Philosophie Magazin

What Philosophie Magazin does

Philosophie Magazin is a German-language philosophical magazine published by Philomagazin Verlag GmbH, headquartered in Berlin at Brunnenstr. 143, and operating since its launch issue on November 16, 2011. The core product is a bimonthly print magazine (six issues per year) priced at €9.50 per issue, supplemented by three annual thematic special editions (Sonderausgaben) and a year-end compilation (Edition). Each issue includes a 16-page booklet of original texts from philosophical classics, alongside essays, interviews, and topical commentary applying philosophical analysis to contemporary events and personal life questions.

The company operates a unified content platform spanning print, iOS and Android mobile applications, and a browser-based web kiosk, all bundled under the PhiloMag+ digital subscription (starting at €29.99/year with a four-week free trial). The mobile apps offer bookmarks, offline reading, full-text search, and text-to-speech functionality. Beyond publishing, Philosophie Magazin operates Philo.live!, a live philosophical discussion platform, and partners with phil.cologne, Germany's largest philosophy festival.

Revenue is generated through four streams: print subscriptions and newsstand sales, recurring PhiloMag+ digital subscriptions, one-time single digital issue purchases at €5.99, and display advertising sold to cultural-sector partners. The publication maintains cross-border editorial integration with its French sister publisher Philo Éditions, jointly forming what is described as Europe's largest philosophical editorial team. Distribution partners include 3Sat, Schweizer Fernsehen, and Deutschlandradio, providing earned-media reach. The company is privately held under Managing Director Fabrice Gerschel, with no disclosed external investment or venture funding.

Name

Philosophie Magazin

Legal name

Philomagazin Verlag GmbH

Website

https://philomag.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Philosophie Magazin is a Berlin-based publisher of a bimonthly German-language philosophy magazine and digital subscription (PhiloMag+), serving general readers seeking philosophical perspectives on contemporary issues through print, mobile apps, web kiosk, and live events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philosophy Magazine Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)

Keywords

• Philosophy magazine
• Editorial publishing
• Digital subscription
• Print periodical
• Cultural journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print Magazine Sales: Sale of print magazine issues at newsstands and through subscription. Published bimonthly (6 issues per year) plus 3 special editions and 1 annual Edition compilation.
2. Digital Subscriptions (PhiloMag+): Annual app subscription providing full digital access to all magazine content and past editions
3. Single Digital Issue Sales: Individual digital issues sold through app stores and web kiosk
4. Advertising: Display advertising and book/culture announcements targeting readers interested in ethical investment, sustainable living, and cultural topics. Partners include 3Sat, Swiss Television, Deutschlandradio, and phil.cologne.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Philosophie Magazin publishes a bimonthly German-language print philosophy magazine (6 issues per year plus 3 special editions and 1 annual Edition compilation), complemented by the PhiloMag+ digital subscription bundle that provides access to all articles, essays, interviews, and digital editions via iOS/Android apps and a web kiosk. The publication combines philosophical depth with journalistic timeliness, offering exclusive interviews with leading thinkers and a 16-page booklet of original philosophical classic texts in each print issue.

Product overview

Philosophie Magazin is a German bimonthly philosophy magazine published by Philomagazin Verlag GmbH, offering a unified portfolio centered on the print magazine (6 issues per year), supplemented by three annual Sonderausgaben (special thematic editions) and an annual Edition collection. Digital access is enabled through PhiloMag+, which bundles the Philosophie Magazin App (iOS/Android), Webkiosk (browser-based reading), and full online content access. The company also operates phil.cologne (Germany's largest philosophy festival) and Philo.live! (live event platform). The magazine was launched on November 16, 2011, and is distributed through newsstands, subscriptions, and digital channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Philosophie Magazin (Print Magazine) Bimonthly flagship print philosophy magazine offering philosophical essays, interviews, and commentary on contemporary issues, with 6 issues per year. Each issue includes a 16-page booklet of original texts from philosophical classics. Targeted at philosophy enthusiasts in the DACH region.
• Sonderausgaben (Special Editions) Thematic special issues of the print magazine published three times per year, focused on specific philosophical topics or thinkers (e.g., Habermas Sonderausgabe, Konservatismus edition).
• Edition (Annual Collection) Annual compilation of the most important essays from the year, packaged as a special edition released for the upcoming year.
• PhiloMag+ Digital Subscription Premium digital access subscription giving subscribers full access to all online articles, essays, interviews, and digital magazine editions via the web kiosk and mobile app, starting at €29.99 per year with a 4-week free trial.
• Philo.live! (Live Event Platform) Live event platform hosting philosophical discussions and talks with philosophers and thinkers, extending the brand's editorial content into interactive live sessions.
• phil.cologne Festival Germany's largest philosophy festival held annually in Cologne, gathering philosophers for lectures and discussions as a major brand event for Philosophie Magazin.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 3SatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for collaborative content creation and brand visibility. 3Sat works with Philosophie Magazin editorial team on philosophy-related programming.
• Schweizer FernsehenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss television media partnership for content collaboration with the German philosophy magazine.
• DeutschlandradiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman public radio partnership for expanded reach and collaborative programming.
• phil.cologneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Germany's largest philosophy festival for brand visibility and content collaboration.
• Philo Éditions (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench sister company and parent publisher. The German and French teams together form Europe's largest philosophical editorial team. Led by Alexandre Lacroix in Paris, they share content and editorial resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DIE ZEIT: Major German weekly newspaper with substantial intellectual/cultural content, digital subscriptions, and apps. Comparable as a German-language periodical publisher with deep editorial resources, subscription model, and multi-channel distribution.
• Geo Magazin: Major German culture/geography magazine from Gruner + Jahr with premium subscription model, mobile apps, and digital access. Comparable as a large-scale German-language niche-interest magazine with multi-channel distribution and bundled subscriptions.
• Spektrum der Wissenschaft: Established German science and intellectual magazine publisher with subscription/print/digital distribution model. Comparable as a German-language niche periodical publisher with similar subscription and digital distribution mechanics.

Direct peers

• Philosophy Now: English-language philosophy magazine published bimonthly since 1991, sold in newsstands and via subscriptions. Direct competitor in the niche consumer philosophy magazine category targeting general readers.
• Philo Éditions: French sister magazine published by Philo Éditions (founded 2006) under the same Geschäftsführer Fabrice Gerschel. Direct peer in philosophy magazine publishing with shared editorial resources and parallel product structure.
• The Philosophers' Magazine: UK-based quarterly philosophy magazine covering philosophical topics for general readers. Closely comparable as a niche periodical addressing philosophy enthusiasts with essays and interviews.
• Merkur: Long-running German intellectual/cultural journal covering philosophy, culture, and politics. Comparable as a German-language periodical targeting intellectual readers with essayistic content.
• Hohe Luft: German philosophy magazine (six times per year), direct domestic competitor in the German-speaking consumer philosophy magazine category with similar bimonthly cadence and consumer-friendly philosophical content.

Emerging players

• Tattva (Indian philosophy magazine): Indian philosophy/culture magazine addressing philosophy enthusiasts in a regional market. Comparable as a niche consumer philosophy periodical, though serving a different geography.

Regional players

• Lettre International: German-European cultural/political magazine covering intellectual discourse, philosophy-adjacent topics. Comparable as a German-language cultural/intellectual periodical with similar target audience and editorial positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/philomagde
• Facebookfacebook.com/philomagde
• Instagraminstagram.com/philosophie_magazin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/philomagazin-verlag-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Philosophie Magazin