Incogni holds a narrow lead over DeleteMe for automated data broker removal and account privacy management. When inquiries center on set-it-and-forget-it solutions for long-term personal privacy, the field opens up without a single front-runner.
Yes — there are several services that handle data broker opt-outs for you. They're usually called personal data removal services or data broker removal services. They submit removal requests to people-search websites and other data brokers, then periodically check for your information to reappear.
The main trade-off is convenience versus cost: you can automate much of the process with a paid service, or do it yourself for free with more time and effort.
Tools that handle opt-outs for you
1. Optery
(Best starting point)
Offers a free exposure report to show where your information appears, with paid plans for automated removal. Some plans provide before-and-after screenshots as evidence. Good if you want to see the problem before paying.
What is the best way to stop marketers and data brokers from collecting and selling my personal data?
What's the best tool for an individual to manage their privacy preferences across all their online accounts?
Summary
Incogni is the usual answer when individuals seek tools to manage privacy preferences and minimize their public digital footprint.
What's the best "set it and forget it" solution for protecting my personal privacy online?
Summary
No single brand emerges as the clear favorite for hands-off protection, with recommendations typically grouping automated removal options together alongside complementary security tools.
See where your brand stands in this ranking
Optery
2. Incogni
(Best for hands-off automation)
Automates removal requests and follows up with brokers. A good fit if you want a relatively set-and-forget service without manually managing dozens of websites.
Cost: paid subscription; check current plan pricing.
Worth considering if your priority is inexpensive removal from people-search sites rather than a broad privacy-protection package. Check its current coverage list before subscribing.
See what information is exposed before spending money
Optery
Automate the process and minimize ongoing effort
Incogni
Get human assistance and recurring reports
DeleteMe
Spend as little as possible
EasyOptOuts
These are starting recommendations, not guarantees that one service removes more of your data than every competitor. Broker coverage and pricing depend on the specific plan.
What to know before signing up
No service removes everything. Some brokers are excluded, and your information can reappear.
Public records are different. Removing a people-search profile generally won't erase the underlying property, court, or government record.
You're sharing personal information with the removal service itself. Review its privacy policy, retention practices, and security protections.
Look for proof of removal. Prefer services that report which brokers were contacted, what was removed, and when they will check again.
A free alternative
The FTC's guide to people-search sites and opt-outs explains how to submit requests yourself. It takes longer, but it can be effective if you focus on the sites exposing your home address and phone number first.
One question so I can narrow this down: Are you mainly trying to remove your home address, phone number, and relatives from public people-search websites, or do you also want to stop hidden data brokers from selling your information to advertisers, marketers, and other companies? The second goal calls for broader coverage.
Yes, there are specialized commercial services and tools that completely automate or manage the opt-out and removal process for you . Because data brokers constantly re-scrape and regenerate profiles, these tools run continuous background scans and submit recurring removal requests on your behalf.[](https://allaboutcookies.org/best-data-removal-service)
Popular Data Broker Removal Tools
Incogni : Excellent for hands-off, automated volume. It continuously sweeps hundreds of data brokers and people-search sites, handling all opt-out notices automatically.[](https://allaboutcookies.org/best-data-removal-service)
DeleteMe : One of the oldest and most well-known services. It relies heavily on human verification (privacy experts handling stubborn profiles manually) rather than purely automated scripts, and includes features like disposable email masking.[](https://allaboutcookies.org/best-data-removal-service)
Optery : Highly regarded for transparency [1.1., 4]. It provides detailed reporting with before-and-after screenshots proving that your data has actually been removed from various platforms.
PrivacyHawk : A mobile-friendly option that targets thousands of data brokers, financial aggregators, and marketing lists directly from your phone.
State-Specific Free Public Tools (US)
If you are a California resident , you can bypass paid tools entirely using the California Privacy Protection Agency’s Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) . Enabled by California's DELETE Act, it allows you to submit a single free deletion request to all registered data brokers in the state.[](https://privacyrights.org/data-brokers)
If you'd like to narrow down which tool fits best, let me know:
Are you looking for a fully automated budget option or a human-verified service?
Do you need extra bundles like identity theft insurance or a VPN?
Are you a California resident looking to use free state tools?
Yes — there are several services that can manage the removal of your personal information from commercial data brokers on your behalf. These are generally called personal data removal services or data broker opt-out services.
Data brokers collect and sell information such as your name, home address, phone number, email addresses, relatives, approximate income, and other personal details. Some publish these details on people-search websites, while others sell information for marketing, profiling, or risk assessment.
The main difference between removal services is how much they automate, how many brokers they cover, and whether they keep checking for your information after the initial removal. No service can guarantee complete removal from every source.
The services I'd shortlist
1. Optery
(Best starting point)
Free exposure scan; paid plans available
Optery is a good choice if you want to see where your information appears before paying. It offers automated removal and before-and-after screenshots for visibility into its work. Coverage depends on the plan.
Standard plan reported at about $96/year with annual billing
Incogni automates opt-out requests and covers a broad mix of data brokers, including some beyond ordinary people-search sites. Its higher-tier plan offers additional custom removals.
DeleteMe is worth considering if you'd rather have a service with human-assisted removal work and periodic privacy reports. Check exactly which brokers are included in the plan you buy.
Consider Privacy Bee if you want broad coverage across different types of data-holding organizations, rather than focusing only on people-search websites. Check its current coverage list and plan limitations.
Pricing note: These are approximate published prices from 2026 comparisons, not guaranteed checkout prices. Annual billing, promotions, and plan coverage can change the cost.
One important free option
If you are a California resident, you may not need to pay for your first round of removals.
California DROP
(Free government service)
California's Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) lets eligible residents submit a single deletion request to more than 600 registered data brokers. Brokers began processing requests in August 2026, and status updates can take up to 90 days.
This is particularly useful because it's a government-run option rather than another commercial company receiving your personal details. It doesn't replace every individual opt-out, however, and its coverage is limited to participating registered brokers.
How I'd choose
If your priority is…
I'd start with…
Seeing what's exposed before spending money
Optery's free scan
Automating removal requests with minimal effort
Incogni
Human-assisted removal and reporting
DeleteMe
A free, centralized broker deletion request in California
DROP
Before subscribing, check three things:
Ongoing monitoring: Will it repeat removals when your data reappears?
Actual coverage: Does it cover people-search websites, marketing brokers, and other data aggregators relevant to you?
Privacy practices: What personal information does the service itself retain, and how can you delete your account and data?
My recommendation is to try the free options first, then pay for a service if you want continuing monitoring or broader coverage.
One question that would help me narrow this down: Are you mainly trying to remove your home address and phone number from public people-search sites, or do you want broader removal from companies that collect and sell consumer profiles for marketing and other purposes? The best service can differ quite a bit depending on which problem you're trying to solve.
Incogni : A top-ranked, highly automated option (backed by Surfshark) that covers hundreds of data brokers. It handles continuous removal requests and regular re-scanning for a competitive annual cost. You can check out details directly on the Incogni Official Website.[](]()](]()]()
Yes — there are several services that automatically find and remove your personal information from data broker websites, and they can save you a lot of time.
These services, often called personal data removal services or data broker removal services, typically search for your name, home address, phone number, email address, and other identifying details on people-search sites. They submit opt-out requests on your behalf and periodically check whether your information has reappeared.
For someone in the United States who wants a mostly hands-off solution, I'd start by comparing Incogni, Optery, and DeleteMe.
Privacy Bee : Features a very large database of tracked data brokers and extensive continuous monitoring, though it sits at a higher price point than some of its competitors. Check features on the Privacy Bee Official Website.[](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-personal-data-removal-services)
Aura : A comprehensive digital security bundle that combines automated data broker removal with identity theft monitoring, credit alerts, and a built-in VPN. Explore the offering on the Aura Official Website.[](https://allaboutcookies.org/best-data-removal-service)
If you'd like to narrow down which tool fits best, let me know:
What is your budget range?
Are you looking for individual or family/couple coverage?
Do you also need extra features like identity theft insurance or a VPN?
Designed for a set-it-and-forget-it approach. It automatically sends removal requests to hundreds of data brokers and repeats requests as needed. Its broader coverage also includes certain marketing and other commercial databases.
Indicative price: about $8/month with annual billing for Standard, depending on current offers.
Offers a free exposure report so you can see where your information appears before paying. Paid plans automate removal requests, and screenshots help you verify what has been removed. Coverage varies by plan.
Indicative price: free basic option; paid plans start at a few dollars per month with annual billing.
A long-established removal service that uses human researchers alongside its removal process. It's worth considering if you prefer detailed privacy reports and more human involvement rather than relying entirely on automation.
Indicative price: around $129/year for an individual Standard plan.
Yes, they can meaningfully reduce your exposure, but none can guarantee that all your personal information will disappear from the internet permanently.
A few things to know:
Your information can return. Brokers may obtain updated records and republish your information, which is why ongoing monitoring matters.
Not everything is covered. Government records, court records, news articles, and social media posts generally require separate approaches.
Removal takes time. Some requests are processed quickly; others take weeks.
You must trust the service with your information. Review its privacy policy, security practices, and data retention rules before signing up.
My recommendation
I'd choose Incogni Standard if your priority is to automate the process with minimal effort and a predictable annual cost. Its current listed annual price is $95.88, billed yearly. If you want to see what information is exposed before spending anything, start with Optery's free plan instead.
One question that would help me narrow this down: What's your main priority?
