
Scammers love data brokers — but you shouldn’t. These shady sites sell your personal info without your consent, exposing you to spam, scams, and worse. DeleteMe and Optery help erase your data, putting control back in your hands. The real question is: what’s the score in the great Optery vs DeleteMe comparison?
Join us as we look beyond wild marketing claims and explore the intricacies of these services.
DeleteMe | Optery | |
Website | JoinDeleteMe.com | Optery.com |
Price | $6.97-34.40/month | $3.99-$24.99/month |
Availability | The US, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Singapore | The US only |
Coverage | 750+ data brokers (most require custom requests) | 610+ data brokers (including custom requests) |
Extra security features | Email, phone, and payment card masking, detailed privacy reports, custom removal requests, and free privacy scans | Privacy browser extension and custom removal requests |
Support | Live chat, email, social media, and knowledge base | Live chat, email, email, social media, and knowledge base |
Best deal | 20% Off Discount > | 20% Off Discount > |
Highlights from our DeleteMe and Optery comparison
DeleteMe’s the seasoned pro, while Optery’s the tech-savvy upstart. The former has been around longer and offers detailed reports on your data removals, while the latter leans into automation and full transparency with live screenshots of its progress.
DeleteMe removes data from a wider range of broker sites across multiple countries, while Optery sticks mainly to the US but offers a streamlined, automated experience.
Optery’s automation makes removals faster. DeleteMe’s hands-on approach can take longer, but it provides a thorough, carefully tracked process.
DeleteMe vs Optery: Which company is more trustworthy?
Not all data removal services are created equal, though DeleteMe and Optery both promise to help you take control of your online footprint. Not all data removal services are created equal, though DeleteMe and Optery both promise to help you take control of your online footprint.
DeleteMe overview

Owned by Abine, Inc., DeleteMe has been building a solid reputation as an effective data removal service since 2010. With a 4.5-star rating on TrustPilot and 82% of users giving it a perfect 5-star score, DeleteMe has earned strong praise for its efficacy and customer support. Originally US-based, the company has expanded its data-removal shield to users in the UK, Canada, Australia, and beyond.
Of course, no service is perfect. Some critics claim it’s lagging behind newer competitors, and misrepresenting the number of data brokers is somewhat of a blemish on an otherwise solid service.
DeleteMe pros and cons
Before you sign up for DeleteMe, it’s worth weighing the pros and cons. Let’s take a deep dive into what it does well — and where it could do better.
+ Pros
- Convenient opt-out handling
- Custom requests available
- Email, phone, and payment card masking options
- Multiple support channels such as email, live chat, and web contact form
- Provides how-tos for free do-it-yourself removals
- User-friendly interface
– Cons
- No round-the-clock customer support
- No free trial or free tier
- Privacy policy concerns
- May share your private information with third parties in an anonymized form
Optery overview

Optery may have entered the data removal race relatively recently, but it’s already making waves. Founded in 2020 by Lawrence Gentilello, this San Francisco-based service works hard to shield your private data from data brokers and people search sites.
With an impressive 4.4-star rating on TrustPilot and 81% of users giving it a perfect 5-star score, Optery has quickly established itself as a trustworthy and reliable choice for protecting user privacy online.
Although it does the job perfectly (company sources claim it’s 95% effective), there are a few problems with Optery, mainly the fact that the full broker network is locked behind higher-priced tiers. personal information online.
Optery pros and cons
Curious if Optery’s the right fit? Let’s weigh the pros and cons of choosing it for your online privacy protection:
+ Pros
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans
- Automated opt-outs with paid plans
- Privacy browser extension included
- Removes data from 610+ sites
- Detailed removal reports with screenshots
- Easy-to-use interface
- Custom removal requests with premium plan
- 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
Both DeleteMe and Optery claim to scrub your personal info off the internet, but who’s really doing the heavy lifting? Let’s compare their features and find out.
Data removal process: How do DeleteMe and Optery remove your data from the internet?
DeleteMe | Optery | |
Type of data removal | Manual, via human experts | Automatic, via algorithms and artificial intelligence |
Custom removal requests | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Recurring removals | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Data removal process duration | From 7 days to a few weeks | From a few days to a few weeks |
Privacy reports | Yes, every three months | Yes, monthly with paid plans |
When it comes to scrubbing your personal info from data broker databases, DeleteMe and Optery take different approaches..
DeleteMe uses a team of actual people to manually submit opt-out requests to big-name data brokers. They don’t just do it once and hope for the best — they circle back every few months to make sure your info stays wiped.
Since data brokers are relentless, and some details like public records are tougher to keep off the grid, you can help the process along by flagging specific sites you want them to target through custom requests.
Optery, on the other hand, brings automation into the mix. It scans the web for your exposed details, fires off removal requests, and keeps an eye out for any sneaky reappearances. One of its standout features is the before-and-after snapshots of where your data was found, so you can see exactly what’s been scrubbed.
Privacy compliance and regulations: What laws power DeleteMe and Optery?
DeleteMe and Optery adhere to strict privacy laws to ensure everything’s done by the book.
For starters, they play by the rules of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.
On top of that, DeleteMe and Optery earned SOC 2 Type II certifications, a big deal in the data security world. These are issued by the AICPA and prove that the duo follows strict standards for keeping private information safe and sound.
Availability: Does DeleteMe or Optery cover more countries?
DeleteMe | Optery |
✅United States of America (50 States) ✅European Union (Limited) ✅United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Limited) ✅Canada️ ✅Singapore️ ❌Switzerland️ ❌Norway️ ❌Iceland️ ❌Liechtenstein | ✅United States of America (50 States) ❌European Union ❌United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ❌Canada ️❌Singapore ️❌Switzerland ️❌Norway ️❌Iceland ️❌Liechtenstein |
Location matters in trusting someone to wipe your data off the internet. After years of focusing only on the US market, DeleteMe extended its reach to Canada, Australia, and several European countries.
Optery, on the other hand, is available only in the US.
Availability category winner: DeleteMe
Core features comparison: Which service has better features?
Both services do the trick, but there are a few key differences you should be aware of.
Data broker coverage: Does DeleteMe or Optery cover more data brokers?
DeleteMe boasts an impressive capability to remove data from over 750 data broker sites, significantly outpacing Optery’s coverage of more than 375 sites. This broader reach means that DeleteMe can potentially protect your data from a larger number of sources.
However, both vendors are somewhat misleading, with DeleteMe being more problematic.
In DeleteMe’s case, that big number includes plenty of one-off, custom removal requests, which can make the total seem bigger than it is. In reality, the “automated” confirmed requests are limited to 181.
Optery, on the other hand, requires you to go for the more expensive plans to make full use of the entire 375+ network of data brokers.
It’s also worth noting that DeleteMe and Optery currently only work against people search sites and marketing data brokers, as you can see in the table below.
DeleteMe | Optery |
✅People search sites ✅Marketing data brokers ❌Risk mitigation brokers️ ❌Recruitment data brokers️ ❌Financial information brokers | ✅People search sites ✅Marketing data brokers ❌Risk mitigation brokers ❌Recruitment data brokers ❌Financial information brokers |
Data broker coverage winner: Tie
Reporting: Who provides more in-depth removal reports?
Want proof that your data is disappearing? The good news is that DeleteMe and Optery deliver on this front.
Optery keeps things visual with monthly removal reports for paid users. These aren’t just generic updates — they include before-and-after screenshots showing exactly where your data was found and what’s been erased. It’s a great way to see the progress in real time without having to just take the vendor’s word for it.
DeleteMe digs deeper with quarterly privacy reports. Instead of just snapshots, you get a full rundown of which brokers had your data, what details were exposed (like your phone number, address, or even past jobs), and how long each removal took. They even flag any pending requests, so you know which companies are dragging their feet.
Reporting winner: DeleteMe
Automation and efficiency
DeleteMe combines automation with manual procedures, though the brunt of the work falls on privacy experts employed by the service.
In contrast, Optery relies on pure automation as it scans the web for personal details across data broker sites and initiates opt-out requests.
Automation winner: Optery
Custom removal requests
Sometimes, data leaks show up in unexpected places, which is where custom removal requests come in handy. Both DeleteMe and Optery let you flag specific details you want erased — but the way they do it varies.
With DeleteMe, you get unlimited custom removal requests built right into your plan (in fact, most requests fall into this category). If you find your private info floating around somewhere the company doesn’t already cover, just send it DeleteMe’s way and its team will take care of it. This is a great option for anyone who wants that extra layer of control.
Optery’s “Ultimate” plan also includes custom removals, letting you request takedowns from data brokers beyond its standard coverage. There’s no hard limit on requests, but processing starts 30 days after you subscribe.
Custom requests winner: DeleteMe
Additional security features
DeleteMe | Optery | |
Privacy-focused browser extensions | ❌ | ✔️ |
Email, phone, and payment card masking | ✔️ | ❌ |
Free privacy scan | ✔️ | ❌ |
Free trial or free tier | ❌ | ✔️ |
Both DeleteMe and Optery throw in some extra to sweeten the deal.
Think of these as bonus tools and features that level up your privacy game. But which one’s bringing the best surprises to the table? Let’s see who’s got the coolest perks.

Optery gets a leg up with its Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser extension, available for Chrome. It's like a privacy superhero that automatically tells websites, “Hey, I’d rather not share my data.” One click, and it sends out your privacy preferences, helping keep you off those pesky data broker lists. It's rather easy to use and gives you some peace of mind as you surf the web.
DeleteMe fires back with a series of nifty masking tools. You can create alternate email addresses, phone numbers, and even disposable card numbers to use in place of your real info. These masked details still route to your main inbox or phone, so you don’t miss anything important — but they’re safe from prying eyes.

On top of that, DeleteMe's phone masking feature helps keep robocalls at bay by giving you a secondary number that’s still linked to your primary line. It's a clever way to maintain privacy without cutting off connections. Whether it’s emails, phone calls, or payment info, DeleteMe makes it easy to stay anonymous without missing a beat.
Both services also provide a few freebies. In the case of DeleteMe, it’s a free exposure scan, and with Optery, it’s a limited free tier with self-service opt-outs.
Additional features winner: Tie
Ease of use and user interface: Is DeleteMe or Optery more user-friendly?
The duo makes it easy to clean up your digital footprint, but if you’re looking for a no-fuss experience, DeleteMe takes the win.

From the start, DeleteMe keeps things smooth and simple — just enter your info and boom, it gets to work behind the scenes. The dashboard is clean, easy to navigate, and packed with helpful visuals like charts and graphs to show your data removal progress without being overwhelming. Plus, the service does all the heavy lifting and checks in quarterly with clear, digestible reports. No micromanaging required!

Optery is great if you love details. It goes the extra mile by showing you actual screenshots of where your data appears, which is super transparent, but also means there’s more info to process. The vendor also updates users monthly instead of quarterly, which is nice if you like frequent updates, though it requires a bit more hands-on attention.
Ease of use category winner: DeleteMe
Security and privacy: Is DeleteMe or Optery a safer choice?
DeleteMe | Optery | |
Encryption | 256-bit AES and TLS 1.2 | 256-bit AES and TLS 1.3 |
Two-factor authentication | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Multi-factor authentication | ❌ | ✔️ |
Collects user data and shares it with third parties | Yes, minimal | Yes, minimal |
Extra security and privacy tools | Yes (email, phone, and payment card privacy masking) | Yes (privacy browser extension) |
Both DeleteMe and Optery use AES-256 encryption (the same as banks and governments) to keep your data safe. DeleteMe also runs regular internal audits to catch risks early.
Optery adds extra safeguards, like access control to limit employee data access and two-factor authentication (2FA). That said, while stored data is encrypted with AES-256, data in transit only gets TLS encryption, not the strongest option.
DeleteMe follows best practices with HTTPS for all data requests, compliance with GDPR and CCPA, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) via authenticator apps or email codes. Neither service sells your data, but DeleteMe may share it in limited legal situations.
Winner: DeleteMe
Customer support and resources: Who has more helpful support?
Optery | DeleteMe |
✅24/7 Live Support ✅Live chat️ ✅Social media️ ✅Web form️ ✅FAQs / Help desk | ❌️Live Support: Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 8 PM ET ✅Live chat ️✅Social media ️✅Web form ️✅FAQs / Help desk |
Good customer support can make or break a service, especially when dealing with sensitive data.

DeleteMe offers multiple support options, including phone, live chat, and email (available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM ET). While not widely advertised, the live chat feature is particularly helpful — our experience showed that responses were prompt, polite, and informative. Plus, email queries often get answered within an hour, making it a great option for users in different time zones.

Optery also offers multiple support channels, including live chat, email, and a help desk with step-by-step guides.
Although the two services are amazing in this department, DeleteMe does fall behind in terms of live chat.
Customer support category winner: Optery
Plans and pricing: Does DeleteMe or Optery offer greater value for money?
Let’s start with DeleteMe:
Duration | Single | Couple | Family | Premium |
1-year | $10.75/month | $19.08/month | $27.42/month | $35.40/month |
2-year | $8.71/month | $14.54/month | $20.79/month | / |
The standard subscription covers all major data broker sites and includes public Google-able listings removed within days, as well as new opt-outs added all year at no additional cost.
DeleteMe doesn't offer a free trial or a free tier, but it does have a fairly flexible refund policy. If you change your mind before your first privacy report is ready, you can request a full refund with no questions asked.
Optery is slightly cheaper:
Duration | Free | Core | Extended | Ultimate |
1-year | Yes | $3.25/month | $12.42/month | $20.79/month |
1-month | Yes | $3.99/month | $14.99/month | $24.99/month |
The Core plan is rather affordable, but it’s quite limited, supporting only 110 sites. The Extended plan provides opt-outs from 275 sites, while the Ultimate plan provides the full network of 385 websites and allows you to send custom requests.
Unfortunately, lower-tiered plans are significantly limited, so you’ll have to move your way up the ladder to get the best results.
While DeleteMe is a tiny bit more expensive, it doesn’t hide the features behind a paywall. As such, its cheaper plan offers much more value than the Optery counterpart.
Plans and pricing category winner: DeleteMe
DeleteMe vs Optery: Which one is better for you?
With the task of removing your personal data from the internet before them, DeleteMe and Optery each bring something unique to the table. Both are trusted services in the data removal space with solid reputations for safeguarding user privacy and a high level of transparency about their processes.
There is no doubt that the two bring their A-game. But if you want comprehensive coverage, reliable support, and top-tier security in one package, DeleteMe gets our vote. It's the one-stop shop for those who like their digital protection to be as thorough as it gets.
Other data removal guides:
- Best Data Removal Services
- Incogni Review
- Optery Review
- DeleteMe Review
- Privacy Bee Review
- Privacy Bee vs Incogni
- Incogni vs Optery
- Incogni 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
DeleteMe vs Optery FAQ
How do DeleteMe and Optery ensure the security of my personal data?
DeleteMe and Optery ensure the security of your personal data through advanced security protocols, including AES-256 encryption and two-factor authentication, providing robust protection against unauthorized access.
Can I request the removal of specific data with DeleteMe and Optery?
Yes, both DeleteMe and Optery let you request the removal of specific data and offer unlimited requests
What are the pricing options for DeleteMe and Optery?
DeleteMe kicks off at $10.75/month for the yearly subscription, while Optery offers more budget-friendly options, starting at just $3.25/month. Plus, Optery has a free plan with self-service opt-outs if you’re up for some DIY privacy protection. While Optery is cheaper, to get full use of the service, you’ll have to sign up for higher-tiered plans.
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