In one line
“They’re basically the world's biggest software and cloud computing company.”
Microsoft makes software and cloud services that help people and businesses work better. They sell Windows (the operating system on most PCs), Microsoft 365 (like Google Docs but for work), Azure (rented computer power in the cloud—like how Netflix doesn't make movies but rents you access to watch them), gaming consoles like Xbox, and AI tools like Copilot. Millions of companies and individuals depend on their products every day.
How they make money
revenue, fiscal year ended Jun 2026Businesses and individuals pay monthly or yearly for access to cloud services like Azure, Microsoft 365, and other software. This is their biggest revenue stream.
- Hardware salesThey sell Windows PCs, Surface tablets and laptops, and Xbox gaming consoles to consumers and businesses.
- Licensing and professional servicesCustomers pay for software licenses and consulting services to help them use Microsoft products effectively.
- Online advertisingMicrosoft shows targeted ads to users and gets paid by advertisers, mainly through search and other online services.
What it looks like
Captured when this card was madeFollow the incentives
Best guessBusinesses of all sizes, government organizations, schools, and individual consumers who need software, cloud services, devices, and gaming products.
Millions of people and organizations use Microsoft products—from students using Office to enterprises running their entire business on Azure cloud services.
They want to get more customers onto their cloud services and make them dependent on their ecosystem, so they keep paying month after month.
Say it at dinner
“Microsoft basically runs the software that most of the world's businesses depend on.”
Receipts
Updated- Verified
- From a government filing, like an SEC annual report
- Stated
- The company says it on its own website
- Best guess
- Our reading of the sources when nothing says it outright
- Background
- From Wikipedia, for history only, never numbers
Written by AI from public sources. It can be wrong, and it isn't financial advice. Terms
Something wrong?
Know Microsoft well? Tell us what to fix. Fixes from a company email are marked as coming from the company.
