Apple Inc. vs Microsoft Corporation
Business model, scale, and a side-by-side Litmus framework score — which model wins, and for whom.
Apple is consumer-hardware-led; Microsoft is enterprise-cloud-led — two different ways to print profit.
At a glance
| Metric | Apple Inc. | Microsoft Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $416B (FY2025) | $281.7B (FY2025, +15% YoY) |
| Profit | $112B (Net Income) | $101.8B (Net Income) |
| Active users | 2.3 Billion+ Active Devices | 1.2B+ Office Users / 400M+ Teams Users |
| Employees | ~164,000 | 228,000+ |
| Founded | 1976 | 1975 |
| HQ | Cupertino, CA | Redmond, Washington |
LLitmus Framework Score
Overall: Apple Inc. 98 · Microsoft Corporation 97
Customer Segment
100
100
Value Proposition
95
98
Marketing Channel
100
95
Engagement
100
90
Income Source
98
98
Asset Validation
99
96
Core Operations
95
95
Strategic Alliance
85
100
Expense Validation
95
92
Apple Inc. leads 4 modules, Microsoft Corporation leads 2. Overall edge: Apple Inc..
Head to head
| Dimension | Apple Inc. | Microsoft Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $416B (FY2025) | $281.7B (FY2025) |
| Net income | $112B (~27%) | $101.8B (~36%) |
| Customer base | Affluent consumers | Enterprise / Fortune 500 |
| Core engine | iPhone + Services | Azure + Microsoft 365 |
FAQ
Is Apple Inc. or Microsoft Corporation a better business?
Apple is consumer-hardware-led; Microsoft is enterprise-cloud-led — two different ways to print profit. It depends on what you optimise for — see the module-by-module breakdown above.
What is the difference between Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corporation's business model?
Apple Inc. operates in Consumer Electronics / Technology (Think Different), while Microsoft Corporation is Technology (Empowering every person on the planet to achieve more). Their revenue, scale and Litmus scores are compared in detail above.
Which is more profitable, Apple Inc. or Microsoft Corporation?
Apple Inc.: $112B (Net Income). Microsoft Corporation: $101.8B (Net Income).