Category: Health & Wellness

Audien Hearing Aids Review (2026): Are These Cheap OTC Hearing Aids Legit?

How we reviewed this: this is a research-based review. We did not buy or test the product ourselves. We checked the official website, policies and independent customer feedback, and every fact below links to its source. Facts checked 2026-10-30. How we review · Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict

Audien is a legit company selling real over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids at very low prices. It has been in business since 2019, holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, scores about 4.5 on Trustpilot from 2,000+ reviews, and its models appear in the FDA’s OTC hearing aid listings. For someone with mild hearing loss who cannot afford $2,000+ hearing aids, that matters.

The honest catch is sound quality. In independent lab testing by HearAdvisor, the popular Atom Pro 2 scored a C and landed in the bottom 10% of OTC devices, and the pricier Atom X scored a B but still ranked 54th of 65. These are preset, entry-level aids with no hearing test or app tuning. If you buy, the Atom X is the better-tested choice, and use the 45-day trial seriously.

Pros

✓ Low prices: $98 to $689 per pair, versus thousands for prescription aids
✓ BBB A+ and accredited since 2021; Trustpilot about 4.5 from 2,000+ reviews
✓ Models are listed with the FDA as over-the-counter hearing aids
✓ Rechargeable with a charging case; no doctor visit needed
✓ 45-day trial with a refund to your original payment method

Cons

✗ Independent lab tests rate sound quality low (Atom Pro 2: C, bottom 10%)
✗ Preset settings only, no hearing test or custom fitting on most models
✗ Returns need a phone or video call first, and you pay return shipping
✗ 515 BBB complaints in 3 years, mostly product problems and repairs
✗ Past Arizona settlement over “FDA approved” advertising (2021)

Check the Atom X offer →
Affiliate link. Prices and offers change, so check the official page.

What are Audien hearing aids?

Audien Hearing (legal name Budget Hearing Aids LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona) sells small, rechargeable hearing aids directly online, with no audiologist visit. They are made by contract manufacturers in China, which is common for low-cost hearing aids. Like all OTC hearing aids, they are meant for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, not severe or profound loss.

Audien Atom X over-the-counter hearing aids with touchscreen charging case (official product image) — The Audien Atom X and its touchscreen charging case (official product image).

Most Audien models are preset: they come with built-in sound settings rather than being tuned to your own hearing test. That keeps prices low but means they cannot match your hearing loss the way a self-fitting or prescription aid can.

Audien models and prices

Model	Regular price (pair)	Sale price seen 2026-10-30
Atom ONE	$98	$78.40
Atom Air	$149	$119.20
Atom 2	$189	$149
Atom Pro 2	$289	$231.20
Atom X (touchscreen case)	$389	$311.20
Atom X Connect	$489	$391.20
ION Air	$489	none
ION Pro 2	$689	$589
ION IQ	$689	none

The partner offer pages we link list the Atom X at $389 and an Atom Pro at $249.99. Audien’s own site was running a Halloween sale when we checked, so compare both prices before you order. Optional extras include the AudienCare protection plan ($9 a month or $99 a year), a $100 hearing specialist consult, and shipping protection.

How good is the sound? What independent tests say

Atom Pro 2: HearAdvisor SoundScore 2.5 out of 5, a “C” grade, in the bottom 10% of OTC devices. Speech in noise scored very low; the reviewer described the sound as “mechanical” and the noise reduction as “subtle at best.”
Atom X: SoundScore 3.3 out of 5, a “B” grade, ranked 54 of 65 OTC devices tested (category average 3.68).
Atom 2: HearAdvisor’s 2024 testing put it in the bottom 10% and said it overamplified loud sounds.
Other models: we found no independent lab tests for Atom ONE, Atom Air or the ION line.

In short, Audien aids can make quiet conversation louder, but they struggle in noisy places like restaurants. If that is where you need help most, look at the better-tested alternatives below.

The 45-day trial and return fine print

Window: 45 days from delivery, and your return must be in transit by day 45.
Approval first: “All return requests within the 45-day trial period require either a phone call with our support team or a video appointment with one of our hearing specialists.” Unauthorized returns are sent back.
Return shipping: you pay it.
Condition: original packaging, all accessories, undamaged. No refund for damage from water, wax buildup or drops.
Store purchases: go back to the store you bought from.
Warranty: 1 year; replacements may be refurbished units.

Start your trial the day the aids arrive, wear them in the places you struggle most, and book the return call early if they are not helping.

Is Audien legit? The FDA question

Yes, Audien is a real, established seller. Its model names appear in the FDA’s device listings as over-the-counter hearing aids, registered by its Chinese manufacturers. Preset OTC hearing aids like these do not go through an FDA 510(k) review, so they are listed, not “cleared” or “approved.”

That distinction matters because of Audien’s history. In 2021 the Arizona Attorney General’s office reached an agreement with Budget Hearing Aids LLC and its subsidiary Audien LLC after ads showed the FDA logo with “FDA APPROVED” and later “FDA REGISTERED.” The companies agreed to stop and paid $5,840 in attorneys’ fees. Also in 2021, the National Advertising Division got Audien to drop some price and “similar technology to $5000 hearing aids” claims. Some of Audien’s current pages still use an “FDA Registered” badge and big claims, so read the marketing with a skeptical eye.

What real buyers say

Audien has a BBB A+ rating with 1,624 customer reviews averaging 4.52, and about 4.5 on Trustpilot from 2,040 reviews (75% five-star, 14% one-star). The BBB also lists 515 complaints in 3 years, most about product problems and repairs; BBB letter grades reflect how a company responds to complaints, not how good the product sounds.

What buyers like: the low price, small size, easy setup and friendly support staff.

What buyers complain about: whistling feedback and fit, units that stopped working, refurbished replacements and slow warranty service, and the hoops involved in returns.

When to see a doctor instead

The FDA says to see a doctor, preferably an ear specialist, before using OTC hearing aids if you have:

Hearing that changed suddenly in the past 6 months, or that gets worse then better
Worse hearing, or ringing, in only one ear
Ear pain, or blood, pus or fluid from the ear in the past 6 months
Dizziness or vertigo
A lot of ear wax or something stuck in your ear
Trouble hearing speech even in a quiet room (that suggests more than mild to moderate loss)

Anyone under 18 needs a prescription hearing aid.

Who should buy Audien, and who should skip it

Worth trying if: you have mild hearing loss, mostly struggle in quiet one-on-one conversations or with TV, and want the lowest possible price with a 45-day trial.

Skip it if: you struggle most in noisy places, want an app with a hearing test and custom tuning, have moderate-to-severe loss, or any of the FDA warning signs above.

Alternatives with better lab results

Apple AirPods Pro with the Hearing Aid feature: about $249; FDA-authorized hearing aid software with a built-in hearing test (needs a compatible iPhone). HearingTracker found better speech clarity in noise than the Atom Pro 2.
Lucid Hearing Enrich Pro: about $199, scored a “B” in HearAdvisor testing, well above the Atom Pro 2.
Lexie B2 Plus Powered by Bose: $899, self-fitting with an in-app hearing test; an award winner in HearAdvisor testing.
Jabra Enhance: about $995 to $1,695, with app control and remote audiologist support.
An audiologist or Costco hearing center: prescription aids fitted to your hearing test, at higher cost.

Still want Audien’s lowest price? The Atom Pro offer is a cheaper entry point:

See the Atom Pro offer →
Affiliate link. Prices and offers change, so check the official page.

FAQ

Are Audien hearing aids legit?

Yes. Audien is a U.S. company founded in 2019 with a BBB A+ rating, and its models are listed with the FDA as over-the-counter hearing aids. The trade-off is basic sound quality in independent tests.

Are Audien hearing aids FDA approved?

No. They are FDA-listed over-the-counter hearing aids. Preset OTC aids are not cleared or approved through FDA review, and Audien settled with Arizona in 2021 over “FDA approved” advertising.

How much do Audien hearing aids cost?

From $98 a pair for the Atom ONE up to $689 for the ION Pro 2 and ION IQ (regular prices on 2026-10-30), with frequent sales.

Which Audien model is best?

Of the models with independent lab results, the Atom X scored best (a B grade), while the Atom Pro 2 and Atom 2 scored in the bottom 10% of OTC devices.

What is Audien’s return policy?

A 45-day trial with a refund to your original payment, but you must get approval by phone or video call first, pay return shipping, and have the return in transit by day 45.

Do Audien hearing aids help with tinnitus?

We found no independent evidence that Audien aids treat tinnitus. Ringing in only one ear is an FDA warning sign to see a doctor.

Do I need a hearing test?

No test is required to buy, but a hearing test helps you know whether your loss is mild to moderate, which is what OTC aids are for.

Sources

October 30, 2026

Lumen Review (2026): Does the Breath Metabolism Tracker Really Work?

Quick verdict

Lumen is a legit product from a real, venture-funded company, and most buyers like it. It is a handheld device you breathe into each morning. It reads the carbon dioxide in your breath and the app tells you whether your body is leaning on carbs or fat for fuel, then suggests what to eat that day.

The honest catch is accuracy. Lumen does not measure oxygen, so it is not the same as a lab metabolism test, and in the company’s own validation study its reading explained only about 23% of what the lab equipment measured. Treat it as a motivating daily nudge, not a medical test. Also know that the membership renews every year (listed at $149) unless you cancel.

Pros

✓ Real company (Meta Flow Ltd.) with $62 million in funding and years on the market
✓ Strong ratings: 4.3 on Trustpilot from about 4,600 reviews and 4.6 on the iPhone app
✓ Simple morning routine with a personalized daily food plan
✓ Can keep users motivated and more aware of carbs, sleep and fasting
✓ 30-day return window and a 1-year warranty

Cons

✗ Measures CO2 only, not oxygen, so it is not a true lab-grade metabolism test
✗ Modest accuracy: about 20 to 23% agreement with a lab cart in studies tied to the company
✗ Membership auto-renews yearly ($149 listed; one buyer reported $179) and fees are non-refundable
✗ Readings change with how you breathe, so technique matters
✗ Not FDA cleared; it is sold as a wellness product

Check Lumen’s current offer →
Affiliate link. Prices and offers change, so check the official page.

What is Lumen?

Lumen is a small handheld breath analyzer made by Meta Flow Ltd., an Israeli company founded by twin sisters Merav and Michal Mor, both PhDs in physiology and Ironman athletes. Each morning you take a slow breath in through the device, hold it for 10 seconds, and breathe out steadily. The app then gives you a “Lumen Level” from 1 (mostly burning fat) to 5 (mostly burning carbs) and builds a daily plan around it.

Lumen handheld breath metabolism tracker and charging case (official product image) — The Lumen device and its charging case (official product image).

The app also offers fasting schedules, carb guidance and food logging, and connects with Apple Health, Garmin, Oura, Whoop and others.

Does Lumen actually work?

Lumen’s idea comes from real science. In a lab, a “metabolic cart” measures both the oxygen you breathe in and the CO2 you breathe out. That ratio shows whether you are burning mostly fat (around 0.7) or mostly carbs (around 1.0). Here is how Lumen compares:

It only reads CO2. The company’s own validation paper says: “Unlike the metabolic cart, the Lumen device does not measure oxygen consumption.”
It does catch big changes. In that study, Lumen’s reading went up after people drank 150 grams of sugar, and a later study found it differed between a week of low-carb and high-carb eating.
But agreement is modest. Lumen explained about 23% of the variation in the lab measurement in the 2021 study, and about 20% in a 2023 study. That is well short of the homepage claim that it is as accurate as the lab equipment.
The research is not independent. Every published Lumen study we found had company employees, advisers or company funding behind it.
Breathing changes the result. Breathing faster before a reading can push the score toward “fat burning,” and long-term users report readings that shift by a level within minutes.

It also cannot tell whether the fat you are burning is body fat or fat you just ate, and it does not measure calories. A 12-week weight-loss study by the company had no comparison group, so it cannot show Lumen itself caused the weight loss.

Bottom line: Lumen is best used as a consistent personal trend tracker and habit coach. If it gets you eating better and sleeping more, that is a real benefit. Just do not treat a single reading as a lab result.

How much does Lumen cost?

Option	Price on 2026-10-30	Notes
Partner offer page we link to	$199.99	Listed price in the affiliate network. Confirm what membership is included on the order page.
Lumen device on lumen.me	$349	Shown against $448, with “first 12 months free” membership
Membership after the free period	$149 per year	Renews automatically at “the then-current price”
Newsletter discount on lumen.me	$20 off	Code offered on the brand’s site

On the day we checked, the partner offer was about $149 cheaper than the brand’s own site. Lumen’s price has changed many times over the years, so check the current total, including the membership, before you pay.

The membership and refund fine print

Auto-renewal: the membership renews every year at “the then-current price.” You must cancel at least 24 hours before the term ends, and “all Fees are non-refundable once paid.”
Renewal reminders: Lumen only promises notice before renewal if the price changes. One Trustpilot reviewer said they were charged $179 with no warning email. Put a reminder in your calendar.
Without a membership: devices bought after July 2023 still take unlimited readings and show your Lumen Level, but you lose the plans and history features.
Returns: 30 days from delivery, in original packaging, refund minus shipping, and you pay return shipping. The shop page says “no questions asked,” but its own FAQ says the device must be unopened. Ask support to confirm in writing before you open it.
Warranty: 1 year against defects.

Who should not use Lumen

Lumen itself tells people to check with a doctor first if they are pregnant or breastfeeding, have diabetes, severe asthma or COPD, or are under 16, and its safety page says it is not suitable for people with diabetes, metabolic disorders or lung disease. Lung conditions change how you breathe out CO2, so readings would not be reliable.

Lumen does not mention eating disorders, but dietitians warn that this kind of daily tracking can become obsessive. If you have a history of disordered eating, skip it or use it only with your care team. People on insulin or other glucose-lowering drugs should talk to their doctor before following low-carb or fasting prompts.

Is Lumen legit, or a scam?

It is legit. Meta Flow Ltd. raised a $62 million Series B in December 2022, the device has been sold for years, and it ships what it promises. It is not FDA cleared; its terms describe it as a wellness product that does not give medical advice or diagnoses. We found no BBB profile and no regulatory actions against it.

What real buyers say

Lumen scores 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot from about 4,600 reviews (75% five-star, 7% one-star) and 4.6 out of 5 on the iPhone App Store from about 6,500 ratings. Note that Lumen’s Trustpilot profile is a paid, claimed profile, which can invite reviews.

What buyers like: clear daily guidance, staying motivated, learning how food, sleep and exercise affect them, and an easy app.

What buyers complain about: surprise renewal charges, slow support, an incomplete food database, and readings that seem stuck on “burning carbs” or jump around.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if: you are healthy, curious about your habits, like data and daily coaching, and will remember to manage the yearly membership.

Skip it if: you want a medical-grade measurement, you have diabetes, a lung condition or a history of disordered eating, or you do not want another subscription.

Alternatives

Dexcom Stelo: an FDA-cleared over-the-counter glucose monitor that shows how food affects your blood sugar, $99 for about a month or $89/month.
Abbott Lingo: an over-the-counter glucose sensor, $54 for a 2-week plan with no auto-renewal.
Keto-Mojo GK+ meter: measures blood ketones directly with a finger prick, meter about $38 plus strips.
A lab metabolic test: clinics and some gyms measure both oxygen and CO2 for a true result; prices vary.
A registered dietitian: often covered by insurance and personalized to your health history.

See the current Lumen offer →
Affiliate link. Prices and offers change, so check the official page.

FAQ

Is Lumen accurate?

Partly. It detects big shifts, like after a large sugary drink, but in studies tied to the company it explained only about 20 to 23% of what a lab metabolic cart measured, because it reads CO2 only.

Does Lumen need a subscription?

The device works without one for basic readings (for devices bought after July 2023), but the plans and history need the membership, listed at $149 per year after a free first year. It renews automatically.

Is Lumen FDA approved?

No. Lumen is sold as a general wellness product, not a medical device, and we found no FDA clearance.

Can Lumen help you lose weight?

It can help some people build better habits, but there is no controlled study showing Lumen itself causes weight loss.

What is Lumen’s return policy?

30 days from delivery, in original packaging, refund minus shipping costs; you pay return shipping. Confirm with support whether an opened device qualifies.

How much does Lumen cost?

On 2026-10-30, $349 on lumen.me and $199.99 on the partner offer we link, plus a membership listed at $149 per year after the first year.

Who makes Lumen?

Meta Flow Ltd., an Israeli company founded by twin sisters Merav and Michal Mor.

Sources

October 30, 2026