Most hearing aid brands belong to just a few groups. Phonak and Unitron are Sonova brands; Signia and Widex belong to WS Audiology; Oticon belongs to Demant; ReSound belongs to GN. Knowing the owner explains shared technology, and helps you compare brands sensibly.
The direct answer
Most of the world's hearing aids come from a handful of groups. Sonova owns Phonak and Unitron. WS Audiology owns Signia and Widex. Demant owns Oticon. GN owns ReSound. Starkey is an independent American company. Sister brands often share underlying technology but are positioned and priced differently.
Who owns what
- Sonova (Switzerland): Phonak and Unitron, along with cochlear implant maker Advanced Bionics.
- WS Audiology (Germany and Denmark): Signia and Widex, formed by the merger of Sivantos (formerly Siemens hearing) and Widex. It also owns Rexton, a sister brand of Signia. Prudent does not sell Rexton; the closely related brand we fit is Signia.
- Demant (Denmark): Oticon, as well as Bernafon and Sonic.
- GN (Denmark): ReSound, along with Beltone, Interton and Jabra Enhance. Prudent does not sell Beltone; the closely related GN brand we fit is ReSound.
- Starkey (USA): independent, family-founded.
Why this matters when you compare
- Shared platforms: sister brands can build on the same chip and research, so features may be similar even when names and prices differ.
- Different positioning: for example, Unitron is often positioned around personalisation and trial flexibility, while Phonak leads its group's flagship range.
- Service and parts: the same group often shares repair and support networks.
- Beware of 'different brand, different technology' marketing: sometimes it is the same technology with a different name and price.
Hearing aid companies vs brands in India
When people search for the best hearing aid company in India, they usually mean a brand. The brands sold here, from Signia and Phonak to ReSound and Oticon, are made by the global companies above and sold mainly through authorised audiology clinics, which test your hearing, fit the aid and service it. Prices for the brands we fit are on our 2026 hearing aid price list, and our ranking of the brands is in top 10 hearing aid brands in India.
Hearing machine company names: a quick list
- Signia, Widex, Rexton: WS Audiology
- Phonak, Unitron: Sonova
- Oticon, Bernafon: Demant
- ReSound, Interton, Beltone: GN
- Starkey: Starkey (independent)
"Hearing machine" and "kaan ki machine" are everyday names for a hearing aid, so these are the same companies. Prudent fits Signia, Phonak, Unitron, ReSound, Oticon, Widex, Starkey and Interton, not Rexton or Beltone.
What we fit at Prudent
We work with Signia, Phonak, Unitron, ReSound, Oticon, Widex and other brands, and recommend based on your audiogram, lifestyle and budget rather than loyalty to a group. See our brand pages for Signia, Phonak, Unitron, ReSound, Oticon and Widex.
Compare sister brands
Ownership can change with acquisitions, so treat this as a guide and check each manufacturer for the latest. Book a free hearing test to try brands side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
Which company makes Signia hearing aids?
WS Audiology, formed by the merger of Sivantos (formerly Siemens hearing) and Widex. The same group owns Widex and Rexton, which is why Signia and Widex share some technology.
Who makes Phonak hearing aids?
Sonova of Switzerland, which also owns Unitron and the cochlear-implant maker Advanced Bionics. Phonak and Unitron are sister brands built on related platforms but positioned differently.
Which hearing aid companies sell in India?
Almost every hearing aid sold in India comes from five groups: WS Audiology (Signia, Widex), Sonova (Phonak, Unitron), Demant (Oticon), GN (ReSound, Interton, Beltone) and Starkey. They sell mainly through authorised audiology clinics that test, fit and service the aids.
Is the company or the brand more important when choosing a hearing aid?
Neither on its own. Sister brands often share platforms, so the right choice comes down to the specific model, how well it is fitted to your hearing test, and the after-sales service of the clinic that fits it.
Do sister hearing aid brands use the same technology?
Often they build on the same chips and research, so features can be similar, but they are positioned and priced differently. Be wary of marketing that presents the same technology under a different name as something new.
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