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CNET says it funds its free-to-read journalism through advertising, licensing and affiliate commissions, alongside partner-supported coverage, paid placements and branded content. The label on a page matters: a possible commission from a reader’s purchase is not the same as an advertiser-controlled article or a paid deal placement.
What revenue sources does CNET identify?
CNET says it does not charge a subscription fee and names advertising, licensing and affiliate commissions as revenue sources. Its explanation also describes partner-supported journalism, paid featured placements, partner offers and paid branded content. CNET does not publish a standalone revenue total or a breakdown showing what share comes from each source, so the public information does not establish which contributes the most. CNET’s revenue explanation describes the mechanisms, not their relative dollar value.
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Advertising
CNET sells advertising space to help fund its free journalism. Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, also reports advertising and performance marketing across its businesses, including display and video advertising and lead generation. Those company-wide descriptions should not be read as a precise account of CNET’s own advertising arrangements.
Affiliate commissions
Some links in reviews, product lists or deal coverage may earn CNET a commission if a reader buys after clicking. CNET’s disclosure says: “If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.” The wording describes a possibility, not a guaranteed payment on every link or purchase. CNET says its product selection and recommendations remain editorial decisions.
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Licensing
CNET lists licensing as a revenue source, but its public explanation does not quantify licensing income or set out the terms of individual deals. CNET Group also advertises editorial award licensing as a commercial service; that group-level offering does not reveal how much licensing contributes to CNET’s own revenue.
What do CNET’s content labels mean?
Read the specific label rather than treating every commercial relationship as “sponsored.” CNET describes several different arrangements, which vary in who pays, whether editorial control is retained and whether a reader’s purchase triggers a commission.
| Label or format | What CNET says it means | Editorial relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate disclosure | CNET may earn a commission if a reader buys through a link. | The link may generate revenue, but CNET says product evaluation and recommendation are independent. |
| Made Possible By | A partner supports coverage in a category or package. | CNET says the partner does not get editorial control, prepublication approval or a chance to view the content before publication. |
| Featured Deal or sponsored placement | A paid placement gives a product greater visibility; CNET says featured products have already been independently recommended. Other sponsored placements may appear outside the editorial list. | Payment affects placement or visibility, not necessarily the editorial recommendation. Look for the accompanying disclosure. |
| Partner Offer | An advertiser pays for a deal to be considered. | Editorial staff vet the offer and decide whether it meets their standards; payment does not guarantee recommendation. |
| Advertisement, Ad Content, Sponsored Ad or Special Advertising Content | Paid branded content produced through CNET’s BrandX studio. | CNET says the advertiser pays for creative control, including product inclusion, point of view, design and final prepublication approval. BrandX content carries a BrandX byline. |
CNET says disclosures for partner support appear near the supported content. Affiliate disclosures are placed before or within sight of the first affiliate link. Featured and sponsored placements use labels such as “sponsored” or “featured deal,” with a “What is This?” explanation. The exact label and its explanation are the useful clues to the relationship.
Are CNET reviews paid for by advertisers?
CNET says products and services are independently selected for evaluation and recommendation, and that no company or source may view, edit or comment on a story before publication. Its editorial policy also says third-party-paid travel is disclosed and does not affect coverage. These are CNET’s stated policies, not an independent audit of every story.
Affiliate links can create a commercial connection without giving the advertiser editorial approval over a review. That differs from paid branded content, where CNET says the advertiser has creative control and final prepublication approval. CNET’s Editorial Process describes its stated review and independence practices.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do Ziff Davis’s financial figures show?
Ziff Davis’s 2024 annual report provides financial context for its broader Technology & Shopping segment, which includes multiple businesses. It does not report CNET’s standalone revenue. The figures below therefore belong to the segment, not to CNET alone.
Rank #3
| Technology & Shopping segment, 2024 | Reported revenue |
|---|---|
| Advertising and performance marketing | $345.655 million |
| Subscription and licensing | $7.158 million |
| Total segment revenue | $361.882 million |
The annual report describes revenue categories at the company or segment level, including advertising, performance marketing, lead generation, merchant referrals and commissions, subscription and licensing. It does not provide a CNET-only breakdown. See Ziff Davis’s 2024 annual report filed with the SEC for the segment figures and scope.
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How to interpret a commercial label
- Identify the exact label. An affiliate disclosure, “Made Possible By,” “Partner Offer” and “Advertisement” describe different arrangements.
- Ask who is paying. A reader’s purchase may trigger an affiliate commission; a partner may fund coverage; or an advertiser may pay for a placement or branded content.
- Check who controls the content. CNET says partner-supported independent coverage is not subject to partner approval, while BrandX advertising gives the advertiser creative control and final prepublication approval.
- Separate consideration from endorsement. A paid Partner Offer is considered by editors, but payment does not ensure that editors will select or recommend it.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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