hearWHO review

hearWHO is the World Health Organization's own screener, developed with hearX Group and guided by an advisory group of hearing researchers. Instead of pure tones, it uses a digits-in-noise test, which WHO describes as validated: you hear numbers spoken against background noise and enter what you heard. That makes it a good proxy for how well you follow speech in a noisy room, and it works on both iOS and Android in Chinese, Dutch, English, Russian and Spanish. The app keeps a personal track record of results, and WHO suggests it for people who listen to loud music on personal devices, as well as for health workers screening in the community. The limits are clear in the listing: it is a screening test with a small share of misclassified cases, it is meant for people 16 and older, and results depend on your headphones and the room. Store ratings are low, 2.0 on iOS and 3.4 on Google Play, and it does not chart individual frequencies.

Who it is for

Android and iPhone users who want a free speech-in-noise screening backed by WHO.

Price

Free.

An app to check your hearing. Only for iPhone Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 7, 2026.

Key features

• Validated digits-in-noise screening test
• Personal track record of results over time
• iOS and Android apps
• Chinese, Dutch, English, Russian and Spanish
• Can be used by health workers for community screening

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Developed by WHO with an advisory group of hearing researchers
• Strength: Speech-in-noise test reflects real listening
• Strength: Free on both iPhone and Android
• Weakness: Low store ratings: 2.0 on iOS and 3.4 on Google Play
• Weakness: Not for children; intended for ages 16 and up
• Weakness: Does not produce a frequency-by-frequency audiogram

Key facts

• Test type: Digits in noise
• Platforms: iOS and Android
• Languages: 5
• Minimum age: 16
• Price: Free

Where it ranks

hearWHO is No. 5 in our Best Hearing Test Apps verdict.