12 Largest Internet Companies And Their Market Shares

In the late 1990s, many internet companies, known as “dot com” companies, emerged in the United States to generate revenue. These startups capitalized on the early days of internet business but lacked significant funding and innovative ideas. Unfortunately, only a few companies survived the burst of the dot com bubble, and even fewer flourished globally. However, some notable exceptions include American companies such as Google (established in 1998), Amazon (established in 1994), and eBay Inc. (established in 1995), as well as the Chinese online behemoth Alibaba (established in 1998), which have since grown to become some of the largest internet companies in the world.

There are many ways for online businesses to generate revenue, such as through online sales, financial transaction fees, cloud services, and paid advertising. The internet industry has experienced significant growth in 2021. Currently, Alphabet is the world’s largest internet company, with a market capitalization of over 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars as of April 2023. Amazon comes in second place with a market cap of $1,053 billion.

You heard right -The world’s largest internet company now is Alphabet, Google’s parent company. As of April 2023, its market capitalization is $1.3 trillion. Google began as a PhD project at Stanford University and has since become the top search engine in the world, with 86% of the market share. Google has expanded beyond search through acquisitions such as YouTube, Google Play Store, Gmail, and Google Chrome. In February 2023, Google was the most visited multi-platform website in the United States, with almost 274 million unique visitors. In 2015, Google reorganized itself under the multinational conglomerate Alphabet Inc.

According to recent data, Amazon, Alphabet (the parent company of Google), and Meta (formerly known as Facebook) are currently leading in terms of the number of employees they have on their payroll within the internet industry. These three companies boast the largest workforce compared to other major players in the digital arena.

The landscape of internet-based businesses is in a constant state of flux, and with the advent of new technologies, smaller companies can swiftly rise to prominence and dethrone established giants, as reflected by some of this article’s listed businesses. However, while some of these startups may experience meteoric growth, they may eventually lose steam and peter out entirely, as evidenced by the infamous dot-com bubble burst of 2000. This is not a bit of financial advice, though, but to mitigate potential investment risks, it is paramount for investors to exercise due diligence and carefully assess the merits of any internet-based business before committing to their resources.

Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL)

One of the biggest Internet corporations globally is Alphabet, founded in 2015 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin during Google’s restructuring. It is now the parent company of Google and many other former Google subsidiaries. Alphabet is the third-largest technology corporation worldwide in sales and is among the most valuable businesses globally.

Google, a global technology company, is renowned for being the top search engine in the world. It has also established its significance in contextual advertising and other digital services. As a publicly-traded company listed on the NASDAQ exchange, Google is valued at an impressive $1.59 trillion as of August 15, 2022. In 2021, the company accumulated a substantial total revenue of $257.64 billion, further solidifying its dominant position in the tech industry.

Amazon (AMZN)

The world’s largest Internet company in terms of revenue is Amazon.com. It was founded by Jeff Bezos on July 5, 1994, starting as an online bookseller. Over time, Amazon expanded its product offerings to include CDs, DVDs, electronics, and more. Today, the company has become the second-largest employer in America (following Walmart) and is headquartered in Seattle. Its Amazon Web Services division has a significant presence in the cloud computing market, one of its most profitable business segments. In addition to books, Amazon now sells groceries and household items and offers a range of services, including AWS, which provides server rental services to corporate clients.

Amazon, founded in 1995, has become a significant player in the e-commerce industry. What started as an online bookstore has expanded over time to offer customers a wide range of products across the United States. In 2021, Amazon’s revenue reached an incredible $469.82 billion, indicating its success and popularity. As of August 15, 2022, the company’s market capitalization stands at an impressive $1.46 trillion, firmly establishing its position as a top player.

Meta Platforms(META), formerly Facebook

Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook Inc., is a massive Internet company and a significant player in the digital advertising industry. The company’s primary revenue source is advertising, which has grown significantly since its inception. In 2021, advertising accounted for 97.5% of its revenue. Meta is dedicated to ensuring that advertisers are satisfied with their ads appearing on Facebook. A quick search for “Facebook ads” shows many positive reviews from users who have successfully used them for their businesses.

This popular social networking site, listed on the NASDAQ, has gained worldwide popularity. In 2014, the company made a massive acquisition of WhatsApp for an impressive $19 billion and several other smaller companies. As of 2021, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has reported a total revenue of $117.93 billion and a market capitalization of $479.30 billion as of August 15, 2022. These numbers indicate the company’s strong financial performance and continued success in the digital world.

Tencent Holdings

In 1998, Chinese people in business, Ma Huateng and Zhang Zhidong, established a company that now boasts over 1 billion active users, making it the world’s largest social network. This company also offers popular online games like League of Legends and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) and sells digital content such as music, books, magazines, movies, and TV shows. Among Tencent’s most beloved products are WeChat and QQ, messaging applications with over 1 billion monthly active users. Tencent is currently ranked as the fourth largest internet company worldwide regarding market capitalization.

Tencent Holdings is a renowned Asian corporation publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company provides diverse services, including apps, online games, advertising, and messaging services through WeChat. In the financial year 2021, Tencent generated revenue of approximately $82.57 billion, and as of August 15, 2022, its market capitalization stood at an impressive $372.12 billion. Those interested in investing in Tencent can access American depositary receipts traded on NASDAQ. It has been consistently ranked among the top 50 most innovative companies worldwide by Boston Consulting Group and Fast Company in 2015, 2018, and 2020, respectively. Tencent’s headquarters are situated in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

PayPal Holdings, Inc.

In 1998, a group of entrepreneurs, including Peter Thiel, Luke Nosek, Max Levchin, Ken Howery, and Yu Pan, founded a global e-commerce business headquartered in San Jose, California. This business, called PayPal, enables individuals to make payments and transfer money online. With PayPal, users can send payments for both digital and physical goods, including mobile apps and music files. The service can also be accessed on mobile phones, allowing people to quickly transfer money to friends and family members with a PayPal account using only an email address.

PayPal is a convenient payment service that eliminates the need for users to enter their credit card information repeatedly. Instead, all that’s required is a username and password when checking out. If a customer’s computer crashes, they can log in from another device to avoid issues. Additionally, if someone wants to send money to you but doesn’t have your bank account details, PayPal makes it possible. It’s widely used by businesses worldwide because it offers a simple way to send and receive payments online. With over 400 million active users across 192 countries, PayPal is available in more than 25 currencies via its network of banks, credit unions, and financial services organizations.

Alibaba (BABA)

The Alibaba Group is a massive internet company founded by Jack Ma in 1999. It is currently valued at $208.67 billion and is known for its diverse range of products and services. One of its main offerings is an e-commerce platform that enables buyers and sellers worldwide to connect and access goods from all over the globe. Originally, Alibaba served as a mediator between buyers and sellers. Still, it has since expanded its operations to include a vast network of affiliates and partners who can help you obtain any desired product, regardless of where you live or your budget.

Alibaba, an e-commerce powerhouse based in China and listed on the NYSE, accomplished a remarkable feat in 2014 by executing the most extensive initial public offering (IPO) in history. As of August 15, 2022, this retail behemoth boasts a staggering market capitalization of $250.87 billion, positioning it as one of the most valuable companies worldwide. In the fiscal year of 2022, Alibaba achieved an impressive $134.57 billion in revenue, underscoring its dominance in the fiercely competitive e-commerce arena.

Meituan

One of the most valuable companies in Asia is Meituan, with an estimated revenue of $27.77 billion. This Chinese technology company is among the largest internet companies globally, established by Wang Xing in 2010. Meituan has grown to operate in over 1000 locations and merged with Dazhong Dianping in 2015, subsequently changing its name to “Meituan-Dianping.” “Dàzhng dinpng wng,” which translates to “public reviews net,” hosts restaurant consumer reviews, similar to Yelp and TripAdvisor, and offers coupon-buying services like Groupon. Although Meituan’s primary business is online food delivery, it’s expanded its operations to become one of China’s leading e-commerce companies, venturing into other areas such as entertainment and travel.

Meituan is primarily focused on online shopping but also provides additional services such as hotel booking and taxi reservations. The company generates revenue through commissions on transactions made through its platform and advertising revenue from sponsored posts. Meituan-Dianping is among the most prominent online and on-demand delivery platforms globally, with over 290 million monthly active users and 600 million registered users as of April 2018. In Q2 2021, Meituan’s food delivery division saw a 59.5% increase in GTV compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the average daily number of food delivery transactions increased by 58.9% to 38.9 million year over year.

Netflix (NFLX)

In 1997, Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph established an American entertainment company that became a trailblazer in subscription-based video streaming. The company has since expanded globally in India, Brazil, Japan, and Canada. It started as a traditional video rental store but has evolved into a comprehensive entertainment provider. Netflix offers streaming media, which includes movies, TV shows, and DVD-by-mail rentals. Additionally, the company produces its content and offers video streaming of shows and movies.

Netflix is a globally recognized company that provides top-tier video streaming services for entertainment. With over 222 million members in more than 190 countries, its platform has gained immense popularity. As of August 15, 2022, the company’s market capitalization was an impressive $110.87 billion, indicating its remarkable success in the industry. In 2021, Netflix’s total revenue was $29.70 billion, which cements its position as a significant player in the digital entertainment sector.

Salesforce.com (CRM)

Salesforce.com is a dominant force in the enterprise cloud computing and social enterprise solutions space and a top customer relationship management (CRM) software provider. Its strong presence on the New York Stock Exchange underscores its position as a critical player in the technology industry. By offering innovative solutions to help businesses manage their sales, marketing, and customer service operations, Salesforce.com has been driving innovation and transforming how businesses interact with customers.

This enterprise has firmly established itself as a leading force in its industry, boasting an impressive market capitalization of $185.80 billion as of August 15, 2022. Its phenomenal achievement of total revenues of $26.49 billion in FY 2022 is a testament to its remarkable track record of success.

ByteDance

Liang Rubo and Zhang Yiming established a company in 2012 that specializes in improving businesses’ brand recognition through social media marketing. TikTok is one of their most popular offerings, allowing users to create and share short videos. Douyin is also available, comparable to TikTok, but is dedicated to a particular region and Xigua Video, an online video-sharing platform. ByteDance’s revenue has surged dramatically in recent years, reaching around 58 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, a nearly 69 per cent increase from the previous year. This is due to their exceptional ability to provide a comprehensive set of services, including various social media marketing tools for brands.

ByteDance boasts an impressive 1.9 billion monthly active users on its multimedia platforms as of June 2021. However, the company has faced criticism for allegedly cooperating with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in censoring and monitoring information about sensitive topics, such as the Xinjiang internment camps. Despite this, ByteDance remains determined to expand its reach through acquisitions and introducing new products and features.

JD.com (JD)

Liu Qiangdong founded the company on June 18, 1998, and its online retail platform was launched in 2004. Initially, it started as an online magneto-optical business, but it rapidly diversified to include the sale of electronics, mobile phones, computers, and similar items. Over time, the company has expanded to provide several services, including digital payment options and logistic services for e-commerce businesses.

JD.com, a prominent e-commerce company headquartered in Beijing and listed on NASDAQ, is renowned for its massive B2C online platform. Boasting a market capitalization of $86.90 billion as of August 15, 2022, JD.com is a Fortune Global 500 company. In 2021, the company achieved an impressive total revenue of $149.33 billion, cementing it as a significant force in the e-commerce industry.

Booking.com (BKNG)

Booking.com is an excellent online travel service that can assist you in planning your next trip. Their expansive selection of accommodations includes hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals, as well as convenient airport transfers and car rentals. Moreover, you can explore their vast tours and attractions in your chosen destination, making Booking.com a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.

A wealth of travel services are available, ranging from hotels and restaurants to rental cars, airline tickets, safaris, and cruises. Booking websites such as booking.com, priceline.com, and agoda.com are convenient for making reservations. Booking.com is a dominant player in the travel industry, boasting a market capitalization of $65.20 billion as of June 30, 2020. In 2019, they achieved an impressive total revenue of $15.07 billion.

Baidu (BIDU)

Although Google is a well-known search engine globally, it has limited usage in China, where Baidu has a more substantial presence. Baidu’s success is mainly due to its diverse range of services, such as news, maps, videos, anti-virus software, and Internet TV, which cater to Chinese users’ specific needs and preferences. This makes Baidu a preferred choice over Google. Furthermore, Baidu’s understanding of the Chinese market and its localization efforts have further strengthened its position as the dominant search engine in China.

Baidu, a company registered in the Cayman Islands, is widely recognized for its adherence to Chinese regulations and political directives, which include restricting search results. The company’s American depository receipt is listed on NASDAQ, with a market value of $41.32 billion as of June 30, 2020. In 2019, Baidu generated an impressive revenue of $15.43 billion.