When searching for a capable data removal service, you probably came across Optery and got excited when you saw that it offers a free tier and a reasonably priced paid plan. However, a company’s marketing materials often end up misrepresenting the scope of the service, as you’ll see in this Optery review.
Here is what’s hiding behind Optery’s seemingly affordable pricing.
| Website | Optery.com |
| Availability | The US |
| Coverage | 375+ data brokers |
| Core & Extra Features | Comprehensive data removal, free plan, custom removals |
| Support | Live chat, email, email and social media, and knowledge base |
| Price | From $3.25 to $20.70/mo. |
| Annual Price | From $39 to $249 |
| Deals | N/A |
Key takeaways
Optery can be your ally in safeguarding your privacy from identity theft, fraud, and phishing threats in the digital realm.
The platform provides automated data removal, a user-friendly interface, flexibility of custom requests, and comprehensive coverage spanning over 375 websites.
With a success rate exceeding 95%, Optery incorporates advanced security measures and has earned accolades for its unwavering commitment to delivering trustworthy and reliable services.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of choosing Optery to protect your online privacy.
Pros +
30-day money-back guarantee with all plans
Automation with paid plans
Comprehensive data removal
Detailed removals reports
Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- Premium plan offers custom removals
- Privacy protection
Step-by-step opt-out guides
Cons +
Full broker network is locked behind tiers
Paid subscription is pricier than with some competitors
Limited free features
Optery feature summary
Optery offers a superb suite of features that work great in removing your data from the web. Some of the highlights include:
- Automated data removal: Eliminates a lot of the legwork by automating the process.
- Data broker detection: Accurately determines which data brokers have your private information.
- User-friendly interface: The service’s interface is intuitive and user-centric.
- Progress reports: Optery’s Removals Report provides an insight into the data process and assures you that your data was deleted.
- Custom removal requests: You can get more mileage out of Optery by making use of ‘Extended Reach’ and targeting websites outside the regular broker network.
Based on features alone, Optery is a well-equipped data removal service. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Company history and reputation: Can we trust Optery?
Optery is a personal data removal service aiding users in safeguarding their online identity by eliminating private information from data brokers and people search sites. Founded by Lawrence Gentilello, a tech visionary with a strong background in data management, Optery has evolved into a powerful tool for data privacy protection.
Set up in 2020, the company is currently headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area (California, USA). In a relatively short time, Optery established itself as a reliable and secure data removal service, claiming a success rate greater than 95%.
Additionally, Optery is known for its prudent handling of personal information, as well as implementation of robust security measures and privacy policies. Thus, it’s a legitimate and reliable company you can trust to handle the data removal process on your behalf.
Data removal process: How does Optery remove your personal information from the internet?
Optery’s data removal process involves identifying personal information on data broker sites, sending opt-out requests, and monitoring for data reappearance. This comprehensive approach guarantees the elimination of your information from the internet.
Optery also offers detailed removal reports that include ‘before’ and ‘after’ snapshots of where your private information was once publicly available through data brokers. This transparency provides concrete evidence of the progress and success achieved in data removal.
Optery doesn't simply stop at removing your sensitive information from data brokers – it also guarantees long-term privacy protection through constant monitoring of data brokers for any reappearance of personal data. This ongoing vigilance implies that if your details resurface on a data broker site, Optery will take action to remove them again.
Such an approach mitigates the risk of:
- Identity theft
- Fraud
- Phishing
- Spam calls
- Unwanted emails
First steps: How to get started with Optery?
Optery won’t keep you waiting, as you can sign up in a matter of minutes. You’ll have to surrender some of your personal information, including:
- First and last name
- Email address
- Country and city of residence
- Year of birth
You can also add your full date of birth and your middle name or middle initial. While this can seem pretty prying at first, this will help Optery locate your info more easily.
Upon completing the checkout process, you can start using the service to monitor your online privacy and submit removal requests to data brokers.
Features and benefits: What do you get with Optery?
Let’s see in detail what Optery offers:
Automated data removal process
Optery's automated data removal process stands as a testament to its user-centric approach to safeguarding online privacy.
The core of Optery's service is its automation. Once you've submitted your removal requests, Optery takes charge of continuously monitoring data broker sites and ensuring the permanent removal of your particulars. This means you won’t have to constantly recheck these sites.
Free plan
The vendor gives you a taste of its data removal service with a free plan. While it lacks automation (you’ll be required to opt out of broker sites on your own), it does include a personalized exposure scan, an exposure report, email support, and a phone and email scan preferences tool.
User-friendly Interface
Optery’s intuitive interface makes it easy for users to navigate and manage their privacy settings. With a clear layout and simple design, users can effortlessly monitor the progress of their data removal efforts and manage their account settings. This makes certain that even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy, you can confidently use Optery to protect your online privacy.
Removals report
Optery provides removal reports that include ‘before' and ‘after' screenshots showing where your private information was previously posted by data brokers and the state of things after removal.
The service recently introduced AI-powered removals running on OpenAI. While this is certainly a useful feature, it opens up the possibility of your data being shared with third parties. Fortunately, this is an optional feature.
Custom removal requests
Optery understands that not all data brokers and people search sites are covered in their standard service. To accommodate users who require a more encompassing approach not included in the standard coverage, Optery offers the option for custom removal requests.
Do note that you’ll have to be subscribed for 30 days minimum to be able to use custom removals. This is a puzzling limitation, especially when you consider that a competitor like Incogni allows you to send a custom request the moment you sign up for the ‘Unlimited’ plan. Moreover, Optery’s most comprehensive plan is much more expensive than other services that also offer custom requests, but more on that later.
Extensive data broker coverage
With coverage spanning over 375 data brokers and people search sites (that can be extended to 675 by providing more information and enabling extended reach with paid plans), Optery provides a comprehensive shield for your online privacy. This extensive coverage means that you can trust the vendor to defend your sensitive information from a wide array of data brokers and people search sites.
Although it boasts a large network, Optery primarily focuses on people search sites, ignoring other types of data brokers.
Another downside is that you’ll have to upgrade to more expensive plans if you want to make full use of Optery, which is disappointing to say the least. In other words, the full broker network is hidden behind the higher-priced subscriptions.
PCMag Editors' Choice privacy tool
Optery's exceptional track record and effectiveness in protecting user privacy have earned it the title of an Editors’ Choice-winning privacy tool. This recognition underscores the quality and dependability of Optery's data removal service, affirming its dedication to empowering users to reclaim control over their personal information.
Optery's security measures and privacy policy: Is Optery safe to use?
Expensive plans aside, Optery takes data security seriously.
World-class infrastructure hosted in the USA
Optery's products are hosted on top-notch infrastructure, provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in separate, access-controlled environments. This is excellent news since AWS is well-known for its state-of-the-art security standards and facilities.
It adheres to the latest industry security standards and has received multiple certifications and reports, including ISO 27001/27017/27018 and AICPA SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 (SSAE 16/ISAE 3402). This partnership ensures that your data is hosted in a highly secure environment.
Data encryption
All user data, including usernames and passwords, is encrypted during transit with Transport Layer Security (TLS) v1.2 protocol (HTTPS / SSL). This prevents any unauthorized access or interception.
For data at rest, Optery employs encrypted database instances at Amazon, utilizing the industry-standard AWS RDS with an advanced encryption standard (AES) 256-bit encryption algorithm. It’s worth noting that encryption keys and encrypted data are stored separately using AWS’ key management system (KMS).
Moreover, Optery encrypts user account passwords using the PBKDF2 algorithm with a SHA256 hash.
Strong password policies
Optery enforces strict password policies to enhance security, which means you’ll have to create a strong password that meets specific criteria. This approach seriously reduces the risk of unauthorized access to your account.
Multi-factor authentication
Optery offers both multi-factor authentication (MFA) and 2-step verification (2FA) for all user accounts, adding another layer of security. These features are, of course, optional, but we recommend you enable them to better protect your account.
Optery's privacy policy
Besides solid security practices, Optery’s stringent privacy policy outlines its stance on protecting user data and maintaining user privacy. The company doesn’t engage in selling or renting personal information to third parties or maintain financial relationships or affiliations with data brokers.
Moreover, as a registered user or paying customer, you have full control over your data, with the option to request disclosure or deletion at any time.
That said, Optery does work with third-party vendors to boost service delivery and marketing. However, it’s committed to upholding data privacy rights, including those mandated by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), regardless of your location. Additionally, Optery has a GDPR policy in place to meet the requirements of European Union residents.
Customer support: What sort of help do you get with Optery?
Optery offers excellent customer support with multiple available channels. In addition to email, social media, web form, a detailed FAQ, and a help desk, Optery also offers 24/7 live support via chat.
Plans and pricing: Choosing the right option
There are plenty of choices in terms of plans:
| Duration | Free | Core | Extended | Ultimate |
| 1-year | / | $3.25/month | $12.42/month | $20.79/month |
| 1-month | / | $3.99/month | $14.99/month | $24.99/month |
Optery offers four individual tiers, starting with the Free Basic plan that provides self-service opt-outs. Next is the Core plan, which offers removal from over 110 sites, monthly automated scans and opt-outs, opt-out progress tracking, exposure risk reporting, and more.
To remove your data from even more sites, you can opt for the Extended plan (covering over 275 sites) or the Ultimate plan (with coverage for more than 385 sites). For custom removal requests, you’ll have to go with the latter as well.
Though Optery doesn’t have a dedicated family plan, you can get 30% off for each registered member.
As you can see, Optery reaches its full potential only with the more expensive plans, as most brokers and advanced features are locked behind a paywall, which can be considered a major copout.
All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can confidently explore premium features and services. If you're not entirely satisfied, simply request a full refund within the first month of your subscription.
Free Optery: Is the freebie tier enough?
Optery's Free Basic, while providing limited features compared to the paid plans, is a fantastic entry point for those interested in removing their data from the web.
To begin using it, all you need to do is sign up for an Optery account. Once you land on your dashboard, you’ll get an overview of your account and data removal progress.
Look for the “View” links in the “Link to Profile” column of the dashboard, as Optery will generate a list of sites where your data appears. Review the list and select the sites you want to opt out of. Optery will guide you through the opt-out process for each site. Some sites may require you to send an email, while others might have an online form. Also, you can initiate scans periodically to keep an eye on your online data.
As expected, there are some severe limitations, like the finite number of data broker sites for opt-out requests compared to the paid plans. Also, you will have to do everything on your own.
Competition: What are the best alternatives to Optery?
Optery is not the only sheriff in town when it comes to data removal:
| Provider | Coverage | Availability | Extra features | Price |
| Optery | 375 (675+ with expanded reach) | US-only | Free tier available | $3.99/mo |
| Incogni | 270+ | US, Canada, the UK, the Isle of Man, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and all of the EU | Custom removal requests, free risk assessment, automatic repeat requests | $8.29/mo |
| DeleteMe | 180+ (750 with custom requests) | US, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, UK | Email and phone masking, detailed privacy reports, custom removal requests | $10.75/mo annually $8.71/mo bi-annually |
| Privacy Bee | 200-430+ | US-only | Powerful browser extension and a free risk assessment | $8/mo annually |
Despite the numbers leaning slightly in favor of Optery, in actuality, Incogni offers a more thorough scrub at a more reasonable price, as it also removes data from risk mitigation, recruitment, and financial information brokers. Moreover, Incogni is much more affordable and offers unlimited removals in its ‘Unlimited’ plan for a fraction of the price of Optery’s ‘Ultimate’ tier.
DeleteMe, on the other hand, introduces extra privacy features such as a nifty browser extension.
Privacy Bee is another strong contender, and even though Optery’s most affordable plan is cheaper than that of Privacy Bee, the latter still has an edge in terms of pure features.
Optery review conclusion: Is Optery worth the cost?
Our thorough testing has affirmed Optery as a trustworthy and highly effective data removal service, presenting a compelling solution for those in pursuit of comprehensive online privacy protection. With its wide array of features, including automated data removal, data broker detection, and custom removal requests, Optery shines as a great choice for data removal.
While some competing services simply provide more value for your dollar, Optery is undoubtedly a rock-solid fit for different types of users. However, you’ll have to cash out the big bucks for the ‘Ultimate’ plan in order to reap the full benefits of the service.
Other data removal guides:
- Best Data Removal Services
- Incogni Review
- DeleteMe Review
- Privacy Bee Review
- Privacy Bee vs Incogni
- Incogni vs Optery
- Optery vs DeleteMe
- How to Delete Your Digital Footprint
- How to Delete Yourself from the Internet
- How to Massively Reduce Junk Email and Spam
- How to Not Get Doxxed
- How to Opt Out of Whitepages
- How to Stop Spam Calls and Robocalls
Optery FAQs
Does Optery really work?
Yes, according to our own experience and in-depth testing for this review, as well as positive user reviews, Optery works well. It is effective in helping users locate and opt out of their personal data on data broker websites. It has also proven to be a useful tool in preventing spam calls and identity theft.
What does Optery remove?
Optery specializes in removing your personal data from a wide range of data brokers that share and sell information like your home address, phone number, and email online.
How does Optery work?
Optery initiates its process by creating an exposure report, which matches your personal information with profiles on various data broker sites. You can then choose to remove your data manually or opt for a paid subscription, allowing Optery to handle the process on your behalf.
Where is Optery located?
Optery is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. While based there, it operates as a fully remote global team, backed by investments from renowned firms like Y Combinator, Bayhouse Capital, Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, Pioneer Fund, and more.
Leave a Reply