What Tails does

Tails is a free, open-source portable operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux that boots from a USB stick and routes all Internet traffic through the Tor network to protect user privacy and circumvent censorship. The system is designed to be amnesic — it leaves no trace on the host computer when shut down — and ships with a curated set of pre-configured secure applications (Tor Browser, Thunderbird, OnionShare, Electrum, Pidgin, VeraCrypt, KeePassXC, GnuPG, and others) with safe defaults, plus an optional encrypted Persistent Storage area. Source code is released under GNU GPL v3 or above, allowing independent security audits; the project also operates an anonymous error-reporting channel called WhisperBack that transmits bug reports over Tor.

The product is targeted at four primary user segments: activists and human rights defenders, journalists and their confidential sources, domestic violence survivors, and general privacy-conscious individuals. It has been publicly endorsed by Edward Snowden, recommended by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and cited by Access Now and Riseup, and is recommended in journalism and security-training contexts for high-risk users operating in censored or hostile environments.

Tails was first released in June 2009 under the name Amnesia, rebranded to Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System), and operated as an independent open-source project for 15 years. On September 26, 2024, Tails merged with The Tor Project, a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, becoming part of its organizational structure. Post-merger, Tails has no commercial pricing model — the software remains free to download from tails.net and via a global network of community HTTP mirrors — and the project is funded entirely by donations routed through The Tor Project, with donors able to earmark contributions specifically for Tails activities.

Name

Tails

Legal name

The Tor Project, Inc.

Website

https://tails.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Tails is a free, open-source portable operating system that boots from a USB stick, routes traffic through the Tor network, and leaves no trace on the host computer. It serves activists, journalists, domestic violence survivors, and privacy-conscious users, and is funded entirely by donations through The Tor Project.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Privacy Operating System

akta.pro primary industry

Cyber Recovery & Ransomware-Resilient Backup Services (BPAEALAG)

Keywords

• Privacy operating system
• Portable Linux distribution
• Anonymous browsing tools
• Anti-surveillance software
• Secure communications

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tails is funded entirely by donations from individuals and organizations that support Internet freedom. After the merger with the Tor Project in 2024, all new donations go to the Tor Project to support the entire suite of tools including Tails, the Tor network, and Tor Browser. Donors can still earmark donations specifically for Tails activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tails is a portable operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux that boots from a USB stick, routes all internet traffic through the Tor network to protect user privacy, and leaves no trace on the host computer when shut down. It includes a curated suite of preconfigured secure applications (Tor Browser, Thunderbird, OnionShare, Electrum, Pidgin, VeraCrypt, GnuPG, Dangerzone) with safe defaults, plus optional encrypted Persistent Storage for retaining user data across sessions. The product is released as free software under the GNU GPL and is funded entirely by donations routed through The Tor Project following the September 2024 merger.

Product overview

Tails is a single, unified portable operating system built on Debian GNU/Linux. It is a privacy-focused OS designed to be booted from a USB stick, leaving no trace on the host computer. Tails includes a curated selection of pre-configured security applications (Tor Browser, Thunderbird, OnionShare, Electrum, Pidgin, VeraCrypt, GnuPG, Dangerzone, and others) that work out-of-the-box with safe defaults. The system uses the Tor network for anonymous Internet access and includes features like Persistent Storage for encrypted file保存. Tails merged with the Tor Project in 2024 and is developed as free software under the GNU GPL license.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) A portable, amnesiac operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux that boots from a USB stick, routes all traffic through the Tor network to protect user privacy, and leaves no trace on the host computer when shut down. Ships with a curated suite of preconfigured privacy applications (Tor Browser, Thunderbird, OnionShare, Electrum, Pidgin, VeraCrypt, GnuPG, Dangerzone) with safe defaults, and optional encrypted Persistent Storage for retaining selected files and settings across sessions. Distributed as free software under the GNU GPL v3 or later.

Quantifiable outcome

• Used by whistleblowers, activists, and journalists worldwide for secure communication
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Tor ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Tails and the Tor Project announced their merger on September 26, 2024. The organizations had collaborated closely since 2015 and shared a 15-year history of collaboration. Tails' first release was announced on a Tor mailing list 15 years ago. The merger places Tails under the Tor Project's organizational structure, providing Tails with access to the Tor Project's larger operational framework including fundraising, finances, and HR capabilities. This allows the Tails team to focus on core mission work while benefiting from Tor's established infrastructure and expanded training and outreach programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Proton: Proton offers a privacy suite (Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Pass) targeting similar privacy-conscious and at-risk users as Tails. It represents a commercial, multi-product alternative to Tails' free single-OS approach.
• Mullvad VPN: Mullvad is a privacy-focused VPN service with anonymous account creation (no email) and strong jurisdiction (Sweden). It addresses the same privacy-conscious user base as Tails, offering a much simpler anonymization solution for less technical users.
• Brave Software: Brave Browser is a privacy-focused browser with built-in Tor functionality, ad-blocking, and a crypto-attention model. It addresses a similar mass-market privacy audience as Tails but at a much lower friction point (browser vs. OS).
• Subgraph (Subgraph OS): Subgraph OS was a Debian-based security-focused desktop OS emphasizing sandboxing and Tor integration — a near-direct functional parallel to Tails. Its development status has fluctuated, but it remains a relevant category peer.
• Signal Foundation: Signal provides end-to-end encrypted messaging and calls, targeting journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users — overlapping heavily with Tails' user base. While focused on communications rather than an OS, it competes for mindshare in the privacy-tooling stack.
• CalyxOS: CalyxOS is a privacy-focused Android-based mobile OS that bundles microG, Tor integration, and security hardening. It targets a similar at-risk-user base as Tails but on mobile devices.

Direct peers

• Whonix: Whonix is a privacy-focused operating system that routes all traffic through Tor using a gateway-isolation architecture. It directly overlaps with Tails in target audience (journalists, activists, security researchers) and core anonymization approach (Tor-based OS).
• GrapheneOS: GrapheneOS is a privacy- and security-focused mobile operating system for Pixel devices, serving high-risk users including journalists and activists. It is the mobile-platform analog to Tails' desktop-focused amnesiac OS approach.
• Qubes OS: Qubes OS is a security-focused operating system that compartmentalizes user activities into isolated VMs. Like Tails, it targets high-stakes users (journalists, activists, security researchers) and emphasizes system-level security rather than single-application protection.

Broad incumbents

• The Tor Project: The Tor Project operates the Tor anonymity network and develops Tor Browser. Following the September 2024 merger, The Tor Project is now Tails' parent organization, with overlapping mission, technology stack (Tor network), and user base — but a broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Tails_live
• GitHubgitlab.tails.boum.org/tails

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tails