Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Cloaked, Inc. vs Runbox
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $14.99 | €1.66 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | Free one-time data exposure scan | Free trial only (30 days): 1 GB email storage, 100 MB file storage, 20 recipients per day; no permanent free plan |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Chrome extension, Desktop | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Macos, Linux |
| Logging policy | End-to-end encrypted with zero-knowledge architecture; no browsing history collected for Cloaked VPN; no advertising cookies; data never sold | Server logs for system administration only; email delivery logs kept 10 days, web interface usage logs 1 month; no third-party tracking, no web beacons |
| Jurisdiction | US | NO |
| Protocols | WireGuard | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
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Key differences
- Runbox scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Free plan: only Cloaked, Inc..
- Platforms: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Chrome extension, Desktop.
- Platforms: only Runbox offers Web, Windows, Macos.
- Support channels: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Chat, Phone.
- Support channels: only Runbox offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Runbox: 2000 vs 2020.
- Pricing model: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Free.
Our verdict on each
Cloaked, Inc.
Cloaked bundles a VPN, data broker removal and identity theft protection in a single subscription aimed at households and small teams in the US and Canada. Device cover of 1 to 4 suits people with a small household, and a 14 day trial lets the bundle be tried before a longer commitment.
Runbox
Runbox suits readers who want a full inbox with a custom domain, open source code and apps across every major platform, and who can accept that mail is encrypted in transit rather than end to end by default. The budget plan starts at €1.66, and there is no permanent free tier.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry price of $14.99 covers the VPN, removal and identity protection, higher than the €6.84 median entry price here. | 9.7HigherBudget plan entry of €1.66 against a median of €6.84 and a long term median of €3.97. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.1Higher |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 9.3Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Norway |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 51 of 280 | 68 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 9 of 60 | 15 of 60 |
Sources behind this comparison
Cloaked, Inc.
- cloaked.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Runbox
- runbox.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.runbox.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, BudgetCovers more | Budget |
| Legal entity | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox Solutions AS |
| Headquarters | United States | Norway |
| Founded | 2020 | 2000Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | $9.99 | Not confirmed |
| Devices | 1 to 4 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | from 70 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Cloaked VPN infrastructure independently audited by third-party security firms | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Features | TOTP | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Cloaked, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Family: you + 3, $29.99/month or $299.99/year | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, PCI DSS v4.0.1 | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | End-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge architecture | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | All messages, emails and texts are encrypted inside Cloaked; zero-knowledge architecture with a separate encrypted database per user | No default end-to-end encryption; email is encrypted in transit only, and true E2EE is opt-in per message via S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient |
| Custom domains | Not confirmed | Yes |
Data removal
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $119.99 | Not confirmed |
| Data brokers covered | from 1,000 | Not confirmed |
| Countries covered | United States, Canada | Not confirmed |
| Removal frequency | Always-on continuous monitoring and re-removal in the background | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 | Not confirmed |
| Family plan price | $29.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 days | Not confirmed |
Pros and cons
Cloaked, Inc.
Pros
- Data removal reaches from 1,000 brokers, with monitoring always on and background re-removal.
- Identity theft cover pays $1,000,000, above the €876,962.20 median here.
- The VPN lists no logs, runs on WireGuard and has been independently audited by third-party security firms.
Cons
- Device cover stops at 1 to 4, below the 7 median across the tools compared here.
- Removal and identity protection are stated for US and CA only, so coverage stays in North America.
- The free plan gives Free one-time data exposure scan, so nothing ongoing is covered without paying.
Runbox
Pros
- Custom domains are supported, so the mailbox can run on an address on a domain the reader owns.
- The web interface is open source, so the client side can be read rather than taken on trust.
- Apps cover web, ios and android, so one mailbox works in a browser and on phones and desktops.
Cons
- End-to-end encryption is a per message setting: email is encrypted in transit, and true end-to-end encryption is opt-in per message via S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient, so key handling falls to the reader on the budget plan at €1.66.
- Free plan: no, so the cheapest way in is a time-limited trial with a fixed allowance of mail and file storage and a cap on recipients per day, rather than a mailbox that stays free.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so there is no live chat or phone line for anything urgent.
Who each suits
Cloaked, Inc.
Who it suits
- People in the US and Canada who want removal, a VPN and identity cover on one bill.
- Smaller households and families, given device cover of 1 to 4 and a family plan on the price list.
- Teams buying privacy tooling for a small staff, since Cloaked is built for the business segment.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, at $0.99, if inbox aliases are the whole aim and a full bundle is more than you need.
- EasyOptOuts, at $19.99, if data broker removal is the only job in hand.
- Apple Inc., at $0.99, for alias protection handled inside iCloud rather than a bundle.
Runbox
Who it suits
- Readers who want a full mailbox on a domain they own, with apps on web, ios and android and support on email, help centre and community.
- People who treat transport encryption as enough and will set up S/MIME or PGP for the conversations that need more.
- Long-standing account holders who value that the web interface is open source and that logs are kept for system administration only.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs end-to-end encryption switched on by default, since here it is opt-in per message through S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient.
- Price-first readers who can live with something simpler: addy.io lists $1 and Apple Hide My Email lists $0.99, both under the budget plan at €1.66.
- Readers unwilling to start on a trial, since the free plan is no and the budget plan at €1.66 is the entry.
Current offers
Cloaked, Inc.
Current offer
Free trial
14 days free: 14 days free
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Runbox
Current offer
Free trial
30-day free trial of all plans: 30 days free, no credit card required
Every new Runbox account starts with a free 30-day trial so you can try the service before committing. No payment details are required to start.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
First month free when subscribing during the trial: 1 month free
You can skip the trial and pay for your selected plan right after signing up, and still receive your first month free.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
60-day full money back guarantee: 60 days
We also offer a 60-day full refund policy, so if you subscribe and change your mind you can request a full refund within 60 days.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Cloaked, Inc. | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Cloaked, Inc.
What does a Cloaked subscription cost?+
Cloaked starts at $14.99 a month, with an annual option at $119.99. A long-term plan is $9.99, and the family plan begins at $29.99 a month. One fee covers the VPN, data removal and identity theft protection rather than a separate subscription for each.
Is the price the same when I renew?+
The published annual price is $119.99 for a term of 12 months, and 12 months is the longest term listed. Monthly billing is $14.99, so the annual figure is lower than paying the monthly rate over the same period.
Runbox
How much is Runbox at the start of a subscription?+
The budget plan starts at €1.66, and that is the entry figure used when comparing providers. Custom domains are supported on the plan, so the mailbox can run on an address the reader owns. For orientation, the median entry price across the brands compared is €6.84, which places Runbox below the middle of the group.
What happens to the price at renewal?+
The published figure is an entry price of €1.66 for the budget plan, with no separate renewal rate stated alongside it. Across the brands compared, the median long term price is €3.97 and the median first year price is €49.95. Check the plan terms before the first bill rather than assuming the entry figure carries over.