Leading online companies ranked by revenue from 2017 to 2026
The revenue ranking of the world's largest internet companies has transformed significantly since 2017. Amazon's rise to a dominant #1 position, from $177.9 billion in 2017 to $716.9 billion in 2025, is the defining story of the period. In 2017, Apple led the ranking at $229.2 billion; by 2025, Amazon's revenue is approximately 72% larger than Apple's.
The combined revenue of the top 10 internet companies grew from approximately $657 billion in 2017 to approximately $2.15 trillion in 2025, a 227% increase in eight years. The market capitalisation context for these companies is in our largest internet companies by market cap analysis.
The ranking reveals two distinct tiers. The "hyper-scale" tier, Amazon ($716.9B), Apple ($416.2B), and Alphabet ($402.8B), all have revenues exceeding $400 billion. The second tier, Meta (~$185B), Alibaba (~$135B), and Tencent (~$106B), all have revenues in the $100-200 billion range. Netflix, PayPal, Baidu, and eBay form a much smaller third tier at $10-45 billion.
The gap between Amazon and eBay (the smallest of the 10) is approximately 68:1 by revenue, compared to approximately 19:1 in 2017. The global investment banking revenue context for these companies is in our investment banking analysis.
Internet Companies Revenue — Full Data 2017-2026 (billion USD)
The table below shows annual revenue for all 10 major internet companies from 2017 to 2026. Bold gold = confirmed from SEC filings. Click column headers to sort. All figures in billion USD. Chinese company revenues converted from local currency at annual average exchange rates. The broader GDP and economic context for these revenue figures is in our world GDP analysis.
| Company | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Growth 17-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $177.9B | $280.5B | $469.8B | $514.0B | $574.8B | $638.0B | $716.9B | +303% |
| Apple | $229.2B | $260.2B | $365.8B | $394.3B | $383.3B | $391.0B | $416.2B | +82% |
| Alphabet | $110.9B | $161.9B | $257.6B | $282.8B | $307.4B | $350.0B | $402.8B | +263% |
| Meta | $40.7B | $70.7B | $117.9B | $116.6B | $134.9B | $164.5B | ~$185B | +355% |
| Alibaba | $23.0B | $56.2B | $109.5B | $126.5B | $126.5B | $130.4B | ~$135B | +487% |
| Tencent | $21.9B | $54.1B | $87.4B | $81.2B | $85.0B | ~$96B | ~$106B | +384% |
| Netflix | $11.7B | $20.2B | $29.7B | $31.6B | $33.7B | $39.0B | $45.2B | +287% |
| PayPal | $13.1B | $17.8B | $25.4B | $27.5B | $29.8B | $31.8B | ~$33B | +152% |
| Baidu | $10.2B | $15.3B | $19.5B | $17.9B | $19.5B | ~$19.8B | ~$20B | +96% |
| eBay | $9.6B | $10.8B | $10.4B | $9.8B | $10.1B | $10.3B | ~$10.5B | +9% |
Amazon — #1 with $716.9B in 2025, Up from $177.9B in 2017 (+303%)
Amazon's ascent to the top of the internet revenue ranking is the most dramatic story in the dataset. From $177.9 billion in 2017, when it was still primarily known as an e-commerce company, Amazon grew to $716.9 billion in 2025, adding approximately $539 billion in annual revenue over eight years.
The key driver of this transformation was Amazon Web Services (AWS): from approximately $18 billion in 2017 to $108 billion in 2024 (+500%), AWS has become not only Amazon's most profitable segment but also the world's largest cloud computing platform. In 2024, AWS's $108 billion in revenue alone would rank it above Netflix, PayPal, Baidu, and eBay combined.
In Q1 2026, Amazon reported $181.5 billion in quarterly revenue (+16.6% YoY), consistent with a 2026 full-year trajectory above $750 billion. The broader market context for Amazon is in our Amazon statistics and facts analysis.
Apple — #2 with $416.2B in 2025, Defending Lead Over Fast-Closing Alphabet
Apple ranked first in revenue among internet companies as recently as 2017-2020, but was overtaken by Amazon. It remains second at approximately $416.2 billion in fiscal year 2025 (ending September 2025). Apple's revenue growth has been the slowest among the top four: +82% from 2017 to 2025, compared to Amazon (+303%), Alphabet (+263%), and Meta (+355%).
Apple's revenue is heavily concentrated in hardware, the iPhone alone represents approximately 52% of revenue, making growth more cyclical and dependent on upgrade cycles than subscription or advertising-driven peers. The most significant threat to Apple's #2 position is Alphabet, which at $402.8 billion in 2025 is closing rapidly as Google Cloud accelerates.
The smartphone and device market context for Apple's revenue is in our world's most valuable companies analysis.
Alphabet — #3 at $402.8B, Fastest-Growing Top-3 Company, Threatening Apple's #2 Spot
Alphabet (Google's parent company) generated approximately $402.8 billion in revenue in 2025, confirmed from the SEC 8-K showing $350.018 billion in 2024 and approximately 15% growth into 2025. Alphabet was the fastest-growing company in the top three from 2017 to 2025 (+263%).
Google Cloud is the primary growth accelerator: in Q1 2026, Google Cloud revenue grew 63% year-on-year, and its backlog nearly doubled to $460 billion. If this trajectory continues, Alphabet could overtake Apple as the second-largest internet company by revenue in 2026 or 2027.
The gap between Apple ($416.2B) and Alphabet ($402.8B) in 2025 is just $13.4 billion, the smallest it has ever been. The regional revenue breakdown context is in our digital media revenue analysis.
Meta — #4 at ~$185B, Only Company to Post Annual Revenue Decline in Dataset (2022)
Meta Platforms generated approximately $185 billion in revenue in 2025, up from $164.5 billion in 2024 (+12.5% estimated). Meta holds a unique place in this dataset: it is the only top-tier internet company to have posted an annual revenue decline.
In 2022, Meta's revenue fell from $117.9 billion to $116.6 billion (-1.1%), as Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) changes in iOS 14.5 severely disrupted Meta's advertising targeting capabilities, reducing advertiser CPMs and budgets. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg dubbed 2023 the "Year of Efficiency", slashing 21,000 jobs (approximately 25% of workforce) while rebuilding its advertising technology stack.
The strategy worked: 2024 revenue of $164.5 billion was a 41% increase from 2022's trough. Meta's social media context is in our social media statistics analysis.
Alibaba (~$135B) and Tencent (~$106B) — China's Internet Giants Suppressed by Regulation
Alibaba and Tencent were on trajectories to rival Meta and potentially Alphabet by revenue in the early 2020s.
China's technology regulatory crackdown that began in late 2020, which included a $2.8 billion antitrust fine against Alibaba, the cancellation of Ant Group's IPO (which would have been the largest in history), gaming restrictions targeting Tencent, and Jack Ma's disappearance from public life, dramatically reduced both companies' growth trajectories.
Tencent's revenue actually declined from approximately $87.4 billion in 2021 to $81.2 billion in 2022 (-7.1%) due to gaming restrictions. Alibaba's revenue growth stalled at approximately $126 billion in both 2022 and 2023. The U.S.-China trade war and semiconductor export controls have further suppressed international investor confidence.
Both companies continue to trade at significant discounts to their U.S. peers. The global economic context is in our world GDP growth analysis.
Netflix #7, PayPal #8, Baidu #9, eBay #10 — The Bottom Four in 2025
The bottom four internet companies by revenue in 2025 present contrasting stories. Netflix ($45.2B) is by far the fastest grower of the four, up 287% from $11.7 billion in 2017 to $45.2 billion in 2025, driven by global subscriber growth, password crackdown conversions, ad tier launch, and price increases.
Netflix's full financial history is in our Netflix revenue statistics. PayPal (~$33B) has grown steadily at +152% from $13.1 billion but is now under intense competitive pressure from Apple Pay, Google Pay, Block (Square), and Stripe. Baidu (~$20B) has grown just 96% over eight years, hampered by China's regulatory environment and Google's dominance outside China.
eBay (~$10.5B) is essentially flat, having grown only 9% since 2017 as Amazon's marketplace has absorbed much of the e-commerce transaction growth. Netflix's marketing investment context for this growth is in our Netflix marketing expenditure analysis.
Internet Companies — Revenue Growth Rate 2017-2025 — Meta and Alibaba Lead on Percentage Basis
The percentage growth rankings differ from absolute revenue rankings. Alibaba (+487%) and Meta (+355%) lead all companies in percentage revenue growth 2017-2025, driven by their relatively smaller 2017 bases and rapid international expansion or user monetisation. Amazon (+303%) and Alphabet (+263%) are close behind. Netflix (+287%) is the fastest-growing of the smaller companies.
eBay (+9%) has essentially flatlined, its P/E multiple compression since 2017 reflects this revenue stagnation. The global market context is in our AI market statistics analysis.
Internet Companies Revenue — Key Statistics and Facts 2017-2026
Frequently Asked Questions — Internet Companies Ranked by Revenue
Amazon, $716.9 billion in 2025 (MacroTrends, SEC confirmed). Apple is second at ~$416.2B (fiscal year ending Sep 2025), Alphabet third at ~$402.8B. Amazon overtook Apple as #1 around 2021 and has since extended its lead significantly. Source: MacroTrends Amazon Revenue, BusinessStats Big Tech analysis.
In percentage terms: Alibaba +487% (from $23B to ~$135B), Meta +355%, Tencent +384%. In absolute dollar terms: Amazon added ~$539B in annual revenue. Netflix grew +287% among the smaller companies. eBay grew only 9%, the slowest in the dataset. Source: MacroTrends, SEC annual filings.
Alphabet generated approximately $402.8 billion in 2025. 2024: $350.018B (SEC confirmed). Q1 2026: ~$90B (+14% YoY). Google Cloud grew +63% in Q1 2026. Alphabet is closing rapidly on Apple ($416.2B) and could become #2 by revenue in 2026. Source: Alphabet SEC 8-K FY2024, BusinessStats Big Tech Revenue analysis.
Two companies: Meta in 2022 (-1.1%, from $117.9B to $116.6B, Apple ATT impact) and Tencent in 2022 (-7.1%, from ~$87.4B to $81.2B, China gaming restrictions). Apple also dipped in 2023 ($383.3B vs $394.3B in 2022). Both Meta and Tencent recovered strongly by 2024-2025. Source: Stocklytics, MacroTrends.
Meta revenue: 2024: $164.5 billion (+22% YoY, confirmed from Stocklytics and SEC). 2025: approximately $185 billion (estimated based on Q1 2026 results of ~$42.3B quarterly). Meta generates approximately 98% of revenue from advertising. In Q1 2026, revenue beat estimates by $860M at ~$42.3B. Source: Stocklytics, Motley Fool April 2026.
Amazon overtook Apple (which led in 2017 at $229.2B vs Amazon's $177.9B) around 2021. Amazon's growth was driven by: AWS cloud ($18B→$108B in 2024, +500%), advertising (~$4B→$56B, +1,300%), and third-party marketplace ($32B→$156B, +388%). Apple's hardware-dependent model grows more slowly. Source: Amazon SEC 8-K FY2024, MacroTrends.
Netflix ranks #7 in 2025 with $45.18 billion in revenue, the fastest-growing of the bottom four (+287% from $11.7B in 2017). Netflix is below Tencent (~$106B) but considerably above PayPal (~$33B). 2026 guidance: $50.7-51.7B. Source: Netflix SEC 8-K Q4 2025, Statista internet companies revenue dataset.
Combined revenue of the top 10 internet companies in 2025: approximately $2.15 trillion (Amazon $716.9B + Apple $416.2B + Alphabet $402.8B + Meta ~$185B + Alibaba ~$135B + Tencent ~$106B + Netflix $45.2B + PayPal ~$33B + Baidu ~$20B + eBay ~$10.5B). This compares to approximately $657 billion combined in 2017, a 227% increase. Source: BusinessStats Research calculation from confirmed and estimated figures.