A hearing aid buyer asks how much a hearing test costs, whether the device can be tried before buying, whether the price is shown in advance and whether the sum can be paid interest-free. These decide 50 points out of 100.
toivonkuulo.fi · Toivon Kuulo Oy (PRH 2872428-9), owner Sari Toivanen; hearing aid store in Northern Finland with branches in Rovaniemi, Oulu and Kemi as well as an online shop; ReSound/Signia/Starkey devices
71.1SCORE
Price of a hearing test44
Hearing aid trial before purchase60
Device prices shown100
Interest-free payment period100
Basic metrics · 75.7
Digital quality64
Transparency85
Reachability68
AI quality score87
+ Hearing examination prices are given as a euro service price list: basic examination 99 euros, extensive examination 155 euros and check-up for a hearing aid owner 120 euros, all including the Kanta fee.
kuuloverkko.fi · Kuuloverkko; hearing aid shop that fits Oticon devices, branches in Helsinki (Hertsi), Hyvinkää, Järvenpää and Tampere
70.3SCORE
Price of a hearing test64
Hearing aid trial before purchase100
Device prices shown100
Interest-free payment period0
Basic metrics · 70.9
Digital quality70
Transparency78
Reachability45
AI quality score89
+ Hearing aid prices are published as a model-specific table in euros: for example Oticon Zeal 2,650 euros/pc, Oticon Intent 1,500 to 2,400 euros/pc and Oticon Real 1,400 to 2,200 euros/pc, all including 25.5 per cent VAT.
Basic metrics: 70.9, rank 4 · ▲ 2 places
– Interest-free payment period: The page urges visitors to ask about interest-free instalments, but the number of months is not stated.
kuuloxi.fi · Kuuloxi Oy (business ID (Y-tunnus) 1864554-4, Jyväskylä); about 25 years of experience in hearing care, branches in Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Helsinki, Tampere and Vantaa
59.4SCORE
Price of a hearing test71
Hearing aid trial before purchase60
Device prices shown0
Interest-free payment period0
Basic metrics · 73.4
Digital quality74
Transparency75
Reachability60
AI quality score84
+ Hearing test prices are stated as a price list in euros: the most extensive examination (tone and speech audiometry, bone conduction and uncomfortable loudness level) 130 euros and a more limited one 100 euros, additional tests 60 to 100 euros.
Basic metrics: 73.4, rank 3 · no change
– Hearing aid prices are shown: The hearing aid product page (Oticon Zeal) has no price, and the hearing test page has no hearing aid prices.
kuulopiste.fi · Seinäjoen Kuulopiste Oy (PRH 2093784-5); an independent hearing care business founded in 2007, with locations in Seinäjoki, Kajaani, Kuhmo and Suomussalmi (kuulopiste.fi)
56.5SCORE
Price of a hearing test79
Hearing aid trial before purchase0
Device prices shown50
Interest-free payment period0
Basic metrics · 73.6
Digital quality80
Transparency70
Reachability68
AI quality score75
+ Hearing test prices are stated in euros directly on the site: hearing check 50 euros, tone audiometry (Agr) 75 euros and Agr with speech test 145 euros.
Basic metrics: 73.6, rank 2 · ▼ 2 places
– Hearing aid trial before purchase: The trial is not mentioned on the front page, the hearing test page or the service price list.
kuulostudio.fi · Suomen Kuulostudio Oy; hearing aid fitting without a doctor's referral, locations Tampere, Seinäjoki, Pori, Hämeenlinna and Vaasa
36.5SCORE
Price of a hearing test0
Hearing aid trial before purchase0
Device prices shown0
Interest-free payment period100
Basic metrics · 56.9
Digital quality74
Transparency22
Reachability75
AI quality score64
+ The branch network is listed comprehensively with addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and opening hours (Tampere, Pori, Seinäjoki, Vaasa and Hämeenlinna).
Basic metrics: 56.9, rank 5 · no change
– Price of hearing test: the price of a hearing test was not found on the front page, the hearing aids page or the instalment payment page.
kuulojaapuvalinepalvelu.fi · Kuulo- ja apuvälinepalvelu Oy (PRH 2235743-0); hearing aid fitting and assistive devices, locations in Vantaa, Lohja and Espoo (Leppävaara and Olari)
24.4SCORE
Price of a hearing test0
Hearing aid trial before purchase0
Device prices shown0
Interest-free payment period0
Basic metrics · 48.8
Digital quality72
Transparency22
Reachability52
AI quality score49
+ Branches in Vantaa (Tikkurila), Lohja and Espoo are listed with their own telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
Basic metrics: 48.8, rank 6 · no change
– Hearing test price: The hearing test price was not found on the front page, the hearing test page or the hearing aid page.
Price of the cheapest published air and bone conduction test, excluding speech audiometry.
60 € or less = 100 points, 130 € or more = 0, directly proportional in between.
20 p
Hearing aid trial before purchase
QUESTIONCan I try the device in everyday life before I buy?
Whether the shop publicly mentions a trial and whether it is free of charge.
Free of charge = 100, trial possible but fee not stated = 60, not stated = 0.
14 p
Device prices shown
QUESTIONCan I see the price of a hearing aid before getting in touch?
Whether the price of a hearing aid or aid package is published on the shop's own page.
Model-specific prices = 100, only a starting price for the package = 50, no prices = 0.
8 p
Interest-free payment period
QUESTIONCan I split the price of the device without a surcharge?
Length of the interest-free payment period in months.
12 months or more = 100 points, 0 = 0, in between directly proportional.
8 p
Basic metrics
Digital quality, transparency, reachability and AI quality score
Basic metrics × 0.5
50 p
Notes
The comparison includes six hearing aid shops. The points are based on the shops' own price, service and payment pages. Prices of the devices are not compared with each other, because models and features vary, but it is measured whether prices are shown at all.
All six examine hearing without a doctor's referral, so it is not scored. Information that was not found on the shop's pages is marked as missing with the reasons, and receives zero points for that motive.
About this comparison
We scored 6 independent hearing aid shops on 20 metrics: technical quality, transparency, reachability and AI quality. The most important question: can you see the price of the hearing test, the price range of the devices and the Kela reimbursement before you book an appointment?
Buying a hearing aid is a big and rarely repeated decision, in which the consumer's greatest uncertainty is price and reimbursement. We compared six independent Finnish hearing care businesses that fit hearing aids from different manufacturers for consumers. We looked at the matter from the buyer's point of view: can you see the price or free-of-charge status of the hearing test, the price range of hearing aids, Kela or wellbeing services county reimbursement, warranty and servicing, the trial period for the devices and the branch network already before you book an appointment. We do not assess the quality of the hearing aids themselves or the success of the fitting but how openly the business states these matters on its public site.
What transparency means in this category
Price of hearing test or its being free shown (25), price range of hearing aids shown (20), Kela or wellbeing services county reimbursement and excess stated (15), warranty and maintenance service stated (15), trial period of the devices stated (10), network of locations listed on the site (10), business ID (Y-tunnus) shown on the site (5)
How to read the comparison correctly: Half of the points come from buyer's questions, i.e. things the buyer finds out before deciding. The other half measures how openly the company publishes its prices, terms and contact details. Clear differences in points indicate a genuine difference: one tells you the price immediately, another only after logging in. Close scores should not be read as a ranking order, because every measurement has a margin of variation. The measurement accuracy and the full calculation formula are open in the methodology.
Customer experience is brought into the assessment separately. We also collect customer feedback and customer experiences about companies through separate surveys. The survey results will be added to the overall assessment later.
All six are independent Finnish hearing-care shops. They are not device manufacturers but fit hearing aids from various manufacturers (for example Oticon, ReSound, Signia and Starkey) for the consumer. Toivon Kuulo and Kuulo- ja apuvälinepalvelu display the business ID (Y-tunnus); for some it is found only on the privacy or contact page.
Transparency of price and compensation is a pain point in the industry. A hearing aid is a large and rarely made purchase, and Kela or wellbeing services county reimbursement significantly affects the final price. The comparison rewards shops that state the price of a hearing test, the price range of the devices and the reimbursement practice without the consumer having to call.
This comparison does not measure the quality of the hearing aids themselves or the success of the fitting, but how transparently the shop states prices, reimbursements, warranty, trial period and its locations on its public website.
Comparison guide
What to consider in the comparison
All six are independent hearing care shops, not hearing aid manufacturers. They fit hearing aids of various brands, for example Oticon, ReSound, Signia and Starkey models.
Price transparency clearly divides the sector in two. Some shops publish a model-specific price table or a clear price range (for example Kuuloverkko, Kuuloxi and Toivon Kuulo), while large chains often direct customers to book an appointment before stating the price.
The price of a hearing test varies. Some shops state the test price in euros (about 50 to 155 euros depending on scope), some offer the test free of charge when hearing aids are bought, and some do not state a test price at all.
The total price of a hearing aid is typically around 1,000 to 3,000 euros per device, depending on model and features. Buying two devices therefore costs significantly more, so seeing the price range in advance is important to the consumer.
Stating the Kela and wellbeing services county reimbursement and the patient's own share is a weak point across the sector: few businesses itemise reimbursement practices on their public site, even though it materially affects the final price.
How Suomen Paras assesses and scores
Every company is measured with the same public formula: half of the points come from buyer's questions and half from basic metrics, which have four pillars: technical quality, transparency, reachability and AI quality score. Ranking cannot be bought, and you can see the origin of each point on the company's profile. Read the full methodology →
Expert tips
Ask for a written price estimate before deciding to buy. If the shop does not publish prices, ask for both the hearing test and hearing aid prices and any out-of-pocket share to be itemised clearly.
Make use of the hearing aid trial period. Most shops let you take the devices home for about one or two weeks without any obligation to buy. Try the devices in your own daily life before you decide.
Find out the warranty and servicing in advance. Ask the length of the warranty period (often two years), what the warranty covers and where you can get servicing and adjustments during the service life of the device.
Make sure of the reimbursement route. Ask whether a hearing aid can be obtained through the wellbeing services county, and what your own share is. In accident cases the payer may be an insurance company or the State Treasury.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the prices of hearing aids without making contact?
Varies by shop. Some publish a model-specific price table or a clear price range on their site, while others state the price only at the time of booking an appointment or a hearing test. The comparison rewards shops that show prices in advance.
How much does a hearing test cost?
The price of the examination is typically about 50 to 155 euros depending on its scope. Some shops carry out the examination free of charge when you buy the hearing aids from the same shop. Not everyone states the examination price publicly.
Can I try a hearing aid before buying?
Most often yes. Shops lend the devices for about one or two weeks for a home trial, and the trial does not usually commit you to buying. During the trial, the device settings are fine-tuned as needed.
Do Kela or the wellbeing services county reimburse a hearing aid?
Through public healthcare, a hearing aid can be obtained as a wellbeing services county service, in which case your own share is small. When buying from a private shop you pay for the device yourself, unless it is covered by an insurer's or the State Treasury's payment commitment. Few private shops itemise their reimbursement practice on their site, so ask about it directly.
Are you listed and would like to rank higher?
The free pre-analysis shows every item where your company loses points and which rank fixing it is enough for. The paid analysis shows what the items are and how to fix them.
Can't find your company on the list even though it should be there? Get in touch and we will include it in the next measurement round.
