Obscura Security
Obscura Security operates Obscura VPN, a privacy-focused consumer VPN service using a two-party relay architecture that separates user identity from browsing activity, partnering with Mullvad for exit nodes and serving privacy-conscious individuals globally via $8/month subscriptions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersHealdsburg, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Obscura Security does
Obscura Security, operating as Sovereign Engineering Inc., is a privately held company that offers Obscura VPN, a privacy-focused consumer VPN service priced at $8/month. The service is built on a two-party relay architecture in which Obscura operates the first hop (relay) that sees the user's IP address but cannot decrypt traffic, while Mullvad operates the second hop (exit) that sees traffic but never sees the user's identity. Traffic is end-to-end encrypted via WireGuard and tunneled over QUIC (RFC 9221) using the quinn-rs implementation, which blends with HTTP/3 traffic to evade censorship and network filters.
The product is implemented in Rust, TypeScript, and Swift, with native apps for macOS (14.0+), iOS (17.0+), and Android (12.0+). Windows and Linux apps are in development. The service also offers WireGuard configuration generation for unsupported platforms. Key features include Strict Leak Prevention (using Apple's includeAllNetworks to mitigate TunnelVision attacks), DNS blocking via Mullvad's blocklists, an anonymous account system (no email or phone number required), and support for Bitcoin Lightning and Monero payments. The company distributes globally through its own website, App Store, Google Play, and Obtainium, with 35+ exit server locations spanning six continents.
Obscura's go-to-market is product-led and self-serve, relying on a technical blog, Discord community, open-source GitHub presence, and a referral program that awards a free month to both referrer and referee. The company is founder-led by Carl Dong (self-titled 'Head-Janitor') and operates with a small team of 1-10 employees. An independent security audit by Cure53 in December 2025 found no major vulnerabilities. The firm is not venture-backed and has not disclosed funding or revenue figures.
Obscura Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Obscura Security
- Legal name
- Sovereign Engineering Inc.
- Website
- https://obscura.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Obscura Security operates Obscura VPN, a privacy-focused consumer VPN service using a two-party relay architecture that separates user identity from browsing activity, partnering with Mullvad for exit nodes and serving privacy-conscious individuals globally via $8/month subscriptions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Obscura Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Privacy VPN Service
- NAICS
- All Other Telecommunications (517810)
- SIC
- Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VPN & Remote Access Gateways (HDADABAD)
Keywords
Where Obscura Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Healdsburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Obscura Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- VPN Subscription: Monthly subscription at $8/month. Recurring billing with auto-renewal. Supports credit card (via Stripe), Bitcoin Lightning, and Monero payment methods.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Single tier at $8/month |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Obscura Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Obscura operates a privacy-focused VPN service built on a two-party relay architecture: Obscura runs the first-hop relay that sees the user's IP but cannot decrypt traffic, while partner Mullvad runs the second-hop exit that sees traffic but never sees the user's IP. The service tunnels WireGuard over QUIC (RFC 9221) to blend with HTTP/3 and evade Deep Packet Inspection, supports anonymous account creation with no email or phone required, and accepts Bitcoin Lightning and Monero payments in addition to credit card. Native apps are available for macOS (14.0+), iOS (17.0+), and Android (12.0+), with WireGuard configuration generation for other platforms.
Product overview
Obscura is a privacy-focused VPN service built as a unified product with several named components. The core Obscura VPN service is a two-party relay VPN that separates user identity from traffic by routing connections through an Obscura-operated relay hop and a Mullvad-operated exit hop, with end-to-end WireGuard encryption. Native apps are available for macOS (macOS 14.0+), iOS (iOS 17.0+), and Android (Android 12.0+), each offering kill switch, Strict Leak Prevention, and Mullvad DNS-based content blocking. Windows and Linux native apps are in development. For unsupported platforms, Obscura offers WireGuard compatibility mode, allowing connection via any standard WireGuard client. The service is priced at $8/month and supports payment via Credit Card (Stripe), Bitcoin Lightning, and Monero. Each account includes 3 simultaneous connection slots, with the native app only consuming a slot while connected and WireGuard configs permanently reserving a slot.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Obscura VPN (Core Service) Subscription-based VPN service using a two-party relay architecture where Obscura operates the first relay hop and Mullvad operates the exit hop, with end-to-end WireGuard encryption. Designed for privacy-conscious consumers who require anonymity and protection against censorship.
- Obscura macOS App Native macOS VPN client requiring macOS 14.0+ Sonoma, installed as a sandboxed Network Extension. Includes kill switch (On-demand kill switch), Strict Leak Prevention against TunnelVision attacks, DNS blocking via Mullvad DNS, and custom DNS profile support.
- Obscura iOS App Native iOS VPN client requiring iOS 17.0+, distributed via the Apple App Store. Features include kill switch, Strict Leak Prevention, DNS blocking, and custom DNS profile support.
- Obscura Android App Native Android VPN client requiring Android 12.0+, distributed via Google Play and Obtainium. Features kill switch via Android's Always-on VPN setting, Block connections without VPN, and DNS blocking via Mullvad DNS blocklists.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero major security vulnerabilities found in independent Cure53 audit (December 2025)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Obscura Security
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Obscura Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Obscura Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- MullvadcoreMullvad operates the exit node (second hop) for Obscura's two-party relay VPN architecture. WireGuard packets are end-to-end encrypted to Mullvad's servers using Noise_IK handshake. Mullvad servers see traffic but never user identity since Obscura relay NATs the connection. Users can verify connection by checking exit server's WireGuard public key against Mullvad's published server list.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights9 records
Obscura Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Surfshark: Surfshark is a major mass-market consumer VPN with broad device support and significant marketing spend. Overlaps with Obscura in serving privacy-conscious mainstream consumers but is far larger and does not employ cryptographic separation.
- Apple iCloud Private Relay: Apple's iCloud Private Relay uses a similar two-hop architecture (Apple sees IP, partner sees traffic) and explicitly inspired Obscura's design. Comparable in technical approach but limited to Apple ecosystem users.
- NordVPN: NordVPN is a mass-market consumer VPN incumbent with hundreds of millions of users and aggressive marketing. Overlaps with Obscura in core VPN functionality but is much larger and relies on a 'no-logs' trust model rather than cryptographic separation.
- ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is a leading mainstream consumer VPN with a global brand, large server network, and broad device support. It is comparable to Obscura as a consumer VPN product but lacks the two-party architecture and anonymous-account approach.
- Mozilla VPN: Mozilla VPN is a privacy-branded consumer VPN operated by the Mozilla Foundation, using WireGuard and Mullvad's network. It targets the same privacy-conscious consumer segment as Obscura but with brand and scale advantages.
Direct peers
- Mullvad: Mullvad is the strategic partner that operates the exit hop for Obscura's two-party relay architecture, while also being a direct competitor in the privacy-focused consumer VPN market. Both share anonymous-account philosophy and accept privacy-friendly payments.
- ProtonVPN: ProtonVPN is a leading privacy-focused consumer VPN from Proton AG. It shares Obscura's emphasis on no-logs policies, anonymous accounts, and supporting users in censored regions, but operates its own full-stack infrastructure.
- IVPN: IVPN is a small, privacy-focused VPN provider with a similar minimalist philosophy, anonymous account creation, and no-logs stance. It targets the same high-privacy, anti-surveillance user segment as Obscura.
Emerging players
- The Tor Project: Tor is the canonical anonymity network and is explicitly referenced in Obscura's FAQ as a privacy tool they respect. Obscura positions itself as a faster, more reliable everyday-use alternative to Tor for users with similar threat models.
- Tailscale: Tailscale is a WireGuard-based mesh VPN for developers and teams. While focused on device-to-device networking rather than consumer privacy, it shares the WireGuard/QUIC technology stack and similar team-oriented, transparency-first culture.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Obscura Security social profiles
Digital presenceObscura Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Obscura Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Obscura Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Obscura Security 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 Obscura Security
What does Obscura Security do?
Obscura operates a privacy-focused VPN service built on a two-party relay architecture: Obscura runs the first-hop relay that sees the user's IP but cannot decrypt traffic, while partner Mullvad runs the second-hop exit that sees traffic but never sees the user's IP. The service tunnels WireGuard over QUIC (RFC 9221) to blend with HTTP/3 and evade Deep Packet Inspection, supports anonymous account creation with no email or phone required, and accepts Bitcoin Lightning and Monero payments in addition to credit card. Native apps are available for macOS (14.0+), iOS (17.0+), and Android (12.0+), with WireGuard configuration generation for other platforms.
Is Obscura Security a public or private company?
Obscura Security is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Obscura Security founded?
Obscura Security was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Obscura Security based?
Obscura Security is headquartered in Healdsburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Obscura Security make money?
One revenue line is on record: VPN Subscription.
Who are Obscura Security's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Surfshark, Apple iCloud Private Relay, NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Mozilla VPN. Direct peers are Mullvad, ProtonVPN and IVPN. Emerging players are The Tor Project and Tailscale.
Does Obscura Security have an API?
No public API is recorded for Obscura Security.
What industry is Obscura Security in?
Obscura Security's product category is Privacy VPN Service. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADABAD, VPN & Remote Access Gateways. Its NAICS code is 517810 and its SIC code is 4899.