The most important feature of any hearing aid is the doctor. Find one you feel comfortable working with and THEN pick your aid. If you can't stand the doctor, you won't get them adjusted/cleaned often enough and you WON'T like them.

I've often looked at the OTC hearing aids and wondered how well they work, but I've never trusted buying them because it appeared you can only adjust low tone, mid tone, high tone. Since my hearing loss is due to spinal meningitis more than just loud noise - I need a lot more fine tuning than that. This time around I noticed that they have more options than that so I did several online hearing tests. Maybe I had the wrong head phones, but the online test DID NOT pick up my hearing loss properly. I had a good idea what my audiogram should look like and it wasn't even close. I liked the price, but didn't know what to make of it that I couldn't even get a good audiogram.

I had in the ear at first. Now I have behind the ear with an open fit. Have no desire to go back. Once the hearing is bad enough, open fit isn't an option. But while it works - there is a world of difference. No "talking in a barrel", less echo, etc, etc (yes I have glasses, yes I wear a hat, no I am not 80 years old - only half way there)

Cotsco / Sam's Club, etc is great while they last. But the doctors there get replaced pretty frequently and who knows if you can work with the next doctor? 

Miracle Ear and Beltone are more money for an equivalent aid, but they have a good reputation and if you can work with the doctor - what can I say. 

Independent operations are my personal pick - they don't cost much more than Costco / Sam's Club and usually same doctor is around for a few years at least. But at 1750 per aid (if you hearing loss is due to loud noise / old age, you'll need two), it is a lot more than an OTC aid. I didn't get the cheapest option he had though.