heise online
A respected German IT news site covering technology, security, software and the digital economy.
heise online at a glance
heise online is a technology website and one of the most visited sites in Germany, currently ranked #115 in the country. It was founded in 1983 by Christian Heise, Alfons Schräder and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany. Today heise online is owned by Heise Medien. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 60 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising, subscriptions (heise+), events. Its closest rivals include golem.de, computerbase.de, chip.de.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 56.4 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 58.2 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 60 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 63.6 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 Germany, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Germany86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 18 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
- Germany
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| heise online | 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 Germany 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 Germany
Company information
- Website
- heise.de
- Sector
- Technology
- Owner
- Heise Medien
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Christian Heise, Alfons Schräder
- Founded
- 1983
- Headquarters
- Hanover, Germany
- Employees
- 600+
- Ownership
- Heise Medien controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- German
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
heise online operates a technology platform focused on Germany. A respected German IT news site covering technology, security, software and the digital economy. Revenue comes mainly from digital advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital advertising
- Subscriptions (heise+)
- Events
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- Germany
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Germany)
- #115 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading technology site in Germany
- Global rank
- 1700
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| golem.de | ≈ 36 million / month | #116 class competitor | — |
| computerbase.de | ≈ 27 million / month | #117 class competitor | — |
| chip.de | ≈ 18 million / month | #118 class competitor | — |
What is heise online?
heise online (heise.de) is a technology platform serving users in Germany. A respected German IT news site covering technology, security, software and the digital economy. It ranks #115 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the technology category.
Who owns heise online?
The site is operated by Heise Medien, founded by Christian Heise, Alfons Schräder. The company was established in 1983 and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany. It employs around 600+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place heise online at roughly 60 million visits per month, about 2 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 heise online makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside subscriptions (heise+), events.
Competitors in Germany
Its closest rivals include golem.de, computerbase.de, chip.de.
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
- 1983
heise online is founded in Hanover, Germany.
- Growth phase
Expands its technology offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #115 among the most visited websites in Germany.
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 heise online?
heise online is operated by Heise Medien. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is heise online headquartered?
heise online is headquartered in Hanover, Germany.
When was heise online founded?
heise online was founded in 1983 by Christian Heise, Alfons Schräder.
How many employees does heise online have?
heise online employs approximately 600+ people.
What is heise online's revenue?
heise online's revenue: ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are heise online's competitors?
Main competitors in Germany include golem.de, computerbase.de, chip.de.
How does heise online make money?
Mainly digital advertising, subscriptions (heise+), events.
Is heise online publicly traded?
No — heise online is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Heise Medien.
How many visitors does heise online get?
Third-party estimates place heise online at roughly 60 million visits per month, mostly from Germany, with 68% mobile traffic.
Is heise online safe?
heise online is an established technology site founded in 1983 and ranked #115 in Germany; use the official domain heise.de and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsheise.de
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageGermany 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