Audien Hearing Aids Review

Audien legitimacy and licensing

Yes. Audien Hearing is a Scottsdale, Arizona company founded in 2019. It has been BBB accredited since December 2021 and holds an A+ rating, and Trustpilot shows a 4.6 out of 5 score from more than 2,000 reviews. It sells through its own site and through retailers such as Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Costco and CVS.

There are two cautions. First, the BBB lists 521 complaints in three years, and Trustpilot’s negative reviews center on returns, refunds and devices that fail. Second, in May 2021 the Arizona Attorney General settled with Budget Hearing Aids, the company that publishes Audien’s app, over ads that called its devices “FDA approved” or “FDA registered.” The company agreed to remove the FDA logo and those terms. Audien’s own site still compares its devices to $5,000 prescription aids and says customers report tinnitus relief; treat those as marketing claims, not test results.

Are Audien hearing aids FDA approved, or just amplifiers?

Audien’s current models are sold as over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. The FDA’s device registration and listing database shows Audien models, including Atom ONE, Atom Pro 2, Atom Air, Atom X and Ion, listed under the OTC air-conduction hearing aid product codes by manufacturers in Xiamen, China. Older reviews that call Audien a personal sound amplifier (PSAPPSAP. A personal sound amplification product: an electronic amplifier for people with normal hearing, not a medical device and not meant to treat hearing loss. Compare hearing aids companies) describe the brand before the FDA’s OTC rule took effect in 2022.

“FDA approved” is not the right term. The FDA does not approve OTC hearing aids one by one; it sets rules they must meet, and it warns that labels such as “FDA Registered” can be misleading. OTC hearing aids are meant for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

Audien prices and models

As listed in October 2026, every price is for a pair:

• Atom ONE, $98: the basic in-ear model.
• Atom Air, $149: a lighter in-ear model with up to 24 hours of battery life and no app.
• Atom Pro 2, $289: in-ear with 4 hearing modes and a UV cleaning case.
• Atom X (2nd Gen), $389: a small in-ear model with touchscreen controls on the charging case.
• Ion Air, $489: behind-the-ear.
• Ion Pro 2, $689: behind-the-ear with Bluetooth, a smartphone app and 6 personalized hearing profiles.

Audien also sells open-box and refurbished units, a trade-in credit program and AudienCare, a $9 a month protection plan that renews until you cancel. Insurance does not cover Audien, but FSA and HSA cards are accepted.

Audien return policy and warranty

Audien offers a 45-day risk-free trial from the day your order arrives, but the process has rules that trip people up:

• You must contact Audien by phone, text or email and complete a phone call or video appointment with a hearing specialist before a return is approved.
• After approval Audien emails a USPS label, and the package must be in transit by day 45. The policy says return shipping fees are the customer’s responsibility.
• Return everything in the original packaging, undamaged. Wax, water or physical damage voids the refund.
• Inspection takes 3 to 5 business days, and missing order numbers can delay refunds up to 21 business days.
• Units bought at Costco, Walmart or another store must go back to that store.

The warranty is 1 year against defects in materials and workmanship. It does not cover physical damage, water, wax buildup or unauthorized changes.

Audien complaints and how to avoid problems

The most common complaints on the BBB and Trustpilot are about the return process, slow refunds, charging cases or earpieces that stop working, whistling and fit. To protect yourself:

• Note your delivery date and start any return by about day 30, so the required consultation does not push you past day 45.
• Keep the box, all accessories and your order number.
• Pay by credit card, which gives you dispute rights if a promised refund never arrives.
• Change wax guards and domes on schedule, since wax damage is excluded from the warranty.
• If a problem is not resolved, file a complaint with the BBB or the Arizona Attorney General’s consumer protection office.

When to see a doctor instead

The FDA says to see a doctor before using an OTC hearing aidOTC hearing aid. An FDA-regulated hearing aid adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy without an exam, prescription or professional fitting. Compare hearing aids companies if your hearing changed suddenly in the past 6 months, you hear worse in one ear, you hear ringing in only one ear, you had blood, pus or fluid from the ear in the past 6 months, or your ear has an unusual shape. Ear pain, a feeling of wax blockage, dizziness or hearing that comes and goes are also reasons to get checked. These can signal conditions a hearing aid will not fix.

If you have tried OTC aids and still struggle in conversations, an audiologist can test you and recommend prescription devices.

Who should skip Audien

Audien is built for price, not personalization. If your loss is severe, you need help hearing in noisy restaurants, or you want someone to adjust the sound to your hearing test, a remote-care brand such as Jabra Enhance or a prescription brand fitted by an audiologist will serve you better. People who want a long warranty should also look elsewhere, since Audien covers defects for 1 year.