Best Personal Data Removal Services in 2026

In terms of personal data removal services, PCrisk.com is the go-to destination for in-depth, in-house testing, where our cybersecurity experts thoroughly evaluate the most popular services.

Coming from a lengthy background in cybersecurity, we know that personal data removal services are an essential layer of protection for your privacy, and that's what we focus on in our tests, utterly free from any affiliation to the services. We explain in more detail in our personal data removal service reviews.

Our top 5 picks for 2026

Note: When ranking the best personal data removal services, we've combined the results of our in-house tests and looked at the ratings from other reliable sources. The 'best' option depends on your situation, including the number of identities you want to protect, the scope of sources, and how much you're willing to spend. We recommend reading our full reviews of each product for more details.

1. Incogni - top pick of the year

When it comes to erasing your online footprint, Incogni is here to make that process easier by systematically hunting down and removing your personal data from a multitude of data brokers and people search websites. Coming out on top in our testing, Incogni's dashboard offers detailed tracking of the removal requests it sends, and is essentially a hands-free, set-and-forget operation that requires only a rapid setup and electronic consent, after which it sends off the opt-out requests for you within minutes.

Key Highlights: Incogni goes above and beyond, taking on over 420 data broker sites, the largest in its class, when scanning for and removing personal data from the web. If your data appears on a site that isn't on its standard list, the Premium plan allows you to send unlimited custom removal requests to resolve the issue.

Starting at $7.99 per month, billed annually, the standard plan is an affordable option. They also offer an Unlimited plan, which costs approximately $14.99 per month for those who require custom removals beyond the 420 sites. Incogni offers a 30-day money-back guarantee but doesn't provide a free plan.

2. DeleteMe - second in line

When it comes to cleaning up your online presence, DeleteMe is the go-to service. DeleteMe is powered by Abine, a privacy company, and sends real people to manually process your opt-out requests. Something that, in our testing, made the service's data cleaning nearly as good as any automated system. DeleteMe takes its time, but it digs deep and delivers results that some other services miss, and sends out regular, detailed privacy reports to its subscribers.

Key Highlights: Regarding data protection, DeleteMe has the most extensive coverage in the industry, with over 750 people-search sites and data brokers in its network. DeleteMe also takes on any people-finder databases that aren't listed, basically guaranteeing that no one will find your personal info.

They use a manual, "white glove" approach to opt-out requests, and each one is personally verified and submitted by a member of their team. This slow and meticulous process may not be the quickest, but we observed that over approximately two months, DeleteMe caught up and even outperformed some automated services in total records removed.

DeleteMe sends out quarterly privacy reports, which show you where your data has been found and the status of each removal request. We found the reports to be detailed and reassuring, and were glad that DeleteMe provides such a thorough cleanse, double-checking, and expertly guaranteeing that your data is completely removed.

Plans with DeleteMe are flexible. Starting from around $129 per year for one person, or $10.75 per month, discounted multi-year options are available. You can also get coverage for two people or a family of four, all of which are cost-effective.

Concerning scrubbing your online presence, DeleteMe is an excellent choice for those who want a meticulous and reliable service that takes a bit of time to ensure no stone is left unturned. With over a decade of experience, DeleteMe is recognized for its human touch and high-quality work.

3. Optery - standing in the middle

If you're looking for a privacy-focused tool, Optery's free tier and adaptable pricing plans make it a cost-effective way to reclaim your online anonymity. Signing up to Optery, you get a detailed "exposure report" that tells you where your personal data is floating around the internet. You can decide to take the DIY route, removing listings yourself using Optery's instructions, or you can upgrade to one of their paid plans and get the company to do it all for you.

Key Highlights: Free Exposure Report: Optery's free tier will scan and generate a report of which brokers and people-search sites have your information. This comprehensive report will be a real eye-opener; however, please note that no removals are handled on the free plan, so you'll need to follow the instructions to scrub your information manually.

Optery also offers tiered pricing, allowing you to pay only for the level of coverage you require, which is a nice feature. Their Core plan sets you back about $3.99 a month, takes care of removals from around 125 sites, the Extended plan, which is roughly $14.99 a month, knocks out about 295, and the top-tier, Ultimate plan, for $24.99 a month, will sort out up to 395 sites and allows you to ask for custom removals from sites that aren't even in their list.

Their removal process is lightning-fast, and Optery sends out requests as soon as it's activated. Also, Optery counts sites where you don't have any data as "removed", so don't be disheartened if you see a lot of removals, it's just because you're completely clear on a lot of those sites.

Optery is basically the most accessible service in this lineup. Perfect for those who don't want to spend much, it starts with a free report, and you can pay for the removals as needed if you find out that there are too many places exposing your data for you to handle on your own.

Optery stands out as the most flexible personal data removal service. Coming in two forms, DIY and automated, it's accessible to anyone, from those who know exactly what they're doing to those who don't. Optery may not be overflowing with the advanced features of more expensive services, but it's getting the results done, and lets you only pay for the level of security you require.

4. Privacy Bee - coming up fourth

If you're looking for a comprehensive privacy service, Privacy Bee raises the bar by offering more than just standard data broker removals - it's essentially a total privacy shield. For users who want a really tight seal on their personal data, Privacy Bee includes preference management, family protection, and enterprise-grade features.

In our test run, Privacy Bee demonstrated its vast coverage and user-friendly interface. The only drawback is the cost, which is higher than that of many other services; however, it will be worth it for the added tools and coverage for many.

Key Highlights: It will scour and remove your data from over 458 people search sites and data brokers. Privacy Bee's coverage list is seriously impressive. In fact, it works with hundreds of companies behind the scenes to keep your data private.

This service operates 24/7, with a team of experts and artificial intelligence monitoring your digital footprint to detect if any of your data appears, and then immediately initiates the removal process. This means that once your information is cleared, Privacy Bee essentially guarantees it will not appear again. Regular users of the service have also noticed a significant drop in spam emails, calls, and phishing scams.

Privacy Bee has a suite of tools to live up to its name, with one of them being "Proactive Privacy," which lets you designate which companies you trust with your data and sends messages to over 117,000 other companies to enforce your "do not sell or share" preferences automatically. It also features a simple system for adding family members to your plan, educational resources to help you stay safe online, and many other benefits.

A premium service, Privacy Bee costs $197 per year, which works out to around $16.42 per month, and unfortunately, it is US-only. They do, however, offer a complimentary scan by email to show you what's out there before you sign up.

If you want something with all the bells and whistles and you're willing to spend a little extra for the best, Privacy Bee is your best option. This service will clean up your information from all these data broker sites, and it will also actively prevent your data from being added to these databases again.

5. Aura - last but not least

Regarding online security and data removal, Aura stands out with its all-in-one suite, and its robust data removal service is certainly noteworthy. This user-friendly platform can scan over 200 people-search and data broker websites, sending opt-out requests to these sites on your behalf. In our testing, it effectively cleaned up our data in most of them in just a few weeks, albeit it took a month for the last holdouts.

Coming as no extra charge, Aura's removal service is included in all its standard plans and is accompanied by the likes of identity theft monitoring, a VPN, and antivirus software, which cover some, but not all, major sites. Its web application firewall is not quite as powerful either.

It is basically the case that Aura doesn't miss many sites that we looked for, nonetheless, it does miss a few major broker sites, and its additional security features, although convenient, are not quite up to the level of what you'd find with separate services.

Key highlights: When you sign up for Aura, it checks over 200 data broker and people search sites, giving you extensive coverage across the US, sending automated opt-out requests to each site's mandatory procedure, saving you the hassle of filling out forms or sending emails.

Daily scans ensure your data doesn't reappear, and re-send removal requests if it does. Coming with an all-in-one suite of tools, Aura includes identity theft protection, credit monitoring, VPN, antivirus, password manager, and more in one subscription, and is thrown in with all adult plans. First-year rates are lower (roughly $12 a month for individuals), but subsequent years cost more (around $20 a month).

This service is primarily effective in the US, doesn't cover the top sites like Spokeo and Intelius automatically, and while the VPN and antivirus are useful, they aren't the best on the market.

Overall, Aura is best suited for individuals and families who value simplicity, automation, and broad protection in a single platform, rather than those seeking best-in-class performance in one specific security category.

Do you need a personal data removal service in 2026?

And found your address, phone number, or other personal details listed. A data removal service can be beneficial when you've searched for your name online. Coming into 2026, threats like identity theft, doxxing, and financial scams are on the rise, and thanks to the ease of accessing people's data, it's a growing concern for all of us.

A personal data removal service does just that, repeatedly scouring the numerous data broker sites and having your details taken down, thereby reducing your exposure. Well-known individuals may be able to afford expensive public relations campaigns to remove negative content, but regular people, with normal lives and identities, can utilize a data removal service to reduce the volume of spam calls, emails, and social media messages.

How does personal data removal work?

It does the work that you'd otherwise have to do individually with each of the numerous people search sites and data brokers. You'll need to provide the service with some basic information, such as your name and past addresses, so that it can locate your data. The service will then scan hundreds of people-search sites and broker databases to determine where your information is listed.

Once it's found, the service sends removal requests via email, web form, or regular mail, based on either the laws on data privacy or the website's own opt-out policies, and will repeatedly follow up on those requests until your data has been completely deleted from the website's public database.

Are paid personal data removal services better than free or DIY options?

Regarding opting out of personal data collection, a paid service is typically more comprehensive and convenient than using a free or DIY method. Free tools and manual opt-outs require a significant amount of time and energy, and can only cover a limited number of major sites. In contrast, top-paid services automatically cover hundreds of sites and continually monitor for any reappearances.

Coming up against tricky opt-out processes won't be a problem for these paid services either, and they can handle numerous requests simultaneously. Even though there are free resources, such as lists of brokers and opt-out instructions provided by some privacy organizations, using them means spending hours of your time and keeping track of each site, something a paid service can save you. Paid services have experience navigating the world of opt-outs and tend to be more thorough.

If you have a very tight budget or are concerned about a few specific sites, a manual approach might be sufficient. However, for those who want to avoid the hassle of opting out of multiple sites, the benefits of a paid service are well worth it.

Can a personal data removal service delete 100% of my data online?

Don't expect it to eliminate all of your personal data from the internet. What these services do is target data broker listings and people-search websites that accumulate your personal information, and they're often very good at it. They can delete the bulk of the listings, but they don't have the power to wipe out social media content, news articles, court records, or any web pages that data brokers do not run.

Government databases, websites that aren't data brokers, and websites outside the scope of these services will still contain your information unless you address them individually, such as by contacting the site owner, or utilize privacy laws like GDPR. It's also not out of the realm of possibility for new data broker sites to arise, or niche sites to slip through the cracks, which is why it's virtually impossible to eliminate 100% of your online footprint.

Are personal data removal services safe to use?

These services are designed to enhance your online safety. When using a reputable personal data removal service, you can feel confident that your data is in good hands. Allowing one of these services to represent you means that you'll need to provide some personal details. That's what they use to find and scrub your data. However, established services have watertight privacy and security systems to protect your information, and they primarily use it to remove your name and contact details from the databases they're working with.

Many of these services undergo audits by third-party companies and are certified for their responsible handling of data. If you opt for a well-established service, such as those listed in our top picks, you can be confident that your information won't be mishandled. Privacy laws bind these services, and their entire business depends on customer trust, so they're unlikely to do anything to betray that trust.

What else do personal data removal services do?

There is much more to personal data removal services than meets the eye when removing your contact information from broker sites. They can block spam calls and emails by automatically signing you up to marketing lists and sending you straight to the Do Not Call registry.

Identity theft protection is another area that some of these services cover, and you'll often receive breach alerts, credit monitoring, or even antivirus software bundled with the service. A few services also offer family protection plans that let you cover a whole family's data in one go, and send out updates on how to stay private. Blogs, online anonymity tips, and even help in cleaning up personal info from Google search results.

In short, the main job is getting your data off people-search sites, but the top services in this space are also out to proactively shield you from junk, thieves, and snoopers.

How should you choose the best personal data removal service for you?

When selecting the right data removal service for your needs, consider the following factors:

Coverage of Sites: Consider how many and which databases they cover, and ensure they're the ones that matter most, as these are the ones that would contain your information when evaluating a people-finder or data broker service. If you're someone with a common name or quite an extensive online footprint, a service covering hundreds of sites is really the only way to go.

Opt-Out Process & Speed: You'll find that some are fully automated, sending out requests within hours of signing up, and others are more manual and can be slower, but offer more in-depth results. Consider whether you want a quick fix or a meticulously thorough approach.

Pricing and Plans: When it comes to costs and subscription models, some services charge a monthly or yearly fee, while others offer family plans or multi-year discounts. It's up to you to find the right price and period that fits your budget and usage duration. You'll want to check if there's a free trial or a free scan available. These can be great ways to test the service and see if it's working before you commit to a payment plan.

Extra Features: When you sign up for the service, you'll also get access to tools to monitor and remove your data, custom removals for unusual websites, and identity theft protection add-ons. All of which might interest you if you don't want your data to linger. Privacy Bee, for example, offers a broader suite of privacy tools that will appeal if you are looking for an all-in-one solution.

Reputation and Support: There is nothing more important than a company's reputation, particularly in terms of its longevity and the quality of customer reviews, when conducting research. A company that's here for the long haul will be willing to back up its claims with policies that speak to the level of trust that they want from you, and customer support that's as clear-cut as their terms. Your business and personal info are basically in their hands, so having a high-quality and transparent experience is pretty much a given.

FAQ

How long does it take to see results from a data removal service?

The time it takes for the results to be confirmed varies depending on the service and the sites involved, when a removal request is made through a service. Some services will show the results of a removal within the first week or two.

However, a full clearing of data across all sites will take about 30 to 60 days, whereas data brokers who are legally required to remove information have 45 days. It is advisable to use the service for at least three months to make sure that initial removals have been confirmed and any stragglers are also cleared.

Do I need to keep subscribing forever to keep my data off the internet?

That specific record should be gone, but the service won't be able to stop the data brokers from collecting new information when a service removes your data from a broker. Your personal data may resurface or appear on new websites. Re-subscribing to the service will allow it to monitor, re-remove, and update your data.

However, if you only pay for one sweep, you'll be protected short-term, but over time, your data may creep back onto people search sites. Many people prefer to sign up for a year and then decide whether they want to resubscribe.

Can these services remove my info from Google search results?

One way to do that is by removing the source data that Google indexes when you want to remove your information from Google search results. People-search sites, such as Whitepages, MyLife, etc., are often the source of information shown in Google search results, and services that can remove your data from these sites can effectively cause the Google result to disappear, at least until the next time Google crawls the site, turns up nothing, and takes down the dead link.

However, web pages containing your name or information, such as news articles and social media profiles, are more difficult to address, as these services do not typically target this type of data. In such cases, you can use Google's own removal request tool for specific types of content. However, for regular listings, a removal service will eventually clear your data from search results as the source data is removed.

What's the difference between personal data removal services and identity theft protection services?

Looking at the way to safeguard your identity, you'll come across two kinds of services: personal data removal services and identity theft protection services. Data removal services zero in on scrubbing your name, address, phone numbers, and other public information from data broker sites to greatly reduce the likelihood of someone finding your personal data.

Identity theft protection services, by contrast, are more akin to a surveillance system, monitoring for any signs that your identity or financial information is being misused and sending alerts. Although a few plans offer data removal as part of their services, most do not, and for very good reason: detection is essentially the core of identity theft protection, not pre-emptive removal.

Whereas personal data removal services take a proactive stance on privacy, identity protection plans essentially react to signs of fraud, helping to resolve it. Depending on your specific situation, you may choose one or both, as it is really up to you. For maximum peace of mind, remove all available data and set up monitoring in case anything slips through.

Are there any laws that help with personal data removal?

With respect to clearing out your personal data online, recent laws in the United States, and similar laws in other states, have empowered consumers to demand that data brokers delete their information. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the forthcoming California Delete Act, which is set to be implemented in 2026, work in harmony to streamline this process.

A single request to delete can effectively scrub your personal data from all registered brokers. In the EU and other regions, the GDPR's "right to be forgotten" provides a similar facility, to be exploited to erode corporate databases.

Data removal companies utilize this law in their services, sending requests on your behalf with a high level of effectiveness, but this depends on the jurisdiction. It's worth noting, nonetheless, that legal rights have more or less tipped in favour of consumer privacy.

Latest revieews of personal data removal services: