Retirement Living takes an unbiased approach to our reviews. We may earn money when you click a partner link. Learn More
ZipHearing Review
4.8 Overall Rating
Ease of Purchase
Warranty
Price
Customer Service
Bottom Line
ZipHearing offers discount hearing aids and local hearing care. Seasoned hearing aid buyers seem to be easy converts to the company’s online-plus-local approach. And if you are new to hearing aids, you’ll appreciate the ZipHearing website, with questions and answers and tools to help you become a smarter hearing aid shopper.
Updated:
About ZipHearing
ZipHearing is an online hearing aid marketplace that connects you with local hearing care providers across the United States. It offers heavily discounted hearing aids compared to retail prices, along with local hearing care. Seasoned hearing aid buyers seem to be easy converts to the company’s online-plus-local approach. And if you are new to hearing aids, you’ll appreciate the ZipHearing website, with questions and answers and tools to help you become a smarter hearing aid shopper.
When you buy a hearing aid, you can go about it two different ways. You can go directly to a hearing aid company, shop at a location and purchase hearing aids directly, or you can shop online through a third-party network that may offer a more extensive selection of hearing aids as well as potential discounts. Founded in 2012, the San Diego-based ZipHearing combines a shopping site able to offer steep discounts in price with an extensive network of more than 600 local hearing specialists and providers across the U.S. who can help you with style, fit and functionality.
If buying a hearing aid online sounds difficult, it can be. The ZipHearing purchasing process works a little differently, starting with a toll-free call. A company specialist then connects you to a local auditory service provider, and if you contact that provider to schedule a consultation, you might qualify for discounted pricing and specials. Based on the positive reviews the company gets from customers, the discounts can be substantial and the service provider network quality is top-notch.
ZipHearing bills itself as a place where hearing specialists and internet pros merge. Not only is their site well-designed, but it’s also an informative, comprehensive resource to help anyone new to hearing aids. Once you know what you’re looking for, the ZipHearing website serves as a handy place to compare popular hearing aid models and prices.
As explained in our hearing aid buyer’s guide, the average cost of a set of hearing aids ranges from $100 to $8,000 or more. ZipHearing makes pricing available online, allowing you to compare hearing aids to find what fits your budget. That makes ZipHearing a brand to consider before you buy your first, or your next, hearing aid.
Pros
- Discount prices
- Informative website
- Lifetime customer service
- An extensive network of respected auditory specialists
- Personalized fitting and service
- 45-day free trial
Cons
- Local providers may be sparse in some regions
How ZipHearing Works
ZipHearing is a service that connects you to local hearing care providers through its nationwide network of audiologists and hearing specialists. The company’s website includes educational resources that clearly explain hearing loss, hearing aid styles, and features like Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable batteries, tinnitus support, telecoil technology, and app controls.
You can browse hearing aid brands and pricing on the ZipHearing website. If you need help with device selection, adjustments, ongoing support, fine-tuning, and a free hearing test, start the easy three-step ZipHearing process:
- Call ZipHearing to get matched with a local, in-person provider.
- Contact the local provider to compare hearing aid options for your hearing profile and place your order.
- Pick up and get fitted for your new hearing aids.
All providers in the ZipHearing network are trained, licensed local audiologists or hearing aid specialists. These are the experts who test your hearing and make the diagnosis, help with the hearing aid’s fit and functionality, and provide check-ups and repairs when needed. The relationship with this local specialist is vital because hearing aids always need regular maintenance and care. Follow-up care and support are provided through ZipHearing’s network of local hearing specialists during the 45-day trial period and after purchase.
What’s Included in ZipHearing Service
ZipHearing combines online hearing aid shopping with local professional care through its nationwide provider network. Working with ZipHearing, you get:
- Personal hearing aid fitting and adjustments: A local, licensed specialist in the ZipHearing network conducts a hearing test, helps you adjust your new hearing aid, and gets the fit right.
- Full manufacturer warranty: All product manufacturers that work with ZipHearing offer a comprehensive 3-year warranty.
- 45-day trial period: After your hearing aid fitting, you can try them out for 45 days with free appointments with your local specialist. Within this period, you can return the hearing aids for a full refund.
- Follow-up care: After your evaluation period, you get a full year of follow-up appointments with your local provider. After that, visits are at most $65, depending on the length of the visit.
- Supplies: ZipHearing will deliver a one-year supply of hearing aid batteries if your hearing aids require them. You’ll also get an initial supply of cleaning and maintenance supplies..
ZipHearing Hearing Aids
Whether you need hearing aids for noisy environments, receiver-in-canal style, strong amplification, or higher technology levels, ZipHearing works. The company focuses more on prescription hearing aids than over-the-counter options, matching customers with local providers and offering steep discounts. It carries some of the best hearing aid brands, including Widex, Phonak, Unitron, Starkey, Resound, Signia, and Oticon. These brand names are built by the biggest name-brand manufacturers in the hearing aid industry, with the best resources dedicated to research and innovation and most likely to distribute their hearing aids nationwide. They are also the companies that are most likely to be recommended by patients and physicians.
ZipHearing pays attention to what consumers are saying about hearing aids and the manufacturers that make them, and those real-world reviews impact the devices the company offers. Among manufacturers with multiple devices on the market, ZipHearing claims to offer the newest models and latest technology.
The ZipHearing website has a lot to offer hearing aid shoppers, particularly new ones. The site allows you to browse different product types, get a sense of the available features and functionality without a heavy sales pitch.
ZipHearing Costs
The biggest draw for ZipHearing is the hearing aid costs. The company offers an array of products at different price points, ranging between $1,000 and $5,000. They advertise at up to 50% off retail prices. Do note that prices are not listed online for all brands – some require a phone call to get a quote.
To get a sense of the discounts offered by ZipHearing, we compiled a sample of hearing aid brands and current styles to compare prices. The warranties on these models are all three years.
| Brand | Current Product/Family | ZipHearing Price |
|---|---|---|
| Signia | Pure Charge & Go IX | $2,300–$3,500 |
| Resound | Vivia | $2,700–$3,800 |
| Signia | Pure | $25,00–$4,400 |
ZipHearing Complaints
ZipHearing carries an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Online hearing aid reviews report few to no problems, and most ZipHearing customers say they saved $1,000 or more. Both longtime hearing aid users and first-timers seeking the right hearing aid fit talk about the ease of ZipHearing’s process, the excellent customer service, top-notch local audiologists, and, as mentioned, the tremendous value.
ZipHearing FAQs
Yes. ZipHearing is a legitimate hearing aid marketplace. It works by connecting customers with licensed local hearing care providers. The company works with major hearing aid brands and includes professional fitting and follow-up care through its provider network.
No, ZipHearing ships the hearing aids to the local service provider, who can help you with fit and adjustments. A retailer that ships hearing aids directly to consumers is most likely not an authorized retailer.
There is no charge for the first consultation visit at a provider’s office. However, ZipHearing’s price does not include hearing tests. Many providers will do the test for free, but others may charge $25 to $99. It makes sense to ask the provider up front whether there will be a charge. Also, check with your health insurance, which may cover all or part of the cost of a hearing test.
While most health insurers offer little to no coverage for hearing aids, some health plans and Medicare Advantage plans may reimburse you directly for the cost you pay to a hearing aid provider. If your insurer offers reimbursement for hearing aid costs, ZipHearing will file a claim on your behalf. Even if your insurance plan covers a portion of the cost of hearing aids, it makes sense to compare your out-of-pocket costs.
The company accepts CareCredit financing to help make hearing aids more affordable. Your terms will be based on credit approval and current promotions. You can also pay using major credit cards.
Probably not. According to ZipHearing, the majority of hearing aid wearers don’t need a custom ear mold, and so it is not listed in the service price. However, if you do need them, your local provider will help you determine the best fit and explain to you any additional costs.
Conclusion
If cost is a top concern, ZipHearing offers discounted options to fit any budget. If you are worried about getting the right fit, ZipHearing offers 45 days of free visits to a specialist to get it right, plus a few follow-up visits if you need adjustments over time. Even if you decide against using ZipHearing, the company’s website is a great place for first-time buyers to get a sense of what’s available without having the pressure of a sales pitch. That makes ZipHearing a highly recommended company, especially for new hearing aid buyers.