Sonova
Sonova Holding AG is a Swiss, vertically integrated hearing care company that designs, manufactures, and distributes hearing aids, cochlear implants, and audiological care services across more than 100 countries, serving hearing-impaired individuals and the audiologists and hearing care professionals who fit them.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersStafa, Switzerland
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sonova does
Sonova Holding AG, headquartered in Stäfa, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker: SOON), is a vertically integrated manufacturer and provider of hearing care solutions operating in more than 100 countries with approximately 18,000 employees. The company's product and service portfolio is organized across three business segments: Wholesale hearing instruments (Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton brands) sold to audiologists and hearing care professionals; Audiological Care / Retail (AudioNova, Boots Hearingcare, Connect Hearing, Geers, Schoonenberg, Lapperre, Triton Hearing and other regional brands) operating owned stores delivering fitting, aftercare, and subscription-like services; and Cochlear Implants via Advanced Bionics for severe-to-profound hearing loss. Underlying technology centers on proprietary signal processing, with the Phonak Audéo Sphere (August 2024) positioned as the world's first hearing aid with a dedicated AI chip, followed by the Infinio Ultra Sphere and Virto R Infinio platforms featuring AI-based environment recognition, speech clarity, and noise reduction, plus patented accessories such as the EasyGuard wax management system.
Sonova monetizes primarily through hardware sales across both wholesale and retail channels, complemented by recurring retail audiology services (fitting, aftercare, hearing tests) and a smaller Cochlear Implants hardware stream that may carry partial health-insurance reimbursement. The Wholesale channel reaches end users via independent audiologists; the Retail channel reaches end users directly through Sonova-owned stores; and the Cochlear Implants channel is distributed through medical specialists and hospitals. Additional distribution is provided through a renewed Costco partnership and, since December 2025, the acquired SilentCloud digital health app, extending the offering into connected and software-enabled hearing health. In FY 2025/26, Sonova reported sales of CHF 3,605.9 million (up 5.9% in local currencies), net profit of CHF 546 million, normalized EBITA of CHF 811.2 million (up 17.3% in local currencies), and a 74% gross margin, with a stated target of CHF 6 billion in revenue by FY 2030-31.
In March 2026, Sonova announced the divestiture of its Consumer Hearing business (Sennheiser consumer audio, acquired in 2021) to refocus on hearing aids and cochlear implants, alongside a partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board to open a new Innovation Center for Affordable Hearing Solutions and an Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore. Leadership transitioned to CEO Eric Bernard, succeeding Arnd Kaldowski, and a new proprietary hearing aid platform is slated for launch in November 2026.
Sonova firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sonova
- Legal name
- Sonova Holding AG
- Website
- https://sonova.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Sonova Holding AG is a Swiss, vertically integrated hearing care company that designs, manufactures, and distributes hearing aids, cochlear implants, and audiological care services across more than 100 countries, serving hearing-impaired individuals and the audiologists and hearing care professionals who fit them.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sonova industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)
Keywords
Where Sonova is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stafa
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Sonova business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hearing Instruments (Wholesale): Wholesale distribution of hearing aids and related products through audiologists and hearing care professionals globally under brands Phonak, Unitron, and Hansaton.
- Audiological Care (Retail): Retail hearing care services and products through owned retail stores under brands AudioNova, Boots Hearingcare, Connect Hearing, Geers, and other regional brands. Includes hearing tests, fitting, and aftercare services.
- Cochlear Implants: Advanced Bionics cochlear implant systems for severe-to-profound hearing loss, including surgical implants and related components.
- Consumer Hearing (Divesting): Sennheiser consumer audio business including headphones and soundbars, which Sonova acquired in 2021 and is now divesting to focus on core hearing care business.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sonova product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sonova develops, manufactures, and distributes hearing care solutions including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and related audiological care services. The company operates a vertically integrated model across Wholesale (Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton brands sold through audiologists), Retail (owned stores such as AudioNova, Boots Hearingcare, Connect Hearing), and Cochlear Implants (Advanced Bionics). It serves customers in over 100 countries with approximately 18,000 employees.
Product overview
Sonova operates as a vertically integrated hearing care company across three business segments: Wholesale (hearing aids), Retail (hearing care services), and Cochlear Implants. The product portfolio centers on Phonak as the primary hearing aid brand, featuring AI-powered products like the Audéo Sphere (world's first hearing aid with dedicated AI chip), Virto R Infinio, and Infinio Ultra lines. Advanced Bionics provides cochlear implant solutions. The Retail segment operates through AudioNova and multiple regional brands including Boots Hearingcare, Connect Hearing, and others across global markets. In 2025-26, Sonova generated CHF 3.6 billion in sales with approximately 18,000 employees serving customers in over 100 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Phonak: Global hearing solutions brand specializing in hearing aids
- Unitron
- AudioNova
- Advanced Bionics
- Virto R Infinio
- Infinio Ultra Sphere
- Phonak Audéo Sphere
Products and services
- Phonak Audéo Sphere AI-powered hearing aid with a dedicated on-device AI chip for improved speech clarity and background noise reduction, sold through audiologists and hearing care professionals globally.
- Phonak Infinio Ultra AI-powered hearing aids with improved speech clarity from all directions and a patented EasyGuard wax management system for easier maintenance.
- Phonak Virto R Infinio Custom in-the-ear hearing aid offering deep personalization using biometric data and advanced modeling, with compact ergonomic design.
- Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Systems Surgically implanted cochlear implant systems for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, distributed through medical specialists and hospitals globally.
- Unitron Hearing Aids Hearing aid brand offering consumer-focused hearing solutions within Sonova's Wholesale business segment, sold through audiologists.
- AudioNova Retail Hearing Care Retail hearing care services and products through owned stores across Brazil, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, and the US, including hearing tests, fitting, and aftercare.
- SilentCloud App Mobile application for hearing support providing hearing-related digital functionality to complement Sonova's hardware portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- FY 2025/26 sales of CHF 3.6 billion, up 5.9% in local currencies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sonova
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sonova technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Sonova partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Singapore Economic Development BoardcoreSonova partnered with Singapore Economic Development Board on March 31, 2026 to expand its innovation and operations footprint in Asia Pacific by establishing a new Innovation Center for Affordable Hearing Solutions and a regional headquarters in Singapore. The initiative aims to develop cost-efficient hearing solutions tailored to Asian markets and position Singapore as a strategic gateway for Sonova's growth in the region.
- SilentCloudminorSonova Holding AG acquired the SilentCloud app, expanding its digital hearing health offerings and connected health services.
- University of StirlingminorSonova AG is participating in the COG-MHEAR programme, a UK-wide research initiative developing AI-powered hearing glasses that combine lip-reading technology with AI and 5G cloud computing. The programme is led by Edinburgh Napier University and also involves Nokia Bell Labs. Researchers are working toward making devices more widely available and affordable.
- Edinburgh Napier UniversityminorLed the COG-MHEAR programme which Sonova AG participates in, developing AI-powered hearing glasses for people with hearing loss.
- CostcominorSonova resumed its partnership with Costco for distribution of hearing aids, expanding retail channel access.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sonova competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GN Group: Parent of GN Hearing (ReSound, Beltone, Interton, Jabra) and GN Audio, a global hearing aid and intelligent audio solutions company. Directly competes with Sonova/Phonak in prescription hearing aids and increasingly in hearables and OTC.
- Starkey Hearing Technologies: US-based private hearing aid manufacturer competing with Phonak, Oticon, and Signia across the prescription channel, with growing focus on AI features (e.g., Evolv AI, Genesis AI) that overlap Sonova's AI roadmap.
- Amplifon: Italy-based global hearing care retailer with one of the largest networks of hearing care centers worldwide. Comparable to Sonova's Retail segment (AudioNova, Boots Hearingcare, etc.) and increasingly a competitor in the supply chain.
- WS Audiology: Owner of Signia, Widex, and other hearing aid brands, formed from the merger of Sivantos and Widex. Directly competes with Sonova across the global wholesale hearing aid market with comparable brand portfolio and audiologist-channel focus.
- Cochlear Limited: Global leader in cochlear implants, directly competing with Sonova's Advanced Bionics in the surgical implant segment for severe-to-profound hearing loss. Also expanding into acoustics and sound processor adjacencies.
- Demant: Denmark-based global hearing healthcare group operating Oticon, Bernafon, Sonic, and Philips Hearing Solutions across hearing aids, hearing implants, and diagnostics. Closest direct competitor to Sonova across the wholesale, retail, and implant stack.
- MED-EL: Austria-headquartered cochlear and middle-ear implant maker competing with Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Limited in the surgical implant segment. Smaller scale but a relevant competitor in implant indications.
Emerging players
- Eargo: US DTC/OTC hearing aid company selling direct-to-consumer via online channels. Represents the emerging OTC and DTC model that competes with Sonova's traditional audiologist channel at the entry-level price point.
- Audicus: US online hearing aid retailer offering affordable, pre-programmed hearing aids directly to consumers. Part of the OTC/DTC wave that targets the same mild-to-moderate hearing loss patient as Sonova's lower-tier products.
Broad incumbents
- Apple: Consumer technology incumbent whose AirPods Pro 2 introduced a clinical-grade hearing aid feature. Not a hearing aid manufacturer in the traditional sense, but its installed base and brand have the potential to absorb a portion of the mild hearing loss market that historically flowed through Sonova's channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sonova social profiles
Digital presenceSonova financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sonova leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Sonova subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries22 records
Sonova funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sonova M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A7 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sonova
What does Sonova do?
Sonova develops, manufactures, and distributes hearing care solutions including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and related audiological care services. The company operates a vertically integrated model across Wholesale (Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton brands sold through audiologists), Retail (owned stores such as AudioNova, Boots Hearingcare, Connect Hearing), and Cochlear Implants (Advanced Bionics). It serves customers in over 100 countries with approximately 18,000 employees.
Is Sonova a public or private company?
Sonova is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Sonova founded?
Sonova was founded in 1947. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Sonova based?
Sonova is headquartered in Stafa, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Sonova make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hearing Instruments (Wholesale) is the primary driver. The others are audiological Care (Retail), cochlear Implants and consumer Hearing (Divesting).
Who are Sonova's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GN Group, Starkey Hearing Technologies, Amplifon, WS Audiology, Cochlear Limited, Demant and MED-EL. Emerging players are Eargo and Audicus. Apple is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Sonova have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sonova.
What industry is Sonova in?
Sonova's product category is Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAKAH, Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers, with a secondary code of CRACANAL, Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices. Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3841.