costco also offers a range of form factors from in-the-ear to behind the ear. Each brand also comes with optional accessories like TV streamers and partner mics.
Each brand has it's strengths but here's my personal power-ranking. 👇
#1. Jabra Pro 10
- Best in background noise
- Smallest form factor
- Strongest Bluetooth connection
- Best smartphone app
#2. Rexton Reach
- Best portable charger (similar to an AirPod case)
- Longer battery life than Jabra 10 (40 hours Vs. 30 hours)
- Smooth, clear sound
- Great backup if you don't prefer the Jabra sound
#3. Philips HearLink
- More open sound that some people prefer
- Not my top recommendation
Let's take a closer look at each product.
Jabra Enhance Pro 20 - $1,599
Our Top Choice
What Stands Out
Jabra Enhance Pro 20 hearing aids start at $1,599 for a pair at Costco and feature a third ear microphone for better sound quality. They're made by GN Hearing, the same company behind ReSound hearing aids, and are nearly identical to the ReSound NEXIA 9 device. I like Jabra Enhance Pro 20 for its ability to manage background noise. Wearers with mild-moderate hearing loss can opt for a M&RIE receiver - a third microphone inside the ear.
Jabra Enhance Pro Styles and Accessories
Jabra Enhance Pro Styles and Accessories
Jabra Enhance Pro is only available as a behind-the-ear style product and is currently available in 8 colors. Costco offers a few notable accessory devices.
- TV Streamer 2 - Allows direct TV streaming into your hearing aids
- Multi Mic and Micro Mic - Allow you to place an external microphone near a partner or near a speaker in a meeting for directly streamed audio
- Two remote controls - Choose between two remote controls that allow easy volume and program adjustments (you can make these same updates using the app or buttons on most models of the hearing aid)
Jabra Enhance Pro Tech Checklist
✅ Bluetooth streaming on Android and Apple devices
✅ Comes with the latest Bluetooth Low Energy and Auracast capabilities
✅ Rechargeable batteries with 30 hours of life per charge
✅ Optional 312 battery-powered version for those who prefer a non-rechargeable battery
✅ Automatic program adjustment that senses environment
✅ Remote program adjustments are available after the first two appointments
❌ No telecoil available
Rexton Reach - $1,499
Longest Battery Life
What Stands Out
WS Audiology manufactures Rexton hearing aids and uses equivalent technology to the popular private practice product called Signia. The latest Rexton hearing aids are available in the standard rechargeable RIC (similar to Signia Pure Charge&Go IX) form factor. Costco also offers high-powered BTE options for members with severe hearing loss.
I like Rexton hearing aids for their long-lasting battery (36 hours on a single charge) and range of designs. Especially considering that lithium-ion batteries may reduce their battery life by 80% at the five-year mark, there's plenty of battery life to spare with Rexton Reach. We also love the modern charging options within Rexton products.
The standard RIC option comes in a great looking AirPod-like case.
Rexton’s underlying noise-management technology has several strengths, with the most recent version able to follow multiple talkers in noisy situations, in addition to separating out speech and background sounds. It's pretty impressive feat.
Rexton Style and Accessories
Costco's Rexton Reach is a top hearing aid choice, inspired by Signia Pure Charge&Go IX. Users appreciate the comfortable, receiver-in-the-canal hearing aid with a wide fitting range that fits 90% of hearing losses. We think this is one of the strongest offerings on the market to date, with some powerful speech-in-noise capabilities that can help even in the noisy, complex environments.
As for accessories, Costco sells two items alongside their Rexton products.
- Smart Transmitter 2.4 ($159) - Streams TV wirelessly into your hearing aids
- Rexton Smart Key ($89.99) - A remote control you carry in your pocket for quick volume and program updates (you can make these same updates using the app or buttons on most models of the hearing aid)
Rexton Reach Tech checklist
✅ Bluetooth streaming on Android and Apple devices
✅ Rechargeable batteries in behind-the-ear models
✅ Optional 312 battery-powered version for those who prefer a non-rechargeable battery
✅ Multiple beam-forming technology helps speech clarity with multiple talkers in complex environments
✅ Automatic program adjustment that senses your movement and environment
✅ Remote program adjustments are available after the first two appointments
✅ Optional telecoil to pick up landline calls and directly to audio in public spaces like many concerts and church services
Philips HearLink - $1,499
Open Sound
What Stands Out
You might see a pattern emerging here. Large, well-established manufacturers rename a version of their popular products to sell at Costco for a deep discount. A little confusing, but the deal is nice.
Philips HearLink hearing aids are no exception. Philips HearLink sells for $1,499 per pair and borrows from the AI tech inside Oticon Real hearing aids to give wearers a more open sound while still managing background noise.
Philips HearLink Styles and Accessories
Costco offers both a rechargeable and non-rechargeable version of HearLink to accommodate various preferences. Additionally, they sell a variety of useful accessories to enhance the functionality of HearLink.
- Philips TV Adaptor - Stream TV audio directly into your hearing aids
- Philips AudioClip - Use your AudioClip to make hands-free phone calls via Android phones (not necessary for iPhones)
- Philips Remote Control - Change the volume and program of your hearing aids without an app or the buttons on your device
Philips HearLink Tech Checklist
✅ Bluetooth streaming on Android and Apple devices
✅ Rechargeable batteries with 30+ hours of life per charge
✅ Optional 312 battery-powered version for those who prefer a non-rechargeable battery
✅ AI-powered sound algorithms that sort out background noise
✅ Remote program adjustments are available after the first two appointments
❌ No telecoil available
Lexie B2 Powered by Bose - $880
Over-The-Counter Hearing Aid at Costco
Costco is primarily known for its prescription hearing aid products, but after the FDA's landmark decision to make hearing aids available over the counter (OTC), the big box retailer did add one OTC product to its shelves. Lexie B2 Powered by Bose is among the top-selling OTC hearing aids on the market. You can read our full review of that product here.
The main thing to know about Lexie B2 Powered by Bose is that these hearing aids are self-fit using a smartphone app, so most of the fitting process at Costco is not relevant. In theory, members could take a hearing test at a Costco hearing center and then purchase Lexie hearing aids. Still, that same consumer could also purchase Lexie devices online directly from the brand here. Costco's $880 price point is $19 less than the full MSRP but often more than discount prices from Lexie's site.
Which Costco Hearing Aid is Best?
The answer depends a bit on your personal sound preference and hearing aid experience. It's often easiest to stick with the same brand or manufacturer to prevent a re-adjustment period to a different sound.
That said, I think Jabra Enhance Pro 20 is the best option for first-time shoppers. We like the innovative 3rd microphone and Jabra's capacity to manage background noice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hearing aids are often not covered by insurance plans. If your policy does include benefits for hearing aids, note that you cannot use them directly at Costco. However, you may be able to submit expenses for reimbursement afterwards. Read on for more helpful information.
How long do Costco Hearing aids last?
Costco hearing aids typically last 3-7 years. You can read more about average hearing aid lifespans here.
Costco offers a two-year loss or damage warranty which includes the replacement of one hearing aid in the first year after purchase.
Does Costco accept insurance?
No, Costco does not accept insurance for hearing aids at this time. If your insurance plan covers hearing aids, you can purchase them at Costco and seek reimbursement from your insurance company by submitting an invoice after payment.
Note: Hearing aids are typically not covered by health insurance plans, including Original Medicare. To avoid surprises, it's best to verify what your specific insurance plan covers.
Does Costco accept TruHearing benefits?
Currently, Costco is not a TruHearing provider. Get the intel on TruHearing benefits and process here.
Can you use your FSA and HSA for Costco hearing aids?
Yes, you can! You can utilize your HSA or FSA funds to purchase hearing aids at Costco since they are an eligible expense. Learn more about purchasing hearing aids through HSA and FSA here.
What happened to Kirkland 10.0 hearing aids?
If you've purchased hearing aids at Costco in the past, you might remember Costco's white-labeled product called Kirkland 10.0.
That hearing aid was made by a hearing aid manufacturer named Sonova (also the maker of Phonak hearing aids). The partnership between Sonova and Costco ended in 2022 and effectively discontinued the Costco Kirkland Signature hearing aid (at least for now). We'll keep this guide updated as things change.
What about in-the-ear and custom styles at Costco?
I've focused on receiver hearing aids in this guide because about 90% of Costco shoppers choose that style. Costco does offer a full range of hearing aid styles including custom-molded devices and high-powered devices for severe hearing loss. Learn more about the full family of products at the links below.
Jabra - Rexton - Philips
Final Thoughts
What you gain in price, you'll have to give up in staff training and brand availability. Still, many Americans feel that the tradeoff is well worth it.
We hope you've found this guide helpful. If you have questions or comments, feel free to reach out to [email protected].
