Brand comparison

Hearing aid brands in Canada: Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Starkey and ReSound compared

Five brands fit most hearing aids sold in Canadian clinics: Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Starkey and ReSound. None publishes prices; as of October 2026, a fitted pair from any of them typically costs about $2,000 to $8,000, and the technology level you choose moves the price far more than the brand does.

Last reviewed 2026-10-14

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  3. Check funding: Ontario's ADP and other programs

Maybe your dad has stopped joining the conversation at dinner, or the TV is loud enough to hear from the driveway. He's agreed to a hearing test, and now the clinic is talking about brands and model numbers you've never heard of.

Here's the reassuring part: all five big brands make good hearing aids. What changes the result is the technology level, a careful fitting, and follow-up visits. This page explains who's behind each brand, what's new, and what to ask so your parent isn't steered by the clinic's own interests.

Our take: Choose the clinic and the technology level first, then the brand. A mid-level pair from any of these five, fitted well with real-ear measurement and several follow-ups, beats a premium pair fitted in a hurry. And ask who owns the clinic: two of Canada's biggest chains belong to hearing aid makers.

How do the hearing aid brands compare?

BrandOwned byNewest models (Oct 2026)Stands out forTypical pair price (CAD)
PhonakSonova (Switzerland), which also owns Unitron and the Connect Hearing clinicsAudéo Infinio and Infinio Ultra Sphere, LyricSphere's AI chip for speech in noise; Lyric, worn deep in the canal for monthsAbout $2,000 to $8,000
OticonDemant (Denmark), which also owns HearingLife clinicsReveal (August 2026), Intent, ZealReveal's two AI systems for speech and surroundings; tiny ZealAbout $2,000 to $8,000
SigniaWS Audiology (Denmark), which also makes WidexIX family: Pure Charge&Go IX, Silk Charge&Go IX, Active Pro IXSmall rechargeable styles, including an earbud lookAbout $2,000 to $8,000
StarkeyStarkey (USA), privately ownedOmega AI+ (October 2026), Omega AI, Edge AIFall detection that can alert family, plus health trackingAbout $2,000 to $8,000
ReSoundGN (Denmark), which also owns BeltoneVivia (2025), NexiaVivia's AI noise processing and Auracast streamingAbout $2,000 to $8,000

Makers don't publish Canadian prices; clinics set them. The pair range is the typical fitted price in Canada as of October 2026, from about $995 per device at entry level to $4,000 or more for premium, and usually includes the fitting and follow-up visits. Newest models are from each maker's own Canadian site or launch announcement.

Phonak: who it suits and where to buy

Phonak is the flagship brand of Sonova, the world's biggest hearing aid group. Sonova also owns Unitron, which has its North American base in Kitchener, Ontario, and the Connect Hearing clinic chain, which in recent years bought the Hearing Solutions clinics in Ontario.

Its Infinio Ultra Sphere adds a dedicated AI chip for speech in noise, aimed at restaurants and family gatherings. Phonak's Lyric is a rare option: a device placed deep in the ear canal by a professional and worn around the clock for months.

Models: Audéo Infinio (Ultra) R, Infinio Ultra Sphere, Virto R Infinio (custom), Naída Lumity (power), CROS Infinio, Lyric.

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Oticon: who it suits and where to buy

Oticon belongs to Demant, which also owns the HearingLife clinic chain across Canada. Oticon launched Reveal in August 2026, which it calls the first hearing aid with two AI systems, one for speech and one for the sounds around it, at four price points.

Intent adjusts to how the wearer moves and turns their head, and Zeal is an especially small, discreet model. Oticon also still makes Verit, for people who prefer replaceable batteries.

Models: Reveal, Intent, Zeal, Real, Verit (non-rechargeable), plus power models and custom in-the-ear styles.

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Signia: who it suits and where to buy

Signia is part of WS Audiology, the group that also makes Widex and Rexton. Its current family is called IX, and it leans into small, rechargeable designs.

Pure Charge&Go IX is a small receiver-in-canal style that Signia says has the longest battery runtime of its kind. Silk Charge&Go IX fits in the canal the same day, without a custom mould, and the Signia app can count daily steps.

Models: Pure Charge&Go IX, Silk Charge&Go IX, Active Pro IX (earbud style), Styletto IX, Insio IX (custom), Motion Charge&Go IX (behind the ear, up to profound loss).

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Starkey: who it suits and where to buy

Starkey is the only one of the five that's independently owned, by a private American company. It's the brand most focused on health features for older wearers.

Its recent models can detect a fall and send a message to family, and track activity. Omega AI+, launched in October 2026, adds a new AI processor, Auracast streaming and sleep tracking. If a fall alert is the main goal, compare it with a medical alert first.

Models: Omega AI+, Omega AI, Edge AI and G Series AI, in rechargeable behind-the-ear and custom styles.

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ReSound: who it suits and where to buy

ReSound is made by GN, the Danish group that also owns Beltone and Jabra. Its flagship since 2025 is Vivia, ReSound's first hearing aid with deep neural network (AI) noise processing.

Vivia comes only in a receiver-in-ear style and supports Auracast, the new broadcast audio for theatres, airports and TVs. Nexia, the previous flagship, is still sold in every style, including custom in-the-ear models.

Models: Vivia (receiver-in-ear), Nexia (all styles), Enzo IA (severe to profound loss).

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How do you choose between hearing aid brands?

Pick the technology level before the brand

Every brand sells the same model at three to five technology levels. Entry levels suit quiet homes and one-on-one talk; mid levels add better speech in noise. Ask the clinic to show you the levels side by side, with prices.

Ask who owns the clinic

Connect Hearing is owned by Sonova (Phonak) and HearingLife by Demant (Oticon). Their staff can still fit other brands well, but ask whether they carry several and why they recommend the one they do. An independent clinic may carry all five.

Insist on a proper fitting and a trial

Ask for real-ear measurement, which checks the sound in your parent's own ear, and a written trial period with a refund. Find out how many follow-up visits are included and what batteries, domes and repairs cost after the warranty.

Keep it simple for your parent

Rechargeable models spare fiddly batteries, and a phone app lets family help adjust settings. If your parent finds technology stressful, say so: a simpler model they actually wear beats a premium one in the drawer.

Questions families ask about hearing aid brands

How much do Phonak hearing aids cost in Canada?

Phonak doesn't publish prices; clinics set them. As of October 2026, a fitted pair typically costs about $2,000 to $8,000 in Canada, depending mostly on the technology level, with the fitting and follow-ups usually included.

What is the best hearing aid brand in Canada?

There isn't one. Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Starkey and ReSound all make excellent hearing aids. The clinic's fitting, the technology level and the follow-up care decide how well your parent hears.

Are Signia and Starkey hearing aids cheaper?

Not as a rule. Every brand sells entry, mid and premium levels at similar prices, and the clinic sets the final price. Compare the same technology level across brands when you get quotes.

Which hearing aid brands have fall detection?

Starkey is the main brand with fall detection that can send an alert to family from the hearing aid. For a parent living alone, a monitored medical alert is still the more reliable safety net.

Does the clinic I choose affect the brand I'm offered?

It can. Connect Hearing belongs to the maker of Phonak, and HearingLife to the maker of Oticon. Ask any clinic which brands it carries and why it recommends one.

Does Ontario's ADP cover any brand?

Yes. ADP pays 75% of its approved price, up to $500 per hearing aid, for people who qualify, whatever the brand, when an ADP-registered professional fits it.

Sources

Senior Care Path is independent and isn’t affiliated with any of these brands. Prices are from the sources above on the review date; your quote depends on your home and needs.

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