Disconnect
Disconnect builds a tracker intelligence platform that detects and blocks third-party tracking across the web, mobile apps, and email. Its classification layer is integrated by default into four of the top five browsers and is licensed to enterprises and B2B technology partners via the Lightbox API.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Disconnect does
Disconnect is a San Francisco-based privacy technology company founded in 2011 that builds a tracker intelligence platform used to detect, classify, and block third-party tracking infrastructure across websites, mobile apps, and email. Its core technology combines automated detection with human expert review, processing over 50 trillion tracker signals annually and maintaining 14,332+ verified domain and entity mappings. The platform is the default privacy layer in four of the top five web browsers — Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome (IP Protection), and Samsung Internet — collectively protecting 350M+ users.
The company operates a multi-product, multi-channel business model spanning consumer, enterprise, and B2B technology licensing. Consumer revenue comes from freemium browser extensions and tiered subscriptions (Tracker Protection, Privacy Pro, IP Protection, Disconnect Premium at $35.99/year) distributed through the iOS App Store, Google Play, and the Mac App Store. Enterprise revenue is generated by Cloud Privacy Plus, which deploys tracker intelligence through existing security infrastructure (cloud, VPN, SWG, DNS) for Fortune 500 customers, claiming 12–14x more trackers blocked than enterprise defaults. The Lightbox API licenses the underlying tracker dataset — including Web X-ray, App X-ray, and Tracker X-ray forensic analysis — to B2B customers and browser OEMs. GTM motions include product-led growth, enterprise field sales, and OEM embedded distribution.
Disconnect has remained privately held and largely self-funded since a 2013 Series A, with 11–50 employees and no disclosed institutional funding since then. The company's strategic positioning is anchored in investigative research partnerships with major media outlets (BBC, NYT, Washington Post, NBC News), which reinforce its credibility as a category-defining privacy intelligence provider.
Disconnect firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Disconnect
- Legal name
- Disconnect, Inc.
- Website
- https://disconnect.me
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Disconnect builds a tracker intelligence platform that detects and blocks third-party tracking across the web, mobile apps, and email. Its classification layer is integrated by default into four of the top five browsers and is licensed to enterprises and B2B technology partners via the Lightbox API.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Disconnect industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Privacy Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Security & Privacy Services (DLP, Encryption, Privacy Ops) (BPAKAHAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Email Data Loss Prevention & Encryption (HDADAKAD)
Keywords
Where Disconnect is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Disconnect business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Consumer Subscriptions: Premium subscriptions for individual consumers across iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows platforms. Includes Privacy Pro (iOS), Premium (Mac/Windows/Android), and Tracker Protection apps. Subscriptions cover multiple devices and offer tiered features from basic blocking to full VPN encryption.
- Enterprise Tracker Protection (Cloud Privacy Plus): Network-wide tracker protection for Fortune 500 enterprises deployed through existing security infrastructure (cloud, VPN, SWG, DNS). Blocks 12-14x more trackers than enterprise defaults. Revenue from enterprise licensing contracts.
- Lightbox API Enterprise Licensing: Privacy intelligence API offered to businesses for tracker data, forensic analysis, ownership mapping, competitive intelligence, and embedded tracker protection. Enterprise licensing for datasets, integrations, and reports.
- Browser OEM Licensing: Integration of tracker protection into browsers (Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Samsung Internet) as the default privacy layer. Likely licensing arrangements with major browser vendors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Basic Extension - Free browser tracker protection |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium - Full device protection with VPN |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Annual - Full device protection with VPN |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise Cloud Privacy Plus |
| Subscription | Annual | Lightbox API Enterprise |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
Disconnect product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Disconnect detects, classifies, maps, and blocks third-party tracker infrastructure across websites, mobile apps, and email through a proprietary tracker intelligence platform that processes over 50 trillion signals per year. It packages this intelligence into consumer privacy apps (browser extensions and mobile/desktop VPNs with tracker blocking), an enterprise network protection product (Cloud Privacy Plus) deployed via existing security stacks, and a privacy intelligence API (Lightbox) licensed to browser vendors and B2B customers.
Product overview
Disconnect offers a multi-product privacy protection platform consisting of consumer browser extensions (Private Browsing for Chrome/Firefox/Edge/Opera), mobile apps (Tracker Protection, Privacy Pro, IP Protection for iOS/Android), desktop applications (Disconnect Premium for Mac with VPN), enterprise solutions (Cloud Privacy Plus deployed via existing security infrastructure), and the Lightbox API for privacy intelligence data. The Lightbox API powers tracker intelligence in major browsers (Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Samsung Internet) and enables enterprise customers to access Web X-ray, App X-ray, and Tracker X-ray forensic analysis. Products range from free basic browser extensions to subscription-based VPN and enterprise deployments, all built on 15 years of tracker intelligence data covering 14,332+ verified domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lightbox: Privacy analysis and intelligence API platform for forensic analysis on demand for apps, websites, and trackers.
- Cloud Privacy Plus
- Privacy Pro
- Disconnect Premium
- Tracker Protection
- Do Not Track Kids
- IP Protection
Products and services
- Disconnect Private Browsing (Basic Extension) Free browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera that visualizes and blocks hidden trackers in real time, categorizing tracking requests into Advertising, Analytics, Fingerprinting, Social, Cookies, Pixels, and Content groups for individual consumers.
- Tracker Protection (iOS & Android) Mobile app for iOS and Android that provides full-device tracker blocking using encrypted DNS without requiring VPN technology, protecting all apps and browsers on the device for individual consumers.
- IP Protection iPhone app that stops hidden tracking without VPN technology, providing device-wide tracker blocking, IP masking, and detailed activity logs that show who tried to follow the user, including email tracking pixel blocking with zero data logging.
- Privacy Pro iOS app that includes everything in Tracker Protection plus Smart VPN, custom blocking rules, and detailed activity logs, marketed as Disconnect's highest-rated iOS app for individual consumers.
- Disconnect Premium Native Mac application that provides device-wide tracker protection with optional full VPN for IP address masking and encryption, covering three unique devices per subscription with servers in 180+ locations across 80+ countries for individual consumers.
- Do Not Track Kids iPad privacy app designed specifically for children that blocks trackers across all websites, apps, and email while educating kids about online safety, with a 30-day free trial for educational institutions.
- Lightbox API Privacy intelligence API providing forensic-grade tracker data across websites, apps, and emails via Web X-ray, App X-ray, and Tracker X-ray capabilities, plus entity mapping and ownership intelligence, licensed to enterprises and browser vendors.
- Cloud Privacy Plus Enterprise tracker protection product that deploys through existing security infrastructure (cloud, VPN, SWG, DNS) without new agents, blocking 12-14x more trackers than enterprise defaults with approximately four human-verified updates per week for Fortune 500 enterprises.
- Email Tracker Protection Capability that identifies and blocks email tracking pixels used in marketing and phishing emails, enabled by default in Disconnect's iOS Privacy Pro, Premium, and DNS Privacy apps for individual consumers.
- iOS App Tracker Report Capability that lets iOS users export Apple's App Privacy Report and view tracker data connected to specific apps, with all processing performed locally on the user's device without uploading to servers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 350M+ users protected by default through browser integrations
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Disconnect
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Disconnect technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Disconnect partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and supporting.
- BBC FuturekeyBBC Future published investigation into TikTok's expanded web tracking pixel. Disconnect provided technical analysis, finding the pixel intercepts data in unusually invasive ways. Joint research exposed TikTok collecting health data from non-users.
- Google ChromecoreGoogle Chrome partnered with Disconnect on IP Protection feature in 2025. Collaboration on privacy-preserving technology for Chrome users.
- Samsung InternetcoreSamsung Internet browser integrated Disconnect tracker protection starting in 2016. Provides default privacy protection for Samsung Internet users.
- Brian KennishcoreCo-founder who was previously at DoubleClick and Google, bringing inside knowledge of tracking infrastructure. Co-founded Disconnect with Casey Oppenheim in 2011.
- Mozilla FirefoxcoreMozilla integrated Disconnect tracker protection into Firefox in 2015, enabling it by default for all users worldwide in 2018. Powers privacy for Firefox users with Disconnect's tracker classification system.
- Microsoft EdgecoreMicrosoft Edge enabled Disconnect-powered tracker prevention by default in 2020. Strategic partnership integrating Disconnect's tracker intelligence into Edge's privacy features.
- The New York TimeskeyNYT used Disconnect technology to test 250 iOS apps and record how they're tracking. NYT Wirecutter repeatedly named Disconnect as best privacy tool. Partnership for investigative journalism.
- The Washington PostkeyWashington Post leveraged Disconnect's Web X-ray technology for investigative reports on browser fingerprinting scripts. Discovered thousands of Zoom calls left exposed on open web. Multiple nationally-published investigations.
- NBC News / Today ShowkeyNBC News featured Disconnect research on dating apps sharing personal data with third-party companies. Today Show featured Disconnect's research on AI data threats in 2025.
- Consumer ReportskeyConsumer Reports partnership announced in 2017. Privacy intelligence data powers investigative journalism. Joint TikTok tracking research published and covered by BBC and Washington Post.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)supportingDisconnect supports EFF's Do Not Track (DNT) standard. Company strongly supports consumer's right to set DNT preferences and encourages all website operators to honor this choice.
- Deutsche TelekomsupportingListed as industry partner alongside Microsoft, Mozilla, and Samsung. Partnership for privacy protection initiatives.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Disconnect competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brave Software: Brave ships a privacy-first browser with built-in tracker blocking, fingerprinting protection, and Shields — competing head-on with Disconnect's browser-extension value proposition. Brave also integrates its own tracker lists and rewards users via its ad system, positioning it as both a partner and substitute for Disconnect.
- uBlock Origin: uBlock Origin is a free, open-source content and tracker blocker used by tens of millions of users as a default browser extension. While it is non-commercial, it competes for the same "free tracker blocking" user as Disconnect's Private Browsing extension and sets the floor on consumer willingness to pay.
- Adblock Plus (eyeo): Adblock Plus is the most widely installed ad/tracker blocker on the web, with both a free consumer extension and enterprise offerings. It competes with Disconnect in browser-based tracker blocking and has historically engaged with publishers via Acceptable Ads, giving it a different (and arguably more compromised) stance on tracker classification.
- Ghostery: Ghostery is one of the most direct competitors to Disconnect in consumer tracker blocking, offering a browser extension and mobile apps that detect and block trackers, ads, and fingerprinting scripts. Both companies share the same freemium privacy-extension model and target the same "tracker fatigue" consumer pain point.
- AdGuard: AdGuard provides ad blocking, tracker protection, and DNS-based privacy across mobile and desktop with both consumer subscriptions and enterprise licensing. It overlaps closely with Disconnect's Premium, Tracker Protection, and DNS-level blocking products and competes for the same paying privacy-conscious user.
- DuckDuckGo: DuckDuckGo offers a privacy-focused browser, search engine, and Email Protection that blocks trackers across the web and email — directly mirroring Disconnect's Email Tracker Protection and browser-extension categories. Both target the same mainstream privacy-curious consumer with free, easy-to-adopt tools.
Broad incumbents
- Mozilla Foundation: Mozilla is both Disconnect's largest distribution partner (default tracker protection in Firefox) and a potential competitor as it builds out Enhanced Tracking Protection and Firefox Relay. Its decisions directly determine Disconnect's user reach and influence the privacy category's evolution.
- Apple (Privacy Features): Apple's App Tracking Transparency, Safari Intelligent Tracking Prevention, iCloud Private Relay, and Mail Privacy Protection are platform-level privacy features that compete with Disconnect's consumer apps. While Apple is not a "tracker blocker" company, its built-in protections directly shape the size of Disconnect's addressable consumer market.
- Gen Digital (Norton, Avast): Gen Digital's Norton and Avast brands bundle consumer privacy, VPN, and tracker protection into broad security suites with massive paid subscriber bases. They compete with Disconnect Premium and Cloud Privacy Plus for both consumer wallet share and enterprise endpoint/security budgets.
Emerging players
- Proton AG: Proton offers a privacy subscription suite (Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Pass, Proton Drive) that competes with Disconnect's premium consumer offerings. Proton is more established in encrypted communications, but increasingly overlaps with Disconnect Premium's VPN/tracker-blocking value proposition for privacy-conscious subscribers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Disconnect social profiles
Digital presenceDisconnect financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Disconnect leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Disconnect funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Disconnect 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 Disconnect
What does Disconnect do?
Disconnect detects, classifies, maps, and blocks third-party tracker infrastructure across websites, mobile apps, and email through a proprietary tracker intelligence platform that processes over 50 trillion signals per year. It packages this intelligence into consumer privacy apps (browser extensions and mobile/desktop VPNs with tracker blocking), an enterprise network protection product (Cloud Privacy Plus) deployed via existing security stacks, and a privacy intelligence API (Lightbox) licensed to browser vendors and B2B customers.
Is Disconnect a public or private company?
Disconnect is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Disconnect founded?
Disconnect was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Disconnect based?
Disconnect is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Disconnect make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Consumer Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are enterprise Tracker Protection (Cloud Privacy Plus), lightbox API Enterprise Licensing and browser OEM Licensing.
Who are Disconnect's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brave Software, uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus (eyeo), Ghostery, AdGuard and DuckDuckGo. Broad incumbents are Mozilla Foundation, Apple (Privacy Features) and Gen Digital (Norton, Avast). Proton AG is listed as an emerging player.
Does Disconnect have an API?
Yes. Lightbox API provides forensic-grade privacy intelligence data for websites, apps, and trackers. Offers Web X-ray for mapping data flows across websites, App X-ray for identifying vulnerabilities and risky SDKs in apps, and Tracker X-ray for tracker analysis. Supports entity mapping, competitive intelligence, and ownership mapping. Enterprise licensing available for datasets, integrations, and reports. Contact [email protected] for enterprise licensing. Developer documentation is at disconnect.me/lightbox-api.
What industry is Disconnect in?
Disconnect's product category is Privacy Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAHAM, Data Security & Privacy Services (DLP, Encryption, Privacy Ops), with a secondary code of HDADAKAD, Email Data Loss Prevention & Encryption. Its NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 7370.