MaxHear
Clearer, not just louder
MaxHear: Hearing & Sound Amplifier App
Turn the iPhone or Android phone in your pocket into a personal sound amplifier. Put on the headphones you already own, point the phone at the person or the TV, and speech gets clearer in a noisy room.
4.9early usersIt's made everyday conversations easier for me.
True for everyone who installs it
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39 languages in the appEvery screen translated, not just the store page
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Works without internetAmplification runs on the phone itself
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Nothing is recordedSound passes through and is never saved
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No account neededNo email, no password, no profile
Ready in about a minute
No appointment, no extra hardware, no account. Headphones are the only thing you need to have already.
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Connect headphones
Wired or wireless, any brand you already own. Wired gives the clearest sound with the least delay.
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Tap the red button
One tap starts live amplification. Turn the phone volume up for the loudest, clearest result.
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Point the phone and adjust
At the person, the TV or the speaker. Then set the level with the − and + buttons.
What it solves
Louder is easy. Clearer is the point.
Turning up the volume raises the noise along with the voice. MaxHear works on the sound itself. Pick the one that sounds like you.
Voice Focus lifts speech out of the noise
MaxHear boosts the frequency range where speech lives and trims the low rumble underneath it — traffic, air conditioning, the fridge. Voices come forward instead of everything simply getting bigger.
- Speech range boosted, low rumble cut
- Processed live on the phone, so lips and voice stay in sync
- Works with AirPods, any Bluetooth earbuds, or a simple wired pair
Tune it to your own ears
Everyone hears differently, so the equalizer sits right inside the app. Slide up what you struggle with, pull down what feels harsh, and hear the change while the other person is still talking.
- Four bands: bass, voice, clarity, treble
- Changes apply live — nothing to save or reload
- Set one level for a quiet room and another for a busy café
Ear Guard keeps the peaks down
A fair worry with any amplifier: a slammed door or a dropped plate arriving at full volume. A limiter sits at the end of the audio chain and holds loud spikes to a safe level, while normal speech keeps its full boost.
- Sudden peaks are capped, speech is not
- Amplification stops the moment your headphones disconnect
- The app opens quiet, so you raise the level rather than discover it
It is processing, not a volume knob
The phone’s volume control makes everything louder at once, noise included. MaxHear separates the sound first — speech up, rumble down, peaks capped — and only then amplifies. That is why a café gets easier rather than just noisier.
- Speech and noise are treated differently, not together
- Your own level in your own headphones — the room keeps its volume
- Nothing to buffer and nothing sent to a server
Inside the app
The whole app, in the order you will meet it
Nothing to configure first. Four short steps, one big button, and a set of sliders if you want them.
Free to download. Headphones required.
Why people start here
MaxHear vs a hearing aid
Most people don't start with a four-figure decision. They start with the phone already in their pocket.
| START HERE MaxHear |
Hearing aid | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 3 days free to try, then the plan is in the app | $3,000–$10,000 per pair, prescription — see note below |
| Time to first use | About a minute | Appointment, hearing test, fitting, follow-up visits |
| What you need | The phone you already own, plus any headphones | A prescribed device, professionally fitted |
| Try before you pay | Yes — a free listening session, no email, no card | No |
| Works offline, no account | Yes — nothing leaves your phone | n/a |
| Best for | Specific moments: the TV, a restaurant, a phone call, a lecture | All-day wear, set up for you by a professional |
MaxHear
- Price
- 3 days free to try, then the plan is in the app
- Time to first use
- About a minute
- What you need
- The phone you already own, plus any headphones
- Try before you pay
- Yes — a free listening session, no email, no card
- Works offline, no account
- Yes — nothing leaves your phone
- Best for
- Specific moments: the TV, a restaurant, a phone call, a lecture
Hearing aid
- Price
- $3,000–$10,000 per pair, prescription — see note below
- Time to first use
- Appointment, hearing test, fitting, follow-up visits
- What you need
- A prescribed device, professionally fitted
- Try before you pay
- No
- Works offline, no account
- n/a
- Best for
- All-day wear, set up for you by a professional
Hearing aid prices: NCOA, “The Best Hearing Aids in 2026” — prescription models typically $3,000–$10,000 a pair, over-the-counter models $99–$2,500 a pair. MaxHear starts with 3 days free; the plan price is set per country and shown in your own currency in the app and in the store before you confirm.
Comparing more than one option? We mapped every alternative people consider — OTC hearing aids, AirPods, audio glasses, TV devices — with an honest note on where each one wins: hearing aid alternatives, compared.
MaxHear is a general-purpose sound amplifier. It is not a hearing aid and it is not a regulated medical device. If you think something has genuinely changed with your hearing, see a professional.
Named a specific brand?
MaxHear vs the brand you're actually comparing
Fact-checked, brand-by-brand comparisons — what that product does well, where it falls short, and where MaxHear fits.
In their own words
What our users said
Early users in the US who got MaxHear free before launch. Their own words, unedited.
4.9 average rating from early users
Cafés and restaurants
For me it's restaurants. At home I do pretty well, but put me somewhere with music, dishes clanking and five people talking and I'm lost. I actually started sitting next to whoever I wanted to talk to so I could hear them. I didn't want to spend thousands on hearing aids, so I gave MaxHear a shot. It's been helpful in those situations.
Watching TV
My husband used to joke that the TV was getting louder every month. He finally had a point.
I had been putting off hearing aids because I didn't want to spend that kind of money. MaxHear gave me a more affordable option to try, and I've noticed the biggest difference when watching TV and talking with my family.
Phone calls
The phone was what finally pushed me to do something. I could hear that somebody was talking, but certain words just weren't clear. I was constantly asking my sister to repeat herself.
I had looked at hearing aids before and honestly the cost scared me off. MaxHear was much easier on the wallet, which made the decision a lot easier.
Only when needed
I don't use it every minute of every day. That's actually what I like about it. Some days I hear pretty well, other days I need a little extra help.
I wasn't interested in spending thousands just to find out whether amplification would make a difference for me. MaxHear was affordable enough to test for myself.
Family gatherings
I first noticed it when my grandkids started saying, 'Grandma, I already told you!' I felt terrible because I really wasn't ignoring them. I just didn't catch everything.
I wanted something simple and affordable. MaxHear has been especially useful when we're talking in the car or around the kitchen.
At work
I'm 53, work full time, and definitely wasn't ready for something that made me feel like I was 80. My hearing is mostly okay in a quiet room. It's when there's background noise that I struggle.
I saw how much traditional hearing aids can cost and decided to try MaxHear first. For the money, I'm pretty happy with it.
Watching TV
I didn't think I had a hearing problem until my wife started getting annoyed with me. I was always saying 'huh?' during dinner and turning the TV up way too loud. I looked at regular hearing aids and the price was a lot more than I expected. MaxHear was affordable enough for me to try without feeling like I was throwing a ton of money at the problem.
Family gatherings
My kids kept telling me I needed to do something about my hearing. I kept saying I was fine. Then one Sunday I realized I had missed half the conversation at the table.
I checked into hearing aids and nearly fell over when I saw the prices. MaxHear was much more affordable, so I figured, why not? It's made everyday conversations easier for me.
Everyday conversations
I'm not old enough, in my opinion, to be dealing with this! But apparently my ears didn't get the memo. My biggest issue is people talking softly or turning away while they're talking. I didn't want to spend a fortune on a hearing aid before trying something simpler. MaxHear has been a nice little help.
Church and gatherings
The hardest thing for me was church and family gatherings. I could hear that people were talking, but I'd miss parts of what was being said. After a while you start smiling and nodding even when you have no idea what the conversation is about.
I'm glad I didn't have to spend a fortune to get some extra help. MaxHear has been worth it for me.
Everyday conversations
I'm pretty stubborn when it comes to this stuff. I kept saying my hearing was fine because I could hear the lawn mower from half a mile away. Apparently hearing noise and understanding people are two different things.
I finally tried MaxHear because the price was reasonable. It's helped me with conversations, which is what I actually needed.
At work
My mother has been telling me for two years that I need to get my hearing checked, so naturally I ignored her for as long as possible. I started noticing it myself when I had to ask coworkers to repeat themselves.
The expensive hearing aids were not happening for me right now. MaxHear gave me a less expensive way to try some extra amplification first.
Watching TV
I'm not saying this fixed everything, but it has made certain situations easier. I mainly notice the difference when the TV is on or when several people are talking at once.
For me the biggest selling point was the price. I wasn't ready to spend thousands of dollars on hearing aids. This felt like a much easier first step.
Family gatherings
I had reached the point where I could tell what people were saying by watching their faces. That's when I knew I couldn't keep pretending everything was fine.
I wanted something affordable and simple. MaxHear has been useful for everyday conversations, especially with family.
Everyday conversations
My wife noticed my hearing before I did. She'd talk to me from another room and I'd answer something completely unrelated.
I'm still working and wasn't looking for some big, complicated device. MaxHear was affordable, easy to try, and gives me a little extra help when I need it. That's really all I was looking for.
Your microphone stays yours
Nothing is recorded
Sound is amplified as it passes through and is never saved.
Works offline
No connection needed to amplify — airplane mode is fine.
No account
No email, no password, nothing to remember.
No ads inside
Nothing interrupts you mid-conversation. Privacy Policy.
The four situations people open it for
Watching TV
Your level in your headphones. Everyone else keeps the volume they like.
Cafés and restaurants
Phone on the table between you, and the person opposite comes forward.
Lectures and services
When the speaker is far away and there is no microphone to help.
Setting it up for a parent
Install it, tune it once, and share your subscription with up to four devices.
One app, all your devices
One subscription covers up to four devices, so a parent or a partner can be set up in seconds.
- iPhoneiOS 15 or later
- iPadiPadOS 15 or later
- Android phoneGoogle Play
- Android tabletGoogle Play
The app speaks 39 languages
Every button, tip and setting inside the app is translated — not just the store page. This website is in English only.
- English
- Español
- Deutsch
- Français
- Italiano
- Português (Brasil)
- Polski
- Nederlands
- Türkçe
- Українська
- العربية
- 日本語
- 한국어
- 中文（简体）
- English (UK)
- English (Australia)
- English (Canada)
- Español (México)
- Français (Canada)
- Português (Portugal)
- 中文（繁體）
- Русский
- עברית
- Čeština
- Slovenčina
- Magyar
- Română
- Ελληνικά
- Svenska
- Dansk
- Suomi
- Norsk
- Català
- Hrvatski
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Bahasa Melayu
- ไทย
- Tiếng Việt
- हिन्दी
What works before you pay
Said plainly, so nothing is a surprise after you install.
A short listening session, three times a day
Free forever, no card- 15 seconds of live amplification per session
- Up to three sessions a day, for as long as you keep the app
- Enough to hear whether it helps in your room, with your headphones
- No email, no card and no payment to try it
Unlimited listening and the full sound controls
3 days free then the plan continues- Amplify as long as you want, with no session limit
- Equalizer, Voice Focus and Ear Guard
- Share with up to four devices — one subscription for the family
- The yearly plan starts with a 3-day free trial
Monthly and yearly plans are both available, and the yearly one starts with 3 days free. The plan and the exact amount in your own currency are shown inside the app and in the App Store or Google Play before you confirm anything. Subscriptions are billed by Apple or Google, not by us, and are managed in your store settings. See the Terms of Use.
Hearing amplifier app — frequently asked questions
What is a hearing amplifier app?
It is an app that uses your phone's microphone to pick up the sound around you, makes speech louder and clearer, and plays it into your headphones in real time. MaxHear does this on the phone itself, with no extra hardware and no internet connection.
Is MaxHear a hearing aid?
No. MaxHear is a general-purpose sound amplifier for everyday listening. It is not a hearing aid and not a regulated medical device, and it does not diagnose or treat anything. If you are worried about your hearing, see a licensed hearing professional.
How much does MaxHear cost?
The app is free to download and includes a 15-second listening session up to three times a day, with no account. Premium unlocks unlimited listening, and the yearly plan starts with 3 days free — so you can try everything before you are charged. Monthly and yearly plans are both available; the exact amount in your own currency is shown in the app and in the store before you confirm.
Do I need headphones to use MaxHear?
Yes. Headphones are required, otherwise the amplified sound would come out of the speaker and straight back into the microphone. Any wired or wireless headphones work, and amplification stops automatically if you disconnect them.
Does it work with AirPods and Bluetooth headphones?
Yes. AirPods, Bluetooth earbuds and over-ear headphones all work. Wired headphones give the clearest sound with the least delay, so they are worth trying if a Bluetooth connection feels slightly behind.
Is there a delay or an echo?
Sound is processed live on your device, so speech stays in sync with what you see. Bluetooth headphones always add a small amount of their own latency; wired headphones remove almost all of it.
How much louder does it actually get?
Loud enough that a quiet voice across a table can be as easy to follow as someone speaking next to you, and you set the level yourself with the − and + buttons. What matters more than raw volume is that speech is separated from the background, which is why a noisy café gets easier rather than just louder. Ear Guard keeps sudden peaks at a safe level.
Does MaxHear work without internet?
Yes. Amplification runs entirely offline on your phone. A connection is only needed to download the app or manage your subscription.
Is my audio recorded or sent anywhere?
No. Sound passes through the app in real time and is never recorded, stored or uploaded. Details are in our Privacy Policy.
Does MaxHear work on Android as well as iPhone?
Yes. MaxHear is available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store and for Android phones and tablets on Google Play, with the same amplification, equalizer and sharing features.
Can I use MaxHear to hear the TV better?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people install it. Put the phone near the TV, put on your headphones, and set your own level — everyone else keeps the TV volume where they like it.
Can I share MaxHear with my parent or partner?
Yes. One Premium subscription covers up to four devices. Scan a QR code from your app on their phone and they are set up in seconds — handy if you are installing it for someone else.
Which phones and versions are supported?
MaxHear runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 15 or later, and on Android phones and tablets. Any device that can connect headphones and run the app can amplify sound.
Stop asking people to repeat themselves
Install MaxHear, connect the headphones you already own, and hear the next conversation clearly.
More about sound amplifier apps
What a hearing amplifier app actually does
Your phone already has a good microphone and a fast processor. A hearing amplifier app puts both to work: it picks up the sound in front of you, makes speech louder and clearer, and sends it straight to your headphones — in real time, entirely on the device.
This kind of app belongs to a category sometimes called a personal sound amplification product, or PSAP. It suits people who hear well enough most of the time but lose the thread in specific situations: a noisy restaurant, a quiet voice, a television across the room. A hearing aid is a different thing altogether — custom hardware, fitted by a professional, and regulated as a medical device.
Because everything happens on your phone, there is nothing to wait for and nothing to buy beyond the app. And because the amplification lives in your headphones, nobody else in the room has to change the volume for you.
Important information
MaxHear is a general-purpose sound amplifier for everyday listening. It is not a hearing aid and not a regulated medical device, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition. It does not replace professional care.
If you have concerns about your hearing, or you experience pain, ringing or a sudden change in what you can hear, please consult a licensed hearing professional or a doctor. Always start at a low volume and keep listening levels comfortable.
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