Audika and Amplifon are the two largest hearing aid networks in France, with over 600 and over 700 hearing centers respectively spread across the country. Both brands offer hearing aids, audiologist follow-up, and hearing assessments. Their differences lie less in the range of services offered than in their business model, their relationship with manufacturers, and the reality of follow-up after fitting.
Vertical integration and choice of hearing aid brands
Before comparing prices or customer reviews, one structural element deserves to be understood: the vertical concentration of the market. Audika belongs to the Danish group Demant, which is also a manufacturer of hearing aids. Amplifon, an Italian publicly traded group, distributes devices from several manufacturers but has also developed capital ties with certain suppliers.
This integration has a direct consequence on the choice offered at the center. At Audika, the in-house white label brand (manufactured by Demant) plays a central role in recommendations. The audiologist can guide towards other brands, but the commercial logic pushes towards the group’s products. At Amplifon, the displayed catalog is broader, featuring models from Phonak, Oticon, or Signia, but the Amplifon white label brand (Amplienergy) is also highlighted.
For the wearer, this means that the actual choice of hearing aids depends on the chosen network. Explicitly asking to test competing brands during the appointment allows for measuring the flexibility of the center. Customer feedback published online on this subject is often more enlightening than marketing brochures, and reading the customer reviews on Audika or Amplifon helps identify situations where an audiologist directed towards a single brand without alternatives.
Follow-up after fitting: dedicated audiologist or staff rotation
Hearing fitting is not limited to the purchase of a device. Successive adjustments, adaptation to daily wear, and regular check-ups form a process that lasts several months, even years. It is during this phase that the experiences diverge the most between the two brands.
Audika emphasizes a cognitive support that includes auditory rehabilitation exercises, in addition to standard adjustments. The integrated network theoretically promotes staff stability: the audiologist who conducts the initial assessment is supposed to ensure follow-up.
Amplifon invests more in digital follow-up via a dedicated app, with the possibility of teleconsultations and remote adjustments. This model may suit those comfortable with a smartphone, but customer reviews sometimes indicate more frequent staff rotation at the center, complicating continuity of care.
Three criteria allow for evaluating the actual quality of the follow-up offered:
- The possibility of seeing the same audiologist at each appointment, a condition for coherent gradual adjustments over time
- The number of adjustment sessions included in the initial package, varying from one center to another even within the same brand
- Access to a direct contact channel (phone, messaging) with the professional who conducted the fitting, not just a centralized switchboard
Price of hearing aids and out-of-pocket expenses: what the pricing grids do not show
Both brands offer ranges from class I hearing aids (100% health, no out-of-pocket expenses) to class II models, with free pricing. Raw price comparison is unreliable: the price of the same model can vary from one Amplifon center to another, and Audika applies occasional promotional policies that blur the benchmarks.
The real financial issue lies in the total cost of fitting over four years, the standard renewal period covered by health insurance. This cost includes the device, adjustments, check-ups, replacement of ear tips, and any repairs. Some packages include everything, while others charge for additional services individually.
At Amplifon, the slowdown in the French market reported by the group during its recent financial results has led to increased commercial efforts, with extended trial offers and discounts on high-end models. Audika, backed by Demant, maintains a more stable but less negotiable pricing policy.
Check the details of the standardized quote
Since the 100% health reform, every audiologist must provide a detailed standardized quote outlining the price of the device and the cost of follow-up services. Comparing quotes from both brands on the same model (or an equivalent model) remains the most reliable method. Requesting this document before any commitment also helps identify discrepancies in billing for accessories or extended warranties.
Geographic proximity of hearing centers: a criterion to be relativized
Amplifon claims over 760 centers in France, Audika around 624. The territorial network has significantly densified in recent years, to the point that in most urban areas, both brands have a point of sale at a comparable distance.
Proximity is no longer a decisive difference between Audika and Amplifon. The relevant criterion becomes rather the availability of the audiologist: a nearby center but saturated, with appointment delays of several weeks, offers less useful service than a slightly more distant center with quick slots.
Some points to check before choosing a center:
- The actual opening hours (some centers close early or only see patients by appointment on certain days)
- The presence of a permanent audiologist, not just substitutes
- The compatibility of the center with your health insurance, as some complementary insurances have preferred partnerships with one brand or another
The choice between Audika and Amplifon relies less on the brand itself than on the local hearing center and the audiologist who takes care of you. A stable professional, transparent about the brands offered and available for long-term follow-up weighs more than the logo on the storefront.
