August 10, 2025, 7:32 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Whether it’s electricity contracts, insurance, or hotels–many consumers use comparison portals to find the best value for money. One of the most well-known and widely used in Germany is undoubtedly Check24. But who is actually behind the portal? And how is it financed? TECHBOOK has the answers.
The Concept Behind Check24 and Who’s Behind It
“Check24 is an owner-managed German company”–the goal: to empower consumers. This is how the comparison portal describes itself on its own website. The platform covers a wide range of product and service categories, from travel to electricity and mobile tariffs to insurance or loans. According to the company, users can find more than six million rates and offers from around 63,000 providers and products from about 10,000 online shops.
With the help of filter options, customer reviews, and savings calculators, users are supposed to be able to make informed decisions. Often, contracts can be concluded directly online or bookings made. Check24 advertises transparency, independence, and ease of use; although some of these promises are subject to doubt (more on that later in the text).
Check24 was founded in 1999 by Henrich Blase and Eckhard Juls, initially under the name “Einsurance GmbH.” Both still hold shares in the company, with Blase also serving as CEO. The renaming took place in 2008. Check24 is not publicly traded and includes several silent partners. The structure consists of numerous independent subsidiaries, each specializing in specific comparison areas.
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How the Portal is Financed
On Check24, users receive a clear comparison of prices, services, and customer reviews of various products and services. The purpose is clear: opaque markets become more transparent for consumers, also with the help of filters and savings calculators. The use is completely free for consumers.
How this can work is explained by the company on its website: Check24 is primarily financed through commissions from the respective partner companies–that is, retailers and providers. They pay when contracts are concluded or products are purchased through the platform. “This allows us to offer consumers our free service and advice from our experts almost around the clock,” the website states.
Additionally, providers can pay for better visibility or highlighted placements within the comparison results. However, according to their own statement, the order and presentation of the offers are “not dependent on the amount of the commission.” For the users themselves, there are no additional costs due to the mediation. These are borne solely by the provider.
Criticism of Check24
Consumer advocates criticize that comparison portals like Check24 do not offer a complete market overview. They list only those providers with whom they cooperate, usually for a commission. This model is more akin to a brokerage business. The possibility of securing a better placement on the site for a fee also regularly draws criticism. Although Check24 emphasizes that commissions do not influence the ranking of providers, the independence of the comparisons remains disputed.
Recently, the company made headlines due to an internal policy stating that only applicants with a maximum of two years of professional experience are considered for certain positions. This was reported by “Business Insider” (like TECHBOOK, part of Axel Springer). Labor lawyers view this as potential indirect age discrimination and see a violation of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), as longer professional experience is generally associated with older age. According to the Verdi union, there are also no established works council structures at Check24 and its numerous subsidiaries.