Most people don't think much about their personal information online. That is, until spam, cold calls, or unwanted profiling become impossible to ignore, not to mention possible identity fraud. Names, phone numbers, addresses, and background details are collected and resold by private data broker companies every day.
Removing that information yourself is possible, but it's also time-consuming and rarely lasts. Records reappear, databases refresh, and new brokers emerge. As a result, data broker removal services are now vital privacy tools, and not only as a one-time fix, but as ongoing protection.
This guide reviews the best data-broker removal services available in 2026, how they differ, and which approach makes the most sense based on your objectives.
A Quick Look at Today's Options
| Service | Process | Coverage | Starting Price* |
| Incogni | Fully automated, recurring | recurring420+ broker databases | $7.99 |
| DeleteMe | Manual, human-led | ~100 listing-based brokers | $8.60 |
| Optery | Automated + manual | 300–600+ (by plan) | Free (self-service), the cheapest plan is $3.25 |
| Privacy Bee | Automated + manual | 400–1000 (by plan) | $8.00 |
| Onerep | Automated + manual | ~230 listing sites | $8.33 (5-day free trial) |
*Annualized pricing, subject to plan and region.
Incogni: Ongoing Removal, Not One-Off Cleanup
Incogni treats data removal as a process that, in today's world, will never really end, certainly not in the near future. After a brief setup and identity verification, it automatically sends deletion requests to hundreds of private data-broker companies and tracks their responses. Requests are reissued on a schedule to account for re-listings and database updates.
However, what makes Incogni stand out in 2026 is not just the top-notch automation system but also third-party reviews.
Its process has been reviewed through a Deloitte Independent Limited Assurance Assessment, confirming that removal requests are sent, tracked, and renewed as promised.
Major tech publications have taken notice of Incogni, too. PCMag awarded it an Editors' Choice for personal data removal. Also, PCWorld published a review praising Incogni's automated process and broad reach and awarding it the Editors' Choice badge.
All Incogni plans include the same fundamental protection: recurring removals across both listing-style sites and commercial databases. Higher tiers focus on convenience, such as priority handling, family coverage—not gatekeeping the basics.
Best for: People who want long-lasting protection of their online privacy with minimal effort on their part.
DeleteMe: Human-Led Removal System
DeleteMe has a dedicated team that manually manages removals and puts together quarterly updates. Reports often include before-and-after screenshots, which can reassure many users.
This approach can reduce the visibility of your data in search results. But, as removals are handled manually and reviewed on a schedule, progress is delivered in regular intervals rather than through continuous, automated monitoring.
When it comes to pricing, it varies primarily based on the number of users.
Best for: Users who prefer human-managed processes over automation and want tangible evidence, such as screenshots.
Optery: Semi-Automated Removal System
Optery offers a blend of automation and user involvement. First, you provide the details. After that, the service scans various databases to locate your personal data and then sends removal requests on your behalf.
Some requests are handled automatically, while others require minimal user input, e.g., confirming identity or completing a specific step. The level of automation and broker coverage both depend on the subscription plan.
What defines Optery is transparency. Its dashboard clearly displays the brokers that hold your data, the actions taken to remove it, and what is still pending. This gives users a sense of control while also meaning the process isn't entirely hands-off. Ongoing protection depends partly on user follow-through.
At the time of publication, Optery hasn't published any third-party verification of its removal system.
Best for: Users who want to locate their data and are comfortable participating in the removal process.
Privacy Bee: Not Only Data Removal
With Privacy Bee, data-broker removal is a part of a broader privacy toolkit. After onboarding, it submits removal requests to brokers and directory-style sites, but also offers features such as marketing opt-outs and breach monitoring.
The removal process is hybrid. Some requests are automated, while others require manual handling or confirmation. Coverage varies by plan: entry plans scan common listing sites, while higher tiers expand into additional marketing and profiling databases.
Because Privacy Bee combines several privacy features, its interface and user experience are more complex but less specialized. Data removal is one component, not the sole focus, and progress tracking is less specific than in tools explicitly built for broker opt-outs.
Privacy Bee does not provide independent assessments of how its removal process operates behind the scenes.
Best for: Users who want data-broker removal bundled with other privacy and identity protections.
Onerep: Focused Removal from Public Listings
Onerep scans public sources and directory websites for your personal details and submits removal requests for any listings found. The service uses a combination of automation and manual work, depending on each site's opt-out processing. It also performs regular rescans to detect when anything reappears to suppress those listings again.
Onerep's scope is highly focused. It prioritizes profiles that appear in search results over commercial databases. Its dashboard reflects this, showing progress primarily on directory-style removals.
There is no third-party assessment of Onerep's internal removal process. Also, its coverage doesn't go far beyond non-public networks.
Best for: Users whose primary concern is removing addresses, phone numbers, and profiles from search results.
Final Verdict: Which Data Broker Removal Service Is the 2026 Winner?
So, do data broker removal services actually work? And can they work long-term? Yes, but only when the process is continuous and overseen.
Providers focusing on manual cleanup can reduce your visibility in search results. Hybrid approaches, on the other hand, offer more flexibility and deeper insight. But in 2026, the most effective protection comes from systems designed to operate ceaselessly and quietly behind the scenes.
That's why Incogni can be an excellent choice. Thanks to automation, broad coverage, and third-party recognition, it is perfect for users who want data brokers to stop trading their personal information, not just to limit listings that include their name.
For long-term privacy, consistency is key.
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