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Incogni vs Optery: Which Is the Best Personal Data Removal Service in 2026?

In this article, I go over the main similarities and differences between Incogni vs Optery. Read on to find out which provider comes out on top and to determine which one is best for you.

Jason StagnittoValentina BravoEugenie Tiu

Written by Jason Stagnitto (Writer, Script Writer, Course Writer)

Reviewed by Valentina Bravo (Managing Editor)

Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu (Editorial Assistant)

Last Updated:

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Incogni vs Optery
4.55
4.45
  • Affordable pricing
  • Clear progress tracking & reports
  • Removal from 420 brokers
  • Data broker list
  • Exposure report
  • Self-removal support
$7.99 / month(save 50%)(All Plans)
$3.25 / month(save 18%)(All Plans)

Key Takeaways: Incogni vs Optery

  • Incogni and Optery are very similar services, with both offering automated data removal.
  • Optery covers more data broker sites overall. However, most of them are locked behind tiered pricing plans. On the other hand, Incogni does not restrict its broker coverage.
  • Optery is one of the few data removal services to offer a free plan but the data removal requests are manual on your side.

Facts & Expert Analysis About Data Removal Services:

  • Visual verification: Optery provides screenshots to prove that your data has been removed. 
  • Optery self-help: With a free Basic plan, you can click on specific data brokers to see the step-by-step process to submit data removal requests yourself. 
  • Unlimited custom removals: Both services offer unlimited removal requests on higher-tier subscriptions. 
Winner

In this article, I compare Incogni vs Optery, two of the best data removal services available. Both offer automated data removal for a hands-off approach to securing your personal data. The services are quite similar, but a few differences set them apart and make one the better choice overall.

Cloudwards’ Choice: Incogni Is the Winner

Jason Stagnitto
Cloudwards’ Choice: Incogni Is the Winner

Jason is an experienced technical writer specializing in digital privacy, online security and cloud solutions.

Incogni is the overall winner. It does not restrict access to data brokers or people-search sites based on subscription tier, increasing its value for money. Additionally, Incogni covers a larger geographical range than Optery. Optery does let you sign up for free, though, so it’s worth checking out if you want to test out a data removal service.

Which Is Better: Incogni vs Optery?

Incogni is the overall winner in my book, but it’s a tight race. Our Incogni review and Optery review shed more light on each service. 

Who Is Incogni For?

  • Hands-off users: Incogni has a robust automatic data removal process.
  • Users seeking maximum coverage: All plans provide access to all the data brokers Incogni covers. 
  • International customers: Incogni covers many parts of North America and Europe.

Who Is Optery For?

  • Skeptical users: If you’re not convinced that data removal services work, Optery’s free plan is one of the best ways to find out. 
  • Users who want removal verification: You can see exactly when your data was removed. 
  • Anyone on a budget: The lowest-tier plan provides affordable data security, but it covers fewer brokers. 

Our Detailed Comparison Methodology: How I Tested These Data Removal Services

I tested each service by signing up and letting the providers do their thing. I also spent time navigating around the dashboards, verifying data removals and reviewing the privacy policies.

Optery vs Incogni: Comparison at a Glance

Features
$7.99 / month(All Plans)$3.25 / month(All Plans)
ReviewReview
Core Features
Number of Data Brokers Covered 420 1225
Types of Brokers CoveredPeople Search, Marketing, Financial, Health, Recruitment, Risk MitigationPeople Search, Marketing, Financial
Geographic CoverageUSA, UK, EU, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Isle of ManUSA, Canada
Automated Removal Requests
Ongoing Monitoring & Re-removal
Official Data Broker List Published
Dark Web Monitoring
Custom Removal Requests
Removes Data from Google Searches
Personal Information Dashboard
Provides Regular Progress Reports
Effectiveness
Time for Initial Scan CompletionA few hours30 minutes
Average Time for First RemovalsWithin 4 hours1-2 weeks
Estimated Full Removal Cycle Time30-45 days30
Clarity of Removal Evidence5/54
Process TypeAutomatedAutomated and Custom
Ease of Use
Onboarding Process Simplicity5/5Very simple
Dashboard Intuitiveness5/5Highly intuitive
Mobile App AvailabilityAndroid & iOS
Account Cancellation ProcessEasyEasy
Pricing & Plans
Free Trial Offered
Money-Back Guarantee 30 days 30 days
Couples / Family Plan AvailableYes, but each member needs an account
Accepted Payment MethodsCredit Card, PayPalCredit Card
Security & Privacy
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)Authenticator AppAuthenticator App
Data Encryption StandardAES-256AES-256
PII Required for SignupFull Name, Email, Address, DOBFull Name, DOB
Privacy Policy Transparency5/54
Sells User Data
Company JurisdictionU.S.USA
Transparency & Compliance
CCPA/CPRA Compliant
GDPR Compliant
Clear Explanation of Methods
Customer Support
24/7 Support
Dedicated Support Agent
Help Center / Knowledge Base Quality5/54
Support Tickets
Email Support
Chat Support
Phone Support

Incogni Standout Features:

  • Automatic data removal: Incogni has a set-it-and-forget-it approach, as it takes care of data removal for you. 
  • Easy onboarding: Incogni makes it easy to set up an account. Simply enter your information to get started; you can go back and edit as needed.
  • Well-organized dashboard: You can see the status of Incogni’s data removal efforts on your dashboard and find more detailed information in “exposures.”

Optery Standout Features:

  • Detailed exposure report: Optery provides detailed exposure reports that reveal who has your data and how it may be used. 
  • Self-removal steps: If you want to remove your data yourself, Optery provides the steps to do so for each data broker that has your personal information. 
  • Data broker coverage: Optery covers many data brokers across multiple categories.

Incogni vs Optery: Similarities

Incogni and Optery are comparable services with several similarities across data removal features, customer support, privacy and security.

Data Removal Features

Automated data removal is the bread and butter of both services’ paid subscriptions. The process begins immediately after creating an account, and both providers continually monitor and send removal requests as long as you have an active subscription. You don’t have to do anything; the process is entirely hands-off.

optery dashboard
The Optery dashboard shows data removal progress and shares more details about each broker or people-search site that has your personal data. 

Customer Support

There are several ways to get round-the-clock help from either service. The quickest way is to use the effective chat feature. You can also send a formal request via email or search through the dedicated FAQ page. Both services respond quickly to requests and generally provide satisfactory support.

Privacy & Security

Both Optery and Incogni provide robust privacy and security, and their privacy policies are clear and easy to read. Unfortunately, both providers may share your data with ad or marketing networks, though you can opt out.

Optery uses AES 256-bit encryption at rest, while Incogni discloses only that it uses “strong industry encryption standards.” The deliberate vagueness is odd; I reached out to Incogni’s customer service and verified that the company uses AES 256-bit encryption. Both providers use TLS/SSL encryption to protect your data in transit.

incogni security
Incogni lets you set up two-factor authentication (2FA) in your account settings.

Optery vs Incogni: Differences

Despite offering similar services, Incogni and Optery have some notable differences, including data broker coverage, pricing, and removal verification.

Data Broker Coverage

Optery covers more data brokers and a wider variety of broker types. Specifically, Incogni covers more than 420 data brokers, while Optery covers more than 640. The caveat is that Optery restricts some data brokers to specific pricing plans. Conversely, Incogni covers all data brokers no matter which plan you have.

optery brokers
Optery covers many data brokers, but many are locked behind a paywall. 

Pricing & Value

Optery seems like a better bargain on the surface, as paid plans start at $3.99 per month with annual billing. Plus, you can sign up for a free plan, and Optery will show you which companies have your data. However, the free plan does not include automatic data removal.

Incogni’s plans start at $7.99 per month on annual billing and provide maximum coverage. Incogni doesn’t have a free plan, but it does offer a free scan. Both providers have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  1. 1
      $7.99 / month(save 50%)(All Plans)
    • 2
        $3.25 / month(save 18%)(All Plans)

      Removal Verification

      Both services show you the status of the data removal process. With Incogni, a graph shows completed, scheduled and in-progress removals. Optery also has a graph that shows progress, but it goes one step further and provides screenshots of successful removals. With Incogni, you have to trust the dashboard unless you verify with each broker yourself.

      The Verdict: Why I Think Incogni Wins Overall

      Incogni is the overall winner, as it covers more broker types and doesn’t lock data brokers behind higher-tier paid plans. You can sign up for any Incogni plan covered by the money-back guarantee.

      Winner

      Which personal data removal service do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below. 

      If You Want to Consider Other Services, Check Out…

      Optery and Incogni aren’t the only options for data removal. Check out these alternatives.

      Best Service for Comprehensive Removal

      DeleteMe competes with Incogni and Optery, offering comprehensive data removal starting at $8.71 per month for a two-year plan. It’s more expensive than Incogni or Optery, though. Check out our DeleteMe review to learn more.

      Best Service for Overall Protection

      Aura offers a full range of services beyond data removal requests. Read more in our Aura review.

      Best Service for Identity Theft Reduction
      Capture 2

      Privacy Bee is aggressive about removing your data from brokers, helping protect you from identity theft. 

      FAQ: Optery vs Incogni Data Removal Services

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