Best hearing aid providers

If you're looking to buy the best hearing aids it's the fit and aftercare matters most for a good experience, so it's the provider you go to that you should choose carefully. 

We surveyed 2,192 hearing aid users about their experiences at different hearing aid providers to find the best, from the range of products offered to the quality of aftercare and value for money.

We also asked how much they paid to see how hearing aid providers compare on costs, and which were the best-rated hearing aid brands.

Our guide will help you find the best place to buy your hearing aids, and give you a steer on what to pay and which hearing aids are best.

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Video: How to buy the best hearing aid

Hearing aid providers rated

Our 2022 survey reveals how customers rated providers including Amplifon, Boots Hearing Care, Hidden Hearing and Specsavers Audiology, as well as independent retailers.

We asked about eight key areas of care, including the suitability and comfort of products offered, value for money, aftercare and facilities and gathered insights on the typical price of hearing aids at each retailer.

The best high street providers got an overall customer score of 85% and received top ratings for the thoroughness of their testing and the testing environment, staffing, product range and aftercare. 

Logged-in Which? members can see how each provider was rated in our survey. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to this and our guide to hearing aid prices.

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Best hearing aid brands

We asked hearing aid users to rate their brand of hearing aid on battery life, ease of charging the battery, and ease of cleaning and durability.

Logged-in Which? members can see how each brand was rated in our survey. 

If you're not already a member, join Which? to get instant access to this and thousands of other reviews.

Who sells which hearing aid brands?

Most big retailers only stock specific brands, often that they are tied into, so you won't get the full range of choices. 

As one Boots customer remarked: 'They seemed to be pushing one brand more than any other.' 

Here's who sells what brands:

• Amplifon sells Phonak, ReSound and Widex, as well as its own brand.
• Boots sells Phonak and Starkey, as well as AudioNova and Cosegi.
• Hidden Hearing sells Bernafon, Oticon and Starkey.
• Scrivens sells Bernafon, Oticon, Phonak and Starkey.
• Specsavers sells Phonak and Signia, as well as its own-brand Specsavers Advance range.

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How much do hearing aids cost?

Although it's now possible to buy a hearing aid for as little as £500, most people who buy privately pay significantly more. The average amount spent on a pair, according to our survey, was £2,685. 

Going cheap may not pay off, though, as customers who used the provider with the lowest average price (£1,993) were more likely to report problems with their hearing aids.

Find out what price you should expect to pay by brand and range in our full guide to hearing aid prices.

Why does it matter where I buy my hearing aid from?

It's crucial to choose a trusted retailer to maximise your chances of getting the right hearing aids for you. The difference between a good and a bad option isn't usually the aid itself, it's the fit and service given by the provider that matter more.

It can take time to fit and adjust an aid correctly so that it's working to maximise your hearing and doesn't cause you to get frustrated and give up.

Your audiologist can also advise on what high-end features you really need.

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Hearing aid buying pressure

Some 24% of private hearing aid customers in our survey felt under some pressure to buy from their retailer: 10% bought hearing aids that they now believe weren't necessary and 15% felt pressured to take out the retailer's insurance.

This varied considerably between providers. For example, 41% of one retailer's customers felt under some pressure to buy, whereas just 16% did from another.

Although we have seen even greater reports of pressure selling in some other markets such as stairlifts, it's worth checking which hearing-aid retailers are better or worse in this regard before you head to the shops.

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