The Best Data Removal Services of 2026: What Happened When I Tested 10+ Top Data Removal Tools

I put my own data into a dozen data removal services to see if they could reduce my digital footprint. When our Editorial team conducted recurring testing, Incogni came out on top every time — here's why.
Awards Badge Image
We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Our 2026 Editor’s Choice Data Removal Awards highlight the top services that can actually reduce your digital footprint. I evaluated several data removal services based on their data broker coverage, plan transparency, extra privacy tools, and overall value.

After testing 10+ popular data removal services, Incogni stood out as the best overall for its extensive data broker removals, ease of use, and unlimited custom removals. DeleteMe, Aura, and HelloPrivacy are among the other services that earned top marks.

Whether you want a fully hands-off solution, built-in identity theft protection, dark web monitoring, or a DIY-friendly option, this guide compares the best data removal tools available right now.

In this article
The best data broker removal services of March 2026
Compare the best data removal tools
Incogni
Aura
DeleteMe
HelloPrivacy
Optery
Privacy Bee
Incogni vs. DeleteMe
What to look for in a data removal tool
Are data removal services worth it?
What is a data broker, and how do they get my information?
How does data broker removal work?
How to remove personal information from the internet
Advice from the experts
Bottom line
FAQs

The best data broker removal services of March 2026

5.0
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best Overall Data Removal Service
Privacy Protection
Incogni
  • Get fewer spam calls, robocalls, and scam notifications
  • Hide your address, phone number, and email from the public
  • Lower exposure to cyberattacks and financial scams
Learn More

4.9
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best All-In-One Privacy Suite
Privacy Protection
Aura
  • Reduces your online footprint by removing data from 200+ brokers and people-search sites
  • Combines ID theft protection, credit monitoring, antivirus, VPN, and password manager in one plan
  • Includes Google Search cleanup and digital account scanning to eliminate exposed personal information
Learn More

4.8
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best Data Removal for Couples
Privacy Protection
DeleteMe
  • Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
  • 100+ million successful opt-out removals
  • Provides continued removals every three months
Learn More

4.4
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best for Dark Web Monitoring
Privacy Protection
HelloPrivacy
  • See if your address, phone number, or other info is exposed in seconds
  • Comprehensive reports
  • Easy to request info deletion
Learn More

4.9
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best for DIY Data Removal
Privacy Protection
Optery
  • Has a free plan that finds your data on broker sites
  • Removals Report comes with screenshots to prove progress
  • AES-256 encryption isn't used for data in transit
Learn More

4.8
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best for Digital Footprint Removal
Privacy Protection
Privacy Bee
  • Easy-to-understand dashboard with privacy risk score
  • Includes additional tools like private search and Gmail inbox scan
  • Expensive compared to other data removal services
Learn More

Compare the best data removal tools

Data removal service Incogni logo
Incogni
Best Overall
Aura logo
Aura
DeleteMe logo
DeleteMe
HelloPrivacy logo
HelloPrivacy
Optery logo
Optery
Privacy Bee logo
Privacy Bee
Details View Deal View Deal View Deal View Deal View Details View Details
Best for Overall All-in-one privacy suite Couples Dark web monitoring DIY data removal Digital footprint removal
Star rating
5.0
4.9
4.8
4.4
4.9
4.8
Family plan
# of site removals 420+ 200+ 85-262 115+ 130-640+ 454-1,041+
Recurring removals
Supported countries United States, Canada, UK, Isle of Man, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, EU United States Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and more United States United States Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and more
Extras Unlimited custom removal requests, VPN, antivirus, and more with Surfshark One+ Safe Gaming, Antivirus, VPN, Password manager, Parental controls, AI spam call & message protection Email masking, phone masking, card masking Dark web scanning Automatic opt-out, custom removal requests Search engine results monitoring, mass-marketing opt-out & spam suppression, blur my house on Google/Apple Maps, data breach monitoring & containment, and much more
Starting price $7.99/mo $7.00/mo $6.97/mo $8.33/mo $3.25/mo $8.00/mo
Learn more Read Incogni Review Read Aura Review Read DeleteMe Review Read HelloPrivacy Review Read Optery Review Read Privacy Bee Review

Visit our online privacy resource center for more in-depth guides on protecting your data.

Incogni: Best overall data removal service

Take Control of Your Online Privacy
5.0
Editorial Rating
Get Deal
On Incogni's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best Overall Data Removal Service
Privacy Protection
Incogni
EXCLUSIVE: Save 55% with code COOKIE
  • Get fewer spam calls, robocalls, and scam notifications
  • Hide your address, phone number, and email from the public
  • Lower exposure to cyberattacks and financial scams

What I liked

Robust automated removals: Incogni removes your data from 420+ sites on all plans. The types of sites covered include marketing data brokers, recruitment data brokers, people-search sites, and more.

With the Unlimited tier, you can also submit unlimited custom removal requests (which adds 2,000+ more sites). That means you can have your data removed from websites beyond brokers and people search sites, including court record sites, company websites, educational forums, and more.

Incogni dashboard showing a line graph of removal requests that have been completed (326), are in progress (47), total sent (373), and scheduled (49),

Audited by Deloitte: In August 2025, Incogni released its Deloitte Independent Assurance Report. This report validates that Incogni provides removal coverage for 420+ data brokers, sends recurring removals every 60 to 90 days, doesn't sell its customers' personal data, and other claims.

Incogni is the first data removal service to have its claims independently audited by a third party, so you can trust that you're getting what you're paying for with Incogni.

Transparency: With services like Optery and DeleteMe, their data broker coverage is spread across several plan tiers. Incogni is my top pick because it covers all 420+ sites on the Standard, Unlimited, and Protect plan.

I also appreciate Incogni’s database of all the data brokers and people-search sites it covers. This database is more detailed than the other services on the list because it identifies which countries the coverage applies to and labels each site with Incogni’s data sensitivity scale. This is based on the types of information the brokers collect; for example, health and financial data are considered higher risk than demographic data.

Data removal for families: Incogni offers individual plans and family plans, so you can protect the digital footprint of several friends or family members. This family plan can include up to five members. DeleteMe Family plans include up to four members, so Incogni Family is better for larger families.

Ability to bundle cybersecurity software: If you want to take your cyber safety to the next level, Incogni offers plenty of options. The Protect plan tier upgrades your Incogni subscription to include NordProtect. Along with data removal, you’ll also receive dark web monitoring, credit monitoring from TransUnion, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.

Alternatively, Incogni is included with the Surfshark One+ bundle. This subscription includes a top-rated VPN, antivirus, ad blocker, and identity protection.

Learn more about bundling Incogni in our complete reviews:

Also won best for:

  • Custom removals: With the Incogni Unlimited plan, you can submit unlimited custom removal requests. According to Incogni, that’s equal to an additional 2,000+ sites covered. Incogni also allows you to submit custom removal requests as soon as your account is activated. Other services, like Optery, make you wait 30 days before you can submit a custom removal request.

What I didn’t like

No bonus features: Incogni has made strides toward adding additional privacy tools, but they are locked behind its higher tiers. If you want to bundle Incogni with identity theft protection, you’ll need to purchase the Protect plan. Aura includes both data removal and identity theft protection services in its starting subscription.

DeleteMe includes email masking on all plans and phone masking as a paid extra. But with Incogni, if you’re seeking masking for your phone number and email address, then you’ll need to purchase a Surfshark One+ bundle. This subscription is the best option for a comprehensive online privacy suite.

Incogni specs

Price range $7.99–$41.48/mo
Free trial No, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
Data broker opt-out Yes
Number of data brokers covered 420+
How often is data rechecked? Monthly
Privacy reports Yes
Learn more Get Incogni
Read Incogni Review

Star rating summary

Incogni is our top data removal service due to its reliable and intuitive dashboard, comprehensive data broker coverage across plans, and various ways to contact customer support. 

Incogni only received a lower score in the value category due to its higher-than-average starting price. 

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 25% 5.0
Value 5% 4.0
Features60% 5.0
Customer service 10% 5.0

Back to top

Aura: Best all-in-one privacy suite

4.9
Editorial Rating
Get Deal
On Aura's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best All-In-One Privacy Suite
Privacy Protection
Aura
PROMOTION: Clean Up Your Exposed Info for Only $7/mo
  • Reduces your online footprint by removing data from 200+ brokers and people-search sites
  • Combines ID theft protection, credit monitoring, antivirus, VPN, and password manager in one plan
  • Includes Google Search cleanup and digital account scanning to eliminate exposed personal information

What I liked

Full cybersecurity suite: Aura is best known for its identity theft protection, but you can also purchase an Aura plan focused on data removal. All Aura data removal plans include removals from 200+ broker sites and removals from people-search sites, credit solicitors, and junk mailers.

Plus, Aura provides online and device security tools. You’ll receive real-time antivirus protection, a secure VPN, a password manager, and an ad and tracker blocker.

All Aura data removal plans also include basic identity monitoring, like dark web alerts for your personal information and data breach alerts. With the higher tiers, you’ll receive additional identity monitoring, credit monitoring and scores, and identity theft insurance.

Continuous improvements: Although Aura used to cover only about 30 data brokers and people-search sites, it now covers 200+ sites, and counting. Aura initiates removals from private data brokers, people search sites, credit solicitors, junk mailers, and more.

Aura has not only enhanced its data broker coverage, but it's also added new data removal features. With Google Search Info Cleanup, Aura can help remove your personal information from Google to help stay anonymous.

With Digital Account Cleanup, Aura scans your email inbox to detect any unused or inactive accounts. That way, you can keep track of all your data online and better determine what should be scrubbed. Plus, Aura can automatically register you with the National Do Not Call Center, which helps reduce scam calls.

List of data brokers, real estate data brokers, people search sites, and junk mailers covered by Aura

Also won best for:

  • ID theft protection: Aura is my top recommendation for identity theft protection. At minimum, you’ll receive dark web and data breach monitoring. If you select the Ultimate tier, you’ll also receive home title and address fraud alerts, financial transaction monitoring, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.
  • Credit monitoring: Aura Ultimate offers comprehensive features. You’ll receive three-bureau credit monitoring, monthly credit score updates, and annual credit reports.

What I didn’t like

No custom removals: Aura is becoming more competitive with top data removal services like Incogni and DeleteMe, but its biggest shortcoming is the lack of custom removals. Both Incogni and DeleteMe offer up to unlimited custom removals.

Although custom removals require more legwork on the customer side, they help remove your data from essentially anywhere. But Aura appears to be offering custom removals soon, as it now has a prompt that lets you request removals from data brokers or people search sites.

No standalone data removal: Aura can be more expensive than competitors upon subscription renewal, and you can’t purchase services à la carte. If you’re looking for data removal alone, this likely isn't the service for you.

Aura specs

Price range $7.00–$20.00/mo
Free trial Yes — 14 days
Data broker opt-out Yes
Number of data brokers covered 200+
How often is data rechecked? Unknown
Privacy reports Yes
Learn more Get Aura
Read Aura Review

Star rating summary

Aura has a high star rating of 4.8 due to our reliable and intuitive experience with the service, budget-friendly range of prices, and multiple support methods.

Aura received a lower score in the features category because it lacks social media monitoring and data breach alerts.

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 20% 5.0
Value 25% 5.0
Features45% 4.67
Customer service 10% 5.0

Back to top

DeleteMe: Best data removal for couples

4.8
Editorial Rating
Get Deal
On DeleteMe's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best Data Removal for Couples
Privacy Protection
DeleteMe
PROMOTION: Use the Code PARTNER20 for 20% Off
  • Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
  • 100+ million successful opt-out removals
  • Provides continued removals every three months

What I liked

Data removal plans for couples: Unlike most services on this list, DeleteMe offers plans for two individuals. This is handy because you won’t need to purchase a separate plan for your partner, nor do you need to splurge on a family plan you can't use all the slots for. While Aura does offer a couples plan, it’s higher priced because it bundles identity theft protection services. For couples who just want data removal, DeleteMe is the best choice.

Comprehensive personal info removal: DeleteMe removes your data from 85-262 data brokers, depending on your plan tier.

To begin removing your data, DeleteMe requires that you submit your full name, date of birth, email address, and current home address. However, you can continue filling out your personal data sheet so DeleteMe can scrub even more of your data from the internet.

I was impressed by all the details you can submit to DeleteMe. This includes employer information, names of relatives, and even a picture of your driver’s license.

DeleteMe data sheet under the personal information tab.

Incogni only allows you to submit up to 3 email addresses and 3 physical addresses, so DeleteMe is a great option if you need to remove more niche data.

Privacy tools: In addition to personal data removal services, DeleteMe offers email masking on all plans and phone masking as a premium add-on. DeleteMe can create an alternate email address that’s attached to your actual email address. Any messages you receive to that alternate address will be forwarded to your inbox.

That way, you can fill out online forms and receive emails without giving away your personal information.

Phone masking works similarly. DeleteMe creates an alternate phone number for you. This helps reduce smishing texts and spam messages.

Long-term pricing: Most data removal services on this list only offer monthly and annual plans. DeleteMe offers two-year plans, so you can maximize your subscription savings once you’re committed to the service.

With the two-year plan, DeleteMe has among the lowest starting prices on this list. It starts at $6.97/mo, while Incogni starts at $7.99/mo.

What I didn’t like

Deceptive marketing: DeleteMe markets that it covers removals from 976 brokers. But if you review DeleteMe’s Sites We Remove From page, you’ll find several disclaimers.

Any site labeled with an asterisk is included in the Standard plan, which is the only one available on the main DeleteMe pricing page. Then, there are sites included in the Business Gold, Diamond, Platinum, and VIP plans, but you can only upgrade to one of these once you’ve purchased the Standard plan.

Plus, hundreds of custom removal requests aren’t automated. You’ll need to submit a removal request to DeleteMe, as these removals aren’t automated.

That’s why I appreciate Incogni’s transparency: all of its advertised brokers are covered across every plan tier.

Phone masking is extra: The masking tools are a great way to reduce spam. However, phone masking comes with a $7.00 one-time fee. It’s not a deal-breaker, but I would've liked to see it included, considering I already paid for DeleteMe.

Only a 7-day refund period: You can receive a full refund from DeleteMe onlyif you cancel your subscription before receiving your first Privacy Report. Otherwise, DeleteMe will issue a prorated refund based on the time remaining on your subscription.

On the other hand, Incogni provides a full 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. So you can test Incogni for about a month and request a refund if you’re not satisfied.

DeleteMe specs

Price range $6.97–$34.40/mo
Free trial No
Data broker opt-out Yes
Number of data brokers covered 85-262
How often is data rechecked? Quarterly
Privacy reports Yes
Learn more Get DeleteMe
Read DeleteMe Review

Star rating summary

DeleteMe received a high star rating of 4.8 due to its high scores in the experience, value, and customer service categories. DeleteMe offers a clean, user-friendly dashboard, a wide range of data broker coverage, and standard data removal features like custom removals and privacy reports.

DeleteMe was docked points in the value category due to its higher starting price. 

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 25% 4.5
Value 5% 4.0
Features60% 5.0
Customer service 10% 5.0

Back to top

HelloPrivacy: Best for dark web monitoring

4.4
Editorial Rating
See Price
On HelloPrivacy's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best for Dark Web Monitoring
Privacy Protection
HelloPrivacy
  • See if your address, phone number, or other info is exposed in seconds
  • Comprehensive reports
  • Easy to request info deletion

What I liked

Dark web scanner: HelloPrivacy scans not only data broker sites but also the dark web for your information. Even months after my HelloPrivacy subscription ended, I’ve still received HelloPrivacy notifications letting me know if I’ve been compromised in a data breach.

Dark web monitoring alert email from HelloPrivacy

I was even surprised that HelloPrivacy continues to remove my data without an active subscription.

Guided DIY removals: HelloPrivacy also offers advice and templates for requesting that your personal data be removed from sites that don’t respond to its efforts. It provided step-by-step instructions for removing that data, how long it would take to follow them, and how many sites were covered.

If the data broker continues to retain your information, HelloPrivacy walks you through filing a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to have it removed.

Includes multiple email addresses: The dark web scanner lets you scan up to 5 email addresses for potential data leaks (whereas other services, like Optery, only cover one). That way, you can monitor multiple email accounts, like your personal and your work emails.

What I didn’t like

Limited data broker removals: HelloPrivacy isn't the most robust in terms of the number of data brokers it scans. While Incogni checks 420+ sites, HelloPrivacy checks only 115+.

Considering there are hundreds of active brokers, opting out of only 115+ isn't as compelling for the price.

Lack of extras: No other features are offered beyond the dark web scanner and data removal services. Incogni can include identity theft protection; DeleteMe offers email and phone masking; and all Aura plans include dark web monitoring, antivirus software, a VPN, and much more.

HelloPrivacy is among the most expensive services on this list, so I would expect more features for the price I’m paying.

HelloPrivacy specs

Price range $8.33-$9.99/mo
Free trial No
Data broker opt-out Yes
Number of data brokers covered 115+
How often is data rechecked? Monthly
Privacy reports Yes
Learn more Get HelloPrivacy
Read HelloPrivacy Review

Star rating summary

HelloPrivacy is a solid, low-maintenance service that earned a 4.4 star rating. It's a pared down but easy-to-use service that effectively removed our data broker listings. 

However, HelloPrivacy was docked points for having a higher starting price. It also received a low score in the features category because it lacks features like custom removals and family plans. 

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 25% 4.5
Value 5% 4.0
Features60% 3.33
Customer service 10% 4.0

Back to top

Optery: Best for DIY data removal

4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Optery's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best for DIY Data Removal
Privacy Protection
Optery
  • Has a free plan that finds your data on broker sites
  • Removals Report comes with screenshots to prove progress
  • AES-256 encryption isn't used for data in transit

What I liked

Solid starter plan: I like that Optery offers a free plan that provides several reports detailing where your data appears online. This is helpful for people who want to reduce their online footprint but may not have the budget for another monthly subscription.

Optery aggregates the data so you can begin to request removals yourself. The process takes more effort when you DIY data removal, but Optery provides a welcome first step.

Quarterly Exposure Report: Optery’s free plan sends you an Exposure Report every 90 days (as long as you log in within that period). If you choose to pay for an upgrade, you’ll receive monthly automated scans and other features like the ability to opt out of new data broker sites. I love having the option to upgrade or stick with a free plan.

Pro tip: Sign up for Optery's free plan to gain access to a good list of data brokers and people-search sites that have your personal information. Then take the report and hand it over to a service with unlimited custom removals, like Incogni or DeleteMe. That way, the service agents can handle data removal requests, saving you time and headache.

Removal transparency: Optery’s database is straightforward and clearly labeled, listing the sites it covers. There are tabs for each plan, so you can view the sites included per plan.

Optery also color-coordinates plan coverage and the sites covered by Expanded Reach and Custom Removals.

Optery Ultimate complete in progress dashboard with Expanded Reach and Activity History displayed
Optery Ultimate dashboard after the initial scan with Expanded Reach activated and Activity History displayed

What I didn’t like

Confusing plans and restrictions: Optery can remove your data from 130-640+ sites, but this depends on several factors. First, you need to enable Expanded Reach to receive the maximum amount of removals per plan. This is a free add-on for all paid Optery users, but it’s not automatically turned on, and the explanation for this feature is unclear.

Then, the paid Core plan can be severely limiting because you can only submit one name and one corresponding city and state per user. If you go by another name or have moved several times, you won’t be able to scrub that data from broker sites.

Finally, custom removals are only included with the highest-tier Ultimate plan. Otherwise, custom removals are a paid add-on. Although custom removals are meant to be unlimited, you’re only eligible to submit these requests after 30 days.

Uses TLS encryption: Optery doesn’t always use AES-256-bit encryption. If you aren’t familiar with it, this is military-grade encryption used to secure data. Any data stored in Optery’s coffers is encrypted with AES-256, but any data in transit (like a request to remove your information) only uses TLS, which isn’t as secure.

While I didn't love this, it could be acceptable if you’re doing the removal requests yourself.

Optery specs

Price range $3.25–$24.99/mo
Free trial No
Data broker opt-out Yes
Number of data brokers covered 130-640+
How often is data rechecked? Monthly (with premium plans)
Privacy reports Yes, quarterly
Learn more Get Optery
Read Optery Review

Star rating summary

Optery received a high star rating of 4.9 due to its affordable starting price, full suite of data removal features, and multiple ways to contact customer service. 

Optery only had a less-than-perfect score in the experience category due to its deceptive marketing practices.

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 25% 4.5
Value 5% 5.0
Features60% 5.0
Customer service 10% 5.0

Back to top

Privacy Bee: Best for digital footprint removal

4.8
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Privacy Bee's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best for Digital Footprint Removal
Privacy Protection
Privacy Bee
  • Easy-to-understand dashboard with privacy risk score
  • Includes additional tools like private search and Gmail inbox scan
  • Expensive compared to other data removal services

What I liked

Complete digital footprint services: The Privacy Bee Signature plan has some of the most comprehensive features to help you stay anonymous online. Beyond standard data removal, Privacy Bee can also:

  • Monitor search engine results for your information
  • Monitor your email inbox so you can manage what companies have your data
  • Remove real estate listing photos of your home
  • Remove your data from facial recognition databases
  • Monitor exposures of your social media information

You can even blur your house on Google Street View and Apple Maps, so it won't be visible to anyone with your address.

Unlimited protection: All Privacy Bee plans allow you to monitor an unlimited number of name aliases, home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. For reference, Optery’s starting plan only allows you to monitor one name and address, while Incogni only allows you to monitor up to four email addresses and physical addresses.

Every name you’ve gone by, phone number you’ve had, home address you’ve lived at, and email address you’ve used can be tracked by Privacy Bee.

SOC 2 certified: Privacy Bee proudly displays its SOC 2 Type II certification in its website footer. That means Privacy Bee has established high security standards for handling user data.

Privacy Bee main dashboard

What I didn’t like

Cost: The Privacy Bee Signature plan can scrub your data from most corners of the internet, but that comes at a high price. For one individual, the Signature plan costs $67.00/mo.

This plan probably isn’t worth it unless you’re a high-profile individual or if you’re worried about significant data exposure.

Even the Privacy Bee Essentials plan has a higher starting price than services like DeleteMe and Aura. It also only scans people-search sites for your information, rather than private data brokers, so you’ll receive more value from other services.

Inconsistent details in the dashboard: Privacy Bee has a detailed dashboard, but the information changed significantly between my retests, and without explanation. Its removal requests decreased by 100, but the information removed increased from 85 to 7,270 all-time.

Even when I clicked through on the Excruciating Detail tab, so many last actions were listed as “N/A” without any further details.

Incogni has a similar dashboard, with a line graph displaying removal requests over the course of my subscription. But Incogni shows timelines for my data being taken down, along with additional information on each broker contacted.

Lack of transparency: Privacy Bee claims to cover 1,000+ sites, including data brokers, people-search sites, surveillance tech, and job recruiters. However, there’s no webpage that clearly lists the included sites. At most, Privacy Bee has a support page reiterating the types of sites.

In my experience testing Privacy Bee, I’ve seen 511 sites added to my dashboard after six months of use. Although my data may not be on the other websites covered, I wish there wasa better way to confirm Privacy Bee’s claims.

Incogni and Optery both have clear databases that outline every site included in their services. And Optery, which spans multiple tiers, lists the sites covered for each plan tier.

Privacy Bee specs

Price range $8.00-$67.00/mo
Money-back guarantee Yes — 30 days (Essential and Pro licenses only)
Data broker opt-out Manual and automated
# of site removals 454-1,041+
How often is data rechecked? Daily
Privacy reports Yes — monthly
Learn more Get Privacy Bee
Read Our Privacy Bee Review

Star rating summary

Privacy Bee received a high star rating of 4.8 due to its intuitive dashboard, extensive data broker site coverage, and helpful support options. 

Privacy Bee earned a lower score in the value category because it can be expensive compared to other data removal services. 

Decision factor Weight Verdict
Our experience 25% 4.5
Value 5% 4.0
Features60% 5.0
Customer service 10% 5.0

Back to top

Incogni vs. DeleteMe

Among these top data removal services, Incogni is better than DeleteMe for comprehensive data removal. DeleteMe removes your personal information from 85-262 if you exclude custom removals. 

Meanwhile, Incogni includes automated removals from 420+ data brokers with all plans. With the Unlimited tier, you can also request unlimited custom removals, which adds an extra 1,000+ sites. 

You can also purchase Incogni as part of a complete cybersecurity suite, or purchase it separately if you don't want to pay a premium for a full data removal service. Incogni is included in the Surfshark One bundle, which also features Surfshark VPN, Surfshark Antivirus, Surfshark CleanWeb, and much more. 

We offer a head-to-head comparison, covering the good, the bad, and which helps you to disappear better. Learn more: DeleteMe vs. Incogni

What to look for in a data removal tool

When looking at a data removal service, you’ll want to make sure it has some key aspects. Since there are so many data broker websites, you’ll want to make sure the one you choose sends requests to a lot of them, as well as follows up and searches for more. 

Some key points to look out for in data broker removal tools include:

  • Recurring removal requests: Follows up to make sure personal data stays gone
  • Continuous scans: Searches for new brokers regularly
  • DIY help: Offers templates or guides when you have to request the removal yourself
  • Hands-off approach: Automatically removes as much sensitive information as it can without requiring too much effort from you
  • Fraud monitoring: Provides easy access to changing passwords for accounts with weak, compromised, or reused passwords
  • Monitors online accounts: Includes social media monitoring and monitoring of other online accounts that hold a lot of personal info 
  • Dark web monitoring: Checks to see if your email address or SSN is leaked on the dark web
  • Credit monitoring: Sends alerts of unusual credit activity 
  • Money-back guarantee: Gives you the chance to cancel and receive a refund if unsatisfied

Data removal checklist

Before committing to a data removal service, consider how to evaluate your options and why certain factors matter. 

Question Why it matters
Who is doing the removals? Some services utilize automated systems, while others employ humans or a combination of both. Automated services are more effective for initiating removals, but custom removals or complex cases may require human assistance. 
Which sites and data brokers are covered? The more brokers included, the better. Read the fine print, though, because some services will inflate the number of automatic removals or not disclose the number of people search sites vs. data brokers. Additionally, check how many custom removals are allowed.
How often is data rechecked? Data brokers can relist your information, so recurring checks ensure your data stays offline. More rarely, services may conduct continuous automated scans, though most services opt for monthly or quarterly. 
What level of control do you have? Can you initiate removals, track progress, and view reports? Some services may require you to do the heavy lifting, which is more typical of free or lower-tier plans. Better services will enable you to request removals while taking the lead in initiating requests and suppressions.
What are the costs and hidden fees? Some services charge extra for certain removals, custom sites, or frequency, so be sure to double-check what's included. The best services include unlimited custom removals and don't restrict when you can start initiating requests. 
What privacy protections do they offer? Look for encryption, a promise not to sell customer data, and independent audits where available. Most services haven't actually undergone third-party security audits, but standout services will make audit results easily accessible.
What support is available? If removal requests are ignored, is support responsive? What recourse is offered? Opt for services that include live chat or phone support with a human agent. 
Is there a trial or money-back guarantee? Trials or guarantees reduce risk if the service doesn't perform as promised, so consider services that offer safeguards. 

Are data removal services worth it?

Yes, the best personal data removal services are worth it for people who want to keep their private information private. The services do work, as was proven when I had to start searching for my family's information instead of my own because the data broker removal tools could no longer find my information after testing so many.

Data removal services can help reduce the amount of annoying spam you receive in the form of phone calls, emails, and text messages. It can also help prevent doxxing. After testing these data brokers, I manually checked for my personal information on the top data broker sites and found that it had been removed.

With the rampant uptick of spam, scams, and identity theft, data removal services have become a crucial line of defense. Every day, hundreds of data brokers and people search sites aggregate personal data from social media and public records. These websites then blast your home addresses, phone numbers, and much more online for any bad actor to use. 

While data brokers aren’t illegal, they are legally required to delete your information if requested. Unfortunately, not all of them comply with data removal requests. Plus, data brokers and people search sites can just relist your personal info months later, so using a recurring removal service can help protect your identity continuously. 

Data privacy is important. It can help reduce the spam clutter in your life and help you avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. These tools make it easy to get your name and contact information out of the hands of people who plan to use it for financial gain.

They’re especially worthwhile if you’ve ever been the victim of a phishing scam. Phishing scams like credit card number grabbers or fake tech support scams aren’t just the result of data breaches. You can unknowingly open a malicious link in a text message, becoming a victim of SMS phishing (smishing).

Additionally, data removal services can enhance your peace of mind and improve your online privacy. You also lower your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft or cybercrime. Criminals are looking for fast, easy targets. If they have to hunt down information about you, they’re more likely to move on to a person who requires less effort.

What is a data broker, and how do they get my information?

A data broker collects information from all over the web and pieces it together to create a complete (and very creepy) picture of you. Data brokers and people search sites collect information from what’s freely available online, as well as purchase it from other sources.

Ever sign up for a new internet service provider (ISP) and suddenly notice your spam emails shoot up? That’s because that company double-dipped by charging you for your service and selling your info to a data broker. Data brokers, in turn, sell your data to people search sites, marketing lists, and anyone else willing to pay for it.

Social media sites, public records, loyalty programs, mobile apps, and anywhere else you share personal information can sell that data to a broker. Websites track you online, and all your data is compiled into little virtual folders of information about you, just waiting to be sold. 

It’s all completely legal because the information is usually public record, so you should be cautious about how and what you share online. Unfortunately, these data broker websites are just as susceptible to data breaches as any company. 

How does data broker removal work?

Data removal services are companies that clean up your online presence by sending out automated data removal requests on your behalf to remove your data from data broker sites. Services like Incogni, Aura, and DeleteMe streamline the opt-out request process. 

While data brokers have the right to collect information that's in the public domain, you also have the right to request that your information be deleted. Each data broker site should outline the opt-out process on its site, which usually involves sending an email, filling out a form, or checking off a box. After that's done, you may be required to verify your identity before you get confirmation that your data has been removed.

While it's entirely possible to submit all your opt-out requests yourself manually, data broker removal services exist to make the process easier for you. Most of the time, you'll need to sign an agreement that allows the service to work on your behalf. Then, their team (usually a combo of AI and humans) will automatically send emails and opt-out requests, and the best services will also manually follow up for you every 3 or so months. This makes the data removal process fast and painless.

If you've had a data broker removal service for a while, you should notice fewer spam emails and spam calls coming through. 

Learn more about the spam call risks and why you shouldn't answer unknown calls in our guide.

How to remove personal information from the internet

While it’s likely you’ll never remove all of your data, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint by hunting down each and every data broker (there can be hundreds) and requesting each one remove the data it has stored on you.

If that sounds exhausting, you can use a data removal service to automate this process for you. Often, good data removal services will continually check to make sure the information doesn’t find its way back onto those same brokers’ sites.

Other methods to keep your information low on the internet include deleting accounts you no longer use, using an online pseudonym, and increasing your privacy settings on all social media accounts you use.

Learn more about removing your online info in our comprehensive guide.

Advice from the experts

Your personal data plays a large role in your digital health. That’s why the All About Cookies team asked experts about the potential risks associated with compromised data and what the recovery plan should look like.

What should your first action item be if your personal data has been compromised?

What risks should consumers be aware of before giving their phone number or email address to companies or service providers requesting them?

What are some ways identity thieves can use your personal data? How much damage can they really do, and what information about you do they need to be able to do it?

Some responses may have been slightly edited for clarity and brevity.

Bottom line

Lots of personal information is floating around on data brokers and people search sites, but data removal services can help remove it from both public and private brokers. Incogni is my top recommendation thanks to its extensive site coverage, ease of use, independent audit verifying its claims, and unlimited custom removals on higher tiers.

5.0
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best Overall Data Removal Service
Privacy Protection
Incogni
  • Get fewer spam calls, robocalls, and scam notifications
  • Hide your address, phone number, and email from the public
  • Lower exposure to cyberattacks and financial scams
Learn More

That said, the right choice depends on your needs. Aura, DeleteMe, HelloPrivacy, Optery, and Privacy Bee each have their strengths. Whether you’re looking to DIY your data removal and need some help getting started with such a time-consuming activity or want a full-fledged data removal powerhouse behind you, you’ll find that with one of these services.

All About Cookies picks for best data removal services of 2026

  • Incogni
    • Number of automatic data broker removals: 420+
    • Extras: Can be a complete security solution if purchased as part of Surfshark One+
    • Starting cost: $7.99/mo
    • Best for: Data removal coverage, with 420+ automatic requests, up to unlimited custom removals, and dedicated privacy experts for complicated requests
  • Aura
    • Number of automatic data broker removals: 200+
    • Extras: Google Search cleanup, digital account cleanup, registry with National Do-Not-Call list, identity and SSN monitoring, data breach alerts, plus online security tools like antivirus, VPN, and ad blocker for up to 10 devices, a password manager, 3-bureau credit monitoring, and more
    • Starting cost: $7.00/mo
    • Best for: Complete identity theft protection, including identity, credit, and financial monitoring, as well as up to $1 million in identity theft insurance per adult
  • DeleteMe
    • Number of automatic data broker removals: 85-262
    • Extras: Add-on privacy tools like card, email, and phone masking, as well as a free Search Yourself feature
    • Starting cost: $8.60/mo
    • Best for: Value, with up to 85-262 automatic requests and unlimited custom removals on Platinum or higher plans
  • Optery
    • Number of automatic data broker removals: 130-640+
    • Extras: Add-on custom removals, as well as a privacy tool for removing outdated content on search engines with the Ultimate plan
    • Starting cost: $3.99/mo
    • Best for: DIY data removal, thanks to a completely free plan that allows for quarterly scanning and 175+ detailed opt-out guides for specific data brokers and people search sites
  • HelloPrivacy
    • Number of automatic data broker removals: 115+
    • Extras: Dark web scanner
    • Starting cost: $8.33/mo
    • Best for: Low-maintenance data removal for an individual who doesn’t want custom removals or other “hands-on” features

How we test and rate data removal services

We take testing data removal services seriously, using a consistent approach across 10+ services to give you reliable information to make the right choice.

We sign up for each service 1-4 weeks before our full review begins. This gives the service time to find our personal information across the web, contact data brokers to remove it, and show us how well their process actually works through real results and reports.

The best services reach out to hundreds of data broker and people search sites, not just a handful. We make sure services don't just send one removal and call it done. Instead, we look for companies that actively monitor these sites and follow up when your information pops back up (because it often does).

Our final ratings consider several key factors: how well the service works, whether it's worth the price, how they protect your information, and how easy it is to use. We also factor in customer support quality, since you'll want help if issues come up.

To learn more about how we test, check out our full data removal testing methodology here.

FAQs

How do I stop companies from collecting my data?

You won’t be able to completely stop companies from collecting your data, but you can reduce the amount they’re able to collect. There are several tools that help reduce your online footprint.

Tracker blockers are a good defense against trackers that follow you around the internet and build profiles on you. You can also use private browsers and private search engines that don’t log your data. For encrypted browsing, make sure you have a VPN enabled. Data removal services like Aura and Surfshark One+ bundle a VPN. 

Is DeleteMe or Kanary better?

Kanary seems like a personal service that’s still in its start-up era. When I was poking around the internet looking for ways to compare the two, I stumbled upon a Reddit thread where the actual CEO of Kanary popped in to invite people to try it.

It is a little more expensive than DeleteMe but offers easy ways to add family members. In the end, I think it boils down to what your specific needs are — price or number of people covered.

Is PrivacyHawk or DeleteMe better?

DeleteMe is better as a standalone data removal service. It's also more affordable for that reason. 

On the other hand, PrivacyHawk combines data removal services with identity theft protection, including identity monitoring, insurance, and restoration services. Learn more in our PrivacyHawk review.

Which is better, DeleteMe or Aura?

DeleteMe is a better option if your main focus is to remove your data from as many data brokers as possible. They both start at around the same numbers of brokers covered, but upgrading your subscription will unlock even more with DeleteMe.

Aura, on the other hand, gives you tons of features (like ID theft protection, a VPN, antivirus, and ad blocker) on top of data removal services. So if you're looking for an all-in-one cybersecurity solution, that's your better bet.

How can I remove my personal information from the internet for free?

You can remove your personal information from the internet by contacting data brokers and websites that host your data and asking them to opt you out. You can also get started by removing your information from Google.

Keep in mind that data brokers can simply relist your personal data a few months later, so you may need to submit repeat removal requests quarterly. For this reason, it's more convenient and practical to use a data removal service that includes automatically recurring removal requests. 


Take Control of Your Online Privacy
5.0
Editorial Rating
Get Deal
On Incogni's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best Overall Data Removal Service
Privacy Protection
Incogni
EXCLUSIVE: Save 55% with code COOKIE
  • Get fewer spam calls, robocalls, and scam notifications
  • Hide your address, phone number, and email from the public
  • Lower exposure to cyberattacks and financial scams
Author Details
Steph Trejos is a Senior Product Testing Editor at All About Cookies, leveraging her expertise in the cybersecurity field. She holds a B.A. in English: Editing, Writing, and Media, as well as Media/Communications Studies. With over five years of professional writing experience, she has garnered recognition for her work on anti-financial crime topics, such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and cyberthreats.