What Ziff Davis does

Ziff Davis is a vertically focused, publicly traded digital media and internet company (NASDAQ: ZD) that operates a portfolio of more than 60 owned brands across six segments: Technology (CNET, PCMag, ZDNET, Mashable, Lifehacker, Spiceworks), Shopping (RetailMeNot, BlackFriday.com, VoucherCodes, TechBargains), Gaming & Entertainment (IGN, Humble Bundle, Eurogamer, gamesindustry.biz, Rock Paper Shotgun, Maxroll), Health & Wellness (Everyday Health, What to Expect, BabyCenter, MedPage Today, theSkimm), Cybersecurity (VIPRE Security Group, IPVanish, StrongVPN), and MarTech (Moz, iContact, Campaigner, Kickbox, FullContact). The company serves both consumer audiences seeking trusted editorial, deals, gaming content, and health information and B2B customers purchasing marketing, email, SEO, identity resolution, and cybersecurity SaaS. Proprietary technology assets include FullContact's Person-Centered Identity Graph covering 248M U.S. consumer profiles with 100B+ identity observations, VIPRE's email threat intelligence platform that analyzed 1.8B emails in Q1 2026, and Kickbox's email verification service processing 9B emails annually across 86,000 users.

The company monetizes through diversified revenue streams: programmatic and direct advertising on owned media properties, affiliate commerce and cash-back commissions (RetailMeNot, BlackFriday.com), recurring B2B SaaS subscriptions across the MarTech and Cybersecurity segments, premium consumer subscriptions (IGN Plus, PCMag Premium), and content licensing/syndication including emerging LLM content licensing arrangements. Distribution spans owned websites, mobile apps, app stores, international brand licensing (e.g., eMense operates IGN France/Benelux/Nordic/Germany reaching ~16M users), The Trade Desk's OpenAds programmatic platform, and direct/inside sales for enterprise SaaS. Go-to-market is hybrid: content-led organic/SEO acquisition and affiliate for consumer brands; field sales and self-serve web sign-up for B2B SaaS; and active portfolio M&A as a structural growth lever.

Ziff Davis emerged from bankruptcy in 2010 under CEO Vivek Shah and Great Hill Partners, was sold to J2 Global within two years, and rebranded back to Ziff Davis around 2021. Following the June 2026 $1.2B sale of its Connectivity division (Ookla/Speedtest/Downdetector/Ekahau/RootMetrics) to Accenture, the company is actively evaluating further strategic alternatives, including the potential sale of the entire company, while deploying capital into bolt-on acquisitions (CNET for $100M+ in 2024; Recurrent Ventures lifestyle brands for under $20M in 2026) and share repurchases ($173.8M in FY2025). FY2025 revenue was $1.45B with $287.9M in free cash flow, but operational momentum has weakened, with Q4 2025 revenue down 1.5% YoY, Q1 2026 missing expectations by ~$58M, and multiple securities law investigations pending over adjusted EBITDA and EPS disclosure.

Name

Ziff Davis

Legal name

Ziff Davis, Inc.

Website

https://ziffdavis.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ziff Davis is a publicly traded digital media and internet company (NASDAQ: ZD) operating 60+ owned brands across Technology, Shopping, Gaming, Health, Cybersecurity, and MarTech, serving consumers and B2B customers globally. The company recently divested its Connectivity division to Accenture for $1.2 billion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Media and Internet

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960)

akta.pro primary industry

Measurement, Attribution & Brand Safety (Fraud/Compliance) (MPACAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Influencer Content Licensing & Whitelisting (Usage Rights/Spark Ads) (MPACAGAJ), Access Management & Policy Enforcement (Authorization, ZTNA integration) (HDAEAJAG), Secure Remote Access / ZTNA Gateways (Appliance/Virtual Appliance) (HDAFAFAI)

Keywords

• Digital media publishing
• Consumer technology reviews
• Affiliate cash-back commerce
• Marketing technology software
• Cybersecurity solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Media Advertising: Advertising revenue from flagship digital media brands including PCMag, CNET, Mashable, IGN, ZDNET, Lifehacker, Spiceworks, and Everyday Health. Revenue is generated through display ads, content sponsorships, and programmatic advertising. The company's media properties attract millions of monthly visitors across technology, gaming, health, and shopping verticals.
2. Affiliate Commerce & Shopping: Commission revenue from RetailMeNot, BlackFriday.com, VoucherCodes, TechBargains, and Offers.com through affiliate links and sponsored product placements with retail merchants. RetailMeNot launched a Guaranteed Cash Back program (1% minimum at 4,000+ retailers) in February 2026. Revenue is transaction-based, driven by consumer purchase conversions.
3. B2B SaaS Subscriptions (MarTech & Cybersecurity): Recurring subscription revenue from Moz (SEO platform), VIPRE Security Group (cybersecurity), Kickbox (email verification), iContact and Campaigner (email marketing), FullContact (identity resolution), Line2 and eVoice (business communication). Pricing is typically per-seat or tiered subscription with monthly/annual billing.
4. Premium Subscriptions & Memberships: Revenue from premium subscription services including IGN Plus, PCMag Premium, and Spiceworks ZD (SWZD). These offer ad-free experiences, exclusive content, advanced features, and premium support for individual and business subscribers.
5. Content Licensing & Syndication: Revenue from licensing media content, data feeds, and editorial to third-party platforms and AI/LLM companies. Ziff Davis is pursuing high-margin content licensing opportunities from LLMs following the company's strategic pivot. Additionally, international licensing of brands such as IGN to operators like eMense (IGN France, IGN Nordic, IGN Benelux, IGN Germany).
6. Connectivity Division (Discontinued Operations): Network intelligence revenue from Ookla (Speedtest, Downdetector), Ekahau, and RootMetrics. Generated $231 million in revenue in 2025 (approximately 16% of total company revenue). This division was sold to Accenture for $1.2 billion in cash; the sale closed June 18, 2026 and the division is classified as discontinued operations from Q1 2026 onward.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Ziff Davis is a vertically focused digital media and internet company that operates a portfolio of 60+ owned brands across six segments: consumer technology media (PCMag, CNET, ZDNET, Mashable, Lifehacker), gaming and entertainment (IGN, Humble Bundle, Eurogamer), shopping and cash-back (RetailMeNot, BlackFriday.com), health and wellness (Everyday Health, BabyCenter, theSkimm), cybersecurity (VIPRE Security Group, IPVanish, StrongVPN), and marketing technology (Moz, iContact, Campaigner, Kickbox, FullContact). The company monetizes through advertising, affiliate commerce, subscription fees, content licensing, and B2B SaaS recurring revenue.

Product overview

Ziff Davis is a vertically focused digital media and internet company operating across six divisions: Technology (CNET, PCMag, ZDNET, Mashable, Lifehacker, Spiceworks), Shopping (RetailMeNot, BlackFriday.com, VoucherCodes, TechBargains), Gaming & Entertainment (IGN, Humble Bundle, Eurogamer, Gamesindustry.biz), Health & Wellness (Everyday Health, What To Expect, BabyCenter, theSkimm, MedPage Today), Cybersecurity (VIPRE Security Group, IPVanish, StrongVPN), and MarTech (Moz, FullContact, Kickbox, Campaigner, iContact). The company recently sold its Connectivity division (Ookla/Speedtest) to Accenture and acquired lifestyle brands (Dwell, Domino, Business of Home, PopSci) from Recurrent Ventures, refocusing on digital media and martech services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PCMag: Technology reviews, testing, and product recommendations
• IGN
• Mashable
• CNET
• ZDNET
• RetailMeNot
• Everyday Health
• Humble Bundle
• VIPRE Security Group
• Moz
• iContact
• Kickbox
• FullContact
• Spiceworks

Products and services

• PCMag Technology publication providing expert reviews, benchmarks, and buying advice for tech products and software, targeting individual technology consumers and IT professionals.
• CNET Technology media brand covering consumer electronics, tech news, product reviews, and buying guides for individual technology consumers and shoppers.
• ZDNET Technology news and analysis platform serving business technology professionals with enterprise IT insights, security, and B2B technology decision support.
• IGN Gaming and entertainment media platform offering video game reviews, news, trailers, walkthroughs, and streaming content, with IGN Plus premium subscription for gaming enthusiasts.
• Humble Bundle Digital storefront for video games, books, and software with charitable giving components, serving gaming consumers with pay-what-you-want bundles.
• RetailMeNot Digital savings platform offering coupons, promo codes, cash-back rewards, and deal discovery for online and in-store shopping, serving value-conscious consumers.
• VIPRE Security Group Cybersecurity division providing endpoint protection, email security, and threat intelligence solutions for businesses and consumers.
• IPVanish Virtual private network (VPN) service providing secure, private internet browsing with over 150 server locations worldwide for consumer and business users.
• Moz SEO software platform providing link building, keyword research, site audits, and rank tracking tools for digital marketers, SMBs, and agencies.
• FullContact Identity resolution platform that connects and enriches fragmented customer data, covering 248 million U.S. consumer profiles with 100 billion identity observations for MarTech/AdTech platforms.
• Kickbox Email verification service helping marketers ensure deliverability with real-time email validation, processing approximately 9 billion emails annually and preventing 1 billion bounces per year.
• iContact Email marketing solution for small and medium businesses offering campaign management and audience engagement tools.
• Campaigner Email marketing platform enabling businesses to create, send, and track email campaigns with automation capabilities.
• Everyday Health Health and wellness media platform providing health news, condition information, wellness resources, and AI-powered data tools for consumers and healthcare professionals.
• StrongVPN VPN service offering encrypted internet connections and privacy protection for users globally.
• Spiceworks IT community and networking platform connecting 6M+ technology professionals with peers, vendors, and resources, including Spiceworks ZD (SWZD) IT management software.

Quantifiable outcome

• FullContact covers 248 million U.S. consumer profiles with 50+ billion identifiers and a reported 93% average match rate.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• eMense (IGN International)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 March 2026Ziff Davis partnered with European media group eMense to operate IGN France as part of its international licensing expansion, replacing the team led by Editor-in-Chief Erwan Lafleuriel. eMense already operates IGN Benelux, IGN Nordic, and IGN Germany under license. The deal brings eMense's total multi-platform reach to approximately 16 million users across four IGN brands. Ziff Davis also announced a separate upcoming agreement with an unnamed partner to operate a French edition of CNET.
• ESA Foundation (Nite to Unite 2026)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 March 2026IGN Entertainment was named the exclusive media sponsor for Nite to Unite 2026, a fundraising event for the ESA Foundation supporting underrepresented voices in the games industry. The event took place March 10 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and funded scholarships, social impact storytelling initiatives, and workforce development programs. Ziff Davis President Yael Prough noted the partnership extends across the brand family, including Humble Bundle which has raised over $272 million for charities worldwide.
• The Trade Desk (OpenAds)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 January 2026Ziff Davis is one of nine founding publisher partners in The Trade Desk's OpenAds transparent auction platform. OpenAds is designed to provide auditable, high-integrity programmatic advertising as an alternative to large platform conglomerates. Ziff Davis joins AccuWeather, BuzzFeed, The Guardian, Hearst Magazines, Hearst TV, Newsweek, People Inc., and The Arena Group as launch partners. OpenAds is built on forked Prebid code with original transaction identifier functionality, addressing publisher concerns about fee visibility, duplicate impressions, and value extraction by intermediaries. The platform is expected to roll out through 2026.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• IAC Inc. Diversified internet holding company operating a portfolio of owned consumer brands (Dotdash Meredith, Care.com, Angi). Directly comparable to Ziff Davis's model of acquiring, operating, and monetizing a portfolio of internet brands across multiple verticals.
• Future plc: UK-based global multi-brand digital media publisher (TechRadar, Tom's Guide, PC Gamer, GamesRadar+, Marie Claire). Closely comparable to Ziff Davis's portfolio of vertically-focused digital media brands serving advertising and affiliate commerce revenue streams.
• Dotdash Meredith: Operating subsidiary of IAC that owns a portfolio of premium digital media brands (Investopedia, The Spruce, Verywell, People, Better Homes & Gardens). Direct competitor in the multi-brand digital publishing space with overlapping ad-supported and commerce-driven revenue models.
• Red Ventures: Private digital media holding company that previously owned CNET (sold to Ziff Davis in 2024). Operates a similar portfolio of consumer-facing digital brands with content, commerce, and lead-generation revenue models across technology, finance, healthcare, and travel.
• The Arena Group: Multi-brand digital media publisher (Sports Illustrated, TheStreet, Parade, Men's Journal). Highly comparable operating model of acquiring and operating a portfolio of legacy media brands with overlapping advertising, subscription, and commerce revenue streams.
• Vox Media: Private digital media company operating premium editorial brands (Vox, The Verge, SB Nation, Eater, New York Magazine) and the Chorus publishing platform. Comparable in vertical-specialized content brands, though more concentrated in technology and culture verticals.
• Penske Media Corporation: Multi-brand digital and print media holding company (Variety, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Deadline, WWD, Robb Report). Operates a similar portfolio of authoritative vertical media brands with premium advertising and licensing revenue streams.
• Trusted Media Brands: Multi-brand media company operating Reader's Digest, Taste of Home, The Family Handyman, and other legacy consumer brands. Comparable model of operating a portfolio of trusted vertical media brands with advertising, affiliate commerce, and licensing revenue.

Broad incumbents

• BuzzFeed, Inc. Publicly-traded digital media company (BuzzFeed, HuffPost, Complex, Tasty) operating a portfolio of consumer-facing editorial brands. Operates in the same advertising-supported digital media space but at smaller scale and without Ziff Davis's diversified B2B SaaS and cybersecurity segments.
• News Corp: Large diversified media conglomerate (Wall Street Journal, HarperCollins, Dow Jones, Foxtel, REA Group). Significantly broader and larger than Ziff Davis, but operates in overlapping digital publishing, subscription, and advertising-supported media categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ziffdavis
• Facebookfacebook.com/ziffdavisinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ziff-davis-inc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A65 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ziff Davis