Academia.edu
Commercial social networking site for academics and researchers to share research papers and monitor impact.
Academia.edu at a glance
Academia.edu is an education website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #1970 in the country. It was founded in 2008 by Richard Price and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. Today Academia.edu is owned by Academia, Inc.. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 52 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through academia premium subscriptions, mentorship matching fees. Its closest rivals include researchgate.net, scribd.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 48.9 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 50.4 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 52 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 55.1 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Organic search44%
- Direct36%
- Referral10%
- Social6%
- Paid4%
Audience & demographics
- Women51%
- Men49%
- Age 18-2434%
- Age 25-3427%
- Age 35-4419%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 15.6 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| academia.edu | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| exam results | Top 10 | High | — |
| past papers | Top 10 | High | — |
| online courses | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 66% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading education apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- academia.edu
- Sector
- Education
- Owner
- Academia, Inc.
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Richard Price
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Employees
- 150+
- Ownership
- Academia, Inc. controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $40 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $40 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Academia.edu operates an education platform focused on United States. Commercial social networking site for academics and researchers to share research papers and monitor impact. Revenue comes mainly from academia premium subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Academia Premium subscriptions
- Mentorship matching fees
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #1970 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading education site in United States
- Global rank
- 1300
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| researchgate.net | ≈ 31.2 million / month | #1971 class competitor | — |
| scribd.com | ≈ 23.4 million / month | #1972 class competitor | — |
What is Academia.edu?
Academia.edu (academia.edu) is an education platform serving users in United States. Commercial social networking site for academics and researchers to share research papers and monitor impact. It ranks #1970 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the education category.
Who owns Academia.edu?
The site is operated by Academia, Inc., founded by Richard Price. The company was established in 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. It employs around 150+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Academia.edu at roughly 52 million visits per month, about 1.7 million per day. Around 66% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.2 pages per visit with an average session of 9 min.
How Academia.edu makes money
Revenue comes primarily from academia premium subscriptions, alongside mentorship matching fees.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include researchgate.net, scribd.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2008
Academia.edu is founded in San Francisco, California, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its education offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #1970 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free or low-cost access to study material
- Content aligned with the national curriculum
- Works on low-end devices
- Exam and result services in one place
Cons
- Peak-period slowdowns around exam dates
- Uneven content quality between subjects
- Limited personalised feedback
- Some features locked behind subscriptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Academia.edu?
Academia.edu is operated by Academia, Inc.. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Academia.edu headquartered?
Academia.edu is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA.
When was Academia.edu founded?
Academia.edu was founded in 2008 by Richard Price.
How many employees does Academia.edu have?
Academia.edu employs approximately 150+ people.
What is Academia.edu's revenue?
Academia.edu's revenue: ≈ $40 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Academia.edu's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include researchgate.net, scribd.com.
How does Academia.edu make money?
Mainly academia premium subscriptions, mentorship matching fees.
Is Academia.edu publicly traded?
No — Academia.edu is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Academia, Inc..
How many visitors does Academia.edu get?
Third-party estimates place Academia.edu at roughly 52 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 66% mobile traffic.
Is Academia.edu safe?
Academia.edu is an established education site founded in 2008 and ranked #1970 in United States; use the official domain academia.edu and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsacademia.edu
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos