ORB Communications & Marketing
Orb Forge Inc. is a network experience platform that continuously measures internet Responsiveness (Lag), Reliability, and Speed via lightweight software sensors managed through Orb Cloud, serving home users, IT teams, ISPs, MSPs, and enterprises globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2025
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What ORB Communications & Marketing does
Orb Forge Inc. (operating as Orb) is a Delaware-incorporated network experience platform founded in 2025 by the creators of Speedtest and Downdetector (the Ookla founders). The platform continuously measures internet Responsiveness via a proprietary Lag metric (combining latency, jitter, and packet loss), together with Reliability and Speed, and rolls these into a composite Orb Score. Sensors are lightweight software that runs on hardware customers already own: native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, plus a CLI for Linux, routers (UniFi, MikroTik, OpenWrt), NAS (Synology, QNAP, Firewalla), IoT devices, Cisco IOx, and Docker/Podman containers. A free Local API and open-source TIG-stack Local Analytics (MIT-licensed) let self-hosters and developers ingest data on their own infrastructure.
The business model is freemium-led with a planned tiered monetization ladder. New users get 5 Orbs free forever and existing users are grandfathered at 10, while Plus, Business, and Enterprise/ISP tiers are positioned for power users, organizations, and large-scale ISP deployments (including pre-installation on customer premise equipment). Go-to-market combines product-led growth (app store and direct download), an enterprise sales motion for ISPs and large organizations, and a partner program for MSPs, consultants, freelancers, software houses, and hardware vendors. Centralized management is delivered through Orb Cloud (with Status, Configure, Live Metrics, and multi-tenant fleet capabilities) and extended to AI assistants via an experimental Orb Cloud MCP. Customer segments span homes, IT teams, ISPs, MSPs, education, healthcare, retail, and venues/events, distributed across 190+ countries.
Note on the firmographic record: the "ORB Communications & Marketing" entity (San Diego, founded 1996, 1–10 employees, described as an Internet marketing and technology services firm) and the $11.3M / Headline round from June 2000 appear to relate to a separate, pre-existing company and are not the subject of this analysis.
ORB Communications & Marketing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ORB Communications & Marketing
- Legal name
- Orb Forge Inc.
- Website
- https://orb.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2025
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Orb Forge Inc. is a network experience platform that continuously measures internet Responsiveness (Lag), Reliability, and Speed via lightweight software sensors managed through Orb Cloud, serving home users, IT teams, ISPs, MSPs, and enterprises globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ORB Communications & Marketing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Network Monitoring Software
- NAICS
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Communications Services, Nec (4899), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Experience Monitoring & Management (DEX/DEM, AIOps for EUC) (BPAEAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- API Observability, Testing & Monitoring (BPAMAOAG)
Keywords
Where ORB Communications & Marketing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ORB Communications & Marketing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Free Tier: Free personal use with limited number of Orbs (5 for new users, 10 for existing users). Includes basic status monitoring and configuration capabilities.
- Plus Plans: Subscription plans for power users and homelab enthusiasts. Unlocks more Orbs, advanced analytics, and multiple deployment tokens for easier setup and management.
- Business Plans: Subscription plans for businesses with features like advanced monitoring dashboards, real-time alerts, large Orb fleet deployment enablement, and priority support.
- Enterprise & ISP Integrations: Direct engagement with enterprises and internet service providers for large-scale network monitoring deployments. Orb can be pre-installed on customer premise equipment for ISP deployments of millions of Orbs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free - Basic monitoring for personal use |
| Subscription | Monthly | Plus - Enhanced capabilities for power users |
| Subscription | Monthly | Business - Organizations and teams |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise - Massive scale deployments |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
ORB Communications & Marketing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orb is a unified network experience platform that continuously measures Responsiveness (via a proprietary Lag metric combining latency, jitter, and packet loss), Reliability, and Speed across consumer devices, enterprise networks, and ISP infrastructure. The offering pairs lightweight Orb Sensor software (apps for Windows/macOS/iOS/Android plus a Linux CLI for routers, NAS, and embedded devices) with Orb Cloud for centralized fleet management, plus a Local API and self-hosted Local Analytics option for organizations that require on-premises data control.
Product overview
Orb is a unified network experience platform developed by Orb Forge Inc. (founded by Ookla/Speedtest/Downdetector creators). The platform combines Orb Sensors (lightweight monitoring software available as apps for Windows/macOS/iOS/Android or CLI for Linux/routers/NAS) with Orb Cloud (centralized cloud management dashboard) to measure and monitor Internet Experience. The core product measures Responsiveness (via Lag metric), Reliability, and Speed continuously, delivering aggregated scores for networking novices alongside technical details for professionals. Orb Local API and Orb Local Analytics (TIG stack) provide self-hosted data options, while Orb Cloud MCP enables AI assistant integration. Orb Cloud serves as the management layer, with free tier for home users (5 Orbs) and subscription tiers (Orb Plus, Business) for power users and enterprise deployments requiring fleet management at scale.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Orb Cloud: Cloud-based management platform for Orb sensors - provides status monitoring, analytics, and fleet management capabilities.
- The Forge
Products and services
- Orb Cloud Central cloud management platform for Orb network sensors providing real-time status monitoring, analytics dashboards, multi-tenant fleet management, Guest Orbs sharing, and Live Metrics streaming for consumer and enterprise users.
- Orb Sensor (Orb Measure) Lightweight continuous network measurement software that runs on hardware the user already owns; available as apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android or as a Linux CLI for routers, NAS, and embedded devices.
- Orb Local API HTTP API that serves Orb datasets locally for scores, responsiveness metrics, speed results, and historical data as JSON, enabling integration with external platforms while keeping data private.
- Orb Local Analytics
Quantifiable outcome
- Hundreds of thousands of Orbs activated in over 190 countries within first month of launch
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ORB Communications & Marketing
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
ORB Communications & Marketing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration21 records
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
ORB Communications & Marketing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FastlycoreFastly provides edge capacity for Orb's network. The partnership enables Orb's network to grow to over 1 Pbps of total edge capacity, supporting global network measurement operations.
- HaminacoreHamina, a best-in-class Wi-Fi planning tool, has integrated Orb into their platform. Users can access Orb's network experience metrics directly within Hamina's Wi-Fi planning environment.
- FirstPromoterminorFirstPromoter powers the Orb Partner Portal for referral partner management, commission tracking, and affiliate program operations.
- MSPs and VARscoreManaged service providers can integrate Orb into their managed service offerings with volume discounts to increase margins. Consultants and freelancers can promote Orb solutions and earn commission on sales.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ORB Communications & Marketing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ORB Communications & Marketing social profiles
Digital presenceORB Communications & Marketing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ORB Communications & Marketing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
ORB Communications & Marketing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ORB Communications & Marketing 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 ORB Communications & Marketing
What does ORB Communications & Marketing do?
Orb is a unified network experience platform that continuously measures Responsiveness (via a proprietary Lag metric combining latency, jitter, and packet loss), Reliability, and Speed across consumer devices, enterprise networks, and ISP infrastructure. The offering pairs lightweight Orb Sensor software (apps for Windows/macOS/iOS/Android plus a Linux CLI for routers, NAS, and embedded devices) with Orb Cloud for centralized fleet management, plus a Local API and self-hosted Local Analytics option for organizations that require on-premises data control.
Is ORB Communications & Marketing a public or private company?
ORB Communications & Marketing is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ORB Communications & Marketing founded?
ORB Communications & Marketing was founded in 2025. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ORB Communications & Marketing based?
ORB Communications & Marketing is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does ORB Communications & Marketing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Free Tier is the primary driver. The others are plus Plans, business Plans and enterprise & ISP Integrations.
Does ORB Communications & Marketing have an API?
Yes. Orb offers a public Local API that serves datasets via local HTTP. The API provides access to scores (Orb Score, Responsiveness Score, Reliability Score, Speed Score), Responsiveness metrics (Lag, latency, jitter, packet loss), Web Responsiveness (TTFB, DNS resolution time), and Speed results. Configuration is done via Orb Cloud where users paste JSON configuration specifying datasets and port. Additionally, Orb Cloud MCP (v1.0.0 experimental) enables AI assistants to interact with Orb Cloud data and features. Developer documentation is at orb.net/docs/integrations/api.
What industry is ORB Communications & Marketing in?
ORB Communications & Marketing's product category is Network Monitoring Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAIAF, Digital Experience Monitoring & Management (DEX/DEM, AIOps for EUC), with a secondary code of BPAMAOAG, API Observability, Testing & Monitoring. Its NAICS code is 5171 and its SIC code is 4899.