What Teltarif does

Teltarif (legally teltarif.de Onlineverlag GmbH) is a German-language online telecommunications media platform founded in 1997 and headquartered in Berlin. The company operates teltarif.de, an independent consumer portal providing telecom news, tariff comparison tools, device search databases, and consumer advice covering mobile, DSL, fixed-line, broadband, and related services for the German-speaking market. Its editorial product spans original journalism, independent smartphone testing (Handy-Tests), a weekly email newsletter reaching approximately 140,000 subscribers, the "Strippenzieher und Tarifdschungel" podcast series, RSS feeds, browser push notifications, and a community forum with approximately 73,000 registered members.

The platform's core technology is a web-based content management system backed by a proprietary tariff comparison database powering multiple product configurators — including the Mobilfunkprofilrechner for mobile plans, DSL-Vergleich and Breitband-Internet for broadband, Telefontarif-Vergleich for landline, and the 0180-Sparvorwahlen/Callthrough service for routing around expensive 0180 service hotlines. Teltarif also publishes a separate directory service (0180-Telefonbuch at 0180.info), a country-code and Vorwahl directory, security guides, and native iOS and Android apps. A partner program allows third-party online media, newspapers, magazines, and videotext outlets to syndicate Teltarif news feeds and tariff tables. Distribution is primarily product-led and SEO-driven, with users discovering the site through organic search, newsletter subscriptions, social channels, RSS/podcast feeds, and mobile app stores.

Teltarif monetizes through a four-stream model: (1) display advertising and sponsored content on the website, (2) subscription revenue via the "contentpass" ad-free tier, (3) affiliate and referral commissions on linked telecom products and services, and (4) syndication and licensing fees from the partner program. The customer base consists of individual German consumers and small and medium businesses (KMU) seeking independent telecom tariff comparisons, news, and consumer advice. The company is privately held with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing and has operated independently since founding.

Name

Teltarif

Legal name

teltarif.de Onlineverlag GmbH

Website

https://teltarif.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Teltarif.de Onlineverlag GmbH is an independent German online telecommunications portal founded in 1997, providing telecom news, tariff comparison tools, device databases, and consumer advice to German consumers and small businesses via web, mobile apps, newsletter, podcast, and community forum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Display advertising on website pages, including affiliate links and sponsored content. Multiple ad placements visible throughout the site.
2. Content Subscription (contentpass): Premium ad-free subscription option called contentpass, offering teltarif.de without advertising and tracking.
3. Affiliate/Partner Commissions: Commission revenue through affiliate links for products and services (e.g., smartphones, tariff comparisons) - noted as not affecting prices.
4. Partner Program: Partner program for online media, newspapers, and videotext editors to embed teltarif.de content, potentially generating referral or licensing revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Teltarif.de is an independent German online magazine and comparison portal for telecommunications. It provides editorial news, tariff comparison tools (mobile, data, DSL, landline, broadband), device search databases (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches), a community forum, a weekly newsletter, and a podcast. A specialized 0180-Telefonbuch directory service helps users find cheaper alternative numbers for expensive 0180 service hotlines.

Product overview

Teltarif.de is a German-language consumer telecommunications portal providing free, independent news, comparison tools, and editorial content about mobile, DSL, landline, and broadcast services. The core offering consists of multiple tariff comparison tools (handytarife, datentarife, DSL, phone tariffs, broadband) that help users find affordable plans, complemented by device search databases (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches), an independent product testing service, and community platforms (forum, newsletter, podcast). The 0180-Telefonbuch is a specialized directory for finding cheap alternatives to expensive service hotlines. The company also operates a partner program for content syndication to other media outlets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 0180-Telefonbuch: A separate service portal for finding economical 0180 service hotline numbers, accessible at 0180.info

Products and services

• Handytarife-Vergleich A mobile tariff comparison tool allowing users to find the most affordable mobile phone plans (prepaid and contract) based on their usage patterns for minutes, SMS, and data volume. Targeted at German consumers evaluating mobile plans.
• Datentarife-Vergleich A data tariff comparison tool for finding mobile internet plans based on data volume and usage requirements. Targeted at German consumers seeking mobile data plans.
• DSL-Vergleich A DSL broadband comparison tool for finding internet and phone packages over digital subscriber line connections. Targeted at German consumers seeking home broadband and phone bundles.
• Telefontarif-Vergleich A phone tariff comparison tool for landline services. Targeted at German consumers seeking landline phone plans.
• Breitband-Internet Tarifvergleich A broadband internet tariff comparison covering VDSL, DSL, fiber, and cable options. Targeted at German consumers comparing home internet providers.
• 0180-Telefonbuch A directory service (with sub-brand 0180.info) for finding cost-effective alternative phone numbers for expensive 0180 service hotlines. Targeted at German consumers seeking to reduce costs when calling service hotlines.
• 0180-Sparvorwahlen A dial-through (Callthrough) service that helps users find the cheapest alternative numbers for expensive 0180 service hotlines, for both landline and mobile phones. Targeted at German consumers.
• Handy-Suche A smartphone search and comparison database with detailed specifications and pricing. Targeted at German consumers evaluating smartphones.
• Tablet-Suche A tablet search and comparison tool with detailed specifications and pricing. Targeted at German consumers evaluating tablets.
• Newsletter A free weekly email newsletter (published Thursdays) summarizing the most important news from telecommunications sectors, reaching approximately 140,000 subscribers. Targeted at German consumers and SMBs interested in telecom.
• Forum (Community Platform) An online community forum with approximately 73,000 registered users for discussions about telecommunications products, providers, and consumer advice. Targeted at German consumers and telecom enthusiasts.
• teltarif.de App (iOS and Android) Mobile apps for Android and iOS that provide tariff comparisons and allow users to find cheap replacement numbers for expensive 0180 service hotlines. Targeted at German consumers on mobile devices.
• Podcast 'Strippenzieher und Tarifdschungel' An irregularly published podcast series where editors provide updates on networks, tariffs, and regulatory backgrounds in an accessible yet in-depth manner. Targeted at German consumers interested in telecom topics.
• Partnerprogramm (Content Syndication) A content syndication program for online media outlets, newspapers, magazines, and videotext editors to embed teltarif.de news and tariff tables on their platforms. Targeted at media partners.
• Vorwahl-Suche (Prefix/Location Code Search) A prefix/location code search tool for finding area codes and country dialling codes. Targeted at German consumers and small businesses needing telephone code lookups.
• Handy-Tests (Smartphone Testing) Independent smartphone testing service evaluating display, camera, battery, and other features of current smartphones. Targeted at German consumers researching smartphone purchases.
• RSS-Feeds RSS feed subscriptions for news and tariff updates, allowing users and partners to subscribe to teltarif.de content programmatically. Targeted at German consumers and media partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Help consumers save money by finding cheaper tariffs through comparison tools

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

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.

• Online Media PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner program for online media outlets to embed teltarif.de news feeds and tariff tables on their websites, providing content syndication and wider reach.
• Print Media Partners (Zeitungen und Zeitschriften)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership program for newspapers and magazines to integrate teltarif.de tariff tables and background information in print editions.
• Videotext Redaction PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for videotext services to access and display teltarif.de tariff information and telecom news.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Check24: Germany's largest independent comparison portal covering telecom, insurance, energy, and finance. Directly comparable to teltarif.de on the mobile/DSL/broadband comparison side, with much broader vertical scope and a far larger marketing budget.
• Verivox: Major German comparison portal for telecommunications, energy, and insurance. Overlaps directly with teltarif.de on DSL, mobile, and broadband tariff comparisons and serves the same German consumer/SMB audience.
• Finanztip: German non-profit consumer advice portal covering telecom tariffs (mobiles, DSL), insurance, and finance. Closely comparable business model to teltarif.de — independent editorial, comparison tools, and consumer advocacy in Germany.
• Idealo: Major European price-comparison platform with strong presence in Germany covering consumer electronics and increasingly telecom services. Comparable to teltarif.de in operating a comparison and affiliate-led portal targeting German consumers.
• Billiger.de: German price-comparison portal covering electronics, smartphones, and related categories. Comparable to teltarif.de on the device-comparison and affiliate-revenue dimensions of its business.

Broad incumbents

• CHIP: Established German tech and consumer-electronics media brand covering smartphones, software, and telecom. Comparable to teltarif.de on smartphone reviews, tariff news, and consumer advice, but with a much wider editorial scope.
• Computer Bild: Leading German consumer technology publication covering smartphones, tablets, and digital services. Competes with teltarif.de on device reviews, telecom advice, and consumer-facing comparison content for the German audience.
• Stiftung Warentest: German consumer-protection foundation publishing independent product tests and advice, including telecom services and smartphones. Comparable to teltarif.de on independent consumer advocacy and editorial authority, though with much broader category coverage.
• Heise Online: Leading German IT/telecom news publisher covering networks, regulation, and consumer technology. Comparable to teltarif.de on telecom news and editorial coverage of the German market, with a more professional/IT-oriented audience.

Emerging players

• Verbraucherzentrale: German consumer-advice network providing independent guidance on telecom contracts, tariffs, and consumer rights. Overlaps with teltarif.de on consumer-side telecom advice and tariff-comparison support, though delivered as public-interest rather than commercial media.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teltarif
• Facebookfacebook.com/teltarif

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Teltarif