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MakeUseOf Review

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Should I use MakeUseOf?

Menu - makeuseof.com

· 4 hours ago

MakeUseOf is a free, ad-supported tech publication owned by Valnet — read it for how-tos and reviews, but there is no tool to buy. Skip it if you need deployable software, vendor support, or ad-light deep research.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 12 public sources across reviews, security, company, and distribution data.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo user-support evidence found
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Reader

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • Casual tech readers
  • Quick how-to answers
  • Pre-purchase product research
  • Free downloadable guides

Not for

  • Buyers seeking software — it is a publication, not a tool
  • Teams needing anything deployable or integrable
  • Anyone expecting vendor support or an SLA
  • Readers wanting ad-free, deep research

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Sponsored content mixed with editorial via NetLine and TradePub offer networks.

medium

An XSS report for the domain sits on Open Bug Bounty; remediation status unclear.

low

Editorial recommendations — cross-check products elsewhere before spending money.

low

Reportedly blocked in Pakistan per Reddit reports; regional availability can vary.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free how-tos, guides, and product reviews since 2006
  • Publishes a transparent product-testing methodology
  • Large back catalog of free downloadable guides
  • Stable ownership under major publisher Valnet
  • Active security coverage, including scam warnings

Cons

  • Media publication, not software — nothing to deploy, integrate, or configure
  • Reddit antivirus threads question whether the site is safe
  • Community-disclosed XSS vulnerability listed on Open Bug Bounty
  • Ad-heavy; sponsored guides distributed through third-party offer networks
  • Employee reviews cite lack of professionalism

Sources & method

- 10 sources - No known breaches; one community-reported XSS disclosed via Open Bug Bounty.

official x2review x4security x1news x3
  • Cross-Site Scripting report on makeuseof.com, An Open Bug Bounty entry records an XSS vulnerability report submitted for by a security researcher.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free to read; revenue from ads and offers
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Guess: standard website, easy browsing
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Broad how-to coverage; editorial depth varies
  • Support quality. No user-support evidence found
  • Security posture: 3/5. One disclosed XSS; no breach evidence
  • 2006 Founded Founded by Aibek Esengulov
  • Free Cost to read Ad-supported; sponsored guides via offer networks
  • Valnet Owner Acquired by Valnet; sibling sites include XDA Developers
  • DR 87 Domain rating Per ScrollLaunch directory review

Pricing

Reader

$0

  • All articles and reviews
  • Ad-supported
  • Sponsored guides via NetLine/TradePub

Security

No known breaches; one community-reported XSS disclosed via Open Bug Bounty.

  • Cross-Site Scripting report on makeuseof.comAn Open Bug Bounty entry records an XSS vulnerability report submitted for by a security researcher.⁵

What users say

user reviews are sparse and fragmented, with Trustpilot and ReviewStream entries plus a Reddit antivirus thread debating site safety.

Alternatives

Compare MakeUseOf with each alternative.

  • Reddit tech communities

    Guess: crowdsourced troubleshooting when one editorial answer isn't enough.

Full analysis

Based on 12 public sources across reviews, security, company, and distribution data.

Free ad-supported tech media site — fine for reading how-tos; not software, nothing to buy or deploy.

Methodology

Based on 12 public sources across reviews, security, company, and distribution data.

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. MakeUseOf - A Valnet Publicationvalnetinc.com
    official
  2. How We Test and Review Products at MakeUseOfmakeuseof.com
    official
  3. Trustpilot reviews of makeuseof.comtrustpilot.com
    review
  4. makeuseof.com is malware? : r/antivirusreddit.com
    review
  5. makeuseof.com Cross Site Scripting vulnerability - Open Bug Bountyopenbugbounty.org
    security
  6. MakeUseOf - Glassdoor employee reviewsglassdoor.com
    review
  7. MakeUseOf acquired by Valnet - Crunchbasecrunchbase.com
    news
  8. MakeUseOf - Bias and Credibilitymediabiasfactcheck.com
    news
  9. Submit to MakeUseOf - Directory Review (DR 87)scrolllaunch.com
    news
  10. Why is makeuseof.com banned in Pakistan?reddit.com
    review

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