Costco Hearing Aids

Founded in 1976 under the name Price Club, Costco is known for its careful selection of quality products while also keeping costs down for its members.

In addition to food, drink, and household electronics, Costco has branched out with great success in several other areas, including travel, rental cars, pharmaceuticals, and hearing aids. As of 2019, Costco was the largest private provider of hearing aids in the United States, capturing 11% of the U.S. market. In part, this is due to low Costco hearing aid prices, especially for the company’s Kirkland Signature hearing aids.

Costco’s most significant selling feature is the price. While most hearing aids cost an average of $2,000 per ear, Kirkland hearing aids cost as little as $1499 for a pair and come with free warranties and loss/damage coverage, as well as a free Costco hearing test, free hearing aid cleanings, follow-up appointments, and checkups.

Costco also carries a selection of hearing aids other than Kirkland hearing aids. In most cases, these hearing aids are less expensive than average. The necessary trade-off is that you get a functional hearing aid without higher-end options and features. 

As we’ve noted, the biggest advantage of Costco hearing aids is price. If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive, bare-bones hearing aid, Costco may be the solution you need. If you’re looking for more advanced hearing aids, you may want to look elsewhere.

None of the three hearing aids discussed above have tinnitus features, and only one – the Philips HearLink – offers the convenience of rechargeable batteries. Kirkland hearing aids lack telecoils, a feature in many other hearing aids that allows users to listen to audio broadcasts in airports, auditoriums, and other public places. 

Convenience is a large part of the Costco hearing aid experience; you can get a free Costco hearing test, try out hearing aids, and then go shopping. While Costco does hire some audiologists, most staff members conducting hearing tests are hearing aid specialists.

Even if you choose to purchase your hearing aids through Costco, it’s recommended you speak to a licensed hearing care professional for your hearing test. They can provide the best possible evaluation of your hearting and help you choose the best hearing aid for you and your lifestyle.

Costco hearing aids are widely praised across the world for their quality. Rather than just store-bought brands, Costco offers several brands of hearing aids, each with its own pros and cons.

The five major hearing aid brands sold at Costco include:

• Kirkland Signature
• Philips
• ReSound
• Phonak
• Rexton

Kirkland Signature is Costco’s very own private label brand. If you’re wondering who makes Costco hearing aids, the answer is the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturer Sonova. This brand is also responsible for manufacturing Phonak hearing aids.

So, what’s great about Kirkland Signature?

These are some of the best Costco hearing aids because they come with Bluetooth streaming technology. The latest version can be paired with two devices, so it’s much easier to adjust, which is especially important if you have dexterity issues.

They’re also compatible with PartnerMic and EasyLine RemoteControl, which means they can be serviced remotely.

The only downside is they do require disposable batteries.

Costco hearing aid reviews say good things about Philips. After entering the market in 2019, Philips has worked with Costco as its distribution partner.

Its HearLink hearing aids are manufactured by Demant and include the SoundMap processing technology. SoundMap enables you to understand speech in the noisiest of environments.

Available in both behind-the-ear and in-canal styles, these Costco hearing aids come with feedback cancellation technology, multidirectional microphones, and advanced noise reduction.

Philips’ HearLink app also enables you to turn your hearing aids off and find lost hearing aids using the “Find My Hearing Aids” functionality.

Costco ReSound hearing aids are available in both the Vida and Preza models. The Preza model rechargeable hearing aid comes with a special portable charging case, whereas the Vida model requires disposable batteries.

Despite their differences, both these hearing aids come with Bluetooth connectivity and advanced sound processing technology.

Several accessories are available to buy with Costco ReSound hearing aids, including a remote control for easy adjustment.

Phonak hearing aids are manufactured by the same company responsible for Costco’s private-label hearing aids, Kirkland Signature. As a result, it should come as no surprise that these are some of the best hearing aids at Costco.

The Phonak Brio is a more affordable hearing aid model and shares the same advanced sound processing capabilities as the prestige Marvel brand.

As well as Bluetooth streaming, it's fully compatible with PartnerMic and even comes with a TV connector.

Phonak hearing aids can be controlled via an app, so you’re free to make precise adjustments. Costco’s hearing centers can also service your Phonak hearing aids remotely.

Unfortunately, Phonak doesn’t have a rechargeable option, so disposable batteries are your only choice.

Any review on Costco hearing aids will mention the highly advanced Rexton selection of hearing aids.

Choose from four different models, including the iX, Custom, LI, and Styline. Each model comes with its own style and features.

What all Rexton hearing aids have in common is they use the My Voice technology, which processes the voice of the wearer differently. This helps wearers to get a more natural hearing experience.

Rexton hearing aids also come with a special Smart Key accessory. If you don’t want to adjust your hearing aids from your phone, you can discreetly use the tactile buttons of the Smart Key to change settings without anyone ever knowing.

The Smart Key easily fits into any pocket or purse for easy access at any time.

At EarPros, we know that everyone wants a different style to suit them. Are Costco hearing aids good for this?

Thankfully, yes. There’s a reason why Costco hearing aids have become so popular in both the U.S. and the U.K.  Here’s a brief rundown of the different styles available with Costco:

• Behind the Ear – Worn behind the ear and attached to an ear mold customized to the size and shape of your ear.
• Completely in the Canal – Best for discretion. Fits entirely inside the ear canal.
• In the Ear – Fits inside the ear. Fills the majority of the outer ear.
• Receiver in Canal - Similar to Behind the Ear hearing aids, receiver in canal is has a shell that fits behind the ear, making it more discreet for the user. 

Most Costco hearing aid reviews are inconclusive when it comes to the average battery life of each hearing aid.

The truth is battery life varies depending on the person. Every individual has what’s known as a hearing loss “fingerprint.” This is unique to the individual, so it’s impossible to predict how long your batteries will last.

Some say that their batteries lasted for three months, whereas others have said as little as ten days.

The only option is to test out the lifespan of your batteries. If batteries don’t appeal to you, choose from Costco’s rechargeable hearing aid options.

Hearing aid technology has changed significantly in recent years. As a result, the average hearing aid is more advanced than ever before.

The reason why hearing aid prices at Costco differ so significantly is the accessories. With so many accessories to choose from, there’s a hearing aids solution for every budget.

Every manufacturer will have its own accessories, but they can be broken down into four main categories.

Control the volume of your hearing aid using remote controls. From tiny pocket devices to smartphone apps, they allow you to make further, minute calibrations to your hearing aid to enhance the hearing experience.

With remote controls, you can:

• Switch your hearing aid on/off.
• Answer the phone.
• Change TV volume levels.
• Listen to your tablet.

Remote control accessories are ideal for avoiding any tiresome and awkward adjustments of your hearing aids when you’re on the move.

TV unit accessories sit close to your television and filter the sounds from the TV directly into your hearing aid. The transmitter operates to allow you to independently change the volume of your TV.

Connect your hearing aid directly to your cellphone. This small accessory lets you make and receive calls without headphones. Just place the device close to your cellphone, and the microphone will transmit the speaker’s voice directly into your hearing aid.

These accessories provide crystal clear sound quality and eliminate delays, echoes, and feedback.

Clip-on microphones optimize the hearing experience and allow you to overcome noisy environments. Your family and friends can clip this discrete microphone to their clothing, thus enabling you to have clear conversations wherever you happen to be.

Whenever you purchase a hearing aid from Costco, you gain access to the Costco Hearing Aid Center. With a strong and growing network of U.S. centers, Costco offers one of the best packages for hearing aid users.

Here are just some of the benefits of becoming a member:

• Receive free product demonstrations.
• Get free hearing tests.
• Remote and in-person hearing aid servicing.
• Free warranty period
• No-deductible loss and damage coverage for free.
• Free follow-up appointments.

At EarPros, we highly recommend taking advantage of the free services offered by the Costco Hearing Aid Center. The majority of these perks are available completely free of charge and ensure your hearing aids remain in peak condition.