Comparison

Sony | Hearing Control vs Link by Eargo

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sony | Hearing Control

Customize and control your compatible Sony self-fitting hearing aids with this app. Adjust volume, sound balance, and directionality for a personalized listening experience. Stream audio directly to your device.

Highlights
  • Personalized hearing customization
  • Remote control of volume and sound
  • Directionality adjustment
  • Easy initial setup
  • Audio streaming via Bluetooth
Read full description

This app* is for Sony's CRE-C10, CRE-E10, and CRE-C20 self-fitting hearing aids. Easy and quick initial setup and remote control with kind instructions. Main Features - Personalized to your hearing: The hearing aid can easily be customized to your hearing through the self-fitting test on the Sony | Hearing control app, so you don’t miss out on a thing. - Easily controlled with your smartphone: Easy to set up yourself, control volume, sharpness (tone), and directional focus** with the app. The device communicates to your smartphone by acoustic link and Bluetooth***. - Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming * Sony | Hearing control app – Use app on smartphone to personalize settings. Network services, content, and operating system and software subject to terms and conditions and may be changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require registration. ** Directional focus is available on CRE-E10 *** Bluetooth is available on CRE-E10 Note: - Some features may not be supported by certain devices. - Please visit https://www.sony.co.jp/en/hearing-control-info for details.

About

Link by Eargo

This app enhances the functionality of specific Bluetooth earbuds designed for hearing assistance. It allows users to customize settings, update firmware, manage listening programs, and access support resources.

Highlights
  • Remote firmware updates
  • Customizable hearing programs
  • Adjustable noise reduction
  • Active Noise Cancellation control
  • Real-time battery status
  • Touch sensor configuration
  • In-app support and guides
Read full description

Once you’ve purchased LINK by Eargo, the first earbud-style, over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid with Bluetooth 5.3, download the companion app to unlock additional functionality and customize your settings. This low-profile earbud is designed with discretion, performance, and comfort for whenever you want to hear in top form. Stream music and make phone calls with rich sound fidelity — transition seamlessly between hearing aid mode, streaming, and phone calls. Features: - Stay up-to-date by remotely applying LINK by Eargo’s latest firmware updates, when available. - Select from LINK by Eargo’s four preset hearing aid programs, manage volume levels within each, and mute or unmute sound. - Adjust the noise reduction settings to enhance speech clarity while minimizing background noise to help make conversations clearer when using hearing aid mode. - Turn Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on or off in streaming or hearing aid modes. With closed tips, ANC is very effective in canceling loud environmental noises like airplane, train, and road noise. Activating ANC in hearing aid mode mutes the device, allowing you to embrace the silence. - Turn Wind Noise Reduction and Directional Processing on or off when using hearing aid mode. - Get real-time battery life updates for your earbuds and charger. - Configure your touch sensor interface. Enable or disable the touch control, play/pause function, tone indicator, or adjust the power on delay as desired. - Get additional support how and when you need it. Contact Eargo by phone or email or view how-to videos, access help articles, and view your full-length user guide in-app. - Access your Eargo Account to manage orders and documents or request support. Disclaimer: LINK by Eargo, its accessories, and its application are intended to compensate for mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss in adults (age 18 and older). LINK by Eargo, its accessories, and its application are not intended to prevent, diagnose nor cure disease and/or hearing loss. Please see a healthcare provider if you have recently noticed a sudden change in hearing, ear pain, and/or discharge. Please stop the use of any Eargo accessory or device if you experience discomfort (e.g. dizziness, uncomfortably loud sounds).

Screenshots

Sony | Hearing Control4 screens
Link by Eargo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Link by Eargo at 3.0 against Sony | Hearing Control's 2.4. Link by Eargo also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 18%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). Sony | Hearing Control's advantage is ratings volume (469 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Link by Eargo holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sony | Hearing Control has 469 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Sony | Hearing Control's written reviews are positive against 50% of Link by Eargo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sony | Hearing Control ships an update every 7 months, Link by Eargo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sony | Hearing Control versus Link by Eargo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSony | Hearing ControlLink by Eargo
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (469 ratings)3.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.6% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings469 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size109 MB67 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperSony CorporationEargo

Customer experience

Sony | Hearing Control

All ratings467 ratings
Positive27.6%
Neutral12.2%
Negative60.2%
Written reviews188 reviews
Positive17.6%
Neutral12.2%
Negative70.2%

Link by Eargo

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Sony | Hearing Control

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App frequently logs users out
  • App resets hearing aid settings after each use
  • Hearing aid status not accurately reported

Requested features

4 requests
  • Separate left/right volume control
  • Ability to save custom settings
  • Improved app UI and responsiveness
  • Tinnitus masking feature

Link by Eargo

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sony | Hearing Control

No in-app purchases

None

Link by Eargo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sony | Hearing Control free?
Sony | Hearing Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Link by Eargo free?
Link by Eargo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sony | Hearing Control or Link by Eargo?
Link by Eargo is rated higher. Sony | Hearing Control averages 2.4 out of 5 from 469 ratings, while Link by Eargo averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Sony | Hearing Control or Link by Eargo have ads?
Neither Sony | Hearing Control nor Link by Eargo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sony | Hearing Control or Link by Eargo?
Sony | Hearing Control ships an update every 7 months, and Link by Eargo every 2 months. Most recently, Sony | Hearing Control was updated on October 21, 2026 and Link by Eargo on October 9, 2026.

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