Wellness Health Reviews Lively Hearing Aids Review 2022 Find out why Lively is our top pick for hearing aids. By Courtney Schmidt, PharmD Courtney Schmidt, PharmD Website Dr. Courtney Schmidt is a clinical consultant pharmacist and geriatric care expert. Since completing her Pharm.D. at the University of Florida, Dr. Schmidt has worked in multiple clinical settings and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida. health's editorial guidelines Updated on November 5, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Seeking treatment for hearing loss may feel daunting. The National Institutes of Health estimates 28.8 million people in the United States could benefit from hearing aids, yet of those, fewer than one in three who could benefit from hearing aids have used them. Why do so many who need hearing aids go without? They're expensive and they're not easy to access, according to the American Academy of Audiology. While over-the-counter hearing aids may fill this gap in the future, they aren't available yet. Direct-to-consumer companies that sell hearing aids online, however, are changing the way we buy these devices, making them cheaper and easier to access. To help you find the best hearing aid for your needs, Health editors researched dozens of brands for sale online, as well as traditional brands sold in hearing centers. We chose Lively as our top pick for online hearing aids because it offers buyers the best of both worlds: high-quality technology and world-class service. We'll tell you more about what the company offers, the pros and cons of the products and service, and how to determine whether Lively is the right choice to treat your hearing loss. Key takeaways Health editors' top choice for online hearing aidsFree online hearing testNo need for in-person consultationsVirtual, on-demand hearing care from audiologists for three yearsSuitable for mild to moderately severe hearing loss Why trust our expert review? Our experts independently research and recommend products we believe provide value in the lives of our readers. We've spent collectively more than 5,000 hours conducting in-depth research on hearing aids. To make our pick, here's what we did: Engaged in ongoing independent researchConsulted with independent audiologistsConsulted with geriatric care expertsMystery shopped the brandsSurveyed hundreds of hearing aid usersTested various models of hearing aidsInterviewed experts in the fieldRead thousands of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports Why Lively is our top pick Lively earns our editors' pick due to the company's combination of quality, prescription-strength products and a commitment to ongoing customer service. Hearing health professionals will often tell you that the benefit you get from your hearing aid isn't simply due to the device itself, but it often comes down to the way the device is programmed. Lively's business model is centered on the customer's need to have direct and ongoing access to an audiologist to ensure each customer gets the help they need. You get personalized, professional expertise without the hassle of in-person visits to an office or hearing center for the fraction of a cost of traditional hearing aids. We read hundreds of Lively customer reviews and the consensus is clear: Lively's customer service is exemplary. Due to its positive customer reviews, low prices, and commitment to ongoing support, we feel confident recommending Lively to you as the best hearing aid on the market. Pros: Lively offers powerful, nearly invisible behind-the-ear hearing aids.A pair costs roughly half the price of hearing aids from traditional hearing centers.Lively offers a 100-day money-back guarantee.Lively offers a free online hearing test.Customers get virtual, on-demand hearing care from audiologists for three years.Buyers report an excellent customer service experience.No in-person consultations are needed.Lively hearing aids are ideal for many with mild to moderately severe hearing loss, especially age-related sensorineural hearing loss.Lively offers a three-year manufacturer warranty.Lively offers a three-year loss and damage protection. Cons: Buying hearing aids online may not be the best option for profound hearing loss.Online hearing tests may not offer as much information as an in-person test by an audiologist.Buyer's choices are limited to two models; both are behind-the-ear devices. Lively hearing aid models Lively offers two behind-the-ear models to choose from in a variety of colors. Lively 2 Lite VISIT SITE A pair of professionally programmed battery-powered hearing aidsThree years of hearing care from an audiologistLively mobile app to control hearing aid settings at any timeOne-year supply of batteriesThree-year manufacturer's warrantyThree-year loss and damage protectionPrice: $1,195 per pair Lively 2 Plus VISIT SITE A pair of professionally programmed, rechargeable hearing aidsThree years of hearing care from an audiologistLively mobile app to control hearing aid settings at any timeCharging caseThree-year manufacturer's warrantyThree-year loss and damage protectionA rechargeable hearing aid means you never have to change the battery. You'll get 30 hours of sound per charge, and the portable charging case gives you three extra charges.Price: $1,595 per pair How much do Lively hearing aids cost? The Lively 2 Lite costs $1,195 for the pair. The Lively 2 Plus costs $1,595 for the pair. Lively offers financing options that allow you to pay as little as $39 per month for the Lively 2 Lite or $52 per month for the Lively 2 Plus for six to 36 months if you qualify. Does insurance cover my hearing aids? Unfortunately, most insurance plans do not cover hearing aids, but some companies will cover a portion of the cost. Check with your plan for details. While Original Medicare does not provide coverage for hearing aids, some Medicare Advantage plans may offer this benefit. Lively hearing aid reviews Paul, verified buyer from Lively's website "Very professional, great service, and most importantly, great hearing aids at very reasonable prices. I would recommend Lively hearing aids to anyone considering new or replacement hearing aids. Great value." —Paul, verified buyer from Lively's website Karl, customer review from retirementliving.com "I tried a pair of Lively battery powered hearing aids for close to 100 days. I wanted to give myself a good amount of time to get used to them and have them tuned in to my hearing issues. Overall, the quality seems real good, size is very good, but unfortunately I could never have them tuned in where they really helped my hearing loss. The online help was great, but I ended up sending them back after I had a hearing test done locally which showed I have some major issues with my right ear. The return process was painless and I was give 100% of my money back. If your issues is moderate hearing loss I think they would work well for you. The only negative would be you don't have one on one consultation & hearing test. I give them 5 stars for the online help and overall service. My ears I can only give 3 stars, they are the issue." —Karl, customer review from retirementliving.com Jesse, verified buyer from Lively's website "I love these hearing aids. They fit well and are comfortable. The staff and audiologist are helpful and prompt and worked with me to get the hearing just right. With all visits virtual and adjustments made through the app it was all done at home. This is my 4th set of hearing aids and by far the best I've had. The product and service are great. This is the perfect way to do hearing aids in a pandemic. Wonderful experience." —Jesse, verified buyer from Lively's website About Lively hearing aids Lively's focus is to simplify a confusing buying experience and make it easy for people with hearing loss to get the care they need for less. While traditional hearing aid retailers require an in-person consultation with an audiologist, Lively conducts appointments virtually. You get the expertise of a qualified hearing professional in the convenience of your own home for less than the cost of an in-person consultation. The company passes these savings on to the buyer, making Lively hearing aids approximately half the price you would pay elsewhere for the same technology. Quality devices What sets Lively apart from other online retailers is the quality of device the company offers. The company offers two models—the 2 Lite and 2 Plus—of behind-the-ear hearing aids. The device sits behind your ear, and a tiny wire, which hooks over the top of your ear, has a small receiver on the end that fits easily inside your ear canal. Lively hearing aids are made by ReSound, one of the "big six" hearing aid manufacturers. These six manufacturers (Phonak, Oticon, Sivantos, Widex, and Starkey are the other five) are well-known, reputable manufacturers that produce nearly all of the prescription-strength hearing aids commercially available. Simply put, Lively uses some of the same devices you would find in an audiologist's office. FDA-Approved hearing aids Lively hearing aids are FDA approved, not FDA registered like many online hearing aids. While FDA registration is required to sell a medical device in the United States, registration doesn't mean the FDA has determined the device to be safe and effective. However, FDA-approved devices have been deemed safe and effective for consumer use. Customer support A key component making Lively a best choice for hearing aids is the customer support. When making a purchase, you'll have ongoing access to trained customer support professionals seven days a week. You'll also have on-demand access to an audiologist for virtual consultations and adjustments as often as you need it for three years. What's more, Lively has a free app where users have the ability to adjust hearing aid settings at any time. Key features of Lively hearing aids Battery-powered or rechargeable models Bluetooth connectivity Directional microphones Hearing aid settings adjustable via free mobile app Advanced noise-canceling and feedback reduction technology for clearer sound Direct stereo streaming for all Apple devices and select Android devices Variety of colors available to match hair color and improve invisibility Custom programmable tinnitus therapy sounds Online hearing test Lively gives you the option to take a free online hearing test, which you can complete any time at home, or submit a hearing test performed by your doctor. Lively's online hearing test takes five minutes to complete. After the test, an audiologist will review your results to determine whether you're a good candidate for the service. You also have the opportunity to ask questions or receive further consultation if you desire. While most audiologists agree that an online hearing test does not offer all of the same information as those conducted in person by an audiologist, Lively audiologists use both the online hearing test and ongoing consultation and adjustments to achieve excellent outcomes. Is it really a good idea to buy hearing aids online? Keep in mind—buying a hearing aid online isn't right for everyone. Those with severe or profound hearing loss or other medical issues affecting their hearing may be better served by a traditional audiologist consultation. However, if you're one of the millions of people with mild to moderately severe hearing loss, especially age-related sensorineural hearing loss, you could be successful buying a hearing aid online, and Lively offers the ideal combination of products and service to meet your needs. Bottom line Lively incorporates the most important aspects of the hearing aid purchase (quality hearing aids, a focus on customer support, and the commitment to ongoing care from an audiologist) and makes it affordable, accessible, and convenient. With Lively, buyers are getting the best value on the market for a high-tech hearing aid. How we chose Lively We chose Lively as our top pick based on the following criteria: PriceAudiologist careWarrantyCustomer satisfactionCustomer serviceFeatures such as Bluetooth capability and rechargeable batteriesComfort and fitReliability Frequently asked questions Are Lively hearing aids any good? Yes, Lively hearing aids are Health editors' top choice for online hearing aids. The brand offers buyers the best of both worlds: high-quality technology and world-class service. How much do Lively hearing aids cost? Lively hearing aids cost roughly half the price of hearing aids from traditional in-person hearing centers. The Lively 2 Lite costs $1,195 per pair, and the Lively 2 Plus costs $1,595 per pair. Lively does offer financing options for those who qualify. Are Lively hearing aids covered by insurance? Unfortunately, probably not. Most insurance plans do not cover hearing aids, but some companies will cover a portion of the costs. Be sure to check with your plan for coverage details and any benefits that may help defray some of the cost. Dr. Courtney Schmidt is a clinical consultant pharmacist and geriatric care expert. Since completing her Pharm.D. at the University of Florida., Dr. Schmidt has worked in multiple clinical settings and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit