WordReference
A multilingual online dictionary and forum widely used by French speakers for translation.
WordReference at a glance
WordReference is an education website and one of the most visited sites in France, currently ranked #194 in the country. It was founded in 1999 by Michael Kellogg and is headquartered in USA. Today WordReference is owned by WordReference.com. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 60 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising. Its closest rivals include reverso.net, larousse.fr, linguee.fr.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 56.4 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 58.2 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 60 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 63.6 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 France, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- France86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 18 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
- France
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordreference | 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 France 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 France
Company information
- Website
- wordreference.com
- Sector
- Education
- Owner
- WordReference.com
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Michael Kellogg
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- USA
- Employees
- 10+
- Ownership
- WordReference.com controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $10 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- French, English, many others
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $10 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
WordReference operates an education platform focused on France. A multilingual online dictionary and forum widely used by French speakers for translation. Revenue comes mainly from digital advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital advertising
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- France
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (France)
- #194 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading education site in France
- Global rank
- 1000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| reverso.net | ≈ 36 million / month | #195 class competitor | — |
| larousse.fr | ≈ 27 million / month | #196 class competitor | — |
| linguee.fr | ≈ 18 million / month | #197 class competitor | — |
What is WordReference?
WordReference (wordreference.com) is an education platform serving users in France. A multilingual online dictionary and forum widely used by French speakers for translation. It ranks #194 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the education category.
Who owns WordReference?
The site is operated by WordReference.com, founded by Michael Kellogg. The company was established in 1999 and is headquartered in USA. It employs around 10+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place WordReference at roughly 60 million visits per month, about 2 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 WordReference makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside .
Competitors in France
Its closest rivals include reverso.net, larousse.fr, linguee.fr.
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
- 1999
WordReference is founded in USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its education offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #194 among the most visited websites in France.
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 WordReference?
WordReference is operated by WordReference.com. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is WordReference headquartered?
WordReference is headquartered in USA.
When was WordReference founded?
WordReference was founded in 1999 by Michael Kellogg.
How many employees does WordReference have?
WordReference employs approximately 10+ people.
What is WordReference's revenue?
WordReference's revenue: ≈ $10 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are WordReference's competitors?
Main competitors in France include reverso.net, larousse.fr, linguee.fr.
How does WordReference make money?
Mainly digital advertising.
Is WordReference publicly traded?
No — WordReference is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by WordReference.com.
How many visitors does WordReference get?
Third-party estimates place WordReference at roughly 60 million visits per month, mostly from France, with 66% mobile traffic.
Is WordReference safe?
WordReference is an established education site founded in 1999 and ranked #194 in France; use the official domain wordreference.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementswordreference.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageFrance 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