ResearchGate
European and US commercial social network for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask questions, and collaborate.
ResearchGate at a glance
ResearchGate is an education website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #1985 in the country. It was founded in 2008 by Ijad Madisch, Sören Hofmayer, Horst Fickenscher and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany / US Ops. Today ResearchGate is owned by ResearchGate GmbH. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 98 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through scientific recruitment postings, academic publisher content licensing. Its closest rivals include academia.edu, google.scholar.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 92.1 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 95.1 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 98 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 104 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Organic search44%
- Direct36%
- Referral10%
- Social6%
- Paid4%
Audience & demographics
- Women51%
- Men49%
- Age 18-2434%
- Age 25-3427%
- Age 35-4419%
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
- ≈ 29.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| researchgate | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| exam results | Top 10 | High | — |
| past papers | Top 10 | High | — |
| online courses | 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
- ≈ 66% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading education apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- researchgate.net
- Sector
- Education
- Owner
- ResearchGate GmbH
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Ijad Madisch, Sören Hofmayer, Horst Fickenscher
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- Berlin, Germany / US Ops
- Employees
- 250+
- Ownership
- ResearchGate GmbH controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $60 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $60 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
ResearchGate operates an education platform focused on United States. European and US commercial social network for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask questions, and collaborate. Revenue comes mainly from scientific recruitment postings, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Scientific recruitment postings
- Academic publisher content licensing
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)
- #1985 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading education site in United States
- Global rank
- 750
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| academia.edu | ≈ 58.8 million / month | #1986 class competitor | — |
| google.scholar.com | ≈ 44.1 million / month | #1987 class competitor | — |
What is ResearchGate?
ResearchGate (researchgate.net) is an education platform serving users in United States. European and US commercial social network for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask questions, and collaborate. It ranks #1985 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the education category.
Who owns ResearchGate?
The site is operated by ResearchGate GmbH, founded by Ijad Madisch, Sören Hofmayer, Horst Fickenscher. The company was established in 2008 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany / US Ops. It employs around 250+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place ResearchGate at roughly 98 million visits per month, about 3.3 million per day. Around 66% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.2 pages per visit with an average session of 9 min.
How ResearchGate makes money
Revenue comes primarily from scientific recruitment postings, alongside academic publisher content licensing.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include academia.edu, google.scholar.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
- 2008
ResearchGate is founded in Berlin, Germany / US Ops.
- Growth phase
Expands its education offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #1985 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
- Free or low-cost access to study material
- Content aligned with the national curriculum
- Works on low-end devices
- Exam and result services in one place
Cons
- Peak-period slowdowns around exam dates
- Uneven content quality between subjects
- Limited personalised feedback
- Some features locked behind subscriptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns ResearchGate?
ResearchGate is operated by ResearchGate GmbH. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is ResearchGate headquartered?
ResearchGate is headquartered in Berlin, Germany / US Ops.
When was ResearchGate founded?
ResearchGate was founded in 2008 by Ijad Madisch, Sören Hofmayer, Horst Fickenscher.
How many employees does ResearchGate have?
ResearchGate employs approximately 250+ people.
What is ResearchGate's revenue?
ResearchGate's revenue: ≈ $60 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are ResearchGate's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include academia.edu, google.scholar.com.
How does ResearchGate make money?
Mainly scientific recruitment postings, academic publisher content licensing.
Is ResearchGate publicly traded?
No — ResearchGate is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by ResearchGate GmbH.
How many visitors does ResearchGate get?
Third-party estimates place ResearchGate at roughly 98 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 66% mobile traffic.
Is ResearchGate safe?
ResearchGate is an established education site founded in 2008 and ranked #1985 in United States; use the official domain researchgate.net and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsresearchgate.net
- 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