ReSound vs. Starkey
ReSound offers some of our favorite rechargeable hearing aids, while Starkey offers useful health and wellness features such as step tracking and fall detection.
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Are you in the market for a new hearing aid? Then you probably know there’s a wide variety of brands and styles to choose from, especially from the best hearing aid providers. It’s helpful to have so many options, but it also makes choosing the right hearing aid for your preferences and individual hearing profile overwhelming. That’s why on this page, we’re comparing two major players in the industry — ReSound and Starkey.
Our tech experts evaluated and compared hearing aids from both brands to determine who they’re best for. We also consulted with audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman for her key takeaways about each brand. If they are two of your top options and you’re curious about how their hearing aid styles, technology, and pricing compare, keep reading. We’ll outline everything you need to know to make a sound choice.
ReSound Key Takeaways
- Hearing aids automatically adjust to new sound environments
- Best devices for users with atypically shaped ears
- First “Made for iPhone” hearing aids on the market
Starkey Key Takeaways
- Hearing aids equipped with advanced AI technology
- An industry leader in devices with health and wellness features
- Best custom solutions for severe hearing loss
ReSound vs. Starkey Comparison
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|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Capability | Yes | Yes (phone, TV) |
| Tinnitus Support Help | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Service | Videos, phone, email, online form | Phone, online FAQ, email |
| Accompanying App | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Yes, only products sold by providers | Yes |
| Free Trial | Yes, 90 day return policy | Yes, 30- or 45-day risk-free (professional fees may apply) |
| Website |
See Pricing
Links to Zip Hearing
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See Pricing
Links to Zip Hearing
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An Introduction to ReSound and Starkey
ReSound is owned by Denmark-based GN Group, an audio services company that has been making hearing aids since 1943, when it was then known as Danavox.1 ReSound stands out for their device compatibility with Auracast, which provides seamless connectivity to Bluetooth devices. It also means that ReSound hearing aids contain the software that readies them for future advances in audio streaming technology, making them a good choice for a longer-term hearing solution.
Starkey is an American company that has been manufacturing hearing aids since the 1960s, and through the Starkey Hearing Foundation, the company donates hearing aids to people around the world who need them.2 Starkey is also a leader in technological innovation, with AI-powered hearing aids that offer superior speech clarification and nuanced sound processing in challenging environments.
FYI: Comfort is crucial for hearing aid adherence. An international study found that two common reasons seniors didn't wear their hearing aids were discomfort and because they found background noise annoying.3 For this reason, follow-up appointments with hearing professionals are a crucial part of the process.
From the perspective of basic amplification, ReSound and Starkey are relatively similar. Both offer a full range of products in different styles, including invisible in the canal (IIC) and behind the ear (BTE). ReSound has a unique product called Microphone-In-Ear, which allows their ITC hearing aid users to hear better when there is a lot of background noise. This style is also suitable for people with atypically shaped ears who have difficulty wearing receiver-in-canal (RIC) or BTE instruments.
Starkey has always been the industry leader in custom in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids that eliminate feedback for more severe hearing loss. They also offer some of the industry’s first hearing aids that feature health, wellness, and safety features backed by AI technology. These features include fall detection, step tracking, and daily brain activity reports. For seniors who want a high-tech hearing aid that does more, we’d recommend Starkey.
Starkey vs. ReSound: What’s the Difference?
ReSound’s portfolio is based on advanced digital technologies that automatically evaluate the environment and attempt to adjust loudness and microphone settings to maximize hearing and understanding. Most of their devices also have manual controls on the hearing aids and smartphone apps for those who prefer a more hands-on way to adjust.
Testing out ReSound hearing aids
ReSound offered the first “Made for iPhone” hearing aid. They have also developed a substantial collection of wireless accessories, including remote microphones and TV streamers. These allow users to hear better in noisy environments and at distances traditionally challenging for hearing aids.
>> Related Reading: The Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids of 2025
Starkey also offers Made for iPhone devices and similar accessories. One of Starkey’s standout features is fall detection. This feature will notify family members or other caregivers if the user falls. Starkey also allows you to track other wellness functions like daily steps and time spent in active conversations using their Thrive mobile app. The My Starkey app enables wearers to make adjustments to their hearing aids, schedule “TeleHear” appointments, or find lost hearing aids on their phone or Apple Watch.
Testing out Starkey hearing aids
Buyer's Tip: Want to compare ReSound and Starkey to the industry’s other top providers? Read our guide to the Best Hearing Aids for Seniors in 2025.
The Cost of ReSound and Starkey Hearing Aids
ReSound and Starkey don’t advertise their prices online, so it is best to contact a hearing provider in your area to find out the exact numbers. Your hearing aid professional will also address any concerns or questions you may have about hearing aids so that you can find the right device for your needs. For more details on visiting a hearing provider, you can head over to our consumer buying guide for hearing aids.
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ReSound and Starkey vs. the Competition
As two well-known leaders in hearing technology with solid reputations, ReSound and Starkey hold their own against their competitors.
ReSound’s Organic Hearing technology improves sound clarity, helping users discern speech in a natural way. The company’s Spatial Sense Technology also makes sounds around wearers more natural and clear. Hearing aid users sensitive to noise distortion might like the LiNX Quattro. It uses the full microphone range, which allows sound processing without distortion. Customs by ReSound are personalized to your ears and a good choice for users who value discreet hearing aids.
Pro Tip: You can check whether your hearing aids are compatible with your devices by scanning the QR code on ReSound’s compatibility page.
Overall, Starkey is a solid choice for tech-savvy seniors who want advanced hearing devices able to process sound in complex listening environments, as well as the ability to connect to TVs, smartphones, and tablets.
For comparison’s sake, Signia is known for the development of the world’s first slim receiver-in-canal hearing aid that can operate for 24 hours when fully charged. The Pure Charge&Go Nx — great for people with mild-to-severe hearing loss — is designed to be charged overnight and is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which tends to last longer. In our Signia review, we rated it as a top choice for single-sided hearing loss solutions.
Did You Know? Comfort, quality, and battery life are three key factors in user satisfaction when it comes to hearing aids, according to the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research.4
We also liked the Beltone hearing aids we reviewed, but those can only be adjusted by a Beltone specialist at one of their own hearing centers, whereas ReSound and Starkey hearing aids can be adjusted by any audiologist who is trained in each brand’s fitting process.
>> Learn More: Read our audiologist’s side-by-side comparison of ReSound hearing aids vs. Oticon.
For another brand comparison, one of our audiologists cited Oticon as an excellent choice for a long-lasting hearing aid, as the company’s equipment holds up extremely well over time. And like ReSound and Starkey, Oticon has a vast network of independent providers, which makes it easier to find a qualified audiologist to help adjust or repair your hearing aids if you experience problems while traveling.
Many of our reviewers’ patients have had positive experiences with Oticon’s approach to sound processing: Oticon hearing aids are designed to mimic natural loudness filtering, so users can hear sounds in background noise in a distinctive but non-distracting way.
>> Related Reading: Best OTC Hearing Aids for Seniors in 2025.
If you have mild-to-moderate hearing loss, OTC hearing aids might be a workable option. Eargo’s hearing aids are discreet and can be purchased online. Another OTC hearing aid we rated highly was Jabra Enhance, which start at around $1,000 a pair and are rechargeable, have an accompanying app for both iOS and Android, and come with a three-year warranty.
Our Methodology: ReSound vs. Starkey
Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman has experience testing and prescribing hearing aids from both brands. In this photo, she is wearing a pair of Starkey hearing aids.
Our senior tech experts thoroughly research each company’s hearing aid design, customer service and performance track record, and technology to help you choose the hearing aid that’s best for your needs as well as your budget. We considered the sound quality, ease of use, and comfort of each company’s hearing aids and took notes on our experience. If a hearing aid company offers an online hearing test, we take it and compare our results with our evaluation from our own audiologists to help gauge its accuracy. We also consulted with audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman to learn more about her experience with both brands.
Below are more details about how we evaluate hearing aids in our reviews.
- Sound quality: Hearing aids can be expensive, in time as well as money. We test each company’s offerings as carefully as possible to ensure you get the hearing experience you’re looking for when you purchase these devices. In addition to testing sound quality, we also research each company’s technology, specs, and history of innovation to give readers an understanding of the technical aspects of each company’s offerings.
- Cost: Many hearing aid companies, such as ReSound and Oticon, do not publish pricing information on their websites. As each company sells prescription hearing aids, they’re only available through audiologists and hearing professionals, which means costs vary by provider and geographic area. We cross-reference pricing data we find online with our personal experience and costs to give readers as accurate a price range as possible.
- Design and durability: Hearing aids work with sophisticated technology, and it’s just as crucial that the device can be handled and maintained by users (when applicable) with as little risk of damage as possible. We test hearing aids and research customer reviews to look for suspected issues with a particular aid or product line to make sure products we recommend are durable and reliable.
- Ease of use: This is a big one. We consider the process of learning how to insert and remove devices, how to adjust them for sound, how to clean them, and how to maintain each device to give you an idea of what to expect in each company’s hearing aids.
- Bluetooth compatibility: There’s an increasing demand for hearing aids that have the ability to seamlessly stream audio, so we look for this option and test it whenever possible.
The Bottom Line
ReSound and Starkey are on nearly equal grounds, although it’s clear that one is better than the other in some areas. Both companies offer advanced technology and devices backed by reliable customer service. The only real difference would be for people at higher fall risk (Starkey has the edge) or those with Cochlear Americas brand cochlear implants or BAHA devices (ReSound wins here). Aside from that, check them both out, pick a local provider, and you can’t go wrong. For a more hands-on look at both providers, take a look at our 2025 ReSound review and Starkey review.
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GN Hearing. (2024). Danovox Portfolio.
Starkey. (2025). Bill Austin.
National Library of Medicine (PubMed). (2022). Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Satisfaction in South Korea.
National Library of Medicine (PubMed). (2023). Consumer Survey on Hearing Aid Benefit and Satisfaction.
