The Hindu
A respected Indian national daily and website covering politics, economy, science and culture.
The Hindu at a glance
The Hindu is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in India, currently ranked #102 in the country. It was founded in 1878 by G. Subramania Iyer, M. Veeraraghavachariar and is headquartered in Chennai, India. Today The Hindu is owned by Kasturi & Sons Ltd. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 170 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through subscriptions, digital advertising, print sales. Its closest rivals include indianexpress.com, hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 160 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 165 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 170 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 180 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 India, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- India86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 51 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
- India
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| the hindu | 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 India 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 India
Company information
- Website
- thehindu.com
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- Kasturi & Sons Ltd
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- G. Subramania Iyer, M. Veeraraghavachariar
- Founded
- 1878
- Headquarters
- Chennai, India
- Employees
- 2,000+
- Ownership
- Kasturi & Sons Ltd controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
The Hindu operates a news and media publisher focused on India. A respected Indian national daily and website covering politics, economy, science and culture. Revenue comes mainly from subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Subscriptions
- Digital advertising
- Print sales
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- India
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (India)
- #102 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in India
- Global rank
- 450
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| indianexpress.com | ≈ 102 million / month | #103 class competitor | — |
| hindustantimes.com | ≈ 76.5 million / month | #104 class competitor | — |
| timesofindia.indiatimes.com | ≈ 51 million / month | #105 class competitor | — |
What is The Hindu?
The Hindu (thehindu.com) is a news and media publisher serving users in India. A respected Indian national daily and website covering politics, economy, science and culture. It ranks #102 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns The Hindu?
The site is operated by Kasturi & Sons Ltd, founded by G. Subramania Iyer, M. Veeraraghavachariar. The company was established in 1878 and is headquartered in Chennai, India. It employs around 2,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place The Hindu at roughly 170 million visits per month, about 5.7 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 The Hindu makes money
Revenue comes primarily from subscriptions, alongside digital advertising, print sales.
Competitors in India
Its closest rivals include indianexpress.com, hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.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
- 1878
The Hindu is founded in Chennai, India.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #102 among the most visited websites in India.
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 The Hindu?
The Hindu is operated by Kasturi & Sons Ltd. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is The Hindu headquartered?
The Hindu is headquartered in Chennai, India.
When was The Hindu founded?
The Hindu was founded in 1878 by G. Subramania Iyer, M. Veeraraghavachariar.
How many employees does The Hindu have?
The Hindu employs approximately 2,000+ people.
What is The Hindu's revenue?
The Hindu's revenue: ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are The Hindu's competitors?
Main competitors in India include indianexpress.com, hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
How does The Hindu make money?
Mainly subscriptions, digital advertising, print sales.
Is The Hindu publicly traded?
No — The Hindu is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Kasturi & Sons Ltd.
How many visitors does The Hindu get?
Third-party estimates place The Hindu at roughly 170 million visits per month, mostly from India, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is The Hindu safe?
The Hindu is an established news & media site founded in 1878 and ranked #102 in India; use the official domain thehindu.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsthehindu.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageIndia 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