StepStone
One of Germany's biggest online job boards for professional and graduate job listings.
StepStone at a glance
StepStone is a jobs & careers website and one of the most visited sites in Germany, currently ranked #179 in the country. It was founded in 1996 by Not publicly disclosed and is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. Today StepStone is owned by StepStone Group (Axel Springer, KKR). Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 45 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through job posting fees, recruiter subscriptions. Its closest rivals include indeed.com, xing.com, stellenanzeigen.de.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 42.3 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 43.6 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 45 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 47.7 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Organic search41%
- Direct37%
- Paid search10%
- Referral7%
- Social5%
Audience & demographics
- Men53%
- Women47%
- Age 25-3435%
- Age 18-2426%
- Age 35-4422%
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
- ≈ 13.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| stepstone | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| jobs near me | Top 10 | High | — |
| part time jobs | Top 10 | High | — |
| cv template | 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
- ≈ 72% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading jobs & careers apps in Germany
Company information
- Website
- stepstone.de
- Sector
- Jobs & Careers
- Owner
- StepStone Group (Axel Springer, KKR)
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Not publicly disclosed
- Founded
- 1996
- Headquarters
- Düsseldorf, Germany
- Employees
- 3,000+
- Ownership
- StepStone Group (Axel Springer, KKR) controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $1 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- German, English
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $1 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
StepStone operates a jobs and recruitment platform focused on Germany. One of Germany's biggest online job boards for professional and graduate job listings. Revenue comes mainly from job posting fees, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Job posting fees
- Recruiter subscriptions
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- Germany
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Germany)
- #179 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading jobs & careers site in Germany
- Global rank
- 2500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| indeed.com | ≈ 27 million / month | #180 class competitor | — |
| xing.com | ≈ 20.2 million / month | #181 class competitor | — |
| stellenanzeigen.de | ≈ 13.5 million / month | #182 class competitor | — |
What is StepStone?
StepStone (stepstone.de) is a jobs and recruitment platform serving users in Germany. One of Germany's biggest online job boards for professional and graduate job listings. It ranks #179 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the jobs & careers category.
Who owns StepStone?
The site is operated by StepStone Group (Axel Springer, KKR), founded by Not publicly disclosed. The company was established in 1996 and is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. It employs around 3,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place StepStone at roughly 45 million visits per month, about 1.5 million per day. Around 72% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 7.1 pages per visit with an average session of 8 min.
How StepStone makes money
Revenue comes primarily from job posting fees, alongside recruiter subscriptions.
Competitors in Germany
Its closest rivals include indeed.com, xing.com, stellenanzeigen.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
- 1996
StepStone is founded in Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Growth phase
Expands its jobs & careers offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #179 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
- Largest local pool of open vacancies
- Free applications for candidates
- CV builder and application tracking
- Employer branding tools
Cons
- Expired and duplicate postings
- Employers do not always respond
- Premium visibility favours large companies
- Salary information often missing
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns StepStone?
StepStone is operated by StepStone Group (Axel Springer, KKR). Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is StepStone headquartered?
StepStone is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany.
When was StepStone founded?
StepStone was founded in 1996 by Not publicly disclosed.
How many employees does StepStone have?
StepStone employs approximately 3,000+ people.
What is StepStone's revenue?
StepStone's revenue: ≈ $1 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are StepStone's competitors?
Main competitors in Germany include indeed.com, xing.com, stellenanzeigen.de.
How does StepStone make money?
Mainly job posting fees, recruiter subscriptions.
Is StepStone publicly traded?
No — StepStone is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by StepStone Group (Axel Springer, KKR).
How many visitors does StepStone get?
Third-party estimates place StepStone at roughly 45 million visits per month, mostly from Germany, with 72% mobile traffic.
Is StepStone safe?
StepStone is an established jobs & careers site founded in 1996 and ranked #179 in Germany; use the official domain stepstone.de and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsstepstone.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