How to pitch your startup or app to Android Central
TL;DR
Android Central is an Android news, reviews and how-to site owned by Future plc, the British publisher behind Windows Central. It states that its writers never receive compensation for coverage, so you reach it by emailing an editor listed on the About page. It fits startups with an Android app, a wearable or an accessory that readers can buy and test.
What is Android Central?
Android Central calls itself one of the oldest Android sites on the web. It publishes buyer's guides, reviews and help articles for Android phones, smartwatches, tablets and the wider Google ecosystem, and it also covers Chromebooks, VR, gaming hardware, streaming devices and products from Garmin, Amazon, Apple and Meta. The site runs forums and a newsletter next to its editorial pages.
Story selection follows a set process: writers pitch ideas in team meetings, the Managing Editor reviews them, and the Editor-in-Chief gives final approval. Every story passes an editor and a fact check before it goes live. Android Central is a member of IPSO, the UK press regulator, through Future.
Who should pitch Android Central?
- Startups with a consumer Android app that solves a clear everyday task.
- Makers of phone accessories, chargers, cases, wearables or smart home gear.
- VR, gaming and streaming startups whose product runs on Android or Google hardware.
- Founders with research or data about Android users.
- Skip it if your product has no Android or Google angle, or if you want guaranteed coverage.
How much does Android Central cost?
Editorial coverage is free. The About page says the site does not receive compensation for reviews and gives brands no pre-publication access to reviews unless content is marked Sponsored. Android Central earns money from affiliate links, display ads and labelled paid-for content. Advertisers use the Future advertising media kit linked in the site footer. No prices are published.
How do you pitch your startup to Android Central?
- Read the About page and the editorial standards so you know how the team picks stories.
- Find the right person. The About page lists staff email addresses on the futurenet.com domain, such as the Managing Editor and the senior editors for phones, VR and Asian smartphone brands, and the freelance contributors page lists more writers with contact details.
- Match your story to a writer's recent articles, then send one short email: what it is, the launch date, the price, the Play Store link and what is new.
- Offer a review unit or a full-access test account early, with a clear embargo.
- For sponsored content or ads, use the Future media kit and keep that conversation separate from the editorial pitch.
Tips to get more out of Android Central
- Write the subject line as a headline with the product name and the news in it.
- Pitch the buyer's guide angle. Android Central publishes guides to the best phones, watches and tablets, so show which guide your product belongs in and why.
- Include specs, compatibility (Android version, Wear OS, Pixel or Galaxy support) and pricing up front.
- Post in the Android Central forums as a founder only where the forum rules allow it, and answer questions openly.
Our verdict
Android Central suits founders with a consumer product an editor can install or hold. The editorial line is strict, with no paid reviews and no brand access before publication, which gives coverage real weight with readers. Pitch a named editor with a clear story and a working product.
More options: see all app directories and app review sites. Planning the launch around this listing? The Fe/male Switch startup game walks women founders from idea to first customers.