Cotton On
The online store of a Geelong-founded global fashion retailer.
Cotton On at a glance
Cotton On is an e-commerce website and one of the most visited sites in Australia, currently ranked #137 in the country. It was founded in 1991 by Nigel Austin and is headquartered in Geelong, Australia. Today Cotton On is owned by Cotton On Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 20 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through product sales. Its closest rivals include kmart.com.au, hm.com, theiconic.com.au.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 18.8 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 19.4 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 20 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 21.2 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct48%
App-first shopping habit
- Organic search31%
- Paid search11%
- Social6%
- Referral & email4%
Audience & demographics
- Women54%
- Men46%
- Age 25-3430%
- Age 18-2423%
- Age 35-4422%
The audience is concentrated in Australia, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Australia86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 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
- Australia
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| cotton on | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| online shopping | Top 10 | High | — |
| discount codes | Top 10 | High | — |
| free delivery | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Australia 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
- ≈ 76% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading e-commerce apps in Australia
Company information
- Website
- cottonon.com
- Sector
- E-commerce
- Owner
- Cotton On Group
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Nigel Austin
- Founded
- 1991
- Headquarters
- Geelong, Australia
- Employees
- 20,000+
- Ownership
- Cotton On Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, many others
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Cotton On operates an online retail and marketplace platform focused on Australia. The online store of a Geelong-founded global fashion retailer. Revenue comes mainly from product sales, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Product sales
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- Australia
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Australia)
- #137 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading e-commerce site in Australia
- Global rank
- 3500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| kmart.com.au | ≈ 12 million / month | #138 class competitor | — |
| hm.com | ≈ 9 million / month | #139 class competitor | — |
| theiconic.com.au | ≈ 6 million / month | #140 class competitor | — |
What is Cotton On?
Cotton On (cottonon.com) is an online retail and marketplace platform serving users in Australia. The online store of a Geelong-founded global fashion retailer. It ranks #137 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the e-commerce category.
Who owns Cotton On?
The site is operated by Cotton On Group, founded by Nigel Austin. The company was established in 1991 and is headquartered in Geelong, Australia. It employs around 20,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Cotton On at roughly 20 million visits per month, about 0.7 million per day. Around 76% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 7.4 pages per visit with an average session of 6 min.
How Cotton On makes money
Revenue comes primarily from product sales, alongside .
Competitors in Australia
Its closest rivals include kmart.com.au, hm.com, theiconic.com.au.
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
- 1991
Cotton On is founded in Geelong, Australia.
- Growth phase
Expands its e-commerce offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #137 among the most visited websites in Australia.
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
- Wide product assortment with competitive local pricing
- Established delivery and returns network
- Local payment methods and installment options
- Mature seller tools and campaign calendar
Cons
- Product quality varies between third-party sellers
- Returns and disputes can take time on marketplace orders
- Commissions and ad costs pressure smaller sellers
- International shipping coverage is limited
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Cotton On?
Cotton On is operated by Cotton On Group. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Cotton On headquartered?
Cotton On is headquartered in Geelong, Australia.
When was Cotton On founded?
Cotton On was founded in 1991 by Nigel Austin.
How many employees does Cotton On have?
Cotton On employs approximately 20,000+ people.
What is Cotton On's revenue?
Cotton On's revenue: ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are Cotton On's competitors?
Main competitors in Australia include kmart.com.au, hm.com, theiconic.com.au.
How does Cotton On make money?
Mainly product sales.
Is Cotton On publicly traded?
No — Cotton On is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Cotton On Group.
How many visitors does Cotton On get?
Third-party estimates place Cotton On at roughly 20 million visits per month, mostly from Australia, with 76% mobile traffic.
Is Cotton On safe?
Cotton On is an established e-commerce site founded in 1991 and ranked #137 in Australia; use the official domain cottonon.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementscottonon.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageAustralia 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