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Optery vs DeleteMe
Facts last checked Oct 2026 against each company's own pages (sources at the bottom). Prices are in US dollars for US customers unless noted, and companies change them often.
Disclosure: some links to Optery, DeleteMe and Incogni on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That doesn't change our verdicts, and doing it yourself is always free. More.
Short answer: It depends on budget. For paid coverage of the big US people-search sites, DeleteMe Standard ($129/yr) covers most of them for about half the price of Optery Ultimate. Optery Ultimate covers more (including the PeopleConnect sites), gives screenshot proof, and removed far more in Consumer Reports' 2024 test. Optery's free plan or $39 Core, plus free DIY opt-outs, is the cheapest route.
Optery and DeleteMe both remove you from people-search sites and data brokers, then keep checking. Optery is software-first, with screenshot proof and a free tier. DeleteMe is an annual service run by human privacy experts. Here's how they compare on price, on which big sites each plan actually covers, and in the one independent test that included both.
Side by side
| Optery | DeleteMe | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free Basic plan: exposure report with screenshots, self-service removal tools[1] | Free one-time scan (about 30 sites) and DIY opt-out guides[8] |
| Plans and prices | Core $39 billed yearly ($3.99 monthly); Extended $12.42/mo billed yearly ($14.99 monthly); Ultimate $20.70/mo billed yearly ($24.99 monthly)[1] | 1 person $129/yr, 2 people $229/yr, 4 people $329/yr; 2-year plans $209 / $349 / $499[4] |
| Billing | Monthly or yearly | 1 or 2 years only |
| Sites (company's numbers) | Core 380+, Extended 555+, Ultimate 625+, including optional Expanded Reach (150+ / 330+ / 395+ without it)[1] | "969 data brokers" on its full list; 91 marked as in the Standard plan[5]. Its help center says 850+[6] |
| Names and addresses | Core: one name and city/state. Extended and Ultimate: unlimited[1] | Unlimited aliases, previous names and email addresses on every plan[4] |
| Humans involved | Core is fully automated; Extended and Ultimate add a human privacy agent[1] | Personal DeleteMe privacy expert on every plan[4] |
| Custom removals | Ultimate only (unlimited)[1] | Included on every plan; we couldn't confirm any yearly limit on DeleteMe's own pages[4] |
| Reports and proof | Before-and-after screenshots; removal reports about every 90 days on Extended and up[1] | Quarterly privacy reports[4] |
| Extras | Extended and up: home-photo blur on Google and Apple Maps. Ultimate: outdated-content removal requests to search engines[1] | Email and phone masking[4] |
| Countries | US, Canada (not Quebec), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa[2] | US; separate plans in 12 other countries[7] |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back[1] | "100% Satisfaction Guarantee"[4] |
| Consumer Reports, 2024 | 68% of profiles removed within 4 months (Ultimate)[9] | 27% removed within 4 months[9] |
Which plan covers the big sites?
This matters more than the headline site counts.
| Site | Optery: lowest plan listed[1] | DeleteMe: lowest plan listed[5] | Free DIY guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitepages | Ultimate | Standard | Opt out free → |
| Spokeo | Core | Standard | Opt out free → |
| BeenVerified | Extended | Standard | Opt out free → |
| TruePeopleSearch | Ultimate | Standard | Opt out free → |
| FastPeopleSearch | Ultimate | Standard | Opt out free → |
| Intelius | Ultimate | Custom request only | Opt out free → |
| TruthFinder | Ultimate | Custom request only | Opt out free → |
| InstantCheckmate | Ultimate | Custom request only | Opt out free → |
| MyLife | Core | Standard | Opt out free → |
| PeopleFinders | Ultimate | Standard | Opt out free → |
| USPhoneBook | Ultimate | Standard | Opt out free → |
| ThatsThem | Core | Standard | Opt out free → |
| FamilyTreeNow | Ultimate | Platinum / VIP only | Opt out free → |
From each company's published site list, read Oct 2026. Optery lists each site under the cheapest plan that covers it, and higher plans include everything below them. DeleteMe marks sites in the Standard plan, business and VIP tiers, or "custom requests". Intelius, TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate all share the free PeopleConnect opt-out.
DeleteMe's $129 Standard plan lists Whitepages, TruePeopleSearch, FastPeopleSearch, Spokeo and BeenVerified. To get those from Optery, you need Ultimate at $20.70/mo billed yearly. Optery Ultimate also lists the PeopleConnect sites (Intelius, TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate), which DeleteMe handles only by custom request.
What independent testing found
Consumer Reports and Tall Poppy enrolled 32 volunteers in seven removal services in 2024 and checked 13 people-search sites over four months. Optery (Ultimate tier) removed 68% of the profiles found, which was the best result. DeleteMe removed 27%. Manual opt-outs removed about 70%[9]. It's one study, and both companies have changed their products since, but it's the best independent data available.
Who should pick which
- Pick Optery if you want to see your exposure for free first, want screenshot proof, want monthly billing, or want the most complete coverage and can pay for Ultimate.
- Pick DeleteMe if you want the big US people-search sites covered for $129 a year, want a person handling your case, or need to cover 2 or 4 people.
- Pick neither if you have a free afternoon. Opt out of Whitepages, TruePeopleSearch, FastPeopleSearch, Spokeo and BeenVerified yourself, then check again in 6 months. See the free guide.
Try Optery's free scan See DeleteMe plans
Comparing Incogni too? See Optery vs DeleteMe vs Incogni.
FAQ
Is Optery cheaper than DeleteMe?
At the entry level, yes: Optery Core is $39 billed yearly or $3.99 month to month, and DeleteMe starts at $129 per year for one person. But Core doesn't list Whitepages, TruePeopleSearch or FastPeopleSearch. Optery Ultimate, which does, is $20.70/month billed yearly, more than DeleteMe's 1-person plan.
Which removed more data in independent testing?
In Consumer Reports' August 2024 study, Optery (Ultimate tier) removed 68% of found people-search profiles within four months and DeleteMe removed 27%. That was one study with 32 volunteers and 13 sites, and both services may have changed since.
Does DeleteMe have a free version?
No free removal plan. DeleteMe offers a free one-time scan of about 30 sites and free do-it-yourself opt-out guides.
Can I cover my family?
DeleteMe's US pricing has 1-, 2- and 4-person plans: $129, $229 and $329 for one year. Optery's pricing page focuses on individual plans; check its site for family options.
Sources
All checked Oct 2026. If something here is out of date, the company's page is the authority.
- Optery: Pricing (plans, prices, site counts), last checked Oct 2026
- Optery Help: Does Optery work in other countries than the United States?, last checked Oct 2026
- Optery Help: How does Expanded Reach work?, last checked Oct 2026
- DeleteMe: Pricing (US plans and what every plan includes), last checked Oct 2026
- DeleteMe: Sites We Remove From (updated 09/17/26), last checked Oct 2026
- DeleteMe Help: How many sites does DeleteMe remove PII from?, last checked Oct 2026
- DeleteMe: International (countries served), last checked Oct 2026
- DeleteMe: Free scan, last checked Oct 2026
- Consumer Reports & Tall Poppy: Data Defense: Evaluating People-Search Site Removal Services (Aug 2024, PDF), last checked Oct 2026
More comparisons and guides
- Optery vs DeleteMe vs Incogni
- Incogni vs DeleteMe
- Is a data removal service worth it?
- Remove yourself from people-search sites for free
- Start here: top sites to opt out of
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