As hearing loss becomes increasingly common, especially with aging, the availability of reliable online hearing tests is expanding rapidly. The year 2024 brings with it a variety of excellent options for checking your hearing capabilities from the comfort of your home. These online tests offer a convenient and often no-cost method to gauge your hearing health. Whether you’re curious about your hearing or suspect a decline, these tools can offer a helpful starting point before seeing an audiologist. After evaluating 20 different online hearing tests, we’ve highlighted the top five that stand out for ease of use, accuracy, and the clarity of their results.

1. Mimi: Best Overall Hearing Test

The Mimi app takes the crown for the best all-around hearing test in 2024. Designed for ease and thoroughness, Mimi lets you conduct a hearing assessment right on your smartphone or laptop, without the need to register an account. This app offers multiple test types, including a standard pure-tone test and the “masked threshold” test, which measures how well you hear specific tones in noisy environments. Mimi can also sync with Apple AirPods to tailor your settings based on test results, but it works with other headphones as well, though performance is optimized with certain models like Apple and Sennheiser.

Highlights:

• Free and easy to use
• Offers both pure-tone and masked threshold tests
• Detailed results with ongoing access
• Works best with compatible headphones (Apple, Sennheiser)
• No account required

2. MDHearing: Easiest to Use

If simplicity is your top priority, MDHearing provides one of the most straightforward online hearing tests available. This test focuses on pure tones, where users adjust the volume of different tones to the lowest level they can still hear. The interface is clean and intuitive, and the results offer easy-to-understand feedback. While the test requires an email to access, it doesn’t bombard you with spam afterward, making it a great option for those seeking a quick check.

Key Benefits:

• Easy to navigate
• Clear, concise results
• Pure-tone test format
• Requires email sign-up but no unwanted follow-ups

3. Soundly: Most Detailed Results

For those who prefer in-depth feedback, Soundly is the best option. After calibrating your headphones using a simple hand-rubbing technique, Soundly takes you through a pure-tone test where you adjust sliders for the faintest sounds you can hear. The results are highly detailed, offering a comprehensive audiogram with explanations, as well as a video featuring an audiologist to help you interpret your results. Though an email sign-up is needed, Soundly doesn’t send intrusive emails, making the test worth it for the detailed insights.

Advantages:

• Calibrates headphone volume for accurate testing
• Offers detailed results with both text and video explanations
• Pure-tone test format
• Email sign-up required

4. Amplifon: Best for Everyday Sounds

The Amplifon test is unique in that it simulates real-life listening environments, such as busy streets or crowded cafes, to assess how well you hear speech in noisy settings. While most online tests focus on tones, Amplifon’s speech-in-noise test reflects everyday hearing challenges, making it especially useful for understanding how hearing loss impacts daily life. The results are straightforward, letting you know if hearing loss is detected and what steps to take next. It’s a quick, easy test, and doesn’t require an email.

Pros:

• Realistic everyday sound environments
• Quick test, takes just a few minutes
• No email required

Cons:

• Results are not as detailed as other tests

5. Starkey: Best Comprehensive Test

Starkey provides a balanced mix of both pure-tone and speech-in-noise testing in one seamless experience. You start by listening to tones at different frequencies, followed by a speech-in-noise segment where you identify words spoken over background noise. The results are simple, giving you an overview of your hearing health and steps to follow. Although not as detailed as other tests, Starkey offers a solid all-in-one test that covers key areas of hearing health.

Highlights:

• Two-in-one test: pure-tone and speech-in-noise
• Easy to use
• No email sign-up required

Cons:

• Results are relatively basic

Key Considerations When Choosing an Online Hearing Test

• Cost: Most online hearing tests are free, but some charge for premium features.
• Test Duration: Some tests can be done in under 5 minutes, while others take longer for a more thorough analysis.
• Next Steps: Some tests offer follow-up guidance, while others simply provide results with no further recommendations.
• Email Requirement: Many tests require an email for results, but not all follow up with promotional emails.

Final Thoughts

Online hearing tests are an effective way to get a preliminary idea of your hearing health without visiting a clinic. Whether you’re looking for an easy, quick test or one that gives you comprehensive feedback, these five options cover the full spectrum. However, it’s important to note that while online tests are convenient, they should not replace a professional audiologist’s evaluation. If you’re concerned about your hearing, a follow-up with a healthcare provider is always the best course of action.