MakeUseOf
MakeUseOf is a Montréal-based consumer technology media publication founded in 2006, operating under Valnet Inc. It publishes daily how-to guides, reviews, and news across PC, mobile, software, security, smart home, and entertainment categories, monetizing global readership through display advertising and affiliate marketing on a free WordPress-based website.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What MakeUseOf does
MakeUseOf is a consumer technology media publication founded in 2006 and headquartered in Montréal, Canada, operating as a brand within Valnet Inc., a diversified digital publishing group. The company publishes daily editorial content including news articles, how-to guides, product reviews, and explainers across five primary content verticals: PC & Mobile (Windows, Linux, Android, Apple), Technical (technology explained, security), Software (productivity, internet, creative tools), Screen (entertainment, streaming), and Home (smart home, lifestyle). Its core product is the makeuseof.com website, supplemented by the MUO email newsletter and category-specific content sections. The site is built on standard WordPress CMS technology with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or SDKs.
The platform serves everyday technology consumers, PC and mobile enthusiasts, and home technology users globally, with no geographic restrictions on access. Reader acquisition is primarily organic, driven by SEO-optimized content ranking for technology-related queries, social media sharing across at least eight platforms (Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, Reddit, Flipboard), and email newsletter subscriptions. The business operates a free, ad-supported model with no reader-facing pricing; monetization is achieved through display advertising placements, sponsored content, and affiliate referral links embedded within articles and reviews.
MakeUseOf does not sell to enterprise customers and has no disclosed B2B contracts, named advertisers, or anchor accounts. The publication employs 101-250 staff, which represents the bulk of its disclosed operational footprint, and operates without disclosed external funding, acquisitions, partnerships, patents, regulatory actions, or senior leadership changes in the source data. Revenue scale, growth rate, and profitability are not disclosed.
MakeUseOf firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MakeUseOf
- Legal name
- MakeUseOf
- Website
- https://makeuseof.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- MakeUseOf is a Montréal-based consumer technology media publication founded in 2006, operating under Valnet Inc. It publishes daily how-to guides, reviews, and news across PC, mobile, software, security, smart home, and entertainment categories, monetizing global readership through display advertising and affiliate marketing on a free WordPress-based website.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where MakeUseOf is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
MakeUseOf business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Display Advertising: The website displays advertisements throughout its pages, including sponsored content and affiliate links within articles. MakeUseOf generates revenue through advertising placements and sponsored articles.
- Affiliate Marketing: Articles contain affiliate links to products mentioned in reviews and guides. The site earns commissions when readers purchase products through these affiliate links, such as Amazon product links in articles.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
MakeUseOf product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MakeUseOf operates a free consumer technology media website that publishes daily news articles, how-to guides, product reviews, and opinion pieces across categories including PC & Mobile, Technical, Software, Entertainment, and Home. Content is accessible to all readers at no cost and is supported by display advertising and affiliate marketing revenue.
Product overview
MakeUseOf is a technology media publication that operates as a single unified content platform offering news articles, how-to guides, reviews, and explainers across multiple topic categories. The main product is the MakeUseOf website which publishes editorial content organized into sections: PC & Mobile (Windows, Linux, Android, Apple), Technical (Technology Explained, Security), Software (Productivity, Internet, Creative), Entertainment (Streaming), and Home (Smart Home). Supporting products include the MUO Newsletter for email content delivery and category-specific content sections that aggregate related articles. The platform focuses on consumer technology coverage including hardware optimization, software tips, device management, and emerging technology education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MakeUseOf Website A free digital technology media publication delivering daily news articles, how-to guides, product reviews, and explainers across PC & Mobile, Technical, Software, Entertainment, and Home categories to individual consumer readers.
- MUO Newsletter
Companies that use MakeUseOf
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MakeUseOf technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MakeUseOf partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
MakeUseOf competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- How-To Geek: Direct peer in consumer technology how-to content; also owned by Valnet Publishing Group, sharing distribution and operational infrastructure with MakeUseOf.
- Tom's Guide: Direct peer producing consumer technology reviews, how-tos, and buying advice for the same general technology consumer audience as MakeUseOf.
- PCMag: Direct peer in consumer technology reviews and buying guides, with overlapping coverage of PCs, mobile, software, and home tech — competing for the same ad and affiliate dollars.
- TechRadar: Direct peer covering consumer technology news, reviews, and tutorials with a global audience similar to MakeUseOf's horizontal tech positioning.
- Digital Trends: Direct peer publishing consumer technology reviews and how-to content across computing, mobile, smart home, and entertainment categories overlapping with MakeUseOf's vertical mix.
Emerging players
- Tom's Hardware: Adjacent competitor focused on PC hardware and enthusiast content; overlaps with MakeUseOf's PC & Mobile category but targets a more technical niche audience.
- Android Police: Android-focused tech publication, also part of the Valnet network; directly competes for share of voice within MakeUseOf's mobile/Android category.
Broad incumbents
- CNET: Broad incumbent in consumer technology media producing reviews, news, and how-to content at significantly larger scale, competing for the same horizontal tech audience and ad inventory.
- Wired: Established technology and culture publication covering overlapping tech topics but with a more premium, editorial-led positioning versus MakeUseOf's practical how-to focus.
- Mashable: Larger digital media publisher covering technology, entertainment, and lifestyle; competes with MakeUseOf's Screen/Entertainment and broader tech categories for advertising spend.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MakeUseOf social profiles
Digital presenceMakeUseOf financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MakeUseOf leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
MakeUseOf funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MakeUseOf M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MakeUseOf
What does MakeUseOf do?
MakeUseOf operates a free consumer technology media website that publishes daily news articles, how-to guides, product reviews, and opinion pieces across categories including PC & Mobile, Technical, Software, Entertainment, and Home. Content is accessible to all readers at no cost and is supported by display advertising and affiliate marketing revenue.
Is MakeUseOf a public or private company?
MakeUseOf is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was MakeUseOf founded?
MakeUseOf was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is MakeUseOf based?
MakeUseOf is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does MakeUseOf make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Display Advertising is the primary driver. The others are affiliate Marketing.
Who are MakeUseOf's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are How-To Geek, Tom's Guide, PCMag, TechRadar and Digital Trends. Emerging players are Tom's Hardware and Android Police. Broad incumbents are CNET, Wired and Mashable.
Does MakeUseOf have an API?
No public API is recorded for MakeUseOf.