Hearing Tracker
Hearing Tracker is an Austin-based independent digital publisher that operates a free consumer review platform for hearing aids, generating revenue through affiliate commissions on manufacturer purchases. Its proprietary SoundScore methodology, produced in partnership with HearAdvisor's acoustic lab, evaluates devices across speech, noise, and streaming performance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Hearing Tracker does
Hearing Tracker, Inc. is a privately held, Austin, Texas-based digital publishing company that operates an independent consumer platform for hearing aid reviews and ratings. Founded by audiologist Abram Bailey (AuD, Vanderbilt University), the company produces editorial content covering prescription, over-the-counter, and PSAP hearing devices from major manufacturers including Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, Signia, ReSound, Widex, Sony, and Philips. The platform serves three primary user groups: consumers with hearing loss researching devices, audiologists and hearing professionals seeking market intelligence, and caregivers researching options for loved ones.
The core technical offering is a proprietary SoundScore evaluation methodology, scored on a 0-5 scale across Speech in Quiet, Speech in Noise, Streaming Music, Own Voice quality, and Feedback Handling. SoundScores are produced in a custom-built acoustic test lab developed in partnership with HearAdvisor, featuring calibrated flat speakers, ambisonic recordings captured in real-world environments such as restaurants and offices, real-ear measurements, and scientifically validated testing procedures. The combined HearingTracker Score integrates these lab measurements with hands-on wear/use evaluations. Supporting products include an interactive comparison tool, an active community forum at forum.hearingtracker.com, a Facebook group, an email newsletter, and an educational hearing health resource library.
Hearing Tracker monetizes exclusively through affiliate commissions when users purchase hearing aids via partner links on the site. Consumer access to all reviews, ratings, SoundScores, comparisons, and buying guides is free. The company operates with a small team supported by a network of 96 expert contributors and has extended editorial coverage into German-speaking markets beyond its core United States audience. There is no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing, and the founder remains the controlling principal.
Hearing Tracker firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hearing Tracker
- Legal name
- Hearing Tracker, Inc.
- Website
- https://hearingtracker.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hearing Tracker is an Austin-based independent digital publisher that operates a free consumer review platform for hearing aids, generating revenue through affiliate commissions on manufacturer purchases. Its proprietary SoundScore methodology, produced in partnership with HearAdvisor's acoustic lab, evaluates devices across speech, noise, and streaming performance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hearing Tracker industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Health Information / Hearing Aid Reviews
- NAICS
- Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)
Keywords
Where Hearing Tracker is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hearing Tracker business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Affiliate Commissions: Hearing Tracker earns commissions when users purchase hearing aids through affiliate links on the site. The site explicitly states 'When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission' on product review pages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free Consumer Access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hearing Tracker product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hearing Tracker is an independent content platform that publishes lab-tested hearing aid reviews, expert ratings, and buying guides for consumers. The company combines proprietary acoustic lab testing (in partnership with HearAdvisor, producing SoundScore performance metrics) with hands-on wear/use evaluations to generate HearingTracker Scores across 60+ hearing aid models. The platform also operates an accessory e-commerce shop and an online community forum.
Product overview
HearingTracker is an independent hearing aid review platform providing lab-tested product evaluations, expert ratings, and consumer guidance. The core offering consists of the hearing aid reviews and ratings platform, which combines proprietary acoustic lab testing services (in partnership with HearAdvisor) producing SoundScore performance metrics with hands-on wear/use evaluations to generate HearingTracker Scores. Supporting the platform are comparison tools, a community forum, an accessories shop, an email newsletter, and educational hearing health resources covering topics like hearing loss, tinnitus, and hearing aid maintenance. The platform reviews products across multiple hearing aid manufacturers including Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, Signia, ReSound, Widex, and OTC options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hearing Aid Reviews and Ratings Platform Independent content platform providing lab-tested hearing aid reviews, expert ratings, and comparison tools. Combines proprietary SoundScore lab measurements with hands-on wear/use evaluations to produce HearingTracker Scores for 60+ hearing aid models, covering prescription and OTC devices.
- Hearing Aid Comparison Tool
- Accessories Shop
- Hearing Aid Forum
Quantifiable outcome
- Reviews over 60 hearing aids with objective lab testing
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hearing Tracker
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hearing Tracker technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hearing Tracker partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HearAdvisorcorePartnership with HearAdvisor for acoustic lab testing and objective sound performance measurements. HearAdvisor provides custom-built testing facilities, real-ear measurements, and scientifically validated testing procedures. HearAdvisor Lab Director Dr. Steve Taddei conducts both real-world wear testing and objective lab testing for HearingTracker's reviews.
- PhonakminorPhonak is featured among the top hearing aid brands reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners. Revenue generated through affiliate commissions on product links.
- OticonminorOticon is featured among the top hearing aid brands reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners.
- StarkeyminorStarkey is featured among the top hearing aid brands reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners.
- SigniaminorSignia is featured among the top hearing aid brands reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners.
- ReSoundminorReSound is featured among the top hearing aid brands reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners.
- WidexminorWidex is featured among the top hearing aid brands reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners.
- SonyminorSony hearing aids are reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners.
- PhilipsminorPhilips hearing aids are reviewed on the platform. Logo displayed among major brand partners.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hearing Tracker competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- MDHearing: MDHearing is a direct-to-consumer hearing aid brand with significant online advertising presence. It both competes for the same end-buyer audience and is a potential affiliate partner in the same category.
- Audicus: Audicus is a direct-to-consumer hearing aid retailer that competes for the same online-buyer audience as Hearing Tracker, while also generating the kind of first-party content that competes for SEO rankings in the hearing aid category.
- Lexie Hearing: Lexie Hearing sells OTC hearing aids direct-to-consumer (with Bose-powered products) and is prominently reviewed on Hearing Tracker. As a DTC entrant it competes for affiliate-bound consumer traffic in the OTC segment.
Broad incumbents
- AudiologyOnline: AudiologyOnline is a broad professional resource for audiologists offering CE, news, and product information. It overlaps with Hearing Tracker's professional-audience content and provides an alternative destination for hearing care decision-makers.
- Wirecutter: Wirecutter (NYT) operates an affiliate-driven product review platform covering consumer electronics and health products. Its hearing aid coverage and editorial authority represent a large-scale competitive threat in the same affiliate monetization model.
- The Hearing Review: The Hearing Review is a long-established trade publication covering the hearing aid industry, founded by Karl Strom (now Hearing Tracker's EIC). It targets hearing care professionals rather than consumers but overlaps in editorial coverage of hearing aid products and industry news.
Direct peers
- HearAdvisor: HearAdvisor is both Hearing Tracker's testing partner and a quasi-peer, operating an acoustic lab and publishing lab-based hearing aid performance data. The two share underlying methodology (Dr. Steve Taddei) and overlap in publishing objective performance reviews.
- Healthy Hearing: Healthy Hearing publishes hearing aid reviews, audiologist directories, and hearing health content for consumers. It competes directly with Hearing Tracker in organic search for the same buyer-intent keywords.
- Soundly: Soundly is a direct competitor operating a hearing aid comparison and review platform with a similar content-led, affiliate-driven model. It targets the same primary consumer audience and covers overlapping OTC and prescription product categories.
Others
- Hearing Health & Technology Matters: Hearing Health & Technology Matters is an industry blog/news outlet covering hearing aids and hearing care technology. It overlaps with Hearing Tracker's editorial mission for both consumer and professional readers, serving as a complementary media peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hearing Tracker social profiles
Digital presenceHearing Tracker financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hearing Tracker leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hearing Tracker funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hearing Tracker M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hearing Tracker
What does Hearing Tracker do?
Hearing Tracker is an independent content platform that publishes lab-tested hearing aid reviews, expert ratings, and buying guides for consumers. The company combines proprietary acoustic lab testing (in partnership with HearAdvisor, producing SoundScore performance metrics) with hands-on wear/use evaluations to generate HearingTracker Scores across 60+ hearing aid models. The platform also operates an accessory e-commerce shop and an online community forum.
Is Hearing Tracker a public or private company?
Hearing Tracker is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hearing Tracker founded?
Hearing Tracker was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hearing Tracker based?
Hearing Tracker is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hearing Tracker make money?
One revenue line is on record: affiliate Commissions.
Who are Hearing Tracker's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are MDHearing, Audicus and Lexie Hearing. Broad incumbents are AudiologyOnline, Wirecutter and The Hearing Review. Direct peers are HearAdvisor, Healthy Hearing and Soundly. Hearing Health & Technology Matters is listed as an others.
Does Hearing Tracker have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hearing Tracker.
What industry is Hearing Tracker in?
Hearing Tracker's product category is Consumer Health Information / Hearing Aid Reviews. 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 621340 and its SIC code is 8071.