CNET
A long-running tech review and news site covering consumer electronics, software and deals.
CNET at a glance
CNET is a technology website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #116 in the country. It was founded in 1992 by Halsey Minor, Shelby Bonnie and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA. Today CNET is owned by Ziff Davis. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 80 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising, affiliate commerce. Its closest rivals include theverge.com, zdnet.com, pcmag.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 75.2 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 77.6 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 80 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 84.8 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct56%
- Organic search27%
- Referral9%
- Social5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men57%
- Women43%
- Age 25-3432%
- Age 35-4424%
- Age 18-2421%
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
- ≈ 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| cnet | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| login | Top 10 | High | — |
| app download | Top 10 | High | — |
| pricing | 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
- ≈ 68% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading technology apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- cnet.com
- Sector
- Technology
- Owner
- Ziff Davis
- Owner type
- Public company
- Founders
- Halsey Minor, Shelby Bonnie
- Founded
- 1992
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Employees
- 200+
- Ownership
- Ziff Davis controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
CNET operates a technology platform focused on United States. A long-running tech review and news site covering consumer electronics, software and deals. Revenue comes mainly from digital advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital advertising
- Affiliate commerce
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)
- #116 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading technology site in United States
- Global rank
- 650
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| theverge.com | ≈ 48 million / month | #117 class competitor | — |
| zdnet.com | ≈ 36 million / month | #118 class competitor | — |
| pcmag.com | ≈ 24 million / month | #119 class competitor | — |
What is CNET?
CNET (cnet.com) is a technology platform serving users in United States. A long-running tech review and news site covering consumer electronics, software and deals. It ranks #116 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the technology category.
Who owns CNET?
The site is operated by Ziff Davis, founded by Halsey Minor, Shelby Bonnie. The company was established in 1992 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA. It employs around 200+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place CNET at roughly 80 million visits per month, about 2.7 million per day. Around 68% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.6 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How CNET makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside affiliate commerce.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include theverge.com, zdnet.com, pcmag.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
- 1992
CNET is founded in San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its technology offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #116 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
- Fast, reliable core product used daily
- Deep local language and market support
- Strong developer and integration ecosystem
- Free tier with broad reach
Cons
- Data collection and privacy questions from advertising
- Feature set can be complex for new users
- Limited direct customer support
- Dependence on advertising revenue
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns CNET?
CNET is operated by Ziff Davis. Public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is CNET headquartered?
CNET is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA.
When was CNET founded?
CNET was founded in 1992 by Halsey Minor, Shelby Bonnie.
How many employees does CNET have?
CNET employs approximately 200+ people.
What is CNET's revenue?
CNET's revenue: ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are CNET's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include theverge.com, zdnet.com, pcmag.com.
How does CNET make money?
Mainly digital advertising, affiliate commerce.
Is CNET publicly traded?
CNET's ownership: Public company.
How many visitors does CNET get?
Third-party estimates place CNET at roughly 80 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 68% mobile traffic.
Is CNET safe?
CNET is an established technology site founded in 1992 and ranked #116 in United States; use the official domain cnet.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementscnet.com
- 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