Computers would be quite useless without programs that put the physical hardware into practical use. These programs and data can be summarized as software. Software developers, therefore, belong to the most important components in the general tech and computer industry. The types of software can vary quite a lot and for example include software for entertainment, business, or security purposes. The following ranks the updated Top 10 Largest software companies in the world in 2023. It is based solely on the software revenues a company has generated, either by itself or through its subsidiaries.
Note: While technically also software companies, Gaming companies are not included in this ranking of the ten largest software companies in the world. Click the following for the ranking of the Top 10 Biggest Video Game Companies in the world.
The Top 10 Largest Software Companies in the World 2023
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (1) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (1)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/pexels-photo-117729.jpeg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1)
1. Microsoft
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (2) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (2)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1920px-Microsoft_logo_2012.svg.png?resize=589%2C126&ssl=1)
Microsoft Corporation
Worldwide software sales: $149.7 billion
Founded in:1975
Headquarters:Redmond, Washington, USA
Main types of software offered:
Operating system,
Productivity software,
Enterprise software
Software as a Service
With software sales of $149.7 billion, the nonplus-ultra of the software industry remains Microsoft. The company was founded in 1975 by co-founders Paul Allen and Bill Gates. Originally based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the American software giant is now headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA. Microsoft offers a huge choice of software for many purposes. Its best-known and most popular franchise product is the operating system software ‘Windows‘, which powers close to a billion computers worldwide. It is by far the most used operating system in the world.
Aside from Windows, Microsoft also offers the world’s most popular and most widely used productivity software through its ‘Office‘ franchise. And these are only the most commonly known Windows products out there. Not really a surprise, therefore, that Microsoft continues to dominate the worldwide software market.
2. Oracle
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (3) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (3)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1920px-Oracle_Logo.svg.png?resize=554%2C203&ssl=1)
Oracle Corporation
Worldwide software sales: $42.4 billion
Founded in:1977
Headquarters:Austin, Texas, USA
Main types of software offered:
Enterprise software,
Software as a Service
Oracle is the second-largest software company in the world. The American company, based in Redwood City, California, right in Silicon Valley, is the globally leading provider of Enterprise software as well as Software as a Service (SaaS). The company was founded in 1977 by co-founders Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates. Oracle software is primarily used in the business fields of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Supply Chain Management (SCM).
3. SAP
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (4) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (4)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SAP-Logo.png?resize=331%2C164&ssl=1)
SAP SE
Worldwide software sales: $28.9 billion
Founded in:1972
Headquarters:Walldorf, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Main types of software offered:
Enterprise software,
Software as a Service
SAP (“Systems,Applications &Products”) is the only company among the Top 10 software companies that is not American. The German company is the third-largest software company in the world and the largest one in Europe. The company was founded in 1972 by five German former IBM engineers. It is headquartered now in the small city of Walldorf, Baden-Wurttemberg in Southwestern Germany. The company focuses on Enterprise software as well as providing Software as a Service (SaaS) to its worldwide clients. SAP is especially well known for its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, where the German company is the worldwide market leader.
4. Salesforce
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (5) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (5)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1200px-Salesforce.com_logo.svg_.png?resize=350%2C249&ssl=1)
Salesforce, Inc.
Worldwide software sales: $26.5 billion
Founded in:1999
Headquarters:San Francisco, California, USA
Main types of software offered:
Enterprise software,
Software as a Service
Salesforce.com is the fourth largest software company in the world. The company was founded in 1999 by four former Oracle executives. Salesforce.com is an American company based in San Francisco, California. Its main focus lies on Enterprise software, specifically in the area of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, where Salesforce is the global leader.
5. IBM
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (6) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (6)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ibm.png?resize=300%2C120&ssl=1)
IBM Corporation
Worldwide software sales: $24.1 billion
Founded in:1911
Headquarters:Armonk, New York, USA
Main types of software offered:
Cognition software,
Cloud software
IBM, or International Business Machines, is among the oldest still active tech companies in existence. Nowadays the company specializes in branches of the future such as artificial intelligence. Within the company’s software branch, IBM has managed to become a global leader in the development of cloud and cognition software.
6. Fiserv
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (7) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (7)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1200px-Fiserv_logo.svg_.png?resize=245%2C123&ssl=1)
Fiserv, Inc.
Worldwide software sales: $17.7 billion
Founded in:1984
Headquarters:Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA
Main types of software offered:
Financial services software
Fiserv is also among the Top 10 of the world’s largest software companies. The Wisconsin-based company develops software for the financial industry. Fiserv’s clients therefore mainly include banks, security brokerages, and credit unions, but also corporations, small businesses, and so on.
7. ADP
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (8) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (8)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/adp-logo-e1644420132530.png?resize=336%2C153&ssl=1)
ADP, Inc.
Worldwide software sales: $16.5 billion
Founded in: 1949
Headquarters:Roseland, New Jersey, USA
Main types of software offered:
Enterprise software
New Jersey-based ADP, or Automatic Data Processing, is another global leader in the enterprise software segment. The company primarily specializes in human resource and payroll and tax management software.
8. Adobe
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (9) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (9)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Adobe_Systems_Logo_002.svg_.png?resize=375%2C97&ssl=1)
Adobe Inc.
Worldwide software sales: $15.8 billion
Founded in:1982
Headquarters:San Jose, California, USA
Main types of software offered:
Graphics Editing software,
Graphic Design software,
Web Design software,
Video Editing software
Adobe is known for its many software products in the graphics design, web design, and video editing branches. It is a worldwide leading developer in each of these product segments. The San Jose, California-based company is perhaps best known for the graphics editing software series Photoshop.
9. VMware
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (10) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (10)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/vmware_logo.png?resize=1024%2C167&ssl=1)
VMware, Inc.
Worldwide software sales: $12.9 billion
Founded in:1998
Headquarters:Palo Alto, California, USA
Main types of software offered:
Virtualization software
Enterprise software
VMware comes in ninth place among the ten largest software companies in the world. VMware focuses on and is the global leader in virtualization software. Through its ‘ESXi‘ operating system-like hypervisor / virtual machine, the company also serves the enterprise software segment.
10. Broadcom
![Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (11) Top 10 Largest Software Companies In The World - All Top Everything (11)](https://i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/www.alltopeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/broadcom-logo.png?resize=574%2C78&ssl=1)
Broadcom Inc.
Worldwide software sales: $8.6 billion
Founded in:1961
Headquarters:San Jose, California, USA
Main types of software offered:
Enterprise software
Security software
Infrastructure software
Broadcom is primarily a leading manufacturer of semiconductors. Through its acquisition of software companies CA Technologies as well as NortonLifeLock (previously known as Symantec), the American company based in San Jose, California is also involved in the software business. Broadcom now offers Enterprise software, Security software, and Infrastructure software. This wide range of different software types allowed Broadcom to become one of the Top 10 largest software companies in the world.
The 10 Largest Software Companies in the World 2023
(Last Update: March 2023)
Top 10 Largest Software Companies in the World: |
---|
1. MICROSOFT Worldwide software sales: $149.7 billion |
2. ORACLE Worldwide software sales: $42.4 billion |
3. SAP Worldwide software sales: $28.9 billion |
4. SALESFORCE Worldwide software sales: $26.5 billion |
5. IBM Worldwide software sales: $24.1 billion |
6. FISERV Worldwide software sales: $17.7 billion |
7. ADP Worldwide software sales: $16.5 billion |
8. ADOBE Worldwide software sales: $15.8 billion |
9. VMware Worldwide software sales: $12.9 billion |
10. BROADCOM Worldwide software sales: $8.6 billion |
Top 10 largest software companies in the world by most current software sales numbers.
While technically also software, video games are not counted here.
Related Rankings:
As a seasoned expert in the field of technology and software, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to shed light on the intricacies of the global software industry. My insights are derived from extensive research, hands-on experience, and a deep understanding of the evolving landscape of technology. Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about the Top 10 Largest Software Companies in the World in 2023.
-
Microsoft Corporation:
- Founded in: 1975
- Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, USA
- Main types of software offered: Operating system, Productivity software, Enterprise software
- Noteworthy products: Windows (Operating System), Office (Productivity Software)
- Microsoft stands out as a pioneer in the software industry, dominating with its widely used operating system, Windows, and productivity software, Office.
-
Oracle Corporation:
- Founded in: 1977
- Headquarters: Austin, Texas, USA
- Main types of software offered: Enterprise software, Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Oracle specializes in Enterprise software and Software as a Service, providing solutions in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Supply Chain Management (SCM).
-
SAP SE:
- Founded in: 1972
- Headquarters: Walldorf, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
- Main types of software offered: Enterprise software, Software as a Service (SaaS)
- SAP is a German company and a global leader in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, catering to businesses worldwide.
-
Salesforce, Inc.:
- Founded in: 1999
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Main types of software offered: Enterprise software, Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Salesforce is renowned for its dominance in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software on a global scale.
-
IBM Corporation:
- Founded in: 1911
- Headquarters: Armonk, New York, USA
- Main types of software offered: Cognition software, Cloud software
- IBM, with a long-standing history, focuses on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and is a global leader in cloud and cognition software.
-
Fiserv, Inc.:
- Founded in: 1984
- Headquarters: Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA
- Main types of software offered: Financial services software
- Fiserv is a major player in the financial industry, developing software for banks, security brokerages, credit unions, and corporations.
-
ADP, Inc.:
- Founded in: 1949
- Headquarters: Roseland, New Jersey, USA
- Main types of software offered: Enterprise software
- ADP specializes in human resource, payroll, and tax management software, serving as a global leader in the enterprise software segment.
-
Adobe Inc.:
- Founded in: 1982
- Headquarters: San Jose, California, USA
- Main types of software offered: Graphics Editing software, Graphic Design software, Web Design software, Video Editing software
- Adobe is synonymous with graphics design, web design, and video editing, with products like Photoshop leading the industry.
-
VMware, Inc.:
- Founded in: 1998
- Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, USA
- Main types of software offered: Virtualization software, Enterprise software
- VMware is a global leader in virtualization software, providing solutions for enterprises through its 'ESXi' operating system-like hypervisor/virtual machine.
-
Broadcom Inc.:
- Founded in: 1961
- Headquarters: San Jose, California, USA
- Main types of software offered: Enterprise software, Security software, Infrastructure software
- Broadcom, primarily a semiconductor manufacturer, has expanded into the software business through acquisitions and offers a diverse range of software, including enterprise, security, and infrastructure solutions.
The Top 10 Largest Software Companies in the World in 2023 showcase the dynamic and competitive nature of the software industry, with each company contributing significantly to the technological advancements and solutions across various sectors.