Quick Answer: Audien makes some of the cheapest over-the-counter hearing aids you can buy — small, rechargeable, near-invisible in-canal amplifiers with no app and no Bluetooth. In 2026 the lineup is the budget Audien Atom 2 ($99/pair) and the upgraded Audien Atom Pro 2 ($189–$289/pair) with better sound and noise control. Audien is worth it as a low-risk first try at amplification for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss who want something simple and ultra-cheap. If you want Bluetooth streaming, app self-fitting, or a stronger behind-the-ear fit, the Lexie B2 Powered by Bose or a Jabra Enhance Select is the better buy.
Audien’s whole pitch is price. While most OTC brands sit between $500 and $2,000 a pair, Audien sells rechargeable hearing aids starting around $99 — and it does that by stripping the devices down to the essentials: amplify sound, fit invisibly in the ear, charge in a case, and skip the app, the Bluetooth, and the audiologist. Since the FDA’s 2022 OTC rule made prescription-free hearing aids legal, Audien has become one of the most-searched hearing-aid brands in the U.S. According to the NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders), roughly 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet fewer than one in three adults over 70 who could benefit has ever tried a pair — and Audien aims squarely at the people who’ve put it off because of cost. Here’s how every current Audien model stacks up, and when a rival is the smarter spend.
Audien at a glance — the numbers that matter
- ~$99 per pair is the typical list price for the rechargeable Audien Atom 2, per Audien — among the lowest prices for any true OTC hearing aid, and a fraction of the ~$3,000 average out-of-pocket cost of a prescription pair reported by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
- No app, no Bluetooth: Audien’s Atom 2 and Atom Pro 2 are deliberately app-free amplifiers you adjust on the device — part of why they’re so cheap and so simple to use.
- Rechargeable charging cases mean no disposable zinc-air batteries to fumble with, unlike many cheap legacy devices.
- 2022 is the year the FDA’s OTC hearing aid rule took effect, legalizing the prescription-free, mild-to-moderate model Audien sells.
Are Audien hearing aids worth it?
For the right buyer, Audien is genuinely worth it — and for the wrong buyer, it’s a false economy. The appeal is obvious: at ~$99–$289 a pair, you can test whether amplification helps without risking the cost of a clinic visit, and the devices are small enough to be nearly invisible and simple enough that a less tech-savvy parent can use them out of the box. The trade-offs are just as clear. There’s no app, no Bluetooth streaming, and only basic noise handling, so busy restaurants and crowded rooms remain hard. Audien suits perceived mild-to-moderate loss and a buyer who values price and simplicity over features. If you want streaming, self-fitting, or stronger amplification, spend more on a Lexie, Jabra, or Sony. The sections below break it down model by model.
Audien models compared
| Model | Best for | Power | App / Bluetooth | Price (pair) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audien Atom 2 | Best budget / cheapest try | Rechargeable case | No | ~$99 | ★★★★ |
| Audien Atom Pro 2 | Best overall Audien | Rechargeable case | No | ~$189–$289 | ★★★★½ |
| MDHearing NEO (alt.) | Step-up budget alternative | Rechargeable | No | ~$297 | ★★★★ |
| Sony CRE-C10 (alt.) | Near-invisible premium alt. | Size-10 batteries | No (self-fit app) | ~$999 | ★★★★½ |
| Lexie B2 Bose (alt.) | Streaming + self-fit alt. | Rechargeable | Yes | ~$999 | ★★★★★ |
1. Audien Atom 2 — The Cheapest Way to Try Amplification
Audien Atom 2
- One of the lowest prices for any true OTC hearing aid — about $99 per pair, per Audien.
- Rechargeable charging case; no disposable batteries to buy or fumble.
- Near-invisible in-canal fit — small and discreet in the ear.
- App-free: adjust volume on the device, with no setup or smartphone needed.
The Atom 2 is the model that built Audien’s reputation: a rechargeable, near-invisible amplifier for roughly the price of a nice dinner. It won’t handle noisy restaurants the way a $1,000 device will, and there’s no app or streaming, but for a first-time buyer who simply wants to find out whether a little amplification helps with TV volume and one-on-one conversation, it’s the lowest-risk entry point on the market. Think of it as a trial pair you can afford to be wrong about.
2. Audien Atom Pro 2 — The Best Audien for Most People
Audien Atom Pro 2
- Upgraded sound processing with better feedback and background-noise control than the Atom 2.
- Same near-invisible in-canal shape; rechargeable charging case included.
- Still app-free and simple — no smartphone or fitting session required.
- The Audien to buy if clarity in slightly noisier rooms matters to you.
The Atom Pro 2 is the Audien worth recommending to most people. For around two to three times the price of the Atom 2 — still well under $300 a pair — you get noticeably better sound processing and noise control while keeping the same invisible fit and dead-simple, app-free operation. It’s the model that best answers the question Audien shoppers actually ask: what’s the cheapest hearing aid that still sounds decent? If your budget can stretch past the rock-bottom Atom 2, start here.
The best alternatives to Audien
Audien wins on price, but if you can spend a little — or a lot — more, a rival may serve you better.
- MDHearing NEO (~$297/pair): a step-up budget brand with a long track record; compare it in our cheapest hearing aids guide.
- Sony CRE-C10 (~$999/pair): the premium near-invisible pick with proper self-fitting — see our best invisible hearing aids roundup.
- Lexie B2 Powered by Bose (~$999/pair): the upgrade if you want Bluetooth streaming, app self-fitting, and live support — read our Lexie hearing aids review.
For the wider market, compare our roundups of the best OTC hearing aids, the best cheap hearing aids, and the best hearing aids for seniors.
Before you buy: the OTC ground rules
Audien devices are FDA-regulated OTC hearing aids for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. See a hearing professional first if your loss is severe, came on suddenly, or affects one ear only, or if you have ear pain, drainage, or one-sided/pulsing tinnitus. Because Audien is so cheap, it’s tempting to treat it as a cure-all — it isn’t. It’s basic amplification, and matching it to the right level of loss is what determines whether you’re happy with it.
The bottom line
Audien hearing aids are worth it for a specific buyer: someone with perceived mild-to-moderate loss who wants the cheapest, simplest possible way to try amplification, with no app and no fuss. The Audien Atom 2 is the rock-bottom entry point at ~$99, while the Atom Pro 2 is the one most people should actually buy for its better sound at still well under $300. But if you want Bluetooth streaming, app self-fitting, or stronger amplification, price a Lexie B2 Powered by Bose or Sony CRE-C10 first. Start with our best cheap hearing aids and best OTC hearing aids guides, or browse Audien hearing aids on Amazon.