A Comprehensive Overview of the Most Massive Subscription-Based Businesses Globally
Subscription business models have transformed commerce over the past two decades. What started centuries ago as a method for distributing newspapers and books has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry centered around digital products and services.
Today, Netflix boasts over 220 million subscribers worldwide while Amazon Prime surpasses 200 million. Even niche services like anime streamer Crunchyroll command dedicated audiences in the millions.
These subscription giants provide unparalleled recurring revenue and strong customer loyalty. For consumers, they offer convenient access to must-have products that arrive on their doorstep or device like clockwork.
In this article, we will countdown the 10 largest subscription companies globally based on number of paying subscribers. For each leader, we’ll explore their origins, offerings, milestones, financials and outlook for the future. Ready to find out who makes the top 10 list? Let’s dive in.
#10: Crunchyroll – 5 Million Paid Subscribers
Founded in 2006 in San Francisco, Crunchyroll is a premier destination for streaming Japanese anime films and series.
In August 2021, the niche service announced 5 million paid subscribers and 120 million registered users total. This makes Crunchyroll a surprise top 10 subscription company given its audience concentrates heavily on the anime community.
Nonetheless, the platform saw monumental growth by adding 4 million paid users since 2017. Crunchyroll viewers hail from over 200 countries, though the U.S. still comprises its largest single market.
While not producing much original content, Crunchyroll offers a library of thousands of series episodes translated into multiple languages. Fans can binge classics like Naruto or catch simulcasts direct from Japan just an hour after airing.
As anime continues going mainstream globally, expect Crunchyroll’s skyrocketing subscriber count to push beyond 5 million in the near future.
#9 Chewy – 20.7 Million Active Subscribers
Switching gears to the retail sector brings us to Chewy and its 20.7 million recurring customers. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Florida, Chewy is the preeminent online pet supply store revolutionizing recurring deliveries.
Forget simply ordering a bag of kibble now and then. Chewy’s beloved “Autoship” program lets pet parents schedule automatic regular shipments of all tail-wagger needs from food to medications to toys.
It’s the ultimate subscription convenience that eliminates shopping headaches while ensuring your fur baby never goes without. This innovative model paired with competitive pricing and stellar service has won Chewy legions of loyal shoppers not just in the U.S. but globally.
And the company continues expanding into telehealth, working with vets to provide pet health advice 24/7 via their platforms. Look for Chewy subs to tick even higher in the coming years.
#8 ESPN+ – 22.3 Million U.S. Subscribers
No top subscription company list would be complete without a major player in streaming live sports. Enter ESPN+, the digital arm of Disney-owned sports television juggernaut ESPN.
At just $9.99 per month, ESPN+ grants subscribers access to thousands of live events annually from pro football and baseball to golf, UFC and more. This outstanding value prop has powered incredible growth for this young challenger service.
Debuting in 2018 to only about 1 million subscribers in year one, ESPN+ closed 2022’s second quarter boasting 22.3 paid customers in the U.S. alone. Verizon customers even get it bundled free with certain plans.
With its heritage brand recognition, continuously improving feature set and ever-growing content library, expect ESPN+ to muscle its way even higher on our global subscription rankings.
#7 Hulu – 45.6+ Million Subscribers
Another household streaming name, Hulu lands at #7 on our list with approximately 45.6 million subscribers in mid-2022. Controlled by Disney, this pioneer platform first launched back in 2008 as an on-demand video platform.
Today, Hulu offers multiple tiers from its ad-supported basic plan up to the $70.99 per month Hulu + Live TV cable replacement. With acclaimed original productions plus next-day access to top broadcast and cable shows, Hulu appeals to cord-cutters and streamers alike.
In Q3 2021 alone, the streamer grew subscribers 21% year-over-year. And with Disney’s might plus a vast content library behind it, Hulu still has plenty of headroom before hitting a ceiling. Don’t expect its soaring subscriber trajectory to peter out anytime soon.
#6 Apple Music – Estimated 78 Million Subscribers
Tech titan Apple has thrown its hat decisively into the subscription ring with thriving music/entertainment offshoot Apple Music. First unleashed in 2015, Apple Music recently claimed over 90 million songs and 30,000 playlists in its swelling catalog.
While Apple has not revealed official subscriber data in years, analysts estimate the streaming music giant crossed 78 million paid members in mid-2021. This makes it the second most popular music subscription behind category ruler Spotify.
Global consultancy Goldman Sachs further estimates Apple Music will enjoy a 14.5% share of total music streamers by 2030, translating to about 110 million members.
Backed by Apple’s consumer tech dominance, expect the service to continue climbing the all-time subscription charts for years ahead.
#5 HBO Max – 76.8 Million Global Subscribers
Warner Bros. Discovery’s multifaceted streaming platform HBO Max fronts an expanding connected entertainment ecosystem already counting over 76.8 million subscribers worldwide.
This tally includes legacy premium cable channel HBO’s domestic user base in addition to its higher-priced Max offspring. Combined with corporate cousin Discovery+’s 24 million paying viewers, Warner Bros. Discovery streaming services top 100 million global subscribers.
Central to HBO Max’s appeal is its premium original programming pedigree courtesy of awards magnet HBO. Buoyed by hit shows like Game of Thrones and Westworld plus the Warner Bros. film vault, HBO Max offers subscribers a quality-over-quantity value ideal for discerning streaming fans.
On-demand video remains among the highest growth subscription arenas. So HBO Max seems poised to ratchet its base consistently higher thanks to consumer uptake of streaming overall.
#4 Disney+ – 152.1 Million Subscribers
It didn’t take the storied Walt Disney Co. long to claim mega subscription success after launching direct-to-consumer streamer Disney+ in late 2019. Just over two years later, Disney+ boasts 152.1 million global subscribers including 14.4 million added last quarter alone.
This roaring rise to fourth place makes perfect sense with Disney’s unrivaled IP stable spanning Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and more now accessible exclusively via Disney+. Throw in Disney’s family friendly vault and NatGeo documentaries, and the House of Mouse has perfectly packaged itself for the streaming era.
Disney originally projected 60-90 million members by 2024, a goal long since lapped. The media icon continues pouring billions into fresh Disney+ content, so subscribers should keep surging toward that magical 200 million milestone.
#3 Spotify – 182 Million Premium Subscribers
When it comes to audio streaming royalty, the clear winner is Spotify. This Swedish streaming tech trailblazer revolutionized digital music consumption after its 2008 launch. Today, Spotify can claim a staggering 182 million paying members making it the third largest subscription service on the planet.
Much of Spotify’s dominance derives from its first-mover advantage having entered the music subscription space early. This enabled rapid global scale, reaching over 4 billion ears across 183 markets. The platform also boasts 83 million tracks fueling popular personalized playlists and podcasts.
Premium subscriptions represent Spotify’s core income driver. Thanks to steady 15% year-over-year subscriber gains, expect its paid listener base to continue expanding well above 200 million in the next year.
#2 Amazon Prime – Over 200 Million Subscribers
We arrive at runner-up Amazon, the ecommerce granddaddy adopting subscriptions early. Widely considered one of the internet’s most successful membership programs, Amazon Prime grants benefits like free shipping, streaming entertainment and more for a $139 annual fee.
Globally over 200 million households are signed up for Prime including 200 million-plus products available for fast, free delivery. Core to Amazon’s value proposition is leveraging scale to shortcut supply chains, passing big savings to Prime members.
Additional Prime perks like streaming film/TV or music help Amazon retain subscribers. Once hooked, Prime members tend to ramp their annual Amazon spend significantly. So retaining members over the long-term equals big recurring revenue.
Few companies can rival the breadth and loyalty of Amazon’s base. With subscription integral to its strategy, expect Amazon Prime numbers to keep rising steadily.
#1 Netflix – Approximately 225 Million Subscribers
Sitting atop our subscription power ranking is none other than pioneering video streamer Netflix with around 225 million global subscribers. After dominating entertainment headlines for years, Netflix remains far and away the king of content streaming.
Amazingly, Netflix only launched its first online subscriber model in 2007, transforming broadcast entertainment forever after. Fast forward 15 years and the video-on-demand behemoth releases acclaimed original films and series in nearly every conceivable genre now watched in over 190 countries.
Despite recent months seeing marginal subscriber losses for the first time ever, Netflix yet reigns supreme as our #1 subscription service by sheer member count. With competitors like Disney+ nipping at its heels, Netflix is pouring over $17 billion into fresh 2022 programming to reaccelerate growth and retention long-term.
While the streaming landscape evolves fast, for now the subscription crown remains with Netflix.
The Future of Subscription Services
Subscription commerce stands only to expand further in coming years. As more physical goods and services transition online, recurring subscriptions represent the most profitable model. Already, over 80% of the top 2000 internet retailers generate subscription revenue streams.
Younger companies like leading fitness app Peloton or popular dating app Tinder represent subscription success stories poised to potentially impact the top 10 list over time. And niche subscriptions like Japan Crate delivering monthly assortments of Asian candy seem limited only by entrepreneurs’ imagination.
Of course, the supreme subscription spaces to watch are on-demand entertainment along with retail/ecommerce. Stiff competition between the likes of Amazon, Target and Walmart promises supercharged development of inventive membership programs designed to capture American wallets.
And video, music and game streaming remains white hot, able to still grow global audiences exponentially as mobile internet and 5G remove accessibility barriers. In the battle for eyeballs, purveyors of digital content will continue unleashing torrents of new programming to sustain traction.
While juggernauts like Amazon and Spotify feel entrenched at the summit, don‘t count out disruption from below. The next Netflix could be gearing up at this very moment to revolutionize how we connect and transact all over again.
