"Since U Been Gone" received positive reviews from music critics who considered the song to be the highlight of "Breakaway". Critics also felt that it was one of the best pop songs in the last decade. "Rolling Stone" ranked it at number 482 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010. "Since U Been Gone" was a commercial success. In the United States, the song peaked at number two on the "Billboard" Hot 100, behind "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent and Olivia. It topped the US Pop 100 for six consecutive weeks and the US Pop Songs for seven consecutive weeks respectively. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over one million copies sold. "Since U Been Gone" was also a worldwide success, peaking in the top five in Austria, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It also peaked in the top ten in Norway, Germany, and Switzerland.