What Cloudwards does

Cloudwards operates a content-driven software review and comparison platform published through cloudwards.net, a YouTube channel, and a multi-platform social presence. The platform covers five core product categories: VPN services, cloud storage, cloud backup, password managers, and project management software, supported by a library of 340+ reviews, 8,000+ data points, and 5,352+ verified VPN speed tests conducted across multiple regions. Cloudwards also offers free utility tools (Password Generator, China Firewall Test), free educational PDFs and courses, and an annual Cloud Storage Performance Report. The company is a fully remote organization operated by Lumoslinx, LLC, an Arizona LLC founded in 2007 (with the editorial mission dating to 2012), and led by CEO and Co-Founder Mauricio Preuss.

The platform is built on a proprietary testing infrastructure designed to verify vendor claims objectively, including custom testing apps and an annual performance benchmarking system. The editorial operation emphasizes human-written, expert-led content with no AI writing, and produces side-by-side feature comparisons, ranked lists, and topic-specific guides. The technical stack is content-publishing oriented (WordPress-style CMS based on URL patterns), with no public API, no SDK, and no disclosed AI/ML components in the product surface.

Cloudwards generates revenue exclusively through affiliate referral commissions earned when users purchase recommended software through links on the site. The company participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Commission Junction, and ShareASale. The site is free to consumers, with no subscription or paywall. The audience is primarily individual consumers and small businesses seeking software recommendations, served globally through SEO-driven organic search, with 1M+ monthly readers. Notably, no external institutional funding, M&A activity, or acquisition history is disclosed, indicating a bootstrapped operating model.

Name

Cloudwards

Legal name

Lumoslinx, LLC

Website

https://cloudwards.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cloudwards is a content-driven software review platform that publishes expert reviews, speed tests, and comparisons across VPN, cloud storage, project management, and password manager categories for 1M+ monthly readers, monetized through affiliate referral commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Software Review Platform

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud Computing & Infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP, Virtualization) (EDABAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Data Security & Privacy for Cloud (DLP, DSPM, Tokenization) (HDABAHAK)

Keywords

• Software review platform
• VPN speed testing
• Cloud storage comparisons
• Affiliate marketing reviews
• Consumer software rankings

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Affiliate Marketing: Cloudwards earns commissions from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links on the site. The company participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Commission Junction, and ShareASale affiliate networks. Reviews remain independent and based on the company's own testing regardless of affiliate compensation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cloudwards is a content-driven software review and comparison website that publishes expert-written reviews, rankings, and proprietary performance tests for VPN services, cloud storage, cloud backup, password managers, and project management software. It operates custom-built testing tools (including daily VPN speed tests, a Password Generator, and a China Firewall Test) and offers free educational PDFs and e-courses. The company monetizes through affiliate commissions when readers purchase the recommended third-party software products.

Product overview

Cloudwards is a software review and research website that provides expert reviews, rankings, and comparisons across five core product categories: VPN services, cloud storage, cloud backup, password managers, and project management software. The platform operates through a combination of in-depth editorial reviews, proprietary speed testing (conducting over 5,352 VPN speed tests), and curated rankings. Additionally, Cloudwards offers free educational resources including PDF courses on cloud storage, cybersecurity, and project management, as well as utility tools like a Password Generator and China Firewall Test. The company also publishes industry statistics and research reports covering topics such as e-waste, online shopping, cyberbullying, and streaming trends. Cloudwards functions as a content and research platform rather than a software product itself.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VPN Reviews

Quantifiable outcome

• 1M+ monthly readers trust Cloudwards for software recommendations

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Amazon Services LLC Associates ProgramminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCloudwards participates in the Amazon Associates affiliate program, earning commissions from qualifying purchases of products advertised on the site. Price remains the same for users regardless of affiliate links.
• Commission JunctionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCloudwards participates in the Commission Junction affiliate advertising program to monetize site operations through referral commissions.
• ShareASaleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCloudwards participates in the ShareASale affiliate network to earn commissions from product recommendations on the site.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CNET: Major generalist tech review publisher covering VPN, cloud storage, and software categories. Operates at significantly larger scale with broader editorial coverage and similar affiliate-driven business model.
• PCMag: Established tech review publication covering VPN, cloud storage, and business software. Similar expert-review methodology and affiliate commerce model.
• Wirecutter (NYT): Product review site owned by NYT with rigorous independent testing methodology. Direct overlap in VPN and cloud storage review categories with affiliate revenue model.
• PCWorld: Long-running tech review publication covering cloud services, productivity, and security software. Comparable content model and affiliate revenue approach.

Direct peers

• Tom's Guide: Consumer-focused tech review site that reviews VPN, cloud storage, and software products with affiliate monetization. Direct competitor in the same content verticals and search queries.
• TechRadar: Global tech review publication covering VPN, cloud services, and productivity software. Head-to-head competitor for the same affiliate-driven review queries.
• Comparitech: Specialized review and research site focused on VPNs, cloud storage, and cybersecurity software. Closest niche peer with similar testing-driven content and affiliate model.
• RestorePrivacy: Privacy-focused VPN and security software review site. Overlap in VPN review category with similar affiliate monetization and hands-on testing approach.
• VPNmentor: VPN-focused review site that also covers cloud storage and security software. Direct competitor for VPN-specific search queries and affiliate revenue.
• Security.org: Consumer security and privacy review site covering VPNs, password managers, and identity protection. Comparable affiliate-driven content business with overlapping audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cloudwards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/obrvideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/cloudwards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cloudwards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cloudwards