Best for Phone and Email Protection

4.0

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On DeleteMe's website

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DeleteMe

• Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
• 100+ million successful opt-out removals
• Provides continued removals every three months
• No 24/7 customer support

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Best for Bundling Protection

4.9

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On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

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Best for Hands-Off Data Removal

4.0

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On Incogni's website

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Incogni

• Limits public access to your information and keeps your data from being sold
• Fast response and removal
• Low maintenance
• No extra security features

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Best for Low-Maintenance Use

4.0

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On HelloPrivacy's website

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HelloPrivacy

• See if your address, phone number, or other info is exposed in seconds
• Comprehensive reports
• Easy to request info deletion
• No extra features

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Best for DIY Data Removal

4.0

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On Optery's website

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Optery

• Has a free plan that finds your data on broker sites
• Removals Report comes with screenshots to prove progress
• AES-256 encryption isn't always used

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Data brokers are constantly collecting your data to sell for people searches, marketing purposes, and basically to anyone who wants to pay for it. Data removal services can help you track down the broker databases and simplify the removal process.

Some services like Aura come with full identity protection as well as data broker services, while others like Incogni can be bundled with tools like a virtual private network (VPN). We also like DeleteMe for reducing phone and email spam, HelloPrivacy for its low-maintenance approach, and Optery for its freemium service that can help your DIY data removal efforts.

If you want to reduce spam, decrease the risk of identity theft, and clean up your online presence, a data removal service can help. But which one of these is going to be the best for you?

The best data removal services 2024

While data brokers aren’t illegal, they are legally required to delete your information if requested. Unfortunately, not all of them comply with data removal requests, so a removal service like one of the five below can go to work battling the brokers to give you more online anonymity.

Data privacy is important and can help reduce the spam clutter in your life as well as help you avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

• DeleteMe: Best for bundling with phone and email protection
• Aura: Best for bundling with identity theft protection services
• Incogni: Best for hands-off data removal
• HelloPrivacy: Best for low-maintenance use
• Optery: Best for DIY data removal

Comparing the top 5 ways to remove your personal data from the internet

Data removal service	DeleteMe	Aura	Incogni	HelloPrivacy	Optery
Starting price	$129.00/yr (approx. $10.75/mo)	$12.00/mo	$6.49/mo	$49.99/mo	$3.99/mo
Free trial		Yes — 14 days
Data broker opt-out
Number of data brokers covered	750+	20+	170	50+	Up to 270+
Privacy reports
Learn more	Get DeleteMe Read DeleteMe Review	Get Aura Read Aura Review	Get Incogni Read Incogni Review	Get HelloPrivacy Read HelloPrivacy Review	Read Optery Review

DeleteMe: Best for bundling with phone and email protection

4.0

Use code PARTNER20 for 20% off

Learn More

On DeleteMe's website

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DeleteMe

• Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
• 100+ million successful opt-out removals
• Provides continued removals every three months
• No 24/7 customer support

What we liked

Have you ever gotten an early morning call that turned out to be a telemarketer? DeleteMe can help with that. In addition to data removal services, DeleteMe offers email, phone, and credit card masking.

That way, you can still browse the internet doing things you want but with the added security of having your information masked. Who doesn’t want less spam, fewer text messages, or to not be bothered by calls asking about your car’s extended warranty?

DeleteMe contacts over 750 data brokers to remove your data, which is the most data brokers we’ve seen on this list. Its commitment to privacy and data removal is really impressive.

That commitment is extended for the entire life of your subscription with DeleteMe continuing to remove data every three months. Over time, you’ll notice less and less spam as the service continues to remove your sensitive data from the internet.

What we didn’t like

The phone, email, and card masking are such great features that can really reduce spam. The phone masking, however, comes with a $7.00 one-time fee. It’s not a deal-breaker, but since you’re paying for the service already, it could be included.

We also noticed that in addition to email and phone support, there’s a chatbot on the customer service page, but it’s only active from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. If you need assistance outside those hours, you’ll have to wait for a reply email. Phone support is available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

DeleteMe specs

Aura: Best for bundling with identity theft protection services

4.9

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On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

What we liked

Aura’s service is a useful tool for the entire family. We liked that it monitored our spending based on the threshold we set, which can be helpful when teaching teens with jobs about money management.

Also, Aura provides parental controls and identity protection for even the youngest family members. If you are living a child-free life, the tools are just as effective for singles and partners, with the ability to monitor the dark web for your data and request data removal from brokers.

Admittedly, Aura isn’t just a data removal service. That’s why it’s great for people bundling their data removal services with identity protection services. Aura asks some questions when you first sign up to make sure it covers all of the things that are important to you. If you aren’t sure what aspects of your data protection you want to cover, Aura can help you figure that out. We were fans of how comprehensive this service is for anyone.

What we didn’t like

Aura can be expensive, and you can’t purchase services a la carte. If you’re looking for data removal and nothing else, this is likely not the service for you.

Also, we would have liked it to provide both VantageScore and a FICO score. We only received our VantageScore, which could make it difficult to gauge what you need for a new purchase, depending on your lender.

Aura specs

Incogni: Best for hands-off data removal

4.0

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On Incogni's website

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Incogni

• Limits public access to your information and keeps your data from being sold
• Fast response and removal
• Low maintenance
• No extra security features

What we liked

Incogni lists all of the sites it contacts on your behalf as well as what types of data those sites collect. It gives you a well-rounded overview of how you’re being indexed online.

Something else you’ll find throughout your dashboard is helpful tips or general information regarding data removal. All of it goes together to give you not only a good product but also a better understanding of how these data brokers work.

Incogni is owned by Surfshark, the powerful VPN service that offers many online safety features. At first, Surfshark didn’t offer a bundle plan that included Incogni, but now it offers Surfshark One+, which includes Incogni. We like having the option to purchase the service by itself or wrap it into Surfshark’s VPN, antivirus, and identity protection services.

What we didn’t like

Incogni doesn’t include email privacy services, privacy reports, or real-time alerts. You’ll have to keep logging into your dashboard to check progress. While this isn’t a deal breaker, it’s still a little annoying.

You can get these services if you bundle Incogni into a Surfshark One+ subscription, but that can be pricey.

Incogni specs

HelloPrivacy: Best for low maintenance use

4.0

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On HelloPrivacy's website

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HelloPrivacy

• See if your address, phone number, or other info is exposed in seconds
• Comprehensive reports
• Easy to request info deletion
• No extra features

What we liked

There’s a dark web scanner built into HelloPrivacy as well as the data broker scanner. It also offers advice and templates on how to request your data be removed from sites that don’t respond to its efforts. Finally, if the data broker continues to retain your information, HelloPrivacy walks you through how to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to have your information removed.

The dark web scanner allows you to scan multiple email addresses for potential data leaks. You can scan up to five separate email addresses, which means you can cover all your accounts or multiple people’s accounts. If you find your email on the dark web, HelloPrivacy walks you through the next steps.

What we didn’t like

Other than the dark web scanner and the data removal services, there aren’t any other features offered. Also, it’s not the most robust as far as the number of data brokers it scans. While DeleteMe checks over 750 data brokers, HelloPrivacy checks just over 50.

HelloPrivacy specs

Optery: Best for DIY data removal

4.0

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On Optery's website

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Optery

• Has a free plan that finds your data on broker sites
• Removals Report comes with screenshots to prove progress
• AES-256 encryption isn't always used

What we liked

Out of all of the data removal services, we like Optery for its free plan that shows you (most) everywhere your data is listed online. This is helpful for people who want to reduce their online footprint but may not have it in their budget to include another monthly subscription.

Optery aggregates the data so you can begin to request removal yourself. The process takes more effort when you DIY data removal, but Optery provides a welcomed first step.

Optery’s free plan sends you a report every 90 days. If you choose to pay for an upgrade, you’ll receive a monthly report and other features like the ability to opt out of new data broker sites. We love the ability to choose between upgrading or sticking with a free plan.

What we didn’t like

Optery doesn’t always use AES-256-bit encryption. If you aren’t familiar, this is military-grade encryption used to secure data. Any data stored in Optery’s coffers is encrypted with AES-256, but any data in transit (like a request to remove your information) only uses TLS, which isn’t as secure. While we don’t love this, it could be acceptable if you’re doing the removal requests yourself.

Optery specs

Honorable mentions

We’ve done the rounds checking out the data deletion services available. The five data removal services we chose for this piece aren’t the only ones we’ve had the chance to review. Bitdefender, Hogo Privacy Defense, and Privacy Bee all offer data removal. If none of our prior suggestions fit your bill, try:

• Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection
• Hogo Privacy Defense
• Privacy Bee

How we tested the best data removal services

Each service was tested by one of our writers and reviewed for features, price, usability, and convenience. We chose the top five data removal service providers based on our testing and included a nod to three others we found useful (but didn’t quite make the cut.)

When looking at a data removal service, you’ll want to make sure it has some key aspects. Since there are so many data broker websites, you’ll want to make sure the one you choose sends requests to a lot of them, as well as follows up and searches for more. Some key points to look out for include:

• Follows up to make sure data stays gone
• Searches for new brokers regularly
• Offers templates or guides when you have to request the removal yourself
• Automatically removes as much sensitive information as it can without requiring too much effort from you
• Credit monitoring
• Dark web monitoring
• Money-back guarantee
• Fraud monitoring with easy access to changing passwords for accounts with weak, compromised, or reused passwords
• Monitors social media accounts or other online accounts that hold a lot of personal info

Are data removal services worth it?

Data removal services are worth it for a number of reasons. First, they can help reduce the amount of annoying spam you get in the form of phone calls, emails, and text messages.

They’re especially worthwhile if you’ve ever been the victim of a phishing scam. Phishing scams like credit card number grabbers or fake tech support scams aren’t just from data breaches.

Additionally, data removal services can increase your peace of mind by increasing your online privacy. You also lower your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft or cybercrime. Criminals are looking for fast, easy targets. If they have to hunt down information about you, they’re more likely to move on to a person who requires less effort.

What is a data broker and how do they get my information?

A data broker collects information from all over the web and pieces it together to create a complete (and very creepy) picture of you. Data brokers collect information from what’s free and available online, as well as purchasing it from other sources.

Ever sign up for a new internet service provider (ISP) and suddenly notice your spam emails shoot up? That’s because that company double-dipped by charging you for your service and selling your info to a data broker. Data brokers, in turn, sell your data to people search sites, marketing lists, and anyone else willing to pay for it.

Social media sites, public records, loyalty programs, mobile apps, and anywhere else you share something personal about yourself can sell that data to a broker. Websites track you online, and all of this is compiled into little virtual folders of information on you just waiting to be sold. It’s all completely legal because the information is usually public record, so you should be cautious about how and what you share online.

One of our favorite episodes of “Parks and Recreation” is where Leslie Knope finally finds out Ron Swanson’s birthday. Ron couldn’t resist a free scoop of Rum Raisin he received by signing up for a birthday club, and Leslie could track it down. Next time you share something online, consider if that proverbial scoop of Rum Raisin is worth it to give up your data.

Bottom line: The best data removal services

In all our testing, we haven’t found a truly horrible, worthless data removal site. We chose these five for the features they include or the simplicity offered. Whether you’re looking to DIY your data removal and need some help getting started with such a time-consuming activity or want a full-fledged data removal powerhouse behind you, you’ll find that with one of these services.

5 best data removal services 2024

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
DeleteMe	$129.00/yr	Best for bundling with phone and email protection	Get DeleteMe Read DeleteMe Review
Aura	$12.00/mo	Best for bundling with identity theft protection services	Get Aura Read Aura Review
Incogni	$6.49/mo	Best for hands-off data removal	Get Incogni Read Incogni Review
HelloPrivacy	$49.99/mo	Best for low maintenance use	Get HelloPrivacy Read HelloPrivacy Review
Optery	$3.99/mo	Best for DIY data removal	Read Optery Review

Best data removal services FAQs

4.0

Use code PARTNER20 for 20% off

Learn More

On DeleteMe's website

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DeleteMe

• Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
• 100+ million successful opt-out removals
• Provides continued removals every three months
• No 24/7 customer support

Author Details

Mary James

About the Author

Mary lives in Los Angeles and has been a cybersecurity writer for over five years. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, her career in online security began in sales and content creation for a private cybersecurity firm.