When you experience hearing loss, the first instinct is often to open the door of the nearest center to your home. Audika and Amplifon dominate the French landscape with their hundreds of points of sale, but their operating models are not as similar as one might think. The choice between these two brands depends less on their reputation than on very concrete criteria: location, range of available brands, after-sales service, and actual cost after reimbursement.
Brands of hearing aids offered: the end of single-brand
For a long time, each brand directed its clients towards its own in-house brand. Audika distributed its Audika devices, while Amplifon promoted its Amplienergy range. This approach limited the patient’s choice to a single manufacturer.
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Since 2024, the situation has evolved. Several centers from both networks have started offering devices from other manufacturers (Signia, Widex, Phonak) for complex hearing losses or patients already fitted elsewhere. This shift towards partial multi-brand changes the game for consumers.
Before making an appointment, a comparison between Audika and Amplifon helps to better understand these catalog differences. Specifically, ask the targeted center for the exact list of manufacturers it distributes. A center that displays three or four brands offers more latitude to find the device suited to your hearing profile.
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Geographical coverage: Audika and Amplifon do not cover the same areas
Do you live in a large urban area? Both brands are present there. Do you live in a rural department like Creuse, Cantal, or Haute-Loire? The reality is different.
Cross-referenced data from the Health Directory and the Ameli Directory, analyzed in 2024 by France Assos Santé, show a clear imbalance. Amplifon is more established in medium-sized towns and suburban areas, while Audika focuses on large urban areas and shopping centers.
In some sparsely populated departments, there may only be one Amplifon center (or an affiliated franchise) without an equivalent Audika. This detail has direct practical consequences: a hearing aid requires regular adjustments, often several times in the first year. If the nearest center is an hour’s drive away, follow-up becomes burdensome.
Proximity and frequency of adjustment appointments
Hearing fitting is not just about the purchase. Adjustments take several weeks, sometimes several months. The distance between your home and the center affects the quality of follow-up. Before comparing prices, first check which network has a point of sale accessible to you on a daily basis.
Impact of 100% Health on hearing aid prices
The 100% Health reform has made a category of hearing aids accessible with no out-of-pocket costs for the patient (class I). However, its effect on the pricing practices of major brands deserves closer examination.
A study by DREES published in 2023 shows that major brands, including Audika and Amplifon, have increasingly oriented their offerings towards class I devices since the ramp-up of the scheme (2019-2022). The 100% Health offer exists in both networks, but the models offered in this category vary from one center to another.
Class I and Class II: what changes for your ear
Class I devices cover basic functions: amplification, reduction of ambient noise, multiple adjustment channels. Class II devices add features such as Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, or more advanced sound processing algorithms.
- Class I (100% Health): no out-of-pocket costs with a responsible health insurance. Standard features, sufficient for mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Class II: variable out-of-pocket costs depending on the model and the mutual insurance. Advanced technologies, often more discreet and connected.
- The displayed price does not reflect the final cost: reimbursement depends on your complementary insurance contract. Request a standardized quote from each brand to compare on the same basis.
The price difference between a class I device at Audika and the same type of device at Amplifon is often minimal. It is in class II that the gaps widen, as each network negotiates its own prices with manufacturers.
Follow-up by the audioprosthetist: what really distinguishes the two brands
Have you ever noticed that two audioprosthetists equipped with the same device can yield very different results? The quality of the adjustment and follow-up is just as important as the brand of the device.
At both Audika and Amplifon, follow-up is included in the fitting package for the entire lifespan of the device. Both networks offer regular check-up appointments, cleaning, and adjustments. The difference lies in staff turnover.
An audioprosthetist who follows you over time knows your hearing profile and makes more precise adjustments. In large networks, staff turnover can lead to a change of practitioner from one visit to the next. This point is rarely mentioned in marketing brochures.
- Inquire about the seniority of the audioprosthetist at the center you are considering.
- Ask if the same professional will handle all your follow-up appointments.
- Check the opening hours: some centers in commercial areas have wider hours, while others close on Saturdays.
Warranty and replacement in case of breakdown
Both brands offer a manufacturer’s warranty on devices, usually for four years. The point to check concerns the loan of a replacement device during repairs. Not all centers have a sufficient stock of loan devices, especially in smaller branches.
The choice between Audika and Amplifon cannot be made on a theoretical grid. Visit both centers accessible from your home, request a standardized quote for the same type of device, and evaluate the interaction with the audioprosthetist. It is this combination of proximity, human rapport, and pricing transparency that determines long-term satisfaction.