Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that defends digital privacy, free speech, and innovation through legal advocacy, free open-source privacy tools (Privacy Badger, Certbot, Surveillance Self-Defense), and a distributed member-donor funding model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Electronic Frontier Foundation does
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 and headquartered in San Francisco, operating with 51–100 employees. Its mission is to defend digital privacy, free speech, and innovation through a combination of legal advocacy, open-source tool development, public education, and coalition organizing. The organization files amicus briefs and direct litigation, maintains a Take Action Center for grassroots campaigns, and produces educational content via the Deeplinks blog, EFFector newsletter (38 volumes), and the How to Fix the Internet podcast.
EFF's core product portfolio consists of free, open-source privacy and transparency tools rather than commercial software. Flagship offerings include Privacy Badger (a tracker-blocking browser extension used by millions), Certbot (TLS/SSL certificate automation integrated with Let's Encrypt), Surveillance Self-Defense (security tutorials), Cover Your Tracks (browser fingerprint analysis), Atlas of Surveillance and Street Level Surveillance (crowdsourced databases of U.S. law enforcement surveillance technology), and apkeep (Android app signature verification). These tools are distributed through eff.org, GitHub, browser stores, and social platforms, and are differentiated by ease of use rather than technical novelty.
Revenue is generated through a nonprofit donation and membership model. The organization offers tiered membership levels ranging from a $10 Gold monthly contribution to a $500/month or $1,000 Guardian donation, with intermediate one-time donation tiers at $25, $50, $65, $250, supplemented by organizational sponsorships and grants. No specific revenue figures are publicly disclosed. The customer base is highly distributed: individual privacy-conscious supporters, developers, civil liberties organizations, and aligned technology companies, with no concentrated donor dependency disclosed in the available data.
Electronic Frontier Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Legal name
- Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Website
- https://eff.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that defends digital privacy, free speech, and innovation through legal advocacy, free open-source privacy tools (Privacy Badger, Certbot, Surveillance Self-Defense), and a distributed member-donor funding model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Electronic Frontier Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Rights Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights (BPADAGAE)
Keywords
Where Electronic Frontier Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Electronic Frontier Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Level - $10 donation or $10/month |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Copper Level - $25 donation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Titanium Level - $50 donation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Silver Level - $65 donation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Guardian Level - $500/month or $1,000 donation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Rare Earths Level - $250 donation |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Electronic Frontier Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a nonprofit digital rights organization that defends digital privacy, free speech, and innovation through legal advocacy, policy campaigns, and free open-source privacy and security tools. Its core offerings include a suite of independently downloadable tools (Privacy Badger browser extension, Certbot HTTPS automation, Surveillance Self-Defense guides, Atlas of Surveillance database, Cover Your Tracks fingerprinting test, Street Level Surveillance resource, and apkeep Android app verifier), complemented by legal representation, amicus briefs, public education, and grassroots mobilization around digital rights issues.
Product overview
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a nonprofit digital rights organization offering a suite of free, open-source privacy and security tools rather than a unified commercial product platform. The core offerings include Privacy Badger (a browser-based ad/tracker blocker), Certbot (TLS/SSL certificate automation for HTTPS), Surveillance Self-Defense (security tutorials and guides), Atlas of Surveillance and Street Level Surveillance (databases documenting law enforcement surveillance technologies), Cover Your Tracks (browser fingerprinting analysis), and apkeep (Android app verification tool). These tools are complemented by the EFFector newsletter/podcast for advocacy updates and Cindy Cohn's book 'Privacy's Defender'. EFF's portfolio operates as independent, complementary tools united by the mission of defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Privacy Badger: A free, open-source browser extension that blocks trackers and ads following the principles of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
- Surveillance Self-Defense
- CertBot
- Atlas of Surveillance
- Cover Your Tracks
- Street Level Surveillance
Products and services
- Privacy Badger
- Certbot
- Surveillance Self-Defense
- Atlas of Surveillance
- Cover Your Tracks
- Street Level Surveillance
- apkeep
- EFFector Newsletter and Podcast
- Privacy's Defender (Book)
Companies that use Electronic Frontier Foundation
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Electronic Frontier Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Electronic Frontier Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Electronic Frontier Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fight for the Future: Fight for the Future is a digital rights advocacy nonprofit focused on grassroots campaigns around net neutrality, encryption, and online censorship — comparable to EFF in mission and target audience, though leaner and more campaign-driven.
- Mozilla Foundation: Mozilla Foundation produces open-source privacy tools (Firefox, containers) and advocates for a healthier internet — closely aligned with EFF's open-source privacy tools (Privacy Badger, Certbot) and digital rights mission.
- Access Now: Access Now is a global digital rights nonprofit that defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk through policy, advocacy, and direct technical support — overlapping heavily with EFF on privacy, free expression, and surveillance.
- Open Technology Institute (New America): OTI works at the intersection of technology and policy, developing open-source tools and advocating for universal access to communications and digital rights — overlapping with EFF on surveillance, encryption, and internet freedom.
- Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT): CDT is a nonprofit that advocates for digital rights through policy advocacy, litigation, and technical research on issues like online privacy, free expression, and algorithmic accountability — a near-direct match to EFF's mission and methods.
- Public Knowledge: Public Knowledge is a public-interest advocacy organization working on copyright, telecommunications, and internet policy — comparable to EFF on telecom and innovation policy issues like the FCC proposals EFF is currently challenging.
- Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC): EPIC is a public-interest research center that litigates and advocates on privacy, AI, and civil liberties issues — directly comparable to EFF in scope, methods, and target issues.
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The ACLU is the closest direct peer: a U.S. nonprofit conducting litigation, lobbying, and public education to defend civil liberties, with overlapping digital rights programs (ACLU of Northern California's Technology and Civil Liberties Program, where EFF's new ED Nicole Ozer previously led).
Broad incumbents
- Human Rights Watch: HRW is a larger, established international human rights organization with overlapping digital rights and surveillance work (e.g., face recognition, ICE surveillance) — comparable in advocacy model but broader in scope.
Emerging players
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: RCFP provides legal support to journalists on First Amendment and press freedom issues including digital surveillance of reporters — adjacent to EFF on surveillance and free speech but specialized in journalism.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Electronic Frontier Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceElectronic Frontier Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Electronic Frontier Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Electronic Frontier Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Electronic Frontier Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Electronic Frontier Foundation
What does Electronic Frontier Foundation do?
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a nonprofit digital rights organization that defends digital privacy, free speech, and innovation through legal advocacy, policy campaigns, and free open-source privacy and security tools. Its core offerings include a suite of independently downloadable tools (Privacy Badger browser extension, Certbot HTTPS automation, Surveillance Self-Defense guides, Atlas of Surveillance database, Cover Your Tracks fingerprinting test, Street Level Surveillance resource, and apkeep Android app verifier), complemented by legal representation, amicus briefs, public education, and grassroots mobilization around digital rights issues.
Is Electronic Frontier Foundation a public or private company?
Electronic Frontier Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Electronic Frontier Foundation founded?
Electronic Frontier Foundation was founded in 1990. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Electronic Frontier Foundation based?
Electronic Frontier Foundation is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Electronic Frontier Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fight for the Future, Mozilla Foundation, Access Now, Open Technology Institute (New America), Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), Public Knowledge, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Human Rights Watch is listed as a broad incumbent. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is listed as an emerging player.
Does Electronic Frontier Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Electronic Frontier Foundation.
What industry is Electronic Frontier Foundation in?
Electronic Frontier Foundation's product category is Digital Rights Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAL, Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPADAGAE, Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8111.