What Thurrott does

Thurrott is a privately held, solo-owned technology media company (Thurrott LLC) founded by veteran journalist Paul Thurrott, who became independent owner of Thurrott.com in 2023 after its prior tenure under BWW Media Group since 2015. The core product is a WordPress-based publishing platform (thurrott.com) delivering news, reviews, and analysis across Microsoft, Windows, Apple, Google, AI/cloud, smart home, and gaming categories, supplemented by a podcast network of five shows — Windows Weekly (co-hosted with Leo Laporte), First Ring Daily, Hands-On Windows, The Sams Report, and Desk to Destination — distributed through the TWiT network and major podcast platforms. The business operates a freemium model: free articles and podcasts are supported by display advertising, while Thurrott Premium is a paid annual membership offering exclusive articles, Ask Paul Q&A sessions, and bundled digital books (Windows 11 Field Guide, Windows 10 Field Guide, Windows Everywhere, De-Enshittify Windows 11, Eternal Spring Mexico City Guidebook) sold through the Leanpub marketplace. Additional monetization includes a print-on-demand merchandise storefront via Printify and affiliate book sales, targeting a horizontal B2C audience of technology enthusiasts globally with no enterprise tier or institutional customers. The operation is lean and bootstrapped with no external funding, structured as Thurrott LLC under US jurisdiction.

Name

Thurrott

Legal name

Thurrott LLC

Website

https://thurrott.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Thurrott is a privately held technology media company owned by Paul Thurrott, operating Thurrott.com — a freemium publishing platform with news, reviews, a five-show podcast network, paid Premium memberships, and a catalog of digital books covering Microsoft, Apple, Google, and AI for a global audience of technology enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Media and Digital Publishing

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Curation & Bookmarking/Read-Later Platforms (MPACAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Creator Tipping, Donations & Micro-Payments (MPACAFAB)

Keywords

• Technology journalism
• Tech news publishing
• Digital content platform
• Premium content subscription
• Technology podcast network

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Thurrott Premium Subscriptions: Premium membership offering exclusive content, early access to articles, community features, and member benefits. The subscription model provides recurring revenue with tiered access to content.
2. Advertising: Display advertising on the website and in podcasts for technology companies and related products.
3. Merchandise Sales: Thurrott Swag Store selling branded merchandise through print-on-demand services.
4. Affiliate/Referral: Book sales through Leanpub marketplace and other affiliate relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thurrott is an independent technology media company publishing news, reviews, analysis, and commentary about Microsoft, Windows, Apple, Google, AI, and broader technology sectors. Its offerings include a flagship website (Thurrott.com), multiple branded podcasts, digital guidebooks, and a paid Premium membership tier that unlocks exclusive articles, Q&A sessions with Paul Thurrott, and free digital books.

Product overview

Thurrott.com is a technology-focused content platform operated by Paul Thurrott, an industry veteran of 30+ years. The core offering is the Thurrott.com website delivering technology news, reviews, and commentary across Microsoft, Google, Apple, and broader tech sectors. The platform operates on a freemium model: free content supported by advertising, alongside Thurrott Premium — a paid membership providing exclusive articles, Q&A sessions, and free digital books. The content portfolio spans multiple formats including written articles, three podcasts (Windows Weekly, Hands-On Windows, First Ring Daily), and several published digital guides (Windows 11 Field Guide, Windows 10 Field Guide, Windows Everywhere, De-Enshittify Windows 11, and the Eternal Spring Mexico City Guidebook).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thurrott Premium: Premium membership subscription service offering exclusive content, deeper articles, and member-only benefits.
• Windows Weekly
• Hands-On Windows
• First Ring Daily

Products and services

• Thurrott Premium A paid subscription membership providing access to exclusive premium articles, Ask Paul Q&A sessions, free digital books, monthly content drops, and member-only community features for technology enthusiasts.
• Windows Weekly A weekly technology podcast co-hosted by Paul Thurrott, Leo Laporte, and Richard Campbell, covering Microsoft news, Windows, and broader technology topics.
• Hands-On Windows A podcast focused on hands-on Windows technology reviews, tutorials, and product demonstrations.
• First Ring Daily A daily technology news podcast co-hosted by Brad Sams and Paul Thurrott, providing quick tech updates and commentary.
• Windows 11 Field Guide A comprehensive digital guidebook to Windows 11 authored by Paul Thurrott, available in PDF and EPUB formats through Leanpub, with regularly updated editions.
• Windows 10 Field Guide A comprehensive digital guidebook to Windows 10 authored by Paul Thurrott, available in PDF and EPUB formats through Leanpub.
• Windows Everywhere A digital guidebook covering Windows across multiple platforms and devices, authored by Paul Thurrott and available in PDF and EPUB formats through Leanpub.
• Eternal Spring Mexico City Guidebook A travel guidebook focused on Mexico City, authored by Paul Thurrott, available through Leanpub.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TWiT NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWindows Weekly and Hands-On Windows podcasts are co-hosted with Leo Laporte and distributed through the TWiT podcast network, extending reach to a broader tech-savvy audience.
• LeanpubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaul Thurrott publishes his books (Windows 11 Field Guide, Windows 10 Field Guide, Windows Everywhere, De-Enshittify Windows 11) through Leanpub marketplace for digital distribution.
• PrintifyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThurrott Swag Store uses Printify print-on-demand service for branded merchandise sales.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• 9to5Mac: Independent Apple-focused publication with sister sites (9to5Google, 9to5Toys). Comparable in founder-led independent media structure and vertical-specialized editorial model, though focused on Apple rather than Microsoft.

Others

• TWiT.tv: Podcast network that distributes Thurrott's Windows Weekly and Hands-On Windows. Not a content peer but a key distribution and partnership counterparty whose business model (podcast-first tech media) closely parallels Thurrott's audio strategy.

Direct peers

• Windows Central: Largest dedicated Windows/Microsoft publication with news, reviews, and forums. Directly comparable in vertical focus (Microsoft/Windows) and content formats (articles, podcasts, community), though operated at much larger scale by Future plc.
• OnMSFT: Independent Microsoft-focused publication covering Windows, Surface, Office, and Xbox. Comparable in vertical specialization, founder-led operation, and recurring content + community model.
• Ghacks: Independent technology blog focused on Windows, software tips, and customization. Comparable in independent founder-led structure, Windows-specialist content focus, and reliance on advertising plus community engagement.
• Neowin: Long-running independent Microsoft/Windows-focused news and community site with active forums. Closely comparable in editorial scope, freemium/community-led model, and reliance on dedicated Microsoft-news audience.

Broad incumbents

• The Verge: Major generalist technology publication covering Microsoft, Apple, Google, and consumer tech with extensive podcasts (e.g., Decoder, The Vergecast). Comparable format mix (articles, podcasts, videos) and Microsoft-coverage depth, but with much larger audience and Vox Media backing.
• ZDNet: Enterprise- and consumer-focused technology publication with strong Microsoft/enterprise coverage and podcasts. Comparable in-depth analysis of Microsoft products and a multi-format editorial approach, but with much larger corporate backing (Red Ventures).
• Engadget: Long-running consumer technology publication with broad coverage including Microsoft, gaming, and AI. Comparable in news + reviews + multimedia content strategy, but at substantially greater scale and with Yahoo Media ownership history.
• Ars Technica: Established technology publication covering Microsoft, Apple, Google, science, and policy. Overlaps with Thurrott on Microsoft/Windows deep-dive analysis and podcast content, but operates at greater scale and with a broader editorial team.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thurrott
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thurrottcom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Thurrott