Internet Archive
A nonprofit digital library with the Wayback Machine, books, audio and video.
Internet Archive at a glance
Internet Archive is an education website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #381 in the country. It was founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle, Bruce Gilliat and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA. Today Internet Archive is owned by Internet Archive. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 120 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through donations, grants, digitization services. Its closest rivals include wikipedia.org, britannica.com, hathitrust.org.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 113 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 116 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 120 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 127 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Organic search44%
- Direct36%
- Referral10%
- Social6%
- Paid4%
Audience & demographics
- Women51%
- Men49%
- Age 18-2434%
- Age 25-3427%
- Age 35-4419%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 36 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| internet archive | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| exam results | Top 10 | High | — |
| past papers | Top 10 | High | — |
| online courses | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 66% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading education apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- archive.org
- Sector
- Education
- Owner
- Internet Archive
- Owner type
- Nonprofit
- Founders
- Brewster Kahle, Bruce Gilliat
- Founded
- 1996
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Employees
- 200+
- Ownership
- Internet Archive controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $30 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, many others
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $30 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Nonprofit
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Internet Archive operates an education platform focused on United States. A nonprofit digital library with the Wayback Machine, books, audio and video. Revenue comes mainly from donations, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Donations
- Grants
- Digitization services
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #381 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading education site in United States
- Global rank
- 250
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| wikipedia.org | ≈ 72 million / month | #382 class competitor | — |
| britannica.com | ≈ 54 million / month | #383 class competitor | — |
| hathitrust.org | ≈ 36 million / month | #384 class competitor | — |
What is Internet Archive?
Internet Archive (archive.org) is an education platform serving users in United States. A nonprofit digital library with the Wayback Machine, books, audio and video. It ranks #381 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the education category.
Who owns Internet Archive?
The site is operated by Internet Archive, founded by Brewster Kahle, Bruce Gilliat. The company was established in 1996 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA. It employs around 200+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Internet Archive at roughly 120 million visits per month, about 4 million per day. Around 66% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.2 pages per visit with an average session of 9 min.
How Internet Archive makes money
Revenue comes primarily from donations, alongside grants, digitization services.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include wikipedia.org, britannica.com, hathitrust.org.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1996
Internet Archive is founded in San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its education offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #381 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free or low-cost access to study material
- Content aligned with the national curriculum
- Works on low-end devices
- Exam and result services in one place
Cons
- Peak-period slowdowns around exam dates
- Uneven content quality between subjects
- Limited personalised feedback
- Some features locked behind subscriptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Internet Archive?
Internet Archive is operated by Internet Archive. Nonprofit structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Internet Archive headquartered?
Internet Archive is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA.
When was Internet Archive founded?
Internet Archive was founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle, Bruce Gilliat.
How many employees does Internet Archive have?
Internet Archive employs approximately 200+ people.
What is Internet Archive's revenue?
Internet Archive's revenue: ≈ $30 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Internet Archive's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include wikipedia.org, britannica.com, hathitrust.org.
How does Internet Archive make money?
Mainly donations, grants, digitization services.
Is Internet Archive publicly traded?
No — Internet Archive is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Internet Archive.
How many visitors does Internet Archive get?
Third-party estimates place Internet Archive at roughly 120 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 66% mobile traffic.
Is Internet Archive safe?
Internet Archive is an established education site founded in 1996 and ranked #381 in United States; use the official domain archive.org and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsarchive.org
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos