Data brokers and people-search sites can turn your personal details into fuel for spam, scams, identity theft, harassment, and unwanted exposure.
While you can remove these records manually, the process is repetitive, time-consuming, and rarely permanent. For anyone who wants to reduce their online footprint without wasting money on the wrong service, an automated removal tool can make the job far more manageable.
Privacy Bee, Optery, and Incogni can all handle repetitive removal requests, but they aren’t interchangeable. Privacy Bee offers the widest range of privacy tools, Optery provides the clearest evidence of its work, and Incogni keeps the process relatively simple. The right choice depends on your budget, where you live, and how closely you want to follow each removal.
| Feature | PrivacyBee | Optery | Incogni |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Exposure Scan | Free assessment | Free tier with screenshots | Free online tool (no account needed) |
| Starting Price (Annual) | $8.00/mo | $3.99/ mo | $7.99/ mo |
| Automated Broker Coverage | 517 to 1,122+ (tiered by plan) | 380+ to 635+ (tiered by plan) | 420+ brokers across all tiers |
| Proof of Removal | Dashboard status tracking | Before/after screenshots | Dashboard status tracking |
| Custom Removal Requests | Yes, on higher tiers | Yes, on higher tiers | Yes, on higher tiers |
| Removal Process | Mostly automated (SARA engine) | Hybrid (bots + human privacy agents) | Automated |
| Family Options | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Identity Protection Add-ons | Dark web exposure scan | No (privacy-focused only) | Yes for U.S. residents (Protect plan: TransUnion + $1M Insurance) |
Privacy Bee is a data removal service designed to help reduce how easily personal information appears on people-search sites, search engines, and data broker databases.
It supports opt-out requests across over 1,000 data brokers, with a mix of automated removals, self-service opt-out guides, human analyst support, monitoring tools, and custom removal options depending on the plan.
The service also includes a free scan with no credit card required, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and an exclusive 20% discount code for Best Reviews readers combinable with multi-person and multi-year discounts of up to 69%.
Optery is a multiple-award-winning personal data removal service with a massive index of over 600 data brokers and people search sites.
The service lets you wipe out your digital footprint by asking these companies to remove your information through automatic scans and removals.
The web app also sports comprehensive reports and visual confirmation of profile removals with links and screenshots, so you can rest easy knowing your personal data is kept private.
The best part is that there's a free plan that you can use. Although the company won't remove the data from you, you get everything you need to manually take control of your personal data.
Meanwhile, those who go for a paid plan can get discounts of up to 30%.
Who hasn't accepted the terms and conditions of a service without actually reading them? Unfortunately, it only takes a few of those to start getting unwanted marketing calls and emails; but fret not, Incogni is here to help. Launched in 2022, it's one of the newest services from the well-known cybersecurity company Surfshark. Incogni's main purpose is to make sure no data brokers collect and retain your personal information. The process is straightforward, allowing customers to rest assured that their personal data is being taken care of even while sleeping. Although creating an account at zero cost is possible, Incogni only starts working its magic after you subscribe. There are monthly and annual subscription plans, and you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee to try out the service risk-free.
Privacy Bee is the most feature-heavy option. Alongside broker opt-outs, it can monitor search results, breaches, and paste sites, suppress marketing, and blur map images. Its Pro plan covers 1,117 data brokers and allows custom removals from a much larger pool of sites.
Optery is easier to check up on. Reports include links to exposed profiles and before-and-after screenshots, so you can see what the service found and what changed. The free tier also provides exposure reports and tools for handling removals yourself.
Incogni asks less of the user. It automates recurring removals from more than 420 public and private data brokers across 35 countries, giving it the widest geographic availability here without adding many settings to manage.
Privacy Bee combines automated data-broker removal with broader digital-footprint management. It scans for exposed information, monitors reappearances, offers manual guides and custom takedowns, and includes controls for search engines, marketing lists, breach data, and other privacy risks.
It is best suited to users who want a detailed, configurable privacy service rather than a basic opt-out tool.
Optery puts transparency front and center. Its reports show where personal profiles may be exposed, and Extended and Ultimate customers receive before-and-after screenshots approximately every 90 days.
Coverage ranges from more than 380 sites on Core to over 635 automatic removals on Ultimate with Expanded Reach enabled. Custom requests extend that reach beyond the standard coverage list.
Incogni provides a straightforward set-and-forget flow. After users provide their details and authorization, it contacts over 420 public and private data brokers, tracks responses, and resends requests as needed. It is best suited to users who value simplicity and international availability.
Privacy Bee makes the most sense if broker removal is only one part of the privacy problem you want to address. Pick Optery if you want to inspect the evidence, or Incogni if you would rather complete the setup and leave the service to run.
The advertised coverage numbers aren’t directly comparable. Each company counts supported sites, affiliates, and custom removals differently.
Privacy Bee Pro and Signature cover more than 1,100 data brokers across people search, advertising, list brokerage, enrichment, background checks, healthcare, geolocation, recruitment, and other categories. Essentials covers around 500 people-search sites and affiliates. Pro and Signature also support unlimited custom takedowns from a pool of more than 185,000 sites, although some online records cannot legally be removed.
Optery covers more than 380 automatic-removal sites on Core, over 560 on Extended, and 635 on Ultimate when Expanded Reach is enabled. Without Expanded Reach, those figures drop to 150, 330, and 405. Ultimate also includes unlimited custom removal requests, bringing its stated total coverage to more than 950 sites.
Incogni’s automated service covers more than 420 public and private data brokers, while its Unlimited plans accept custom requests for over 3,000 additional sites.
All three provide ongoing protection rather than a one-off cleanup. Privacy Bee scans every 30 days on Essentials and Pro, automatically tackles re-exposures, and adds human assistance on Pro. Signature increases the scan frequency to weekly and includes expedited analyst support.
Optery runs monthly scans and removals on its paid plans. Core relies solely on the platform, while Extended and Ultimate combine automation with an assigned privacy agent. Free Basic identifies potential exposure and provides DIY tools, but it doesn’t submit takedown requests for you.
Incogni offers the most consistent hands-off experience. Its core service repeatedly sends requests to every covered broker and automatically includes newly supported brokers. Unlimited adds custom removals handled by a specialist.
Privacy Bee asks users to create an identity vault containing names, aliases, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Its optional Limited Power of Attorney can help with more difficult removals. The detailed protection controls are useful, but they make setup more involved.
Optery also needs identity details and address history to find matching records. Expanded Reach requires Limited Power of Attorney, while Core limits automated removals to one name and one city-and-state combination. Higher tiers allow unlimited variations.
Incogni asks for basic identifying information and a signed authorization, then requires little ongoing input. Users generally need to step in only if a broker contacts them directly or if an Unlimited customer submits a custom case.
Privacy Bee provides a real-time dashboard, status histories, monthly reports, exposure trends, re-exposure tracking, and a privacy score. However, it doesn’t link directly to the exposed records.
Optery leads on visual proof. Free users receive exposure reports with links and screenshots, while Extended and Ultimate add quarterly removal reports with before-and-after evidence.
Incogni’s dashboard and progress reports clearly show request statuses, estimated completion times, and repeat requests. It offers enough detail for routine monitoring, but it cannot match Optery’s screenshot-based evidence or the scope of Privacy Bee’s analytics.
Privacy Bee is strongest in breadth and removal depth, Optery in evidence and transparency, and Incogni in convenience.
Do not choose based on the headline broker count alone. Check which sites are covered automatically, whether custom requests cost extra, whether the service works in your country, and what authorization it requires.
Privacy Bee offers the broadest set of extras. Depending on the plan, users can:
Optery adds Google and Bing exposure scans, map blurring on Extended and Ultimate, and outdated result submissions to Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo on Ultimate.
Incogni concentrates on broker removal, although Unlimited adds an Exposure Scanner, risk assessment, and custom takedowns.
Privacy Bee presents a lot of useful information, but the identity vault and detailed protection controls give new users more decisions to make.
Optery’s dashboard is easy to navigate once you are inside it. Choosing a plan is less straightforward because coverage varies by tier and partly depends on whether Expanded Reach is enabled.
Incogni has fewer moving parts. Once you provide your details and authorization, there is little to manage unless a broker needs additional input.
Privacy Bee offers a help desk, email support, phone support during U.S. Eastern business hours, and live assistance. Signature customers also receive dedicated support and round-the-clock escalation for critical issues.
Optery has a detailed help center, along with email and chat support, with priority email assistance on Ultimate.
Incogni includes 24/7 live chat with its standard service, while higher-tier customers can also access phone support.
When billed annually, Privacy Bee costs approximately $8 per month for Essentials, $16 per month for Pro, and $67 per month for Signature. Essentials focuses on people-search sites, but Pro offers the best value within Privacy Bee’s lineup because it unlocks coverage of all 1,117 brokers, custom removals, broader monitoring, and access to human analysts.
In the U.S., Optery Core costs $3.25 per month with annual billing or $3.99 per month on a month-to-month basis. Extended costs $12.42 per month annually or $14.99 per month, while Ultimate costs $20.70 per month annually or $24.99 per month. Core is the cheapest paid entry point, but Extended offers a better balance of coverage, alias support, human review, and screenshot reports.
Incogni’s current simplified individual plan costs $7.49 per month when billed annually or $14.98 monthly. Its Family & Friends option covers the subscriber plus up to four other people for $16.49 per month annually or $32.98 monthly.
Privacy Bee provides a free one-time scan and DIY guides. Essentials and Pro include a 30-day money-back guarantee, but Signature doesn’t.
Optery Free Basic provides ongoing exposure reports and self-service tools rather than automated removal; paid individual plans include a 30-day guarantee.
Incogni has no free tier but offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Privacy Bee Pro is the better fit if you are concerned about more than broker listings. It combines removals with search, marketing, breach, and exposure monitoring, while human-assisted custom takedowns can help with cases that the automated process does not resolve.
Incogni is a good choice if you want to provide your details once and spend as little time as possible managing requests. It covers public and private brokers in 35 countries, making it the more practical option for many readers outside Optery’s five supported markets.
Optery is the clearest choice if you do not want to take removal claims on trust. Its profile links, exposure screenshots, and before-and-after reports show what appeared online and whether the listing changed.
Optery offers the lowest-cost route: its free tier supports DIY removals, and Core has the lowest paid starting price. Incogni costs more, but its annual individual plan may be a better value if you live outside Optery’s supported markets or want private-broker removals included.
Privacy Bee is our overall pick if you want extensive broker coverage and tools that address more than opt-out requests. Pro is the plan that makes the strongest case: it combines automation, human support, and broader monitoring, though it costs more than the entry-level plans from Optery and Incogni.
That recommendation will not suit everyone. Optery is a better buy for U.S. users who want screenshot evidence or a useful free option. Incogni is easier to recommend if you want minimal upkeep, live outside Optery’s supported markets, or need a family plan.
Start with the practical questions: does the service operate where you live, does it cover the brokers that concern you, and will you actually use its extra privacy tools?
Data removal services can be worthwhile when your information appears across many brokers or repeatedly resurfaces. Paid services save time by automating requests and monitoring re-exposure, but they can’t remove lawful public records or guarantee that every site complies with the law.
Not necessarily. You can submit opt-outs manually, and Optery and Privacy Bee provide free scanning or DIY resources. Paying makes more sense when you want recurring automation, wider coverage, reporting, or help with difficult cases.
Privacy Bee is best for broad privacy management, Optery for visibility and proof, and Incogni for simple hands-off removal across more countries.
With annual billing, entry prices are approximately $3.25 per month for Optery Core, $7.49 per month for Incogni’s individual plan, and $8 per month for Privacy Bee Essentials. More expensive tiers add wider coverage, analyst support, or custom removals.
Privacy Bee offers a free scan, while Optery has a free self-service plan. Neither is a full trial of paid automation. All three offer 30-day refunds on eligible paid plans.
Yes. Brokers can collect new records or republish old ones. That’s why all three services emphasize recurring scans, repeat requests, or ongoing monitoring rather than a one-time cleanup.
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