Herder
Verlag Herder GmbH is a privately held German publishing house founded in 1801, headquartered in Freiburg, publishing books, journals, and digital education tools across theology, religion, pedagogy, and history for DACH-region religious institutions, kindergarten educators, universities, and general readers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1801
- HeadquartersFreiburg Im Breisgau, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Herder does
Verlag Herder GmbH is a privately held German publishing house headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau, founded in 1801, operating under the Herder brand and a portfolio of subsidiary imprints including Verlag Kreuz (religious/theological), Paulusverlag (theological), and wbg – Wissen / Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft (academic and general knowledge). The company publishes physical books in hardcover, paperback, and flexible-cover formats, eBooks in EPUB and PDF, and a portfolio of professional journals (including Herder Korrespondenz and kindergarten heute) across theology, religion, spirituality, pedagogy, history, politics, children's literature, and self-improvement. Its customer base spans Catholic and Protestant religious institutions, university theology departments, German kindergarten educators, academic researchers, and general German-speaking consumers.
The underlying technology stack is conventional for a traditional publisher: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at herder.de with full catalog search, account management, and multiple payment options (invoice, direct debit, PayPal, credit card), supplemented by VLB-TIX integration for the German book trade and dedicated trade ordering portals for B2B buyers. Two proprietary digital platforms extend the core publishing business into services: KITALINO, a SaaS-style online documentation tool for kindergarten observation and child development tracking, and QiK Online-Akademie, an online continuing-education academy for Kita staff.
The business model combines four revenue streams: one-time/perpetual book and eBook sales (physical books €9.90–€60+, eBooks €6.99–€20.99), recurring magazine and journal subscriptions across theology and pedagogy, professional services revenue from QiK online courses, and licensing of domestic and foreign publishing rights. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce, the German book trade wholesale and retail network, and direct institutional sales to churches, universities, and kindergartens, with operations confined to the DACH region and a workforce of 101–250 employees. Leadership is provided by Managing Directors Simon Biallowons and Philipp Lindinger.
Herder firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Herder
- Legal name
- Verlag Herder GmbH
- Website
- https://herder.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1801
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Verlag Herder GmbH is a privately held German publishing house founded in 1801, headquartered in Freiburg, publishing books, journals, and digital education tools across theology, religion, pedagogy, and history for DACH-region religious institutions, kindergarten educators, universities, and general readers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Herder industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Religious Fiction & Inspirational Literature Publishing (MPAJAHAF), Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD), Children’s Religious & Values-Based Publishing (MPAJAFAL)
Keywords
Where Herder is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freiburg Im Breisgau
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Herder business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Sale of books across multiple categories including religious, theological, pedagogical, history, and lifestyle topics. Books are sold in physical formats (hardcover, paperback) and digital formats (eBooks in EPUB and PDF).
- Magazine/Journal Subscriptions: Subscription-based revenue from professional journals and magazines covering theology, pedagogy, and related fields. Includes magazines like Herder Korrespondenz, kindergarten heute, and other specialized publications.
- Professional Services: Online courses, training programs, and professional development offerings for kindergarten/education sector through QiK Online-Akademie.
- Licensing/Rights: Licensing of publishing rights including domestic (Lizenzen Inland) and foreign rights (Foreign Rights) for published works.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Physical books with varying prices based on format and content |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | eBooks in EPUB and PDF formats |
| Subscription | Monthly | Magazine and journal subscriptions |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Herder product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Herder publishes and sells books, eBooks (EPUB/PDF), and professional journals across theology, pedagogy, religion, history, spirituality, children's literature, and self-improvement. Its portfolio is complemented by two digital service platforms — KITALINO (online documentation for kindergarten observation) and QiK Online-Akademie (online professional development courses for daycare educators) — plus foreign and domestic rights licensing for published works.
Product overview
Herder is a German publishing house (Verlag Herder GmbH) offering a unified portfolio of physical books, digital eBooks (EPUB and PDF formats), and professional journals/magazines across multiple thematic areas. The core offerings include books and magazines in the topic areas of Kindergarten & Pädagogik (Kindergarten & Pedagogy), Theologie & Pastoral (Theology & Pastoral), Religion & Spiritualität (Religion & Spirituality), Geschichte, Politik & Wirtschaft (History, Politics & Economics), Lesen, Hören & Schenken (Reading, Listening & Gifting), Besser leben (Better Living), Kinderbuch (Children's Books), and wbg – Wissen (wbg - Knowledge). The product portfolio is complemented by two digital service platforms: KITALINO (an online documentation tool for kindergarten observation) and QiK Online-Akademie (an online course academy for Kita educators). The company also publishes educational observation materials like BaSiK, seldak, perik, and sismik for tracking child development in daycare settings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- kindergarten heute: Professional magazine for kindergarten educators and management
- Herder Korrespondenz
- KITALINO
- QiK Online-Akademie
Products and services
- Bücher (Books) Physical and digital books (eBooks in EPUB and PDF) across theology, pedagogy, history, politics, spirituality, children's literature, and self-improvement, available in hardcover, flexible cover, and paperback formats. Served to individual consumers, bookstores, and institutions.
- Zeitschriften (Magazines and Journals) Portfolio of professional journals and magazines covering theology (e.g., Herder Korrespondenz), pedagogy (e.g., kindergarten heute), liturgy, history, and spirituality, distributed in print and digital formats via recurring subscriptions to institutions and individuals.
- KITALINO: Dokumentation online Cloud-based documentation platform for daycare centers (Kitas) that enables digital observation and documentation of child development, supporting educators and kindergarten management in their daily workflows.
- QiK Online-Akademie: Kurse für Kitas Online academy offering continuing-education and professional development courses specifically designed for kindergarten (Kita) educators and staff, sold as a service to daycare operators and individual educators.
Companies that use Herder
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Herder technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Herder partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Herder competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht: German academic and theological publisher based in Göttingen with a long-standing focus on theology, religious studies, and humanities. Highly comparable to Herder's theology and academic verticals (and the wbg – Wissen subsidiary).
- Gütersloher Verlagshaus: German Protestant religious publishing house, historically focused on theology, spirituality, and religious education. Directly comparable to Herder's Theologie & Pastoral and Religion & Spiritualität imprints on the Protestant side of the market.
- Patmos Verlag: German publisher of religious, spiritual, and literary titles, part of the same Düsseldorf-based group as other faith-oriented imprints. Overlaps directly with Herder's religious, children's, and inspirational literature publishing.
- Echter Verlag: Catholic publishing house in Würzburg focused on theology, liturgy, and pastoral resources. Closely comparable to Herder's Catholic theological and pastoral book program.
- Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk: German Catholic Bible and biblical-studies publisher. Directly comparable to Herder's Bibel and Biblische Theologie categories within the theology vertical.
- Kösel-Verlag: German Catholic publisher (formerly part of Random House) with a focus on theology, spirituality, and pastoral resources. Directly comparable to Herder's Catholic theology and spirituality portfolio.
Regional players
- Schwabe Verlag: Swiss academic publisher with strong lists in theology, philosophy, and humanities. Comparable on academic-theology content but primarily serves Switzerland and does not directly compete across Germany.
- Herder Verlag (Austria, Styria): Austrian publishing arm of the Herder family, focused on theology, philosophy, and culture. Comparable on editorial scope but operates in the Austrian market and is organizationally distinct from Verlag Herder GmbH in Freiburg.
Broad incumbents
- De Gruyter: Major German academic publisher with broad humanities and theology coverage. Comparable to Herder's wbg – Wissen academic imprint, but operates at much larger scale and across many non-overlapping disciplines.
- C.H.Beck: Long-standing German publisher with strong lists in history, politics, theology, and philosophy. Overlaps with Herder's Geschichte, Politik and Theologie categories but operates as a much larger generalist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Herder social profiles
Digital presenceHerder financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Herder leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Herder subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Herder funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Herder 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 Herder
What does Herder do?
Herder publishes and sells books, eBooks (EPUB/PDF), and professional journals across theology, pedagogy, religion, history, spirituality, children's literature, and self-improvement. Its portfolio is complemented by two digital service platforms — KITALINO (online documentation for kindergarten observation) and QiK Online-Akademie (online professional development courses for daycare educators) — plus foreign and domestic rights licensing for published works.
Is Herder a public or private company?
Herder is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Herder founded?
Herder was founded in 1801. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Herder based?
Herder is headquartered in Freiburg Im Breisgau, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Herder make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are magazine/Journal Subscriptions, professional Services and licensing/Rights.
Who are Herder's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Patmos Verlag, Echter Verlag, Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk and Kösel-Verlag. Regional players are Schwabe Verlag and Herder Verlag (Austria, Styria). Broad incumbents are De Gruyter and C.H.Beck.
Does Herder have an API?
No public API is recorded for Herder.
What industry is Herder in?
Herder's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAC, Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides), with a secondary code of MPAJAHAF, Religious Fiction & Inspirational Literature Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.