How We Test, Rate, and Review Data Removal Software

Data removal software searches data brokers for your name and other identifying information and then requests its removal. These data brokers are legal websites that collect data about you from across the web and sell it to anyone who wants it.

Scammers, spammers, and other annoying or nefarious entities purchase your data and use it to inundate you with texts, calls, and email offers. The best way to protect yourself from these predatory sites is to use a data removal service that requests these sites remove you.

Once you request removal, the site must do so, but some need frequent reminders. The best data removal software will send automated follow-ups so you don’t have to worry about it at all. If they do their job, you should find you receive less spam and your personal information is harder to find on the web.

In order to determine which tool is the best for you, we break up their features and weigh them in the following categories:

Here’s how we test and rate data removal services to determine your best option.

Data broker sites (30%)

Sites like PeopleFinder, BeenVerified, Spokeo, and WhitePages are just some of the more prevalent data broker sites, but there are thousands. It’s difficult to keep up with them, though, because the industry fluctuates so heavily that the number of sites changes from month to month.

Number of sites scanned

What it is: How many sites the data removal service scans. Some have a set few, and some scan as many as possible.

How we test it: If it’s not explicitly listed, we run a test with our own information and see the number in the results.

How we rate it:

• Best: Scans hundreds of sites and automatically requests removals for you.
• Worst: Scans less than a dozen set sites and doesn’t provide any further assistance.

Features (30%)

Does it provide any additional features from the site, like automatically removing your data or additional monthly or quarterly follow-ups. Continued scanning is also a bonus, considering the data broker landscape fluctuates so often.

Automatic removals

What it is: Automatically requests your removal from any site where your name and information are listed.

How we test it: The information should be displayed on the website. We enter our information and then see if it removes it automatically for us.

How we rate it:

• Best: Automatically removes our data with little to no effort on our part.
• Worst: Automatically scans but then can’t finish the request or makes us do the work.

Privacy reports

What it is: Provides an overview of your online privacy based on how easy it is to find out relevant information.

How we test it: We enter our information and let the site analyze our overall privacy. We then review the privacy report after the removal services have been deployed.

How we rate it:

• Best: Automated activities quickly bring your privacy score to a high level.
• Worst: It doesn’t offer a privacy report, it doesn’t update it regularly, or it doesn’t automate removal processes to increase your privacy score.

Recurring removals

What it is: The software regularly checks if data brokers have removed you, re-added you, or if new data brokers have popped up with your info.

How we test it: We look for the literature on the site that states the service does recurring removals. We then check in at a later date to see if it has done what it claimed.

How we rate it:

• Best: The service is forthcoming about its recurring removals and automates most of the tasks.
• Worst: No recurring removals, doesn’t follow up, or requires you to do a lot of the work manually.

Custom removals

What it is: The ability to request a removal from a site that the service doesn’t currently list.

How we test it: We check to see if there’s an option to submit a custom request on the dashboard.

How we rate it:

• Best: It provides an easy way to submit a custom removal request and promises prompt action.
• Worst: Doesn’t allow you to submit custom removals.

Privacy and security (20%)

Data removal software collects a lot of your personal information, and you need to be able to trust that the service doesn’t sell or share it. Your security and privacy are of the utmost importance.

Transparent privacy policy

What it is: When a privacy policy states, in plain language, what data is collected, how it’s used, and if it’s shared.

How we test it: We read through the privacy policy and evaluate it based on how easy the language is to understand. We also read through to see what data is collected and how it’s used and shared.

How we rate it:

• Best: An uncomplicated privacy policy in plain language, explaining that it collects data to provide services but doesn’t share or sell it.
• Worst: Overly legal-sounding privacy policy that is for the general company and doesn’t specifically mention the software you’re using.

Two-factor authentication

What it is: A backup safety feature that requires you to enter an additional form of authentication in addition to your login credentials.

How we test it: We see if the feature is standard or if it can be turned on in an active account.

How we rate it:

• Best: Two-factor authentication is enabled on start-up.
• Worst: Two-factor authentication isn’t offered or doesn’t work.

Ease of use (10%)

If software is too hard to use, you probably won’t. That’s why it’s important to evaluate if a product can be used by anyone.

User interface

What it is: This refers to the design of the product both visually and how it functions for the user.

How we test it: We go into the dashboard or portal and look for all the advertised features and functions. We take notes on how easy it was to find everything promised and if those features worked.

How we rate it:

• Best: A clean, modern design where all the features are easily accessible and you don’t have to search for anything.
• Worst: An outdated or overly technical website where features are difficult to find, aren’t there, or don’t work as promised.

Customer service

What it is: The support and customer service offerings provided by the software.

How we test it: We reach out to customer service with a problem that any normal user may have.

How we rate it:

• Best: A live chat option with a real person that’s available 24/7.
• Worst: Online guides and no way to get in touch with an actual problem solver.

Value (10%)

This is an evaluation of how much is offered compared to the price and competitor offerings. Is it a good value for your money or are there better options?

Price and plans

What it is: Comparing the price and plans against other competitors.

How we test it: We look at the price of all the services together and compare. We then sign up for each service and test to see how effective the service is and if it holds up.

How we rate it:

• Best: A robust product with lots of features with a monthly fee under $10/mo.
• Worst: A product $25/mo or more that offers very little.

How we calculate our ratings

As you can see, individual categories hold a certain amount of weight. After we test the product, we enter a score for each category that’s then calculated, and the average determines the star rating. The score is based on the factors we listed above.

Our star rating system allows us to compare products across our site to bring you the most affordable, reliable, robust, and usable products on the market. It can be confusing trying to purchase software, so we make it simple by showing you the best data removal software available.