Hearing

What Hearing does

Hearing (hearing.com) is a privately-held, for-profit company founded in 2018 that operates in the direct-to-consumer over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid market. Per the 2026-01-25 .Shopping source, the company sells digital hearing aids approved for purchase without a prescription to adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, positioning as a more affordable alternative to prescription devices fitted by audiologists.

The product is built around app-based self-fitting capability enabled by a companion smartphone application, combined with feature components including AI-driven sound personalization, Bluetooth streaming, multiple listening programs for varied environments, directional microphones with noise reduction, invisible or in-canal form factors, and water resistance. Underlying technology is digital signal processing in line with the modern OTC category standard, with self-fit calibration replacing professional real-ear verification.

Business model is primarily one-time hardware unit sales through direct-to-consumer and OTC retail channels (global geo-scope claimed), supplemented by a potential companion app subscription tier for premium features and firmware updates. Go-to-motion is DTC with content marketing and SEO-driven educational content targeting cost-conscious adults, uninsured or underinsured consumers, and buyers seeking to avoid audiologist visits. No disclosed funding rounds, revenue figures, headcount, leadership team, or specific pricing tiers were present in the input data.

Name

Hearing

Website

http://hearing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Short description

Hearing (hearing.com), founded 2018, is a private direct-to-consumer company selling FDA-approved over-the-counter digital hearing aids with app-based self-fitting, AI sound personalization, and Bluetooth streaming to adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss seeking affordable, prescription-free alternatives to audiologist-fitted devices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Aids (Over-the-Counter Consumer Hearing Devices)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)

Keywords

• Over-the-counter hearing aids
• Direct-to-consumer hearing aids
• App-based self-fitting hearing aids
• Digital hearing aids
• Personal sound amplification

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel

Revenue model

1. OTC Hearing Aid Sales: One-time hardware sales of Over-the-Counter hearing aids sold directly to consumers. Devices are purchased upfront without ongoing professional fitting fees, reducing total cost of ownership compared to prescription hearing aids.
2. Companion App Services: Potential recurring revenue from companion smartphone applications that enable self-fitting, firmware updates, and personalized sound settings. May include premium features or subscription tiers for enhanced functionality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hearing sells FDA-approved Over-the-Counter hearing aids directly to adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, bypassing the need for a prescription or professional audiologist fitting. Devices feature app-based self-fitting, multiple listening programs, Bluetooth streaming, directional microphones with noise reduction, and AI-driven real-time sound personalization, and are offered in multiple form factors including invisible/in-canal designs at price points generally below prescription alternatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Direct-to-consumer hearing aid devices sold without a prescription to adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, featuring app-based self-fitting, AI-driven sound personalization, Bluetooth streaming, directional microphones with noise reduction, multiple listening programs (restaurants, TV, outdoor), and water-resistant construction in discreet in-canal/invisible and other form factors.
• Companion Smartphone App for Self-Fitting and Device Management Smartphone application that enables users to independently fit, adjust, and manage their OTC hearing aids, including firmware updates, personalized sound settings, and potentially premium/recurring features that support self-managed hearing care without audiologist visits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces ongoing audiologist visit costs compared to prescription hearing aids
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eargo: Direct-to-consumer hearing aid company selling virtually invisible, app-controlled hearing aids online. Closely mirrors Hearing.com's OTC/self-fit value proposition, target customer (mild-to-moderate loss), and direct GTM model.
• Lexie Hearing: OTC hearing aid brand sold DTC through LexieHearing.com with app-based self-fitting and remote audiology support. Directly comparable in channel (online DTC), product category (OTC hearing aids), and customer (cost-conscious mild-to-moderate adults).
• Audicus: Online hearing aid retailer offering pre-programmed and custom-programmed devices shipped directly to consumers. Overlaps with Hearing.com on DTC distribution, mild-to-moderate targeting, and elimination of in-person audiologist visits.
• MDHearingAid: Affordable online hearing aid brand targeting value-conscious adults with mild-to-moderate loss. Comparable on DTC channel, price-tier positioning, and customer segment overlap.
• Jabra (Enhance): Consumer-electronics brand offering OTC hearing aids (Jabra Enhance Plus) sold through retail and DTC. Comparable OTC product line, mild-to-moderate targeting, and Bluetooth/hearables crossover technology.
• Bose Hearphones / Bose SoundControl: Bose's OTC hearing aids (SoundControl) were a category-defining launch under the FDA OTC rule. Direct competitor on OTC positioning, consumer-electronics brand strength, and DTC distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Sony (CRE-C10 / CRE-E10): Major consumer-electronics incumbent that entered OTC hearing aids via partnership with WS Audiology. Competes on brand recognition and retail distribution but does not specialize exclusively in hearing as Hearing.com does.
• Sonova (Phonak): Global hearing-care incumbent (parent of Phonak) now active in OTC through its Sennheiser consumer-audio partnership. Overlaps with Hearing.com on hearing aid technology but distributes primarily through audiologist channels and serves broader acuity.
• WS Audiology (Signia): Hearing-aid conglomerate (Signia, Widex) with established prescription business now pushing OTC and DTC offerings. Comparable on product category and mild-to-moderate overlap, but distributes through professional channels as well.
• Starkey Hearing Technologies: US-based hearing aid manufacturer with both prescription and OTC (Starkey Hearing Pro) lines. Comparable product category but primarily professional-channel distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hearing