How Many SaaS Companies Are There? An Updated Overview for 2024

Last Updated:

March 21, 2024

Written by Carla Capriles & Juan Carlos Munoz

In the world of cloud computing, SaaS is truly shining. Its rapid growth isn't just a phase; it's because it's genuinely useful today. Join us as we unpack the world of SaaS and share what we've learned.

By 2024, a staggering 30,000 SaaS companies have emerged globally, with a dense concentration in the United States. This industry's projected worth is set to skyrocket to $307 billion by 2026, powered by SaaS's undeniable benefits like accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and seamless updates.

Prominent names like Salesforce command the scene, but did you know emerging startups are also enriching the SaaS palette? Dive in as we explore how diverse offerings are reshaping industries, making it simpler for businesses to pinpoint solutions that resonate with their distinct needs.

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Current Scenario of SaaS Market

SaaS Market Share by Region

Breaking down the SaaS market by region provides insights into the industry's distribution. The United States leads with around 17,000 SaaS companies, reflecting more than half of the global total. Next in line are the United Kingdom and Canada, with each housing approximately 2,000 SaaS companies. Other notable regions include Germany, France, and India, each hosting around 1,000 organizations in the sector.

As the market size and growth rate continue to increase, the SaaS industry's compound annual growth rate (CAGR) reflects its robustness. This impressive expansion has led to a promising outlook for various industry segments.

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The Leading SaaS Companies

The Software as a Service (SaaS) industry has rapidly evolved over the years, with numerous companies emerging as leading players in different segments. This section highlights the largest SaaS companies and their recent developments in the post-pandemic era.

SaaS Startups and Unicorns

While established companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, Oracle, SAP, and Google dominate the SaaS market, several startups and unicorns have also made a significant impact. Companies like Zoom, Shopify, and Atlassian have become household names catering to diverse customer needs.

Zoom: Amidst the pandemic, Zoom emerged as a leading video conferencing and virtual collaboration platform, serving businesses and individuals alike.
Shopify: The e-commerce giant offers a comprehensive platform for businesses to launch and manage their online stores, revolutionizing how people buy and sell products.
Atlassian: With products like Jira, Confluence, and Trello, Atlassian empowers teams to collaborate and manage projects more effectively, thus driving innovation and enhanced productivity.

SaaS in the Post-Pandemic Era

During the pandemic, the SaaS industry experienced remarkable growth. As remote work, e-commerce, and digital transformation became the new norm, the demand for services from top SaaS companies skyrocketed.

Microsoft: During the pandemic, Microsoft's all-inclusive suite of productivity software called Microsoft 365 gained significant traction, with its remote collaboration tool, Microsoft Teams, being a major highlight.
Salesforce: Known for its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, Salesforce has further expanded its product offerings by introducing Work.com, a platform specifically designed to help businesses manage their workforce, health, safety, and continuity in these uncertain times.
Google: Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) has been instrumental in helping businesses and individuals adapt to remote work, offering tools like Gmail, Google Meet, and Google Drive to maintain seamless communication and collaboration.
IBM: As a multifaceted technology giant, IBM has been enhancing its focus on providing scalable cloud and AI solutions to businesses, ensuring secure and efficient digital transformation.
Adobe: Leveraging its stronghold in the creative software market, Adobe has further expanded into digital experience solutions by offering Adobe Experience Cloud, which helps businesses analyze, optimize, and personalize their customer interactions.

The SaaS industry has grown exponentially, with established players and emerging startups driving innovation and catering to various customer needs. As the world adapts to the new normal, SaaS companies will maintain momentum, shaping the future of businesses, productivity, and digitalization.

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Future of SaaS Market in 2030

The global Software as a Service (SaaS) market valuation will grow tremendously by 2030. From an approximate value of USD 237.48 billion in 2022, the market is expected to reach a staggering USD 908.21 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.7%. This growth is fueled by several factors, such as increasing adoption of SaaS across industries, improvements in public cloud infrastructure, and advancements in machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Industries that are anticipated to witness significant growth in the SaaS space include customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and cybersecurity. CRM services are expected to become more AI-driven, aiming to provide enhanced customer experiences and improve targeting strategies. Additionally, the growing need for seamless and efficient business process management is expected to drive the demand for ERP and other SaaS-based tools.

The rapid expansion of internet connectivity worldwide, along with the optimization and increase in public cloud offerings, has contributed to the growth of the SaaS market. These factors allow businesses to easily access and adapt to SaaS tools to streamline their operations and enable remote collaboration. By 2030, most software companies are expected to shift towards SaaS-based applications to reap the benefits of cost efficiency, scalability, and flexibility.

SaaS solutions' adaptability is a crucial factor in driving adoption. With continuous advancements in AI and machine learning, SaaS offerings are becoming more innovative, allowing businesses to stay ahead in ever-evolving markets. Advanced analytics and automation features enable businesses to enhance decision-making processes and improve productivity, making SaaS-based solutions a preferred choice for companies.

Final Thoughts

SaaS companies have boomed, with 30,000 of them spread globally, and a big chunk - 17,000, right in the US, the UK and Canada are close behind. Why this growth? Businesses love flexible, cost-friendly solutions. In fact, by 2021, most organizations used around 110 SaaS apps, and that's only going up.
Marketing is a big fan, with 7,000 SaaS companies serving them. On the money side, the typical SaaS company's annual growth is 13.2%. And here's a fun fact: since 2015, companies have multiplied their SaaS app usage by 10! It's estimated that nowadays, 70% of the apps businesses use daily are SaaS-based.
Wrapping it up, SaaS is more than a trend - it's a game changer. As companies cherish its adaptability and cost perks, the world of SaaS only promises to get bigger.