The technology sector is the economic star of the United States, leading the country’s growth as well as its financial markets. IT and communications companies are at the heart of innovation, rapidly changing people’s lives and transforming business, finance, and the broader economy.
The largest American technology companies operate in a wide array of industries with products and services that disrupt traditional methods of doing business or create new models that revolutionize entire sectors. With high tech products and high-value-added services, actors of the tech industry are engaged in stiff competition to acquire and maintain their share in a number of highly lucrative markets.
This fight for market share is even more fierce as in many tech businesses, the “winner takes all” law proves that the dominant player gets the lion’s share of profits. And the notorious five American big tech companies, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Facebook, are proof of this phenomenon with their unrivaled supremacy over their own respective principal businesses: smartphones, office software, e-commerce, search engines, and social media.
Spearheaded by the big five in this exacerbated rivalry, the top tech companies have no second-thought in developing products to compete against each other or new rising startups. They rely upon their existing customer base or distribution networks to gain market share if they cannot disrupt a market or its business practices.
Even though new actors periodically come to challenge the tech companies in some of their businesses, rare are the companies that grow beyond a few billion in valuation in a domain where large companies are already operating, as they often get acquired before reaching this size. The largest US startups could pose some threats with future diversification, but they often only can reach a large size because they challenge an industry where the existing big tech companies are not yet actively operating.
For now, the most prominent American tech companies are the backbone of the country’s economic growth and a key aspect of its global economic and technological power. They are also one of the main levers for future high-paying jobs in the US and even though they threaten a number of traditional industries, they also bring hope in the US and around the world that their innovative and disruptive approach to business will bring new useful and exciting applications in people’s day-to-day lives.
For more information on the largest American companies, download our S&P 500 companies Excel file containing the complete list of the 500 largest publicly listed companies in the US, together with extensive business, market, financial, and digital information on each company. For even more data on the largest US companies, download our Excel files on the Russell 1000 companies, Russell 2000 companies, or Russell 3000 companies.
Check our data platform for the latest ranking of US tech companies.
List of the top 30 largest American tech companies by market capitalization
To give you more perspective on what companies are in the technology field in the US, details about the thirty largest public companies that make the American tech have been listed hereafter. Each tech company is detailed with presentations of its sector, sub-industry, activities, market capitalization, a direct link to its website, logo, and stock symbol.
The top technology companies listed hereafter are ranked by market capitalization in United States Dollars, as of the effective close on Friday, January 29, 2021. They primarily belong to the sectors of Technology per se (which notably includes companies in software and semiconductors) and Communication Services (such as Internet services and telecoms), but also include some Financial companies (which specialize in financial technology) and the Consumer Discretionary sector, for Amazon since it is primarily involved in the industry of Internet & Direct Marketing Retail.
The other companies are engaged in a variety of tech industries related to Software, Telecommunication and Internet Services, Data Processing & Outsourced Services, Semiconductors, Cable & Satellite, IT Consulting, Entertainment (for Netflix), Communications Equipment, Interactive Media, and Consumer Electronics.
Remark that other important tech actors were not included in this list as their core business is not part of the technology sector. Even though Walmart is a key player in e-commerce, its core business is in traditional retail; the same goes for Disney which has recently launched Disney+ to offer its content catalog through video-on-demand and notably competes against Netflix, but at its core, Disney’s business is in movies and amusement parks.
For more information on other world-leading companies, check our series of posts on Top Companies, and for more information on the country, read our articles on Top Business Resources for the US.
Note that if you are searching for information on these companies to invest in their stocks, make sure you know what you are doing as your investment will be subject to significant risks with the evolution of stock prices.
Shortcuts to each tech company
To facilitate your browsing in this long list, here are quick links to go directly to the details of any of the top 30 American tech companies. Be sure to also check the Top 10 US tech companies’ summary after the list!
30. Square
Sector: Technology – Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Square, Inc. is a financial services company. It provides mobile payments point of sale terminals, particularly including its Square Reader which enables processing bank card payments from smartphones and mobile devices. Square also provides associated payment software, auxiliary equipment, and small business services, including e-commerce solutions, delivery services, business loans, and cash flow tools.
Website: squareup.com – Market Cap.: $97.4 Billion – Stock ticker: SQ
29. Intuit
Sector: Technology – Industry: Software—Application
Intuit Inc. is a software company specialized in financial, accounting, and tax preparation software and related services. It is especially famous for producing TurboTax, a consumer tax preparation application, QuickBooks, a small business accounting program, and operating Mint, a personal finance application, among others.
Website: intuit.com – Market Cap.: $99 Billion – Stock ticker: INTU
28. AMD
Sector: Technology – Industry: Semiconductors
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., more simply known as AMD, is a multinational semiconductor company. It develops and manufactures a range of microprocessors and a number of other semiconductor components including motherboard chipsets, embedded processors, and graphics processing units (GPUs) for personal computers, servers, workstations, data centers, and embedded system applications.
Website: amd.com – Market Cap.: $103.1 Billion – Stock ticker: AMD
27. ServiceNow
Sector: Technology – Industry: Software—Application
ServiceNow is a technical management service provider. Functioning as a Platform-as-a-service provider, it delivers services including IT workflows and service management, employee and HR services, customer service management as well as an application building ecosystem. It levies fees with a cost per user structure, allowing businesses of all sizes to use its platform.
Website: servicenow.com – Market Cap.: $106 Billion – Stock ticker: NOW
26. IBM
Sector: Technology – Industry: Information Technology Services
Founded in 1911, the International Business Machines Corporation, better known as IBM, is a multinational information technology company operating in more than 170 countries. Manufacturing and marketing computer hardware, middleware, and software and providing hosting and consulting services, IBM is also a major technology research organization.
Website: ibm.com – Market Cap.: $106.1 Billion – Stock ticker: IBM
25. Zoom
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Telecom Services
Zoom Video Communications, Inc., more simply known as Zoom, is a communications technology providing HD video, voice, chat, and content sharing. Through its cloud-based peer-to-peer software, Zoom users around the world can benefit from a number of applications including teleconferencing, telecommuting, distance education, and social relations on any internet-connected device.
Website: zoom.us – Market Cap.: $108.6 Billion – Stock ticker: ZM
24. Airbnb
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Internet Content & Information
Airbnb is a marketplace dedicated to connecting travelers to rooms, apartments, houses, and unique accommodations and experiences around the world. It helps list, discover, and book distinctive spaces and facilitates bookings and financial transactions.
Website: airbnb.com – Market Cap.: $109.5 Billion – Stock ticker: ABNB
23. Charter Communications
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Entertainment
Charter Communications, Inc. is a telecommunications and mass media company. Operating under the Spectrum brand, Charter Communications is one of the largest cable operators, pay-TV operators and telephone providers in the United States.
Website: corporate.charter.com – Market Cap.: $124.5 Billion – Stock ticker: CHTR
22. Texas Instruments
Sector: Technology – Industry: Semiconductors
Texas Instruments Inc., also known as TI, is a company that produces semiconductors and integrated circuits. Tracing its origins to 1930, Texas Instruments is the world’s largest producer of analog technology components, providing analog chips and embedded processors, digital light processing technology, and education technology products such as calculators, microcontrollers, and multi-core processors.
Website: ti.com – Market Cap.: $152.3 Billion – Stock ticker: TXN
21. T-Mobile US
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Telecom Services
T-Mobile US, more simply known as T-Mobile, is a wireless network operator providing wireless voice and data services and host network for multiple mobile virtual network operators. T-Mobile is the third-largest wireless carrier with more than 80 million customers in the US in 2019. Its majority shareholder is Deutsche Telekom, one of the largest German companies.
Website: t-mobile.com – Market Cap.: $156.5 Billion – Stock ticker: TMUS
20. Qualcomm
Sector: Technology – Industry: Semiconductors
Qualcomm Inc. is a multinational company providing semiconductors and telecommunications equipment. It develops and commercializes wireless telecommunications products and services, with subsidiaries specializing in certain areas of operations: Qualcomm CDMA Technologies sells Qualcomm’s products and services, Qualcomm Technology Licensing manages the patent licensing business, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. conducts Qualcomm’s R&D activities.
Website: qualcomm.com – Market Cap.: $177.5 Billion – Stock ticker: QCOM
19. Oracle
Sector: Technology – Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Oracle Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporation that sells database software and technology, cloud engineered systems, and enterprise software products. Particularly engaged with its own brands of database management systems, Oracle provides tools for database development and software systems, including enterprise resource planning, human capital management, customer relationship management, and supply chain management.
Website: oracle.com – Market Cap.: $177.9 Billion – Stock ticker: ORCL
18. Broadcom
Sector: Technology – Industry: Semiconductors
Broadcom Inc. is a producer of semiconductors and infrastructure software solutions for data center, networking, software, broadband, wireless, and storage and industrial markets. It regroups multiple subsidiaries, including Avago Technologies, LSI, Broadcom Corporation, Brocade, and CA Technologies, which are industry leaders in their field.
Website: broadcom.com – Market Cap.: $183.2 Billion – Stock ticker: AVGO
17. Cisco
Sector: Technology – Industry: Communication Equipment
Cisco Systems, Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate developing, manufacturing, and selling networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products. Through its multiple subsidiaries, Cisco is also specializing in Internet-of-Things, domain security, and energy management.
Website: cisco.com – Market Cap.: $188.4 Billion – Stock ticker: CSCO
16. AT&T
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Telecom Services
AT&T Inc. is a multinational conglomerate holding company. Tracing its origins to 1877, AT&T is engaged in telecommunications, it operates mobile and fixed telephone services in the United States through AT&T Communications. It is also the parent company of mass media conglomerate WarnerMedia, one of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies.
Website: att.com – Market Cap.: $204 Billion – Stock ticker: T
15. Salesforce
Sector: Technology – Industry: Software—Application
Salesforce.com, Inc. is a cloud-based enterprise software company. Especially known for its customer-relationship management (CRM) service which operates with a platform-as-a-service model, Salesforce also provides a number of enterprise applications dedicated to customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development.
Website: salesforce.com – Market Cap.: $207 Billion – Stock ticker: CRM
14. Adobe
Sector: Technology – Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Adobe Inc. is a multinational computer software company originally focused on multimedia and creativity software products before expanding to digital marketing software. It is especially famous for its Adobe Flash web software ecosystem, Photoshop image editing software, Acrobat Reader, the Portable Document Format – PDF -, as well as Adobe Creative Suite and its successor Adobe Creative Cloud.
Website: adobe.com – Market Cap.: $219.6 Billion – Stock ticker: ADBE
13. Intel
Sector: Technology – Industry: Semiconductors
Intel Corporation, commonly known as Intel, is a multinational corporation and technology company, especially involved in the production and sales of microprocessors and semiconductor chips powering personal computers. Intel also diversifies in other technologies, including cloud, Internet of Things, computer memory, and 5G-connectivity.
Website: intel.com – Market Cap.: $225.5 Billion – Stock ticker: INTC
12. Verizon
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Telecom Services
Verizon Communications Inc., commonly known as Verizon, is a diversified multinational telecommunications conglomerate. Verizon is engaged in a range of communications segments, including 5G, wireless networks, broadband and fiber, media and technology, Internet of Things, and security.
Website: verizon.com – Market Cap.: $226.6 Billion – Stock ticker: VZ
11. Comcast
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Entertainment
Comcast Corporation is a telecommunications conglomerate. One of the leaders in the US and the world, Comcast operates in broadcasting and cable television, pay-TV, cable TV, home Internet service, and home telephone service. A producer of films and television programs through its subsidiaries NBCUniversal and Universal Pictures, Comcast is also involved in multiple other industries through subsidiaries, including residential cable with Xfinity, commercial services through Comcast Business, TV channels notably with NBC, Telemundo, MSNBC, CNBC, and Sky.
Website: corporate.comcast.com – Market Cap.: $226.8 Billion – Stock ticker: CMCSA
10. Netflix
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Entertainment
Netflix, Inc. is a company providing a video-on-demand service. Primarily operating in subscription-based streaming, Netflix offers a library of films and television programs for customers to choose and watch when they want. Originally selling and renting DVDs, Netflix has turned to online services thanks to the introduction of media streaming. This allowed it to expand internationally from 2010 and to foray in the content production industry.
Website: netflix.com – Market Cap.: $235.2 Billion – Stock ticker: NFLX
9. PayPal
Sector: Financials – Industry: Credit Services
PayPal Holdings, Inc. is a company operating a worldwide online payment system. Providing an electronic alternative to traditional checks and money orders, Paypal helps online vendors and commercial users by supporting online money transfers in exchange for a fee. PayPal had its Initial Public Offering in 2002 before being acquired by eBay, which later separated from it in 2015.
Website: paypal.com – Market Cap.: $274.5 Billion – Stock ticker: PYPL
8. Mastercard
Sector: Financials – Industry: Credit Services
Mastercard Incorporated is a multinational financial services corporation. It is primarily involved in the processing of payments between the merchants’ banks and the card-issuer of customers using a Mastercard brand debit, credit, or prepaid card to make purchases.
Website: mastercard.com – Market Cap.: $315.3 Billion – Stock ticker: MA
7. Nvidia
Sector: Technology – Industry: Semiconductors
Nvidia Corporation is a company developing graphics processing units – GPUs – for the gaming and professional markets, and “system on a chip” units – SoCs – for the mobile computing and automotive market. It operates the GeForce brand of GPUs, Tegra mobile processors, and expanded in the gaming with the Shield brand of handled devices, tablets, and Android TV. Nvidia now also produces chips for supercomputers, especially powering artificial intelligence and scientific research applications.
Website: nvidia.com – Market Cap.: $321.6 Billion – Stock ticker: NVDA
6. Visa
Sector: Financials – Industry: Credit Services
Visa Inc., is a multinational financial services corporation facilitating electronic funds transfers throughout the world. It operates payment products that financial institutions use to offer credit, debit, prepaid, and cash access programs to their customers via Visa-branded credit cards, gift cards, and debit cards.
Website: usa.visa.com – Market Cap.: $426 Billion – Stock ticker: V
5. Facebook
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Internet Content & Information
Facebook, Inc. is an online social media and social networking service. Originally limited to students, Facebook has gradually opened its services to anyone above 13 years old, reaching now more than 2 billion across the world. It can be accessed through any device connected to the internet and allows users to customize profiles, post text, photos, and multimedia which is shared with their friends on Facebook. They can also join interest groups, receive messages and notifications, and use various other embedded applications.
Website: investor.fb.com – Market Cap.: $735.8 Billion – Stock ticker: FB
4. Alphabet
Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Internet Content & Information
Alphabet Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate, created from the corporate restructuring of Google, which is now its subsidiary together with several other services. The Google search engine, advertising business, and associated services are the largest part of Alphabet’s activities, with other subsidiaries including Calico (biotechnology), Chronicle (cybersecurity), DeepMind (artificial intelligence), GV (venture capital), CapitalG (private equity), X (R&D), Google Fiber (fiber internet services), Jigsaw (tech incubator), Makani (wind turbines), Sidewalk Labs (urban innovation), Verily (life sciences), Waymo (self-driving tech), Wing (drone-based delivery) and Loon (internet provider via stratospheric balloons).
Website: abc.xyz – Market Cap.: $1,241.7 Billion – Stock ticker: GOOG / GOOGL
3. Amazon
Sector: Consumer Cyclical – Industry: Internet Retail
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational technology company focused on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It started as an online bookstore that later diversified to a wide array of products. Amazon has become the uncontested leader of e-commerce in the US, and after having expanded to many countries, it has also developed further into brick-and-mortar retail with the acquisition of Whole Foods Market, as well as publishing, electronics, cloud computing, video streaming, and production, among other investments.
Website: amazon.com – Market Cap.: $1,608.7 Billion – Stock ticker: AMZN
2. Microsoft
Sector: Technology – Industry: Software—Infrastructure
Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology company developing, manufacturing, licensing, supporting, and selling computer software, most notably the Windows operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. It is also involved in consumer electronics with the Xbox video game consoles, touchscreen personal computers with Microsoft Surface, and related services.
Website: microsoft.com – Market Cap.: $1,749.5 Billion – Stock ticker: MSFT
1. Apple
Sector: Technology – Industry: Consumer Electronics
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets mobile phones and media devices, computers, notably the iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The company also conceives and sells a range of related software and services: the iPhone OS (iOS), OS X and watchOS operating systems, iCloud, and Apple Pay. Apple also sells accessories, support offerings, and third-party digital content and applications.
Website: apple.com – Market Cap.: $2,287.8 Billion – Stock ticker: AAPL
Summary: Top 10 US Tech Companies 2021
To give you a quick overview of the largest American tech companies in 2021, here is a synthesizing image regrouping the information of the top 10. Note that you can use this image to embed it on your website and other digital properties using the embed code below.
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Here are the 30 top tech companies in the US. Do you think they are worth their market capitalization? Do they provide a valuable and convenient service? Do they have too much economic power… and maybe political power too?
Leave your comments below!
I love Salesforce too!!