Best hearing aids in the UK 2024 (2024)

In this article, our health experts have put together a list of hearing aids, to help you identify which set may be the best option for you, according to your specific use-case. Please bear in mind that this article isn’t a substitute for advice from a health care professional and you should always consult with your audiologist when deciding which hearing aid is best for you.

For more information on hearing aids, please see our guide to hearing aids article, where we cover topics such as identifying which type of hearing aid is right for you, what to consider before getting a hearing aid, and what you need to do you get a hearing aid.

Request a free audiologist consultation

How we research and review hearing aids

60

Hearing aids compared

1000+

hours spent researching

200+

Customer reviews read

4

Experts consulted

Our researchers and reviewers are dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and up-to-date information so you can make an informed decision when it comes to getting a hearing test and choosing a hearing aid.

We will only recommend a hearing aid after hours of research, head-to-head feature comparisons, and after taking into account verified customer feedback and reviews and the opinions of industry experts.

All of our health articles are fact-checked and verified by our in-house team of fact-checkers, so you can be assured that our content is as accurate and up to date as possible.

To find out more about our process, read our article on how we cover hearing aids.

The best hearing aids compared

Hearing aid modelCost per pairBattery typeBluetoothTelecoilDegree of hearing loss
Oticon More 1Around £3,550Rechargeable or replaceableYesYesMild to profound
Signia Active ProAround £2,900RechargeableYesNoMild to moderate
Phonak Audéo Lumity Life 90Around £3,500RechargeableYesOptionalMild to profound
Starkey Evolv AI 1200Around £1,900Rechargeable or replaceableYesIn some modelsMild to profound
Bernafon Alpha 7Around £2,750Rechargeable or replaceableYesYesMild to profound

The best hearing aids

The following hearing aids are our expert’s recommendation for the best hearing aids according to each use-case. This list is only intended as a guide – you should always get a hearing test and consult with your audiologist about the right hearing aid for you.

Best all-round hearing aid: Oticon More 1

ProsCons
Lots of techFirst-time wearers could be put off by the bells and whistles
Customisable features Quite expensive
Increased range and clarity of sound

Specifications

  • Cost per pair: Around £3,550
  • Battery: Rechargeable or replaceable
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Degree of hearing loss: Mild to profound
  • Telecoil: Yes

For the best all-round hearing aid, we looked for a device that’s suitable for most people and situations, balances impressive technology with a straightforward user experience, and delivers superior sound quality.

The Oticon More 1’s computer chip has been primed with sounds from 12 million real-life situations. So, rather than filtering out background noise, the device enables you to process sound from all around you in a natural way while also making better sense of speech. According to Oticon, this means you’ll exert far less effort to listen.

A behind-the-ear (BTE) style hearing aid, the Oticon More comes with either a made-to-measure earmold or a standard fit dome. Each has the option of rechargeable or disposable size 312 batteries. With the former, you get a full day’s power from a three-and-a-half-hour charge, depending on your degree of hearing loss and your lifestyle. A 30-minute boost from the portable SmartCharger provides an extra six hours’ wear.

With Bluetooth connectivity, you can stream audio from the TV, most Apple and Android smartphones, and other devices – though Androids need to support Google’s Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) technology to stream directly.

iPhone users benefit from two-way hands-free calling with Oticon More, meaning you can answer calls and have conversations without having your phone in your hand. Android users can hear the caller’s voice directly through Oticon More hearing aids, but you’ll need to speak into the phone for them to hear you.

You can custom-programme Oticon More with settings like MyMusic, which enriches the music experience whether you’re streaming or listening live, and if you have tinnitus there’s a programme that delivers sounds designed to bring relief, such as white noise and waves.

The Oticon ON app enables you to control the hearing aids’ settings, adjust the volume and access features and support.

Overall, the Oticon More 1 is a hearing aid that’s a great option for most people and can be used in most situations. It boasts great sound quality, is user-friendly, and offers impressive technology at a fair price. Our pick for the best allround hearing aid.

Best hearing aid for active lifestyles: Signia Active Pro

Best hearing aids in the UK 2024 (2)
ProsCons
Modern earbud design Connectivity with Android devices requires an intermediary device
Convenience of charging on the moveInstant fit earbuds could be uncomfortable for some

Specifications

  • Cost per pair: Around £2,900
  • Battery: Rechargeable
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Degree of hearing loss: Mild to moderate
  • Telecoil: No

To top this category, we wanted a hearing aid that you can pick up, put in and go; which slots seamlessly into busy lifestyles.

With the Active Pro (and the lower-end Active) model, Signia has combined hearing aid technology with personal sound gadget aesthetics. The result is a hearing aid that doesn’t look like a hearing aid.

The small device houses technology that adapts to different acoustic environments. So if you’re holding a conversation, the Signia Active Pros can suppress background noise – wherever you are – to help you more clearly hear and understand speech.

You can also personalise what and how you hear in different situations by selecting your preferred sound settings with Signia Assistant, a feature of the Signia app.

Using the Active Pros with Apple devices is straightforward: you can stream audio directly via Bluetooth and hold hands-free phone conversations. This feature is also supported on a good number of Android phones, where Android OS 11 or higher is recommended.

A great feature is the pocket-sized wireless charging case that gives up to 26 hours’ runtime from a four-hour charge while you’re on the move (it takes up to five hours to charge the case, which then powers three full charges of the hearing aids).

Although the off-the-shelf earbud style may not suit all ears, it comes with different-sized sleeves to make the fit more comfortable.

The Signia Active Pro has clearly been designed for people with an active lifestyle in mind. It’s small, and can be customised to change the listening experience according to the situation the user is in. Its long battery life (with the charging case) is the icing on the cake.

Best hearing aid for challenging listening environments: Phonak Audéo Lumity Life 90

Best hearing aids in the UK 2024 (3)
ProsCons
Focus on speech in a range of environments Not necessarily much improvement on its cheaper predecessor
Tap control function
Universal connectivity

Specifications

  • Cost per pair: Around £3,500
  • Battery: Rechargeable
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Degree of hearing loss: Mild to profound
  • Telecoil: Optional

We searched for a hearing aid that offers the best sound experience in the noisiest of places, while also making it super easy to switch to a different listening environment.

Phonak’s Audéo Lumity range of hearing aids uses advanced technology to improve how you hear in challenging environments by automatically focusing more strongly on speech as the background noise gets louder.

Built-in sensors identify the direction speech is coming from, giving you greater clarity when someone is talking from behind you or to your side. This means you don’t need to exert as much effort to keep up with conversations, according to Phonak.

Additional features to reduce echo, adjust when you’re in a car, and reduce noise when no speech is present, for example, boost your listening experience.

The Phonak Audéo Lumity Life 90 is a behind-the-ear style hearing aid that can be fitted with a standard dome or custom-made earpiece. You can add telecoil functionality to enhance your hearing experience in loud public places, and the health data tracker – accessible via the myPhonak app – is handy.

These hearing aids are marketed as waterproof, though only to 50cm, and boast universal connectivity so you can stream and use the hands-free feature with both Apple and Android devices.

Overall, it’s the tap control feature that sets Phonak Audéo Lumity hearing aids apart in this category. This clever function allows you to answer and make phone calls, control the audio you stream, and activate your smartphone’s voice assistant app simply by tapping the top of your ear.

Best hearing aid for new users: Starkey Evolv AI 1200

Best hearing aids in the UK 2024 (4)
ProsCons
Available in the full range of hearing aid styles Basic technology (reflected in the cost)
Fall detection feature Only really suitable for quiet lifestyles or use at home
Simple to use

Specifications

  • Cost per pair: Around £1,900
  • Battery: Rechargeable or replaceable
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Degree of hearing loss: Mild to profound
  • Telecoil: In some models

To be selected as our best device for new users, the top hearing aid needed to be straightforward with useful features geared towards improved wellbeing, as well as clearer sound.

Starkey was the first manufacturer to include health tracking in its hearing aids, and the Evolv AI technology builds on that. The engagement and activity tracker identifies time you spend standing as well as exercising, and counts your steps. You can set up reminders for important events and tasks, like when you need to take medication.

With Fall Alert, integrated sensors detect if you fall and automatically send a text alert and your location via GPS to pre-selected contacts in your phone, which is a handy and reassuring addition if you’re unsteady on your feet.

The 1200 is the entry-level model to this range, and its lack of more advanced technology makes it basic but user-friendly. The hearing aids reduce unwanted sound from machines, wind and sudden noise like fireworks, and balance listening comfort when you’re talking to someone in a loud environment.

Unlike most of its competitors, the Starkey Evolv AI 1200 is available in the complete range of hearing aid styles, and with all but the completely-in-canal and invisible styles you can choose from rechargeable or disposable batteries.

If you’re a new hearing aid user, then the Starkey Evolv AI 1200 has all the styles and features you could want, is easy to use, and all for a reasonable price.

Best tech for the money: Bernafon Alpha 7

Best hearing aids in the UK 2024 (5)

Specifications

  • Cost per pair: Around £2,750
  • Battery: Rechargeable and replaceable
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Degree of hearing loss: Mild to profound
  • Telecoil: Yes

For this category, we looked at hearing aids that compete with some of the highest-spec models from the big brands but come in at a more palatable price point.

Bernafon is owned by the same parent company as its better-known sibling, Oticon, and is sometimes perceived as the inferior brand. In reality, Bernafon holds its own in the technology stakes but at a lower price.

With the launch of the Alpha range of hearing aids, Bernafon introduced its trademarked Hybrid technology. Essentially, this makes loud sounds more comfortable and softer sounds more audible, without losing the contrast between the two. The result is improved understanding of the quietest speech in the noisiest environments.

The Dynamic Environment Control System enables your hearing aid to switch seamlessly between different hearing environments without you having to manually select different options on an app or the device itself.

You also get connectivity with Apple and Android smartphones, and a lot of functionality with the EasyControl-A app, including a “find my hearing aids” feature (though this requires linking it to the IFTTT app).

The Alpha 7 isn’t the highest spec in the range – that’s the Alpha 9 – but it ticks most boxes if you want advanced technology. The difference between this and the pricier, top-end Alpha 9 model is barely discernible apart from one or two fewer personalisation options.

And, it comes in the full range of styles, with the behind-the-ear devices including telecoil, and both rechargeable and disposable battery options are available. The Bernafon Alpha 7 is therefore suitable for most levels of hearing loss and lifestyles.

ProsCons
High-spec, lower-cost option May be less widely available than other brands
Available in a range of hearing aid styles
Seamlessly adapts to different environments

Request a free audiologist consultation

What happens after someone has bought their hearing aid and had it fitted?
Emily Woodmansey, Audiologist

Best hearing aids in the UK 2024 (6)

So you have chosen the best hearing aids for you, they sit comfortably in your ears and you are able to enjoy the sounds you were previously missing. But what’s next?

New hearing aids can take a bit of time to settle in with. At first, ambient sounds (your car indicator, light switches, etc) can be a lot more prominent than they were before. This should settle down in the first six to eight weeks. If it doesn’t, your audiologist can look at why and help to make the experience more comfortable.

Hearing aids are intricate electronic devices, so it’s important that they are maintained regularly. Different styles require different attention, but there are often filters or tubes which should be changed every three to six months. Some hearing aids have microphone covers that need to be cleaned or checked regularly too.

If you are prone to wax build-ups, the use of hearing aids means your regular wax removal appointment is even more important than it was before. Afterall, there is no point wearing brilliant hearing aids with a wax blockage getting in the way.

This should all be done in a follow up appointment that would be booked at intervals of three to six months. It’s also beneficial to have an annual hearing test to make sure your hearing hasn’t changed, or so your audiologist can make tweaks to your hearing aids if it has.

Allie Anderson

Health Writer

Allie Anderson is a highly experienced health writer, and has written about a wide variety of health topics for nearly 15 years.

She has worked for the British Lung Foundation and as Editor at Today’s Pharmacist. As a freelancer writer, Allie has written for Grazia, Glamour, and Woman & Home, as well as periodicals such as British Journal of Community Nursing, Journal of Aesthetic Nursing, and Nursing Standard.

Allie is an expert in all aspects of health and healthcare and specialises in areas such as hearing aids, mental health, and social care.

Emily Woodmansey

Audiologist

Emily is a highly experienced audiologist and a founder and director of The Hearing Suite, a private hearing clinic in Yorkshire.

She has worked as an audiologist since 2011, spending three years in the NHS before moving to the private sector with Amplifon – as Audiologist and Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser (RHAD) – and at Phonak as Clinical Lead.

In September 2018, Emily founded her own private audiology practice in Harrowgate, where she employs a number of licensed audiologists and has recently opened a second clinic in Ilkley.

She also holds licenses and certifications as a Relaxation Teacher and a Living Life to the Full Practitioner.

Best hearing aids in the UK 2024 (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 6370

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.