If your name, phone number, address, or relatives appear on people-search sites, Incogni is the clearest fit for broad automated coverage and recurring requests. Optery Core is the cheapest paid option at $39 per year (US prices, checked November 12, 2026), while DeleteMe fits people who prefer human-assisted removals and quarterly reports. Kanary and Aura make more sense when you need broader monitoring beyond standard data-broker pages.
Start by searching your name, phone number, email address, and current or former address. Save the exact URLs that expose you, then separate data-broker pages from social media, news, government records, and breach data. The removal route is different for each category.
Key takeaways
- Pick Incogni for documented automated coverage and recurring requests.
- Pick Optery Core for the lowest listed paid price, or Optery Ultimate for screenshots and custom removals.
- Pick DeleteMe for human-assisted removal and quarterly Privacy Reports.
- Manual opt-outs are free, and California residents can use DROP for one request to more than 600 registered brokers.
- Check country eligibility, plan coverage, renewal price, refund terms, and evidence before paying.
What You Need Removed And Which Route Fits
A data broker collects, combines, or sells personal information. A people-search site is the public-facing profile that may show your name, addresses, phone numbers, relatives, and age. An opt-out asks a company to stop selling or displaying information, while a deletion request asks for eligible information to be removed. Custom removal means asking a service to contact a site outside its normal automated list.
If your main problem is a people-search profile, a paid removal service can save time by sending requests and checking for returned data. Incogni fits broad automated coverage. DeleteMe fits human-assisted work with quarterly reports. Optery fits readers who want a free exposure report, tiered coverage, and visual evidence on its higher plans.
Kanary is aimed at risk-based monitoring across data brokers, search engines, social media, and AI services. Aura is a wider U.S. identity-protection bundle that includes removal from 525 or more data broker sites and help with eligible Google Search results.
Manual opt-outs cost nothing, but you must find each profile, submit every request, complete verification, save the result, and repeat the process when information returns. To judge whether paying saves enough time, record your highest-risk profiles first, then compare each plan’s site coverage, custom-removal access, report schedule, and renewal price.
The Short Verdict: Incogni, Optery, DeleteMe, Kanary Or Aura
Incogni is the strongest documented fit when you want recurring automated requests across a published list of 420 or more data brokers. Its Standard plan handles automated requests, while Unlimited adds unlimited custom removals. Deloitte’s limited-assurance report dated August 6, 2025 covers Incogni practices measured as of July 18, 2025. The tradeoff is that Incogni does not remove dark-web data, and custom removals require Unlimited.
Optery is the best price-led choice. Core costs $39 per year in the U.S. (checked November 12, 2026) and covers 375 or more sites. Extended and Ultimate add broader coverage, while Ultimate adds unlimited custom removals and outdated-content submissions for Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo. Optery also provides a free Basic account with exposure reports and self-service tools, but that is not paid automated removal.
DeleteMe fits readers who want human-assisted removal, ongoing monitoring, and quarterly Privacy Reports. Its broker list covers 969 brokers overall, so ask DeleteMe how many of them the Solo plan covers. Its tradeoff is a higher starting price than Optery Core and weaker results in Consumer Reports’ dated 2024 study.
Kanary fits a reader with a specific risk profile who wants managed scans, screenshots, direct links, and reports. Kanary publishes no single broker count, so ask which sites and refund terms apply to the Core or Advanced account.
Aura fits someone who wants removal inside a broader U.S. identity-protection bundle. It does not provide custom removal requests, so confirm that its listed sites match your profiles before paying.
Consumer Reports and Tall Poppy’s 2024 evaluation tested 32 participants across 13 people-search sites. Within four months, manual opt-outs removed 70% of tested profiles, Optery Ultimate removed 68%, Kanary removed 34%, and DeleteMe removed 27%. Treat that as a dated study of specific people-search removals, not a current universal ranking.
What Each Service Covers And What It Costs
The counts below are not interchangeable. A “site,” “data broker,” “people-search site,” search engine, and custom-removal destination can describe different categories. Prices are U.S. figures, checked November 12, 2026. Each annual amount is charged upfront for the stated term.
Incogni supports the U.S., Canada, the U.K., EU countries, and several associated European jurisdictions listed by Incogni. Confirm Optery and Kanary country availability before paying.
A free tier, free trial, and money-back window are separate. Optery Basic is a free tier with exposure reports and self-service tools. Aura lists a 14-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans. Incogni, Optery, and DeleteMe list money-back or refund terms, but those do not create a free trial.
Before entering payment details, confirm that the plan covers your country, the sites that list you, and the names and locations you need removed. Read the renewal line at checkout and save a copy of the terms.
How The Services Prove A Removal Happened
DeleteMe says it begins filing requests within seven days, tracks removals and reappearances, and provides Privacy Reports showing what it found, removed, and is still processing. Its standard help information says reports arrive quarterly, or four times per year.
Incogni provides monthly progress reports. Deloitte’s limited-assurance report says Incogni received removal confirmations from more than 420 brokers and resubmitted requests at least every 60 days for public brokers and every 90 days for private brokers, unless a suppression-list exception applied.
Optery’s Extended and Ultimate Removals Reports use before-and-after screenshots when a public profile was available. Reports are generated approximately every three months after at least three months of paid service. A missing screenshot can mean the broker’s database is private or restricted.
Kanary says it provides screenshots and direct links to listings, monthly email reports, and on-demand PDF or API reports. Its pricing page distinguishes monthly, weekly, and daily scan options by tier or configuration.
A request submission is not proof that a profile disappeared. The strongest evidence is a broker confirmation, before-and-after screenshot, direct verification link, or status record showing that removal completed. Save reports and check the original profile URL again because information can return.
Free Removal: Manual Opt-Outs And California DROP
Manual removal is free. Search each major people-search site for your profile, copy the exact URL, open its privacy or opt-out page, submit matching information, complete email verification or identity checks, save the confirmation, and check the profile again. Repeat the process when the listing returns.
In the Consumer Reports and Tall Poppy 2024 evaluation, manual opt-outs removed 70% of tested profiles within one week and the same 70% after four months. That applied to 13 people-search sites and 32 participants, not every data broker.
California residents have another free route. The state-operated DROP platform lets an eligible resident submit one deletion request to more than 600 registered data brokers. Beginning August 1, 2026, participating brokers must access DROP at least every 45 days, while status updates can take up to 90 days.
DROP does not cover every type of information. First-party information given directly to a business, exempt data, and publicly available data are not required to be deleted through the platform. Google’s free tools can address eligible Search results, but removing a result from Google does not delete the source webpage or remove it from other search engines.
What These Services Cannot Remove
Paid services reduce exposure. They do not erase every copy of your information from the internet.
Data-broker removal does not automatically delete first-party account data, government records, court filings, news articles, social-media posts, or breach dumps. Incogni says it does not remove data from the dark web. Google Search removal affects search visibility, not the original page, and Google may preserve information that has public value.
DeleteMe says broker response times vary and some sites have no effective opt-out route. Optery screenshots are available only when a public profile can be captured. Private or restricted databases may have no screenshot. Kanary’s managed scans cover a subset of sites on some tiers, with broader coverage depending on the plan and risk profile.
Aura’s automated removal is limited to its listed sites, and it does not provide custom removal requests. That makes plan-specific coverage important if your profiles appear on less common sites.
A one-time removal is a poor fit for information that can be republished. Brokers acquire new data and may restore old data, so ongoing requests and periodic checks matter. To remove social posts, close an account, address a breach, or request a Google result removal, use the route that controls that source.
These services also require sensitive matching information. Compare the provider’s privacy policy and identity-verification process before submitting a full profile. A removal plan does not provide anonymity or protection from every form of tracking.
Before You Subscribe: Renewal, Refunds And Legal Limits
US prices, checked November 12, 2026. DeleteMe Solo renews automatically, so confirm the renewal amount at checkout. DeleteMe lists a full refund before the first Privacy Report and a prorated refund afterward.
Incogni Standard is $95.88 for one year, and its monthly price is $15.98. Incogni lists a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is not a free trial. Confirm the renewal amount at checkout.
Optery lists a 30-day money-back guarantee on Core, Extended, and Ultimate. Annual billing is listed as saving about 17% compared with monthly billing, but confirm the renewal amount in the checkout or account flow.
Ask Kanary which sites, renewal terms, and refund terms apply to your selected account.
Aura lists a 14-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans. Confirm the price and the non-promotional renewal amount before paying.
Use only truthful information that belongs to you or that you are authorized to submit. California DROP prohibits fraudulent use, impersonation, and adding another person’s information without authorization. Privacy rights vary by residence, business, data type, and legal exemption. Check the privacy-law process and official request route that apply where you live before submitting a request.
The Practical Choice For Your Situation
Prices below are US figures, checked November 12, 2026. Choose Incogni Standard ($95.88 a year) if you want a clear automated process, 420 or more listed brokers, recurring requests, and monthly reports. Choose Incogni Unlimited if you also need unlimited custom removals.
Choose Optery Core ($39 a year) if price is the main factor and 375 or more sites cover the profiles you found. Choose Extended or Ultimate when broader coverage, screenshots, outdated-content submissions, or custom-removal access matter more than the low starting price.
Choose DeleteMe ($129 a year) if quarterly Privacy Reports and human-assisted removal fit the way you want to manage the task. It costs more than Optery Core, and its 2024 Consumer Reports results were weaker than the manual and Optery results.
Choose Kanary when your concern includes a specific risk profile across brokers, search engines, social media, or AI services. Ask which sites and refund terms apply to Core or Advanced. Choose Aura when data removal belongs inside a broader U.S. identity-protection bundle, and confirm that its listed-site approach covers your profiles.
If you are willing to spend time, manual opt-outs and California DROP may remove enough of the profiles you care about without a subscription. For the next decision, read Are Data Removal Services Worth It? Incogni, DeleteMe, Optery. If your concern shifts to protecting future browsing traffic, compare VPN vs Proxy: What Each One Does and Which You Need, because a VPN does not replace data-broker opt-outs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best data removal service in 2026?
Incogni is the clearest fit for broad automated coverage, recurring requests, and a published Deloitte assurance report. Optery is a better choice when price, exposure reports, screenshots, and custom-removal access matter more.
What is the cheapest paid data removal service?
Optery Core is $39 upfront for one year in the U.S., equal to $3.25 per month (checked November 12, 2026). It covers 375 or more sites and lists a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What is the best free data removal service?
Manual opt-outs are free and gave the strongest result in Consumer Reports and Tall Poppy’s 2024 test, with 70% of tested profiles removed within four months. California residents can also submit one free DROP request to more than 600 registered data brokers.
Is there a one-time data removal service?
A one-time payment is a weak fit because brokers can republish information. Manual opt-outs can be completed once, but the profiles need periodic checks, while paid services resend requests on recurring schedules.
Is Incogni the best data removal service?
Incogni is the strongest documented fit when automated coverage, recurring requests, and independent process assurance matter most. It is not a complete internet-erasure service, and custom removals require Unlimited.
How much does it cost to remove personal information?
US prices, checked November 12, 2026: the named paid services range from Optery Core at $39 per year to Kanary Advanced at $500 per year. DeleteMe Solo is $129 per year, Incogni Standard is $95.88 per year, and Optery Ultimate is $249 per year. Confirm the renewal amount at checkout.
How can I erase all my information from the internet?
You cannot rely on one service to erase every copy. Submit data-broker opt-outs, contact social platforms and first-party accounts, use eligible Google Search removal tools, request deletion from the original source, and address breach data through the relevant provider.
How do I request deletion of my personal data?
Find the company’s privacy, suppression, opt-out, or deletion request route. Submit truthful matching information, complete any verification, save the confirmation, and check the result again after the provider’s stated response period.
How can I remove my data from the internet for free?
Search for your profiles, copy each URL, submit manual opt-outs, verify your email if required, and save the confirmations. California residents can use DROP for one request covering more than 600 registered data brokers.
How can I remove my name from the internet?
Start with your name, phone number, email address, and current or former address. Remove people-search profiles through manual opt-outs or a paid service, then separately contact social media, news sites, government sources, and other original publishers.
Does removing a Google result delete the webpage?
No. Google Search removal changes visibility in Google Search, but the source webpage can remain available and may still appear through other search engines or direct links.
Glossary
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