People search sites and data brokers collect your address, phone number, relatives, property records, and even past employers. They sell that data to marketers, insurers, and scammers. The Federal Trade Commission says consumers reported losing $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with impostor scams alone taking $2.7 billion. Removing your profile from data broker databases lowers the chance that a stranger finds your family ties or new address in seconds. Our data brokers complete guide explains how these companies build detailed profiles from public records, warranty cards, and online activity.
Scammers do not need to hack a bank to sound convincing anymore. A name, phone number, and a few family details are enough to craft a message that feels personal. The Identity Theft Resource Center reported 3,205 data compromises in 2023 affecting 353 million people. Once that data leaks, it gets cross-referenced with broker listings and sold in underground markets. That makes it easier to send a text that looks like it came from your child about a locked debit card. You can cut off some of that supply by removing yourself from people search sites. Start with how to opt out of data brokers if you want the manual route. Our guide on why remove yourself from the internet covers the bigger privacy picture.
Manual opt-outs are tedious. Most data brokers have a separate form for each consumer, and some ask for a government ID or a notarized request. You might remove 10 profiles in a weekend, then find 30 more next month because the same companies re-collect your data when a new public record appears. That is why automated data broker removal services exist. They submit opt-out requests, track confirmations, and repeat the process every month or quarter. Our best data removal services 2026 page covers the broader category. This comparison focuses on what each service actually removes, what it costs, and where it falls short.
No tool erases you from the internet completely. Court records, mortgage filings, and professional licenses remain public. Even the best removal service cannot delete a data broker profile that has not been built yet. You should still use strong passwords and monitor your credit. Our guide to best identity theft protection 2026 covers monitoring and recovery. And if spam is already flooding your inbox, see how to stop spam emails 2026. The tradeoff is simple: automated opt-out services save hours but require an ongoing subscription.
How Do the Top Options Compare?
| Service | Best For | Starting Price | What It Actually Removes | Key Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incogni | Lowest cost automated removal | $6.49/mo billed annually | 200+ data brokers including people search, risk mitigation, and marketing firms | No lawsuit removal or private investigator sites |
| DeleteMe | Human-managed removal and reports | $8.71/mo billed annually | 750+ data brokers and people search sites with repeated opt-outs | Higher cost; no free scan |
| Optery | Free exposure scan and tiered removal | Free; paid from $3.99/mo | 270+ sites with screenshots; higher tiers remove from more types | Free tier shows but does not remove |
| Kanary | Simplified DIY plus automation | $10.99/mo or $99/year | Major people search sites and data brokers with monthly checks | Smaller broker list than leaders |
Prices are starting rates as of publication and may change. Annual billing often unlocks the lowest monthly price. Some brokers resurface profiles after removal, so ongoing subscriptions are usually needed to maintain results.
1. Incogni , Budget-conscious users who want automated removal
Incogni is a subscription service from the cybersecurity company Surfshark. It scans a list of more than 200 data brokers, including people search sites, risk mitigation databases, marketing companies, and recruitment data firms. The service sends opt-out requests under your name, tracks whether brokers respond, and follows up when a profile reappears. Pricing is usually around $12.98 per month with monthly billing, but the annual plan drops to about $6.49 per month. You can check current offers on the Incogni website.
What does it actually remove? Incogni targets your name, address, phone number, email, and known relatives from common people search platforms. It does not remove every record. Government records, social media posts, news articles, and court dockets stay online. It also does not scrub your data from private marketing databases that do not honor opt-outs. For a deeper look at who qualifies as a data broker and how removal works, see our data brokers complete guide.
Results usually start within a few weeks, but full removal can take 60 to 90 days. Some records reappear after you move or change jobs. That is expected. This is why the subscription model exists: the service repeats requests. If you cancel, old profiles may come back.
Key strengths:
- ✅ Lowest annual price among major automated removal services
- ✅ Covers 200+ data brokers including marketing and risk mitigation firms
- ✅ Dashboard shows request status and completion estimates
- ✅ Includes recurring removal attempts for reappearing profiles
- ❌ Does not remove court records, news articles, or social media
- ❌ Customer support is primarily email and chat, not phone
- ❌ No free scan tier
Who it’s for: Choose Incogni if you want broad, automated opt-outs at the lowest annual cost.
2. DeleteMe , Human-managed removal with detailed reports
DeleteMe has been in the personal data removal business since 2010 and covers more than 750 data brokers and people search sites. It relies on human privacy advisors who review removal requests, handle stubborn brokers, and provide quarterly reports. The service typically costs around $129 per year for one person, which works out to about $8.71 per month billed annually. You can see current plans on the DeleteMe site.
What does it actually remove? DeleteMe requests removal from people search sites like Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Intelius. It also targets data aggregators that collect your purchase history, household income, and vehicle records. The company does not promise to delete your information from government databases, law enforcement records, or credit bureaus. Our article on why remove yourself from the internet explains which public records cannot be removed.
DeleteMe sends a privacy report every 90 days showing what was found and what was removed. Users who want hands-off management often prefer this. The tradeoff is higher cost and no free tier. DeleteMe works best for people who have been victims of harassment, stalking, or repeated spam and need proof of removal.
Key strengths:
- ✅ Human privacy advisors handle stubborn broker requests
- ✅ Covers 750+ data broker and people search sites
- ✅ Quarterly reports show exactly what was removed
- ✅ Offers custom removal requests for non-standard sites
- ❌ Higher annual cost than Incogni
- ❌ No free scan or free tier
- ❌ Removal timeline can stretch to 90 days or more
Who it’s for: Pick DeleteMe if you want human experts to manage removals and send proof of work.
3. Optery , Free exposure scanning and tiered removal
Optery starts with a free scan that shows where your personal information appears across hundreds of data broker sites. The free tier does not remove records, but it gives you a screenshot-based map of your exposure. Paid tiers start around $3.99 per month for basic removals, while higher tiers add more sites, custom searches, and faster removal. This makes Optery appealing if you want evidence of the problem before paying for a solution.
What does it actually remove? The paid plans submit opt-out requests to people search sites and data brokers. Higher tiers cover non-standard brokers that require manual forms or ID verification. Optery also shows before-and-after screenshots for many removals, which few competitors do. It does not remove public records, social media accounts, or Google search results. Our guide to best data removal services 2026 compares Optery with other options.
Optery is transparent about coverage. You can check its website for the exact number of brokers per plan. Some users find the dashboard busy at first, but the screenshot evidence is useful. If you only want to see what is out there, the free scan is worth running. If you want actual removal, you will need a paid tier.
Key strengths:
- ✅ Free tier shows where your data appears with screenshots
- ✅ Paid tiers start lower than many competitors
- ✅ Provides before-and-after removal evidence
- ✅ Covers many hard-to-remove data brokers at upper tiers
- ❌ Free tier does not remove anything
- ❌ Lower paid tiers cover fewer sites
- ❌ Dashboard can feel complex for beginners
Who it’s for: Choose Optery if you want a free exposure scan first and are willing to pay for tiered removal.
4. Kanary , Simplified monthly removal without long-term contracts
Kanary is a smaller but focused removal service that requests opt-outs from major people search sites and data brokers. It checks for new exposures monthly and resubmits requests if your data reappears. Pricing is about $10.99 per month or $99 per year, which sits between budget and premium services. Kanary’s interface is simple and geared toward individuals, not businesses or cybersecurity teams.
What does it actually remove? Kanary targets your home address, phone number, email, and family connections on people search platforms. It also removes your profile from some risk and marketing databases. It does not cover as many brokers as DeleteMe or Optery, but it focuses on the sites most likely to appear in Google searches for your name. If you are dealing with spam, our guide to how to stop spam emails 2026 offers additional steps.
Kanary is a good middle option if you want a clean dashboard and regular checks without paying for human support. Support is helpful but available mainly through the app or email. Results often appear within one to two months. If a broker refuses to honor the request, Kanary will flag it, but it may not have the leverage of a human privacy team.
Key strengths:
- ✅ Straightforward monthly or annual pricing
- ✅ Covers major people search and data broker sites
- ✅ Monthly scans catch reappearing profiles
- ✅ Simple interface for non-technical users
- ❌ Smaller broker list than Incogni or DeleteMe
- ❌ No free scan tier
- ❌ Limited phone support
Who it’s for: Choose Kanary if you want a no-fuss monthly service that targets the most common people search sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do automated data broker opt-out services actually work?
Yes, but with limits. These services submit opt-out requests to data brokers and people search sites, then follow up if a profile reappears. They cannot remove government records, social media posts, or news articles. Success depends on the broker and whether the service has leverage to enforce your request.
How much do these services typically cost?
Prices range from about $3.99 per month for Optery’s basic tier to around $12.98 per month for monthly billing with Incogni or DeleteMe. Annual plans lower the effective monthly cost. Most services require a subscription because brokers re-collect data over time.
What can these services NOT remove?
They cannot remove court records, professional licenses, credit reports, social media accounts, or news articles. Some private marketing databases ignore opt-out requests. You should expect your information may still appear in certain public and legal records.
How long does removal take?
Initial results often appear within two to six weeks. Full removal across hundreds of sites can take 60 to 90 days. Some hard-to-remove brokers take longer, and a few may not respond at all.
Will my information come back after removal?
Yes, sometimes. When you move, change jobs, buy property, or renew a license, brokers can rebuild your profile from new public records. That is why ongoing subscriptions exist. The service should scan and repeat requests.
Should I also use identity theft protection?
Data removal reduces exposure, but it does not stop all fraud. Identity theft protection services monitor credit and public records for misuse. Using both gives you prevention and early warning. See our identity theft protection comparison for options.
What Should You Remember?
- Automated opt-out services reduce data broker exposure but do not make you invisible.
- Incogni offers the lowest annual cost for broad automated removals.
- DeleteMe adds human reviewers and quarterly proof of removal.
- Optery gives a free exposure scan but requires paid tiers for actual removal.
- Kanary is a simple monthly option for common people search sites.
- No service can remove court records, credit reports, or social media.
- Recurring scans matter because brokers rebuild profiles from new records.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Data broker policies, privacy laws, and service pricing change frequently, so verify current details with the official source before acting. Some links may be affiliate links that support this site at no cost to you.
