Incogni vs DeleteMe: 2 Powerful Ways to Remove Your Personal Data

Your personal information is being sold right now. Data brokers across the internet are collecting your name, address, phone number, and email, then packaging that information to sell to marketers, scammers, and anyone willing to pay. This isn’t some distant privacy concern. It’s happening on hundreds of websites, and it’s putting you at risk for identity theft, spam calls, and targeted scams.

Two services have emerged as leaders in fighting this problem: Incogni and DeleteMe. Both promise to scrub your personal data from data broker databases, but they take completely different approaches. One relies on full automation and covers 420+ sites from day one. The other uses human privacy experts to manually process removals but fragments its coverage across different subscription tiers.

This comparison cuts through the marketing claims to show you exactly what each data removal service delivers in 2026. You’ll see real pricing, actual broker coverage numbers, and the fundamental differences in how these services protect your online privacy. Whether you need automated protection that runs quietly in the background or prefer quarterly reports with human oversight, this guide helps you choose the right solution for removing your personal information from the internet.

Understanding Data Removal Services in 2026

Before comparing Incogni vs DeleteMe, it’s important to understand what data broker removal services actually do. These tools exist because manually opting out of hundreds of data brokers would take 100+ hours of work. Instead, privacy protection services automate the process of finding your information and submitting opt-out requests on your behalf.

Data brokers operate by collecting your information from public records, social media platforms, online purchases, and other sources. They compile this into detailed profiles that include:

• Full name and aliases
• Current and past addresses
• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Age and date of birth
• Family members and associates
• Employment history
• Property ownership records

These profiles get sold to marketers, insurance companies, background check services, and unfortunately, scammers looking for targets. A single data breach can expose information that gets amplified when combined with data broker profiles, making you vulnerable to sophisticated identity theft schemes.

Data removal services work by acting as your authorized agent. You provide your information, and they systematically contact people search sites and other data brokers to request deletion. The key differences between services come down to automation level, data broker coverage, verification methods, and how they handle ongoing monitoring.

Incogni: Automated Data Removal at Scale

Incogni takes a fully automated approach to personal data removal. Owned by Surfshark, the company behind one of the top VPN services, Incogni has built a system that handles everything from initial scans to ongoing opt-out requests without requiring user intervention.

How Incogni Works

The setup process takes about 5 minutes. You provide your name, email address, and current address. Incogni asks for additional details like past addresses and phone numbers to ensure comprehensive coverage. Once you authorize the service, the automation kicks in immediately.

Incogni scans people search sites every 60 days and commercial data brokers every 90 days. When it finds your information, it automatically submits removal requests. The dashboard shows real-time progress, tracking which sites have your data, which removals are pending, and which are complete.

Incogni Data Broker Coverage

This is where Incogni stands out. The service covers 420+ data brokers with automatic removals, verified through an independent audit by Deloitte in August 2025. Every subscription tier gets access to all 420+ sites from day one. There’s no tiered system where basic users only get partial coverage.

The Deloitte audit confirmed:

• Coverage of 420+ data brokers
• Over 245 million successful removals completed
• Recurring removal requests every 60-90 days
• No affiliation with data brokers
• Proper handling of personal information

Beyond automated removals, Incogni’s Unlimited plan adds custom removal capabilities. You can submit links to any website where your information appears, not just traditional data broker sites. This includes forums, review sites, or any other platform. The service offers unlimited custom requests, handled by privacy specialists.

Incogni Pricing Structure

Incogni offers transparent pricing with four plan options:

Standard Plan: $15.98/month or $95.88/year ($7.99/month)

• 420+ data broker removals
• Automated scanning and requests
• Dashboard tracking

Unlimited Plan: $29.98/month or $179.88/year ($14.99/month)

• Everything in Standard
• Unlimited custom removals
• 2,000+ additional sites
• Phone support

Family Plan: $31.98/month or $191.88/year ($15.99/month)

• Covers up to 5 family members
• All Standard features

Family Unlimited: $45.98/month or $275.88/year

• Covers up to 5 family members
• All Unlimited features

The annual billing offers roughly 50% savings compared to monthly payments. All plans include the same 420+ data broker coverage, which differs from competitors that lock higher coverage behind expensive tiers.

Incogni User Experience

Users describe Incogni as “set and forget.” After initial setup, the service runs continuously without requiring attention. The dashboard provides visibility when you want it, showing:

• Total removals completed
• Requests in progress
• New exposures found
• Risk ratings for each data broker

Many users report seeing results within weeks. Spam calls decrease, unwanted marketing emails drop off, and targeted ads become less personalized. The automation means your privacy protection continues even if you never check the dashboard.

DeleteMe: Manual Privacy Protection with Human Experts

DeleteMe takes the opposite approach. Rather than relying on automation, the service employs privacy experts who manually search for your personal data and submit opt-out requests. This human-driven model has been operating since 2010, making it one of the longest-running data removal services.

How DeleteMe Works

After signing up, DeleteMe collects extensive information from you. The service asks for your full name, email, phone number, addresses, relative names, employer information, and even accepts a photo of your ID for thorough verification.

Privacy advisors then manually search data broker databases for your information. When they find matches, they submit removal requests following each site’s specific process. Some data brokers respond quickly, others take weeks. DeleteMe handles the follow-up communications and tracks everything.

DeleteMe Data Broker Coverage

Here’s where DeleteMe’s marketing gets confusing. The company claims coverage of 850+ data brokers, but that number is misleading. The actual breakdown shows:

Standard Plan: 85 data brokers with automatic removal Premium Plan: 100+ data brokers with automatic removal Higher Tiers: Access to additional brokers

The remaining 700+ sites fall under custom removal requests, where you get 40-60 requests per year depending on your plan. These aren’t automatic. You need to find where your information appears and specifically ask DeleteMe to handle it.

This tiered approach means most users don’t get the advertised 850+ coverage unless they upgrade to expensive business plans that cost thousands per year. The Standard plan, which most individuals purchase, covers 85 sites through the automatic service.

DeleteMe Pricing Options

DeleteMe offers subscription options based on who you’re covering and subscription length:

Individual Plans:

• 1 Year: $129/year ($10.75/month)
• 2 Years: $167/year ($6.97/month when averaged)

Couple Plans:

• 1 Year: $229/year
• 2 Years: $298/year

Family Plans (4 people):

• 1 Year: $329/year
• 2 Years: $428/year

The two-year plans offer better per-month pricing, but you’re committing to a longer contract period. All individual plans include the same features regardless of price, though data broker coverage increases if you upgrade to Premium Protection tier.

Additional features like phone masking cost extra ($7/month), while email and card masking are included.

DeleteMe Reporting and Updates

DeleteMe provides detailed quarterly reports showing exactly where your information was found and removed. These reports include screenshots as proof of removal, which some users find reassuring. You’re not just trusting that removals happened—you can see evidence.

The quarterly cycle means you get updates four times per year. Between reports, the service continues working on your behalf, but you won’t see progress in real-time like with Incogni’s dashboard.

DeleteMe User Experience

Users appreciate the hands-on approach and detailed reporting. The quarterly updates create touchpoints where you see exactly what DeleteMe accomplished. For people who want oversight and proof, this structured approach feels more secure than automated systems.

However, some users note that progress feels slower. Because the service relies on manual processes and quarterly cycles rather than continuous automation, new data broker listings might persist longer before the next review cycle catches them.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Incogni vs DeleteMe

Let’s break down the critical differences between these data removal services across the factors that matter most for privacy protection.

Data Broker Coverage: Quality vs Quantity

Incogni covers 420+ data brokers automatically on every plan. This number has been independently verified by Deloitte and includes both people search sites and private database brokers.

DeleteMe claims 850+ sites but only 85-100 of those are covered through automatic removal on standard plans. The rest require custom requests with annual limits of 40-60 requests.

Winner: Incogni provides broader automatic coverage from day one across all subscription tiers.

Automation vs Manual Processing

Incogni operates automatically after initial setup. It scans sites every 60-90 days, submits removal requests, tracks responses, and resubmits when needed. No ongoing user action required.

DeleteMe uses privacy advisors to manually search for your data and submit requests. This human touch means each removal is personally verified, but it also means the process moves at human speed.

Winner: Depends on preference. Incogni for continuous automated protection, DeleteMe for those who want human oversight.

Custom Removal Capabilities

Incogni’s Unlimited plan offers unlimited custom removals from 2,000+ sites beyond traditional data brokers. You can request removal from forums, review sites, news articles, or any platform.

DeleteMe limits custom requests to 40-60 per year depending on plan tier. The service focuses primarily on data broker and people search sites rather than general websites.

Winner: Incogni’s unlimited approach provides more flexibility for comprehensive online privacy.

Verification and Transparency

Incogni underwent an independent Limited Assurance Assessment by Deloitte verifying its processes, coverage claims, and data handling. The service also earned PCMag’s Editors’ Choice Award in 2026 and PCWorld’s Editors’ Choice badge.

DeleteMe relies on its long market history (since 2010) and provides quarterly reports with screenshots, but hasn’t undergone third-party auditing of its processes.

Winner: Incogni’s independent verification provides stronger assurance of claims.

Pricing and Value

Incogni charges $7.99-14.99/month (annual billing) with all 420+ data brokers included on every plan. Custom removals add $7/month.

DeleteMe charges $6.97-10.75/month (depending on 1 or 2-year commitment) but only includes 85 data brokers on the Standard plan unless you upgrade.

Winner: Incogni offers better value when comparing actual automatic coverage versus price.

User Experience and Control

Incogni provides a real-time dashboard showing ongoing progress, risk ratings for each data broker, and status of all removal requests. It’s a “set and forget” experience with visibility when wanted.

DeleteMe delivers structured quarterly reports with detailed findings and proof of removals. It requires more initial information but provides tangible evidence through screenshots.

Winner: Depends on preference for real-time tracking versus quarterly detailed reports.

International Coverage

Incogni covers data brokers across the US, EU, UK, and other international markets with one subscription.

DeleteMe primarily focuses on US-based data brokers, with coverage fragmented by country and requiring different tier access.

Winner: Incogni for users needing international privacy protection.

Which Data Removal Service Should You Choose?

The right choice between Incogni vs DeleteMe depends on your priorities and how you think about online privacy.

Choose Incogni if you:

• Want maximum automated data broker coverage (420+ sites)
• Prefer set-and-forget operation with minimal ongoing attention
• Need unlimited custom removals beyond traditional data brokers
• Value independent third-party verification (Deloitte audit)
• Want real-time visibility through dashboard tracking
• Need international coverage beyond just US markets
• Prefer subscription flexibility without long-term commitments

Choose DeleteMe if you:

• Prefer human experts manually handling your removals
• Want detailed quarterly reports with screenshot proof
• Value a service with 14+ years of market history
• Don’t mind longer contract commitments for better pricing
• Can work within custom request limits (40-60 per year)
• Primarily need US people search site removals
• Want the reassurance of structured review cycles

Both services legitimately remove personal information from data brokers. Neither is a scam, and both have satisfied users. The fundamental difference is philosophy: continuous automation versus periodic manual reviews.

The Reality of Data Removal in 2026

It’s important to set realistic expectations. No data removal service can make you completely invisible online. Data brokers continuously collect new information, which is why ongoing monitoring matters more than one-time removal.

Here’s what these services can realistically accomplish:

What They Do:

• Remove your information from major people search sites
• Submit opt-out requests to hundreds of data brokers
• Reduce your exposure to spam calls and marketing
• Decrease your risk of targeted scams
• Limit the amount of personal data available for purchase

What They Cannot Do:

• Remove information from social media you posted
• Delete public records (court documents, property records)
• Erase content you published under your own name
• Stop data brokers from collecting new information
• Remove you from every possible database instantly

The most effective approach combines a data removal service with smart privacy habits. Limit what you share online, use privacy-focused browsers and tools, and understand that online privacy requires ongoing attention rather than one-time fixes.

Alternatives Worth Considering

While Incogni and DeleteMe are the most recognized names, other data removal services deserve mention:

• Optery covers 630+ sites across different pricing tiers and offers a free scanning option. Its Core plan starts at just $3.25/month but only covers 85 sites, while the Ultimate plan ($20.75/month) provides the most comprehensive coverage.
• Aura bundles data removal with identity theft protection, VPN, antivirus, and credit monitoring. At $19.99 for the first year, it’s the cheapest option if you want an all-in-one privacy protection suite, though its data broker coverage is limited.
• OneRep focuses exclusively on people search sites without flashy features. It’s straightforward and affordable but doesn’t cover private database data brokers.
• Kanary covers 320+ sites but requires more manual work since it provides templates and instructions rather than handling all removals automatically.

For most people, Incogni or DeleteMe will provide better results than trying to DIY the process. The time saved alone justifies the cost when you consider that manually opting out of 400+ sites would take months of work.

Making Your Decision

Start by identifying what bothers you most about your data exposure. If you’re getting constant spam calls from your phone number appearing on people search sites, both services handle that well. If you’re concerned about comprehensive privacy protection across hundreds of databases, Incogni’s verified coverage of 420+ data brokers provides stronger protection.

Consider your budget carefully. DeleteMe’s two-year plans offer lower monthly costs but require longer commitment. Incogni’s annual plans provide flexibility while still offering substantial savings over monthly billing.

Think about how hands-on you want to be. If you want to check in occasionally and see real-time progress, Incogni’s dashboard suits that style. If you prefer periodic updates and don’t mind waiting for quarterly reports, DeleteMe’s structure works fine.

Both services offer money-back guarantees, though the terms differ. DeleteMe provides full refunds before your first privacy report, then pro-rated refunds based on unused time. Incogni offers a 30-day money-back guarantee regardless of plan.

The good news? Either choice is better than doing nothing. Data brokers aren’t going away, and your personal information will continue circulating unless you actively work to remove it. Both Incogni and DeleteMe deliver legitimate data removal that reduces your online footprint and improves your privacy protection.

Protecting your personal data requires choosing between two proven approaches: Incogni’s automated system handles 420+ data brokers continuously with unlimited custom removals, verified by independent audit, while DeleteMe’s manual service provides quarterly reports with human oversight but limits coverage to 85 brokers on standard plans. Your choice depends on whether you prioritize comprehensive automated protection or prefer structured human-driven reviews, but both services deliver meaningful data removal that reduces spam, limits identity theft risk, and gives you more control over your online privacy in 2026.