pixiv
Global community for illustration and manga artists.
pixiv at a glance
pixiv is a social media website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #7 in the country. It was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today pixiv is owned by Pixiv Inc.. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 90 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through premium subscriptions, advertising, commissions. Its closest rivals include deviantart.com, twitter.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 84.6 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 87.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 90 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 95.4 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct76%
- Organic search13%
- Referral6%
- Paid3%
- Email2%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 18-2430%
- Age 25-3429%
- Age 35-4420%
The audience is concentrated in Japan, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Japan86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 27 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
- Japan
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| pixiv | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| login | Top 10 | High | — |
| sign up | Top 10 | High | — |
| download app | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Japan 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
- ≈ 88% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading social media apps in Japan
Company information
- Website
- pixiv.net
- Sector
- Social Media
- Owner
- Pixiv Inc.
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founded
- 2007
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 500+
- Ownership
- Pixiv Inc. controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Languages
- Japanese, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- Not publicly disclosed
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
pixiv operates a social platform focused on Japan. Global community for illustration and manga artists. Revenue comes mainly from premium subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Premium subscriptions
- Advertising
- Commissions
International presence
- Primary market
- Japan
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Japan)
- #7 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading social media site in Japan
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| deviantart.com | ≈ 54 million / month | #8 class competitor | — |
| twitter.com | ≈ 40.5 million / month | #9 class competitor | — |
What is pixiv?
pixiv (pixiv.net) is a social platform serving users in Japan. Global community for illustration and manga artists. It ranks #7 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the social media category.
Who owns pixiv?
The site is operated by Pixiv Inc.. The company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 500+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place pixiv at roughly 90 million visits per month, about 3 million per day. Around 88% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 11.4 pages per visit with an average session of 12 min.
How pixiv makes money
Revenue comes primarily from premium subscriptions, alongside advertising, commissions.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include deviantart.com, twitter.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
- 2007
pixiv is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its social media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #7 among the most visited websites in Japan.
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
- Very high daily engagement
- Strong creator and community ecosystem
- Free to use with broad reach
- Self-serve advertising for small businesses
Cons
- Moderation and misinformation criticism
- Privacy and data-use concerns
- Algorithm changes hurt organic reach
- Ad load increases over time
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns pixiv?
pixiv is operated by Pixiv Inc.. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is pixiv headquartered?
pixiv is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was pixiv founded?
pixiv was founded in 2007.
How many employees does pixiv have?
pixiv employs approximately 500+ people.
What is pixiv's revenue?
pixiv does not publish standalone revenue; income comes from premium subscriptions, advertising, commissions.
Who are pixiv's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include deviantart.com, twitter.com.
How does pixiv make money?
Mainly premium subscriptions, advertising, commissions.
Is pixiv publicly traded?
No — pixiv is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Pixiv Inc..
How many visitors does pixiv get?
Third-party estimates place pixiv at roughly 90 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 88% mobile traffic.
Is pixiv safe?
pixiv is an established social media site founded in 2007 and ranked #7 in Japan; use the official domain pixiv.net and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementspixiv.net
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageJapan 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