ComputerBase
ComputerBase is a German-language independent technology news and review platform founded in 1999, serving PC hardware enthusiasts and gamers in the DACH region with news, hardware tests, community forums, price comparison, and benchmarks, monetized via advertising, subscriptions, and affiliate partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What ComputerBase does
ComputerBase is an independent German-language online technology media platform founded in 1999 and headquartered in Berlin (Germaniastraße 18-20, 12099 Berlin). The company operates a news portal covering hardware, gaming, software, smartphones, tablets, and IT, complemented by in-depth hardware testing and benchmark reports (Tests & Berichte), a community discussion forum, a categorized software downloads archive, and a weekly podcast (CB-Funk). It serves German-speaking technology enthusiasts and PC gamers seeking independent product reviews, benchmark data, and price comparison functionality, with a secondary segment of community contributors who supply reader articles (Leserartikel), reader tests, and user-contributed benchmark submissions.
The platform is built on a web-based content management and publishing system that integrates news publishing, a community forum, reader-contributed benchmark databases (3DMark, Cinebench 2026, Forza Horizon 6), GPU and CPU ranking leaderboards, a downloads archive, and a price comparison service (Preisvergleich) powered by partner Geizhals. Distribution extends across the website (computerbase.de), a Progressive Web App, YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, X, Google News, Discord, RSS feeds with 35,000+ subscribers, and daily/weekly email newsletters.
ComputerBase monetizes through three primary streams: display advertising via 187 advertising and tracking partner integrations, a premium ad-free subscription (ComputerBase Pro) priced at €4/month or €36/year, and affiliate referral commissions from retailers including Alternate, Amazon.de, Caseking, notebooksbilliger.de, and Thomann. The company is structured as ComputerBase GmbH, a privately held German limited liability company (HRB 117937B, Berlin-Charlottenburg) managed by three Geschäftsführer — Frank Hüber, Jan-Frederik Timm, and Steffen Weber — with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or public listing.
ComputerBase firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ComputerBase
- Legal name
- ComputerBase GmbH
- Website
- https://computerbase.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ComputerBase is a German-language independent technology news and review platform founded in 1999, serving PC hardware enthusiasts and gamers in the DACH region with news, hardware tests, community forums, price comparison, and benchmarks, monetized via advertising, subscriptions, and affiliate partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ComputerBase industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Technology Media
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Archives, Libraries & Institutional Access Platforms (MPAJAMAJ)
Keywords
Where ComputerBase is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ComputerBase business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Advertising (Werbebanner): Primary revenue stream from display advertising and sponsored content. The site uses cookies and tracking for ad personalization with 187 partner integrations.
- Subscription (ComputerBase Pro): Premium ad-free subscription offering at €4/month or €36/year, providing faster page loads and enhanced user experience without advertising.
- Affiliate/Partner Links: Revenue from affiliate links to retailers including Alternate, Amazon.de, Caseking, notebooksbilliger.de, and Thomann. Commission earned when users purchase through these links.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | ComputerBase Pro Monthly |
| Subscription | Annual | ComputerBase Pro Annual |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
ComputerBase product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ComputerBase operates a German-language online technology media platform delivering daily news, in-depth hardware tests and benchmarks, an integrated price comparison service, a community discussion forum, a weekly podcast, and a downloads archive. The site covers PCs, smartphones, gaming, software, and consumer electronics for a DACH-region audience.
Product overview
ComputerBase is a German-language technology news and media platform operating since 1999. The core offering consists of a News Portal delivering daily coverage of hardware, gaming, and software topics, combined with in-depth Tests & Berichte (hardware testing and benchmarks). The platform integrates a Preisvergleich (Geizhals-powered price comparison), a community Forum, and a CB-Funk Podcast. Premium features include ComputerBase Pro (ad-free subscription at 4€/month or 36€/year), Community-Benchmarks for user-contributed performance data, and GPU/CPU ranking leaderboards. Additional services include a Downloads archive, Newsletter subscriptions, and a Progressive Web App. The platform monetizes via advertising (with 187 partner integrations) and the Pro subscription model.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- News Portal German-language technology news website covering PC hardware, gaming, smartphones, software, and consumer electronics with daily updates and community discussion forums.
- Tests & Berichte In-depth hardware testing and benchmark reports covering GPUs, CPUs, storage devices, notebooks, and PC systems with detailed performance analysis.
- Preisvergleich (Price Comparison)
Quantifiable outcome
- Comprehensive coverage with 35,000+ feed subscribers and active forum participation with threads having thousands of responses
Companies that use ComputerBase
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ComputerBase technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature3 records
ComputerBase partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GeizhalscoreCooperation for price comparison service (Preisvergleich). Geizhals (Preisvergleich Internet Services AG, Vienna) provides price comparison functionality integrated into ComputerBase website. When users access price comparison, Geizhals receives technical data including IP address.
- UGREENminorAffiliate partner for sponsored content. UGREEN products featured in sponsored articles and deals during Amazon Prime Day promotions.
- GEEKOMminorAffiliate partner for sponsored content. GEEKOM Mini-PC products featured in sponsored deal articles.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ComputerBase competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Computer Bild: Computer Bild is Germany's largest consumer technology magazine brand, covering a much broader mainstream audience than ComputerBase. It overlaps on hardware reviews but addresses a wider, less technical readership via print, web, and video.
- Tom's Hardware: Tom's Hardware is one of the largest global PC hardware review and news sites, owned by Future plc. It operates at a much larger scale than ComputerBase but serves the same enthusiast PC hardware audience with reviews, benchmarks, and buying guides.
Others
- Geizhals: Geizhals is a leading Austrian price comparison platform and is already ComputerBase's strategic partner for its Preisvergleich feature. It is comparable as an adjacent, enabling platform that monetizes e-commerce traffic via comparison, intersecting with ComputerBase's audience but not directly competing.
Direct peers
- Notebookcheck: Notebookcheck is a German-originated (and now multilingual) review platform specializing in laptops, smartphones, and tablets with extensive benchmarks. It shares ComputerBase's hands-on testing methodology and German technical journalism roots, with broader language coverage.
- Heise Online: Heise Online is Germany's leading tech news publisher, covering IT, hardware, software, and digital policy in German. It is the most direct competitor to ComputerBase in the German-language technology media space, serving the same DACH audience with overlapping news, reviews, and forum functionality.
- Hardwareluxx: Hardwareluxx is a German-language hardware review site with in-depth articles, benchmarks, and an active community forum. It directly competes with ComputerBase for German-speaking PC hardware enthusiasts.
- Golem.de: Golem.de is a major German-language IT news and testing platform targeting professional and enthusiast tech audiences. It competes directly with ComputerBase on hardware reviews, software news, and IT journalism for the DACH market.
- WinFuture: WinFuture is a German tech news site covering software, hardware, and downloads with an active community. It overlaps with ComputerBase on news, software download archives, and German-language tech coverage.
- PC Games Hardware (PCGH): PCGH is a leading German PC gaming hardware magazine and website with deep hardware reviews, benchmarks, and community features. It directly competes with ComputerBase for the gaming-PC enthusiast segment in the German-speaking market.
- TechPowerUp: TechPowerUp is a global hardware review and database site with deep GPU, CPU, and PSU coverage plus benchmark-driven reviews. It competes with ComputerBase on the same enthusiast hardware-testing niche, though primarily in English.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ComputerBase social profiles
Digital presenceComputerBase financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ComputerBase leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ComputerBase funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ComputerBase 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 ComputerBase
What does ComputerBase do?
ComputerBase operates a German-language online technology media platform delivering daily news, in-depth hardware tests and benchmarks, an integrated price comparison service, a community discussion forum, a weekly podcast, and a downloads archive. The site covers PCs, smartphones, gaming, software, and consumer electronics for a DACH-region audience.
Is ComputerBase a public or private company?
ComputerBase is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ComputerBase founded?
ComputerBase was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ComputerBase based?
ComputerBase is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ComputerBase make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising (Werbebanner) is the primary driver. The others are subscription (ComputerBase Pro) and affiliate/Partner Links.
Who are ComputerBase's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Computer Bild and Tom's Hardware. Geizhals is listed as an others. Direct peers are Notebookcheck, Heise Online, Hardwareluxx, Golem.de, WinFuture, PC Games Hardware (PCGH) and TechPowerUp.
Does ComputerBase have an API?
No public API is recorded for ComputerBase.
What industry is ComputerBase in?
ComputerBase's product category is Technology Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAMAJ, Digital Archives, Libraries & Institutional Access Platforms. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.