Contently Inc

Overview

Contently operates in the enterprise content marketing platform (CMP) category, offering a cloud-based platform that manages the planning, creation, and distribution of content marketing programs with customizable workflows and real-time analytics [1]. The platform combines a software layer—covering editorial calendars, approval workflows, SEO tooling, and performance dashboards—with access to a global network of more than 160,000 vetted freelance writers, editors, designers, and videographers [2, 3]. A proprietary document analytics capability, inherited from its 2016 acquisition of Docalytics, allows customers to track engagement on downloadable assets such as PDFs and sales collateral [4]. Contently also offers expert content strategy services alongside the platform, positioning itself as an integrated solution rather than a pure-software vendor [1]. The company describes its target customers as enterprise and Fortune 500 brands in sectors including financial services, technology, and healthcare [5].

History

Contently was founded in 2011 by Joe Coleman, Dave Goldberg, and Shane Snow [6]. The company raised a Series A round in January 2012 with participation from Lightbank and ff Venture Capital, followed by a Series B in January 2014 with Contour Venture Partners [7]. Total disclosed funding reached approximately $19–21 million across multiple rounds, with the most recent publicly recorded round occurring in 2016 [8, 9]. In February 2016, Contently acquired Docalytics, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based marketing and sales analytics company whose Insight Engine technology provided engagement tracking for downloadable content; the acquisition price was not disclosed [10]. In September 2019, co-founder Joe Coleman transitioned out of the CEO role into an advisory capacity after leading the company for over eight years; Pearl Collings, formerly Chief Business Officer at Time Inc., was appointed CEO and Chairperson of the Board [11]. Co-founder Shane Snow simultaneously rejoined the company's Board of Directors [11]. No subsequent funding rounds have been publicly reported as of mid-2026 [8].

Market Position

Contently competes in the content marketing platform category. The company was named a 2021 Customers' Choice for Content Marketing Platforms by Gartner Peer Insights [12]. A third-party source also notes that Contently has been recognized multiple times in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Content Marketing Platforms, where it held a Niche Player position in the 2024 evaluation, reflecting a more specialized focus compared to broader platforms [13, 14]. On G2, the company has self-described as a top-rated solution in the Enterprise Content Creation Grid [15]. Review aggregator data indicates Contently's installed customer base is concentrated in enterprises with 10,000 or more employees, and its top verticals by customer count include wealth management, credit cards, and insurance [16]. The platform's primary geographies are the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom [16]. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; third-party estimates suggest annual platform costs in the $24,000–$200,000+ range, with freelancer costs billed separately [17].

Competition

G2 lists Skyword360, Optimizely Content Marketing Platform, and Semrush as the top alternatives to Contently in the Content Creation Software category [18]. Skyword360 is considered the most direct enterprise competitor, targeting a similar upper-market segment and holding a Leader position in the Gartner 2024 Magic Quadrant for Content Marketing Platforms, compared to Contently's Niche Player designation [13]. Optimizely is commonly evaluated alongside Contently but addresses a different part of the content lifecycle—content delivery and personalization via A/B testing and audience targeting—rather than content creation and operations; the two are often positioned as complementary rather than substitutable [19]. Semrush competes from an SEO-centric angle and primarily targets organizations whose content strategies are search-performance-driven [19]. Pepper Content and Opal Labs are also cited as active competitors by technology trackers [20]. Contently's principal differentiator, as identified across multiple third-party analyses, is the integration of its managed freelancer marketplace directly into its workflow platform, reducing the need for separate talent-sourcing arrangements [17, 19].

Sources

1. Contently - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding — Crunchbase
2. Contently | LinkedIn — LinkedIn, 2026-06-04
3. Contently Reviews & Features 2026 | OMR Reviews — OMR Reviews
4. Contently Acquires Docalytics — Destination CRM
5. Contently - 2025 Funding Rounds & List of Investors - Tracxn — Tracxn, 2025-10-15
6. Contently Appoints Pearl Collings as CEO — GlobeNewswire, 2019-09-03
7. Contently Named a 2021 Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Content Marketing Platforms — GlobeNewswire, 2021-08-23
8. Contently Alternatives 2026: Top Competitors Compared — CheckThat.ai, 2026-03-30
9. Top 10 Contently Alternatives & Competitors in 2026 | G2 — G2
10. Contently - Market Share, Competitor Insights in Content Marketing Tools — 6sense
11. Contently: Details, Reviews, Pricing, & Features | CheckThat.ai — CheckThat.ai
12. Contently Reviews 2026: Pricing, Pros, and Alternatives — CheckThat.ai, 2026-03-30
13. Contently - 2026 Company Profile, Team, Funding & Competitors - Tracxn — Tracxn, 2026-03-03
14. Contently Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2 — G2
15. Contently Names New Head of Product, Ashley Allen — GlobeNewswire, 2022-11-16
16. Contently Acquires Docalytics — FinSMEs, 2016-02-21
17. Contently 2026 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition | PitchBook — PitchBook