Hearing & audio

InnoCaption is the best captioning app for Deaf and hard of hearing people who need captioned phone calls in 2026, free to eligible US users with live stenographers on demand; Rylo from Nagish suits people who want encrypted AI call captions and in-person captions in one app. Google Live Transcribe is free on Android, and Apple Live Captions is built into iPhone 11 and later at no extra cost.

1. 1. InnoCaption9.2
2. 2. Rylo (from Nagish)9.2
3. 3. Google Live Transcribe9.1

Alpine Muffy Kids is the best ear protection for children aged 5 to 16 in 2026, with 25 dB of reduction for $29.95; Alpine Muffy Baby suits babies and toddlers at $34.95, and Baby BANZ is the NRR 26 alternative at $34.99. The cheapest option is Alpine Pluggies Kids earplugs at $16.95.

1. 1. Alpine Muffy Kids8.7
2. 2. Alpine Muffy Baby8.6
3. 3. Baby BANZ Earmuffs8.5

Etymotic ER20XS is the best earplug for concerts for most music fans in 2026, with an even 20 dB cut across the range for $24.99; EARPEACE MUSIC PRO suits regular showgoers who want to pick a 16, 20 or 24 dB filter for $42.95. The cheapest pick is Alpine PartyPlug at $16.95.

1. 1. Etymotic ER20XS8.8
2. 2. EARPEACE MUSIC PRO8.6
3. 3. Loop Experience 28.5

Etymotic ER20XS is the best earplug for musicians in 2026 for drummers, band members and orchestra players who want an even 20 dB cut across the spectrum, at $24.99; Earasers suit players who need a stronger filter, up to -31 dB, for $49.99. The cheapest pick is HEAROS High Fidelity at $19.99 for one pair.

1. 1. Etymotic ER20XS9.0
2. 2. Earasers Musicians Earplugs8.8
3. 3. Alpine MusicSafe Pro8.7

Loop Dream is the best earplug for sleeping for side sleepers and partners of snorers in 2026, at $49.95 for a reusable set with two tip styles in four sizes; Alpine SleepDeep suits buyers who want the same rated 27 dB reduction for $15.95. The cheapest pick is Mack's Ultra Soft Foam, from $2.99 a pack with an NRR 33 rating.

1. 1. Alpine SleepDeep8.6
2. 2. Loop Dream8.6
3. 3. Mack's Ultra Soft Foam8.5

Mimi Hearing Test is the best hearing test app for a free five-minute screening on a phone in 2026; Hearing Number suits people who want a simple, ad-free check built by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Mimi, Hearing Number, Sennheiser and hearWHO are all free, and Apple's Hearing Test is free software that needs AirPods Pro 3 at $249.

1. 1. Mimi Hearing Test8.9
2. 2. Hearing Number8.7
3. 3. Sennheiser Hearing Test8.5

Jabra Enhance Select M1 is the best OTC hearing aid for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss in 2026, at $1,195 per pair with three years of remote audiology; Apple AirPods Pro 3 suits iPhone owners who want a $249 earbud with a built-in Hearing Aid feature. The cheapest pick is Audien Atom Pro 2 at $289 per pair.

1. 1. Jabra Enhance Select M18.7
2. 2. Apple AirPods Pro 38.5
3. 3. ELEHEAR Beyond 2 Pro8.3

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 is the best sleep earbud for side sleepers who fall asleep to audio in 2026, at $279 for buds 11 mm tall and 1.6 g each with up to 14 hours of battery; Soundcore Sleep A30 suits partners of loud snorers who want active noise cancellation for $199.99. The cheapest option is the SleepPhones Classic headband at $39.95.

1. 1. Ozlo Sleepbuds 28.4
2. 2. Soundcore Sleep A208.3
3. 3. Soundcore Sleep A308.3

ReSound Tinnitus Relief is the best tinnitus app for most people with ringing in the ears in 2026, with free soundscapes and an optional $6.99 per month plan; MindEar suits people who want CBT lessons and guided sessions from $5.99 per month. Beltone Tinnitus Calmer is completely free, with no in-app purchases listed on its US App Store page.

1. 1. ReSound Tinnitus Relief8.8
2. 2. MindEar8.6
3. 3. Beltone Tinnitus Calmer8.5

The Avantree Ensemble Pro is the best TV headphones for seniors who want clearer dialogue in 2026, at $99.99 on sale; the Avantree Opera Aura suits households with an HDMI ARC smart TV or Auracast hearing aids at $179.99. The cheapest option, the Simolio SM-823D Pro, costs $94.99.

1. 1. Avantree Ensemble Pro9.0
2. 2. Avantree Opera Aura8.8
3. 3. Simolio JH-757O8.7

ZVOX AccuVoice AV157 is the best TV speaker for hearing impaired viewers in 2026, with 12 levels of voice boost for $199.99; ZVOX AccuVoice AV835 suits viewers who want HDMI-ARC and 20 boost levels for $249.99. The cheapest pick is ZVOX AccuVoice AV120 at $49.99 on sale, with two levels of dialogue boost.

1. 1. ZVOX AccuVoice AV1578.9
2. 2. ZVOX AccuVoice AV8358.6
3. 3. Roku Streambar SE8.5