How to get your app covered by MakeUseOf, or advertise there
TL;DR
MakeUseOf (MUO) is a consumer tech site founded in 2006 and owned by Valnet since 2020, built around the motto "Technology, Simplified". Editorial coverage is free and cannot be bought: you pitch editorial@makeuseof.com and the editors decide. Paid reach is a separate track through partnerships@makeuseof.com and advertising@valnetinc.com. It suits startups with an app, web tool or gadget that ordinary users can try.
What is MakeUseOf?
MUO explains everyday technology to people who use it: lists of the best apps, plain explanations of technical topics, troubleshooting guides and product reviews. Its editors cover platforms such as iPhone and Windows and topics such as productivity and security. The About page counts more than 200,000 newsletter readers, and Valnet's media page reports more than 8 million monthly sessions and 9 million monthly pageviews. MUO sits in Valnet's technology portfolio with Pocket-lint, Android Police, XDA and How-To Geek.
Who should pitch or advertise on MakeUseOf?
- App and SaaS startups for consumers and small teams: note-taking, to-do lists, password managers, AI assistants, photo and video tools.
- Browser extension and website makers whose tool fits a "best apps for" list.
- Consumer hardware startups with a product to review.
- Brands with a launch budget that want guaranteed reach through sponsored content or display ads.
- Skip it if you sell enterprise software to IT departments, or if you only want a guest post with a backlink. MUO's "work with us" link leads to its careers page for paid writers.
How much does MakeUseOf cost?
Editorial coverage is free. Valnet's editorial standards say its brands do not take payment for product reviews, review scores cannot be bought, and sponsored content carries a label in line with FTC rules. Valnet brands also earn affiliate commissions on some purchases. Advertising is paid: Valnet sells display and direct campaigns through advertising@valnetinc.com, and MUO handles brand-specific commercial deals through partnerships@makeuseof.com. No prices are published; ask for a media kit. MUO's old advertise page now redirects to Valnet's MakeUseOf page.
How do you share your startup on MakeUseOf?
- Open the MakeUseOf contact page, which lists every department address.
- For coverage, email editorial@makeuseof.com, the address for topic ideas and suggestions. Name the app, the problem it solves, platforms, price and a free test account.
- For press releases, events and media requests, use pr@makeuseof.com.
- For sponsored content or other brand deals, write to partnerships@makeuseof.com; for display campaigns, write to advertising@valnetinc.com through the Valnet MakeUseOf page.
- Keep the paid request and the editorial pitch in separate emails, so each reaches the right team.
Tips to get more out of MakeUseOf
- Pitch the use case, framed as a reader task such as "organise notes across devices", and show how your app does it in three steps.
- Offer a full account or licence with no time limit. A writer needs working access to judge the app.
- Point to the MUO roundup your product belongs in and say what it does better than the apps already listed.
- If you buy sponsored content, expect a visible sponsor label, and plan the copy for readers who know that.
Our verdict
MakeUseOf is one of the largest how-to tech sites for consumer apps, and editorial mentions there are earned with a product writers can test. For predictable reach, the Valnet partnership team sells labelled sponsored content and ads, with prices given on request.
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