Steam
A digital distribution platform for PC games with a large community and marketplace.
Steam at a glance
Steam is an entertainment & streaming website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #173 in the country. It was founded in 2003 by Gabe Newell and is headquartered in Bellevue, WA, USA. Today Steam is owned by Valve Corporation. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 300 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through game sales commissions, marketplace fees. Its closest rivals include epicgames.com, gog.com, xbox.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 282 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 291 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 300 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 318 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct63%
- Organic search21%
- Social8%
- Referral5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men54%
- Women46%
- Age 18-2428%
- Age 25-3429%
- Age 35-4421%
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
- ≈ 90 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| steam | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| watch online | Top 10 | High | — |
| live stream | Top 10 | High | — |
| subscription price | 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
- ≈ 74% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading entertainment & streaming apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- steampowered.com
- Sector
- Entertainment & Streaming
- Owner
- Valve Corporation
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Gabe Newell
- Founded
- 2003
- Headquarters
- Bellevue, WA, USA
- Employees
- 300+
- Ownership
- Valve Corporation controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $10 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, many others
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $10 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Steam operates an entertainment and streaming service focused on United States. A digital distribution platform for PC games with a large community and marketplace. Revenue comes mainly from game sales commissions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Game sales commissions
- Marketplace fees
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)
- #173 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading entertainment & streaming site in United States
- Global rank
- 90
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| epicgames.com | ≈ 180 million / month | #174 class competitor | — |
| gog.com | ≈ 135 million / month | #175 class competitor | — |
| xbox.com | ≈ 90 million / month | #176 class competitor | — |
What is Steam?
Steam (steampowered.com) is an entertainment and streaming service serving users in United States. A digital distribution platform for PC games with a large community and marketplace. It ranks #173 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the entertainment & streaming category.
Who owns Steam?
The site is operated by Valve Corporation, founded by Gabe Newell. The company was established in 2003 and is headquartered in Bellevue, WA, USA. It employs around 300+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Steam at roughly 300 million visits per month, about 10 million per day. Around 74% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 6.9 pages per visit with an average session of 14 min.
How Steam makes money
Revenue comes primarily from game sales commissions, alongside marketplace fees.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include epicgames.com, gog.com, xbox.com.
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
- 2003
Steam is founded in Bellevue, WA, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its entertainment & streaming offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #173 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
- Large local content library
- Live sports or exclusive originals
- Works across mobile, web and TV apps
- Affordable local pricing tiers
Cons
- Content rotates out of the catalogue
- Ad-supported tier interrupts playback
- Rights restrictions limit some titles
- Streaming quality varies on weak connections
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Steam?
Steam is operated by Valve Corporation. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Steam headquartered?
Steam is headquartered in Bellevue, WA, USA.
When was Steam founded?
Steam was founded in 2003 by Gabe Newell.
How many employees does Steam have?
Steam employs approximately 300+ people.
What is Steam's revenue?
Steam's revenue: ≈ $10 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are Steam's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include epicgames.com, gog.com, xbox.com.
How does Steam make money?
Mainly game sales commissions, marketplace fees.
Is Steam publicly traded?
No — Steam is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Valve Corporation.
How many visitors does Steam get?
Third-party estimates place Steam at roughly 300 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 74% mobile traffic.
Is Steam safe?
Steam is an established entertainment & streaming site founded in 2003 and ranked #173 in United States; use the official domain steampowered.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementssteampowered.com
- 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