In most cases, online product search doesn't start on Google. In 2022, only ** percent of Italian shoppers reported to have looked for a product on the search engine. The remaining ** percent browsed on Amazon. Likewise, ** percent of Spanish shoppers looked for products on Amazon website and ** percent of German respondents did the same.

In January 2023, ********** of pet supplies' online searches were carried out on Amazon in the UK. In turn, Google dominated in the fashion category, with ** percent of online searches. The distribution was more even in the consumer electronics segment, where Amazon made up ** percent of online searches.

As of January 2025, Amazon's market capitalization surpassed 2.4 trillion U.S. dollars, making it the most valuable internet company by market capitalization worldwide. Second-ranked Alphabet had a market capitalization of approximately 2.2 trillion U.S. dollars. Social networking company Meta Platforms (née Facebook Inc.) ranked third. Facebook is the leading social network worldwide and has successfully taken advantage of the increasingly mobile online environment. Amazon's position in the market Amazon is one of the biggest internet companies worldwide by revenue. It generates profit from its position as the world's largest online retailer. In 2023, the company's net sales revenue amounted to 574.78 billion U.S. dollars. The e-commerce giant's net revenue, generated through online stores, was 231.87 billion U.S. dollars. Google and its most profitable services Google, with the parent company Alphabet inc, generates its revenue mainly from advertising. The company uses its advertisement services, such as Google AdWords – which takes advantage of Google searches and appears as small advertisements next to search results – and Google AdSense, which generates advertisements based on a user's search history and location, among others. Advertisements based on AdSense appear across Google-owned sites, including YouTube and Google Finance. The online company also profits from the development of Android OS, licensing, and mobile apps. In 2024, Google’s total revenue amounted to 348.16 billion U.S. dollars.

According to estimates, Amazon claimed the top spot among online retailers in the United States in 2023, capturing 37.6 percent of the market. Second place was occupied by the e-commerce site of the retail chain Walmart, with a 6.4 percent market share, followed in third place by Apple, with 3.6 percent.

Amazon’s continued success

Amazon has long dominated the e-commerce market as the world’s favorite online marketplace. In 2022, company hit over half a trillion U.S. dollars in net sales. The United States is by far Amazon’s most profitable market, as the U.S. branch generated over 356 billion U.S. dollars in sales in 2022. Germany ranked second, with 33 billion dollars, followed closely by the United Kingdom with 30 billion dollars.

Online shopping on the rise

Online shopping has grown significantly over the past decade, with more people turning to the internet for their shopping needs. The proof is in the numbers: the U.S. e-commerce industry was worth almost a trillion dollars in 2023. By 2027, forecasts show that the online market will grow to more than 50 percent. U.S. online shoppers purchase fashion and food and beverages the most via the internet.

The global voice search engine market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing adoption of smart speakers, virtual assistants, and the rising demand for hands-free and voice-activated interfaces across various applications. The market, estimated at $15 billion in 2025, is projected to exhibit a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20% from 2025 to 2033, reaching an estimated $60 billion by 2033. Key drivers include advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML), leading to improved voice recognition accuracy and natural language understanding. The automotive industry is a major adopter, integrating voice search into infotainment systems for navigation, communication, and entertainment. The Internet of Things (IoT) sector is also witnessing significant growth, with voice control becoming increasingly prevalent in smart homes and wearable devices. Furthermore, the continuous improvement in the accuracy and speed of voice recognition technology, coupled with rising smartphone penetration and increased internet connectivity globally, are fueling market expansion. Market segmentation reveals significant opportunities within AI-based voice search solutions, which are rapidly surpassing traditional voice search due to their superior accuracy and contextual understanding. While North America currently holds a dominant market share due to early adoption and technological advancements, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to experience the fastest growth rate over the forecast period, driven by the rising middle class, increasing smartphone penetration, and growing digital literacy in countries like India and China. However, concerns regarding data privacy and security, as well as the limitations of voice search in noisy environments or for complex queries, represent key restraints to market growth. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of established technology giants like Google, Amazon, and Apple, alongside emerging players specializing in AI-powered voice search solutions. Continuous innovation in voice technology, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions will shape the market dynamics in the coming years.

In 2024, tech companies ranked as the most valuable brands in the world, covering the five top spots in the source’s ranking. Apple led the list with a brand value of nearly 489 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Microsoft, Amazon, and Google – each with brand values of over 290 billion dollars. Samsung closed the top five, at over 100 billion dollars in brand value. Big techs are also huge in terms of market value The source determined brand value by combining financial information, the role the brand plays in determining consumer choice (independent of other factors such as price and convenience), and a qualitative assessment of the brand’s overall strength. Considering only financial data, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and Microsoft would be still on the top, as they have some of the highest global market capitalizations. However, when considering only qualitative factors regarding brand strength, the list would look very different, with Chinese app WeChat being the strongest brand worldwide in 2024. Brand value vs. profitability Brand value does not always translate into profitability. While Apple also happens to be the second most profitable company in the world, other companies with strong brands such as Google and Amazon rank lower in terms of net income. This phenomenon does not only apply to tech companies – Coca-Cola did not feature on the list of the most profitable companies worldwide. This is likely due to their franchised distribution structure, whereby manufacturing operations are handled by separate companies, each of which operates independently with an exclusive license to manufacture Coca-Cola beverages in their territory.

The global digital media player market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing demand for high-quality streaming services and the proliferation of smart TVs and other connected devices. The market, estimated at $15 billion in 2025, is projected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8% from 2025 to 2033, reaching approximately $28 billion by 2033. This growth is fueled by several key factors: the rising adoption of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, the increasing affordability of high-speed internet, and the ongoing miniaturization and improvement of digital media players themselves, leading to more compact and powerful devices. Wireless digital media players are capturing a significant market share due to their convenience and ease of use, surpassing wired counterparts in terms of sales volume. The residential segment remains the dominant application area, although commercial applications, such as digital signage in businesses and public spaces, are showing promising growth potential. Competition is intense among major players including Google, Roku, Amazon, Apple, and others, driving innovation and price competitiveness. Geographic distribution reflects established technology markets; North America and Europe currently hold the largest market share, but significant growth is anticipated in the Asia-Pacific region due to rising disposable incomes and increased internet penetration. The market faces certain restraints, primarily related to piracy and copyright infringement of digital media content. The ongoing evolution of technology also presents challenges, as manufacturers strive to stay ahead of the curve with innovative features and improved user interfaces to maintain competitiveness. Successful players will need to focus on delivering seamless user experiences, high-quality streaming capabilities, and robust security features to combat piracy and maintain consumer trust. Furthermore, the increasing integration of media player functionalities into smart TVs and other devices may present a challenge to standalone digital media player sales. However, the market's overall trajectory is positive, particularly for companies that can effectively integrate with existing streaming platforms and innovate in user experience and device design. The market is ripe for further consolidation as larger players potentially acquire smaller, more specialized firms.

The global market for robots in consumer applications is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing disposable incomes, technological advancements, and a rising demand for convenience and automation in households. The market, valued at approximately $25 billion in 2025, is projected to exhibit a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15% from 2025 to 2033. This significant expansion is fueled by several key factors. The increasing adoption of smart home devices and the integration of robotics within these ecosystems are major contributors. Furthermore, the ongoing development of more sophisticated and affordable robots, coupled with enhanced functionalities such as voice control and advanced AI capabilities, are making these technologies more accessible and appealing to a wider consumer base. Specific segments like cleaning robots and smart speakers are already mature markets, while consumer drones and service robots represent significant growth opportunities with expanding applications in entertainment, security, and assistance for the elderly. While challenges remain, including concerns about data privacy and the potential displacement of human labor, the overall trajectory suggests a considerable market expansion in the coming years. The regional distribution of this market is expected to reflect existing technological adoption patterns. North America and Europe are likely to maintain strong market shares due to higher purchasing power and early adoption of smart technologies. However, the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China and India, is poised for substantial growth, driven by rapid economic development and a burgeoning middle class. The competitive landscape is highly dynamic, with established players like iRobot and Ecovacs competing with emerging technology giants such as Amazon, Google, and Alibaba. This competition is further intensifying as companies continuously innovate to enhance product features, improve affordability, and expand their market reach through strategic partnerships and acquisitions. The market segmentation by robot type (cleaning robots, smart speakers, consumer drones, service robots) and sales channel (online vs. offline) provides further granularity for analyzing market trends and identifying opportunities for investment and innovation. The ongoing evolution of AI and machine learning will be a pivotal driver shaping the future of this market, leading to the development of even more sophisticated and versatile robots for consumer use.

The cloud storage market, encompassing services from providers like Dropbox, Box, and Amazon, experienced robust growth between 2019 and 2024. While precise figures are unavailable, industry trends suggest a significant market size exceeding $100 billion in 2025, projected to maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 15% through 2033. This expansion is driven by several key factors: the increasing adoption of cloud computing across businesses of all sizes, the rising demand for data backup and disaster recovery solutions, the proliferation of mobile devices generating substantial data, and the growing need for secure and easily accessible data storage. Furthermore, the market's maturation has led to increased competition, fostering innovation in features, security, and pricing strategies, ultimately benefiting consumers and organizations. The segment is segmented by storage type (public, private, hybrid), deployment model (on-premise, cloud), and end-user (individuals, businesses, government). The market's sustained growth, however, faces some challenges. Security concerns surrounding data breaches and privacy remain a significant restraint. Concerns over data sovereignty and regulatory compliance, particularly regarding cross-border data transfers, also pose challenges. The competitive landscape is intense, with established players facing pressure from emerging smaller companies offering niche services or innovative pricing models. Despite these constraints, the long-term outlook remains positive. The ongoing digital transformation across various industries and the continuous generation of massive data volumes ensure that the demand for robust, scalable, and secure cloud storage solutions will continue to escalate in the coming years. Further segmentation by enterprise vs. consumer markets and geographic regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific) would provide even deeper market insights.

The global smart wireless speaker market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing demand for convenient and high-quality audio solutions across residential and commercial spaces. The market size in 2025 is estimated at $25 billion, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key factors. The proliferation of smart homes and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant is significantly boosting adoption. Consumers are increasingly drawn to the seamless integration of these speakers with other smart devices and entertainment systems, enabling effortless music streaming, voice control, and hands-free communication. Furthermore, technological advancements are leading to improved sound quality, longer battery life, and more sophisticated features, further enhancing user experience and driving market demand. The segment of speakers with screens is growing faster than those without, driven by the appeal of visual content integration and enhanced user interface. Competition is intense, with major players such as Amazon, Google, Apple, and others vying for market share through product innovation, strategic partnerships, and aggressive marketing. The market's growth is not without challenges. Price sensitivity in certain regions, particularly in developing markets, can hinder wider adoption. Concerns about data privacy and security associated with voice-activated devices also represent a potential restraint. However, ongoing innovation in areas such as enhanced audio processing, improved battery technology, and the development of more robust security features are expected to mitigate these concerns. The geographical distribution of market share is expected to remain skewed toward North America and Europe in the near term, but significant growth is projected in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by rising disposable incomes and increased smartphone penetration. The market segmentation by application (residential vs. commercial) and type (with screen vs. without screen) presents opportunities for specialized product development and targeted marketing strategies. The forecast period indicates a continuing upward trajectory, reflecting the sustained appeal and expanding applications of smart wireless speakers.

The eBook sales platform market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing popularity of digital reading and the expanding self-publishing industry. The market, estimated at $15 billion in 2025, is projected to achieve a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15% from 2025 to 2033, reaching approximately $45 billion by 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key factors: the rise of independent authors seeking direct-to-consumer sales channels, the increasing accessibility of user-friendly eBook publishing platforms, and the growing demand for diverse and niche content not always available through traditional publishers. The ease of use and cost-effectiveness offered by platforms like Sellfy, Podia, and others are significantly impacting market growth. Furthermore, the integration of these platforms with marketing tools and analytics is empowering authors to reach wider audiences and manage their sales more efficiently. However, the market also faces challenges. Competition among platforms is fierce, with established players like Amazon and newer entrants constantly vying for market share. Maintaining platform security and protecting author intellectual property are crucial considerations. Furthermore, the market is subject to fluctuations influenced by global economic conditions and evolving consumer reading habits. Despite these restraints, the long-term outlook for the eBook sales platform market remains positive, driven by ongoing technological advancements and the ever-growing appetite for digital content. Segmentation within the market, based on platform features (e.g., basic vs. advanced analytics, marketing tools integration), pricing models, and target audience (e.g., individual authors vs. small publishers), will likely further define market dynamics in the coming years.

With 438 billion U.S. dollars in net sales, the United States were Amazon’s biggest market in 2024. Germany was ranked second with 41 billion U.S. dollars, ahead of the UK with 37.9 billion U.S. dollars. Biggest internet company Founded in 1994, Amazon has grown into one of the biggest e-commerce marketplaces and cloud computing platforms worldwide. In 2020, Amazon was ranked first in terms of company revenue among global publicly traded internet companies. With an annual revenue of approximately 386 billion U.S. dollars, the e-retailer ranked far ahead of closest competitors Google (181.7 billion U.S. dollars) and Alibaba (109.5 billion U.S. dollars). Amazon shopping Amazon is the leading e-retailer in the United States. In September 2021, 65 percent of Amazon customers in the United States held a membership with the company’s subscription service Amazon Prime, benefitting from free 2-day shipping, music and video streaming and exclusive offers and deals. Amazon Prime members are very engaged shoppers: a June 2021 survey found that over four in ten of them were likely to shop not just during Prime days, but also during other retail events, with 56 percent of them showing interest for Cyber Monday.

As of May 2025, Amazon was the biggest internet company worldwide with a market cap of over ************ U.S. dollars Second-ranked Alphabet had a market capitalization of **** trillion U.S. dollars. The end of the 1990s in the United States saw the rise of a great number of internet companies, also called online companies or a variety of the name “dot com,” where the “.com” domain is derived from the word commercial. At the time, such startups were merely riding the wave of early internet business, but had little capital and perhaps one good idea. Few companies have survived the burst of the dot com bubble and even fewer have managed to become internationally successful. A few notable exceptions are American companies such as Google (founded in 1998), Amazon (founded in 1994) or eBay Inc. (founded in 1995), and the Chinese online giant Alibaba (founded in 1998), which have come to be some of the largest internet companies in the world. One of the largest internet companies worldwide is currently Alphabet, the parent company of Google, with a market capitalization of **** trillion U.S. dollars as of May 2025. Having started as a PhD project at Stanford University, the Google project slowly gained traction and is now the number one search engine in the world, with a market share of ** percent on the search engine market. Due to a number of high profile acquisitions, Google has expanded its portfolio beyond search, to include the video content sharing site YouTube, the digital app platform Google Play Store, the webmail service Gmail and the web browser Google Chrome, to only name a few. In October 2015, Google reorganized itself into a newly created parent company, the multinational conglomerate Alphabet Inc. The biggest internet companies in terms of their workforce are currently Amazon, Alphabet and Meta.

The global home smart voice assistant market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing adoption of smart home devices, rising consumer demand for convenience and automation, and advancements in voice recognition technology. The market, segmented by application (online vs. offline sales) and type (with or without display), shows a clear preference towards voice assistants with display functionalities, offering a richer user experience and broader application possibilities. While offline sales currently dominate, online channels are rapidly gaining traction, fueled by e-commerce expansion and the accessibility of online marketplaces. Key players like Apple, Google, Amazon (implied by market trends), Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, and specialized audio brands such as Bose and JBL are actively competing, leading to innovation in features, functionalities, and integration with other smart home ecosystems. Geographical analysis reveals strong growth in North America and Asia Pacific, driven by high tech adoption rates and rising disposable incomes. However, challenges remain, including concerns around data privacy, security vulnerabilities, and the high initial investment cost of smart home setups, particularly in developing regions. Future growth will likely hinge on addressing these concerns and fostering wider adoption in emerging markets. The forecast period (2025-2033) anticipates a sustained expansion of the home smart voice assistant market. The continuing miniaturization and affordability of smart voice assistant technology will unlock new market segments. Integration with other IoT devices and the emergence of more sophisticated AI capabilities will further enhance user experience and drive demand. Strategic partnerships and collaborations between tech giants and home appliance manufacturers are also expected to play a significant role in expanding market reach and accelerating growth. While market restraints such as interoperability issues and potential privacy concerns need to be addressed, the overall market outlook remains positive, promising substantial growth over the next decade. This expansion will likely be fueled by ongoing technological advancements, increasing affordability, and the escalating demand for seamless smart home integration.

From 2013 to 2019, the German scenario of tablet vendors' market share was relatively steady, being majorly dominated by four main vendors: Apple, Samsung, Amazon, and Google, respectively. Still in this period, it is possible to see Samsung steadily growing, until it surpasses Apple in the third quarter of 2021, maintaining the leading position until the fourth quarter, in 2024. Additionally, Huawei enters strongly in the competition, shifting from zero to nearly **** percent in only two quarters of 2019. The shift immediately boosted Huawei to third position, surpassing Google and Amazon until 2024.

In the fiscal year 2024, Alphabet's revenue was ****** billion U.S. dollars. Comparatively, in the fiscal year of 2024, hardware-focused Apple's revenue stood at ****** billion U.S. dollars. Microsoft's revenue was *** billion U.S. dollars. Whereas all of these companies have different market strengths, there are also overlaps and thus, competition. Apple and Google are direct competitors in the mobile phone market with their iOS and Android systems.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the most popular vendor in the cloud infrastructure services market, Amazon Web Services (AWS), controlled ** percent of the entire market. Microsoft Azure takes second place with ** percent market share, followed by Google Cloud with ** percent market share. Together, these three cloud vendors account for ** percent of total spend in the fourth quarter of 2024. Organizations use cloud services from these vendors for machine learning, data analytics, cloud native development, application migration, and other services. AWS Services Amazon Web Services is used by many organizations because it offers a wide variety of services and products to its customers that improve business agility while being secure and reliable. One of AWS’s most used services is Amazon EC2, which lets customers create virtual machines for their strategic projects while spending less time on maintaining servers. Another important service is Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), which offers a secure file storage service. In addition, Amazon also offers security, website infrastructure management, and identity and access management solutions. Cloud infrastructure services Vendors offering cloud services to a global customer base do so through different types of cloud computing, which include infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). Further, there are different cloud computing deployment models available for customers, namely private cloud and public cloud, as well as community cloud and hybrid cloud. A cloud deployment model is defined based on the location where the deployment resides, and who has access to and control over the infrastructure.

In 2024, Amazon's net revenue from subscription services segment amounted to 44.37 billion U.S. dollars. Subscription services include Amazon Prime, for which Amazon reported 200 million paying members worldwide at the end of 2020. The AWS category generated 107.56 billion U.S. dollars in annual sales. During the most recently reported fiscal year, the company’s net revenue amounted to 638 billion U.S. dollars. Amazon revenue segments Amazon is one of the biggest online companies worldwide. In 2019, the company’s revenue increased by 21 percent, compared to Google’s revenue growth during the same fiscal period, which was just 18 percent. The majority of Amazon’s net sales are generated through its North American business segment, which accounted for 236.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. The United States are the company’s leading market, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom. Business segment: Amazon Web Services Amazon Web Services, commonly referred to as AWS, is one of the strongest-growing business segments of Amazon. AWS is a cloud computing service that provides individuals, companies and governments with a wide range of computing, networking, storage, database, analytics and application services, among many others. As of the third quarter of 2020, AWS accounted for approximately 32 percent of the global cloud infrastructure services vendor market.

In the first quarter of 2025, AWS generated cloud computing and hosting revenues of approximately 29 billion U.S. dollars. Amazon Services Amazon is the one of the leading online retailers worldwide and the leading e-retailer in the United States. In 2024, net sales amounted to over 574 billion U.S. dollars, up from 514 billion U.S. dollars in the previous year. Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer of books, clothing, electronics, music, and many other consumer products. The company is also the producer of the world’s most famous e-book reader, the Amazon Kindle. The vast majority of Amazon’s revenues are generated through the sales of electronics and other products, followed by third-party seller services and AWS. Although primarily active in the B2C market, Amazon also enables third-party sellers to trade their products as well as providing technology infrastructure services (Amazon Web Services, AWS) to businesses. As of the second quarter of 2024, more than half of paid units were sold by third-party sellers. Amazon Web Services includes cloud computing and hosting services, which is a growing sector of online enterprise services. AWS is one of the most popular public cloud platform and infrastructure services worldwide, with 76 percent of respondents from a global survey indicating that they were already running apps on the platform. Other popular cloud services providers include Microsoft with Azure, Google, Oracle, and IBM.

With a market capitalization of 3.12 trillion U.S. dollars as of May 2024, Microsoft was the world’s largest company that year. Rounding out the top five were some of the world’s most recognizable brands: Apple, NVIDIA, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Amazon. Saudi Aramco led the ranking of the world's most profitable companies in 2023, with a pre-tax income of nearly 250 billion U.S. dollars. How are market value and market capitalization determined? Market value and market capitalization are two terms frequently used – and confused - when discussing the profitability and viability of companies. Strictly speaking, market capitalization (or market cap) is the worth of a company based on the total value of all their shares; an important metric when determining the comparative value of companies for trading opportunities. Accordingly, many stock exchanges such as the New York or London Stock Exchange release market capitalization data on their listed companies. On the other hand, market value technically refers to what a company is worth in a much broader context. It is determined by multiple factors, including profitability, corporate debt, and the market environment as a whole. In this sense it aims to estimate the overall value of a company, with share price only being one element. Market value is therefore useful for determining whether a company’s shares are over- or undervalued, and in arriving at a price if the company is to be sold. Such valuations are generally made on a case-by-case basis though, and not regularly reported. For this reason, market capitalization is often reported as market value. What are the top companies in the world? The answer to this question depends on the metric used. Although the largest company by market capitalization, Microsoft's global revenue did not manage to crack the top 20 companies. Rather, American multinational retailer Walmart was ranked as the largest company in the world by revenue. Walmart also had the highest number of employees in the world.