Público
Reference Portuguese daily with a strong digital edition.
Público at a glance
Público is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in Portugal, currently ranked #2 in the country. It was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal. Today Público is owned by Sonae Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 20 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital subscriptions, advertising, sponsored content. Its closest rivals include cnnportugal.iol.pt, jn.pt, observador.pt.
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
- Direct37%
- Organic search34%
- Social18%
- News aggregators8%
- Email3%
Audience & demographics
- Men55%
- Women45%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
- Age 25-3422%
The audience is concentrated in Portugal, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Portugal86%
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
- Portugal
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| público | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| breaking news | Top 10 | High | — |
| today's headlines | Top 10 | High | — |
| live coverage | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Portugal 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
- ≈ 79% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading news & media apps in Portugal
Company information
- Website
- publico.pt
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- Sonae Group
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of a public company
- Founded
- 1990
- Headquarters
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Ownership
- Sonae Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- Not publicly disclosed
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of a public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Público operates a news and media publisher focused on Portugal. Reference Portuguese daily with a strong digital edition. Revenue comes mainly from digital subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital subscriptions
- Advertising
- Sponsored content
International presence
- Primary market
- Portugal
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Portugal)
- #2 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in Portugal
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| cnnportugal.iol.pt | ≈ 12 million / month | #3 class competitor | — |
| jn.pt | ≈ 9 million / month | #4 class competitor | — |
| observador.pt | ≈ 6 million / month | #5 class competitor | — |
What is Público?
Público (publico.pt) is a news and media publisher serving users in Portugal. Reference Portuguese daily with a strong digital edition. It ranks #2 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns Público?
The site is operated by Sonae Group. The company was established in 1990 and is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Público at roughly 20 million visits per month, about 0.7 million per day. Around 79% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 3.1 pages per visit with an average session of 3 min.
How Público makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital subscriptions, alongside advertising, sponsored content.
Competitors in Portugal
Its closest rivals include cnnportugal.iol.pt, jn.pt, observador.pt.
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
- 1990
Público is founded in Lisbon, Portugal.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #2 among the most visited websites in Portugal.
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
- Broad daily news coverage with national reach
- Fast breaking-news publishing
- Free access to most articles
- Strong presence in search and social
Cons
- Heavy advertising load on article pages
- Editorial line criticised by parts of the audience
- Clickbait headlines on high-traffic sections
- Paywall limits on premium content
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Público?
Público is operated by Sonae Group. Subsidiary of a public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Público headquartered?
Público is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.
When was Público founded?
Público was founded in 1990.
What is Público's revenue?
Público does not publish standalone revenue; income comes from digital subscriptions, advertising, sponsored content.
Who are Público's competitors?
Main competitors in Portugal include cnnportugal.iol.pt, jn.pt, observador.pt.
How does Público make money?
Mainly digital subscriptions, advertising, sponsored content.
Is Público publicly traded?
Público's ownership: Subsidiary of a public company.
How many visitors does Público get?
Third-party estimates place Público at roughly 20 million visits per month, mostly from Portugal, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is Público safe?
Público is an established news & media site founded in 1990 and ranked #2 in Portugal; use the official domain publico.pt and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementspublico.pt
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coveragePortugal 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