Who Is Cloaked?
Cloaked is a multi-feature privacy app. It bundles email/phone aliases, spam-call blocking, a password manager, VPN, $1M identity theft insurance, dark web monitoring, and a basic personal data removal service all in one subscription. This bundle is genuinely appealing.
Who Is Optery?
Optery is #1 most effective and award winning personal data removal service. Optery’s sole focus is personal data removal from data brokers, and it performs this function better than any other company in the industry, including Cloaked. This is why CNET named Optery “Editors’ Choice” and the best overall personal data removal service of 2026, and why Optery is the only personal data removal service to have won the PCMag “Editors’ Choice” award for personal data removal every year from 2022 – 2026.
Which Should You Choose?
If you’re interested in a well-rounded privacy bundle, encompassing email/phone aliases, spam-call blocking, a password manager, VPN, $1M identity theft insurance, dark web monitoring, and a basic personal data removal service all in one, then Cloaked is the better choice.
However, if your main concern is personal data removal from data brokers, Optery is by far the better choice. Cloaked has a decent personal data removal service capability, but it is not as comprehensive or robust as Optery in this area. As one Redditor said “Although they (Cloaked) also include data removal, I found it to be far less intuitive and the communication (as far as what exactly the status was for removals) compared to Optery, who’s sole focus is to search for and remove your data from brokers.” Another option to consider is to use both services simultaneously, supplementing Cloaked’s well-rounded bundle with Optery’s industry-leading personal data removal service.
Read on for a more detail comparison of Cloaked vs Optery.
“Optery is our pick for best overall data removal service because it’s easy to use and it’s better than any other service at showing you the work it does to remove your data. It also had the highest removal success rate according to Consumer Reports’ testing.”
Zachary McAuliffe
Senior Writer, CNET
💡 Important Note to Current Customers of Cloaked:
According to CNET and PCMag, one of Optery’s strengths is the free Optery Exposure Report. Existing Cloaked customers can create a free Optery account and review the results of the free Optery Exposure Report scan to test Cloaked’s performance and double-check Cloaked’s work. Based on our research and testing, Optery finds ~50 exposed profiles for customers of other personal data removal services on average.
Executive Summary
- Best fit for Cloaked: People who want one subscription that bundles email and phone aliases, a password manager, spam call blocking, VPN, identity theft insurance, and a basic personal data removal service all in one subscription.
- Best fit for Optery: People who want the #1 most effective personal data removal service on the market, or who want to take a “best of breed” approach, selecting the best product on the market for each functional area, e.g. the best VPN, Password Manager, Identity Theft Insurance, Personal Data Removal, etc – all from different “best of breed” vendors.
- Cloaked Strengths: Broad feature bundle beyond data removal (aliases, Call Guard, dark web and SSN monitoring, $1M identity theft insurance), a straightforward flat-rate family plan, and independently verified security certifications (SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, PCI DSS v4.0.1).
- Cloaked Limitations: No ongoing free tier (only a lead-generation “free scan”), no public before-and-after screenshot verification of data broker removals, more limited data broker removal coverage than Optery.
- Optery Strengths: A genuinely free Free Basic account with screenshots, clearly published plan-by-plan broker counts, most comprehensive and effective data broker removal coverage in the industry, unlimited Custom Removals Requests, Blur Your Home on Google Maps and Apple Maps, and screenshot-based removal verification on paid plans. Flexible billing options: Monthly, Yearly, and the ability to Pause / Resume / Upgrade / Downgrade subscriptions at any time. Also offers a straight-forward family plan, and industry leading security certification (SOC 2 Type 2).
- Optery Limitations: Does not offer privacy bundle features beyond personal data removal at this time.
- Who should choose which service: Cloaked can suit someone who wants one subscription for aliases and a light-weight personal data removal function together. Optery fits better for anyone who wants the most comprehensive, effective, and robust personal data removal, with verifiable proof of removal screenshots.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Cloaked | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Free scan or free tier | Free “Data Safety Scan” requires a phone number; no continuous free scan/removal account | Free Basic account, no credit card required, with free quarterly Exposure Reports |
| Screenshot verification | Not Available | Exposure and Removals Reports include screenshots on paid plans (Extended and Ultimate plan) |
| Automated broker coverage | 354 sites tagged “Data Broker” specifically on Cloaked’s own site directory, out of 1,000+ total sites listed. The rest of their list is tagged for “Other websites”, e.g. sites like The Cheesecake Factory (huh???) | Optery offers completely transparent pricing and feature list on its Pricing page. Subscription plans start at $3.99 / month or $39 per year for 380+ data broker sites, all the way up to $24.99 per month or $249 per year for 950+ data broker sites (or 405 without enabling Expanded Reach). |
| Reporting cadence | Continuous monitoring and Automated scans. Progress is tracked through In-App Dashboard | Real Time Reporting viewable through In-App Dashboard with Quarterly Removal Reports (with Before and After Screenshots) for Extended and Ultimate Plans;
Free Quarterly Exposure Reports for Free Tier |
1. What Cloaked Does Well
Cloaked deserves credit on several fronts, based on what its own site and independent coverage confirm.
- A genuinely bundled privacy suite. Cloaked pairs data broker removal with unlimited email and phone aliases, a password manager, spam call blocking, VPN, dark web and SSN monitoring, and $1 million in identity theft insurance, all in one subscription. For someone who wants a single app rather than several separate tools, that is a real convenience.
- Simple household pricing. Cloaked’s Family plan covers up to four people for $24.99 per month billed annually, with the full feature set included for everyone on the plan. For a household that wants aliases and light removal together, this is easy to understand.
- Verified security certifications. Cloaked’s trust page documents ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certification, a completed PCI DSS v4.0.1 audit, and SOC 2 Type 2 compliance. These are checkable credentials, not just marketing language.
- Included identity theft insurance. Cloaked’s homepage states coverage of up to $1 million in financial losses from identity theft and fraud, included standard rather than sold as an add-on. For users who place a premium on this kind of backstop, this is a real differentiator from removal-only competitors.
- A large total site directory. Cloaked’s own site-coverage page lists 1,000+ individual sites it monitors and works to remove data from, spanning both data brokers and other companies (retailers, employers, and similar organizations) that may hold a person’s contact information.
For users who mainly want a bundled privacy app, aliases for everyday sign-ups, and basic broker cleanup as one part of a bigger toolkit, this may be enough.
2. In the Realm of Personal Data Removal Cloaked Falls Short
If your interest is in personal data removal from data brokers, based on Cloaked’s website, several gaps are worth understanding before you subscribe.
- Coverage numbers vary depending on which page you read, and they inflate their coverage numbers with a puzzling set of sites. Cloaked’s own site-coverage directory, when filtered to the “Data Broker” category specifically, lists 354 sites. The same directory’s total count, across data brokers and “other websites” (mainstream consumer/business sites), is 1,000+, including sites like The Cheesecake Factory and UCLA Health (huh???). Separately, Cloaked’s enterprise page states data is removed from “400+ data brokers”. Optery covers 950+ data brokers, and doesn’t inflate its list with sites like The Cheesecake Factory and UCLA Health.
- No visible screenshot-based removal verification. Before-and-after screenshots showing that a specific profile was found and later removed are not available. This may not matter to every user, but it is a notable limitation for anyone who wants independent, verifiable evidence instead of relying on a running counter. Optery provides before-and-after screenshot evidence, proving its work in its Removals Reports.
- The “free scan” is a lead-generation tool, not an ongoing free tier. Cloaked’s homepage free scan asks for a phone number and produces an exposure report, but it’s not a persistent free account with continued monitoring, comparable to a free tier you could use indefinitely without paying. If you want free, ongoing visibility into your exposure, this is a limitation. Optery offers a Free Basic account tier for free self-service removals tools and free ongoing Exposure Reports with screenshots.
- Regional coverage is limited. Cloaked’s own footer states the service is “currently available in the USA and Canada.” This may not matter for most US-based buyers, but it is worth knowing if you need coverage elsewhere. Optery is currently available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
3. Data Broker Coverage Comparison
| Coverage question | Cloaked | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Public broker list available? | Yes, a filterable directory exists, tagging each entry as “Data Broker” or “Other website” | Yes, Optery publishes a named list of sites for each plan tier directly on its pricing page |
| Data broker-specific count | 354 (Individual, Couple, Family)
400+ (Enterprise) |
Optery offers a range of plans starting at $3.99 per month, or $39 per year to $24.99 per month, or $249 per year, covering 380+ data broker sites to 635+ data broker sites (or 405+ Sites without enabling Expanded Reach)and Unlimited Custom Removals (for a grand total of 950+ Sites covered) respectively |
| Automated Data Broker Removals Count | 354 (Individual, Couple, Family)
400+ (Enterprise) |
Automated removals are tier-specific (see above); Ultimate also allows unlimited Custom Removal Requests for 950+ |
| Custom removals count or policy | Not Available | Ultimate plan: unlimited custom removal requests for sites outside the standard automated list, eligible after 30 days |
| International or regional coverage | US and Canada only | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa |
4. Verification and Reporting for Personal Data Removal
Verification is the difference between a service telling you it removed your data and showing you it did.
Optery’s Exposure Reports show where a person’s profile appears at data broker and people-search sites, using what the company calls “patented view links” so users can see the profile without necessarily contacting the broker directly themselves. Optery adds Removals Reports approximately every 90 days that include before-and-after screenshots which is the only personal data removal service that provides detailed exposure and removal reports, complete with screenshots, to demonstrate the effectiveness of its services.
Cloaked’s dashboard, per its help center, shows a running “Total records removed” count, “Days Protected,” and in-progress versus completed broker scans. This gives a user a sense of overall progress, but it is a different kind of evidence than a screenshot showing a specific profile disappearing from a specific site.
Optery’s key advantage here is not just that it says removals happened, they also show where profiles were found and, later, screenshot evidence tied to the removal. That is a meaningfully more auditable model for a privacy professional who needs to document that a specific exposure was actually resolved, and it is also easier for an everyday consumer to understand at a glance.
5. Free Scan and Free Tier for Personal Data Removal
| What you get before paying | Cloaked | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Free scan available | Yes, the homepage “Data Safety Scan” requires a phone number | Yes, no credit card required to create a Free Basic account |
| Persistent free account | Free scan only. No standing account | Yes, Free Basic is a standing account, not a one-time scan |
| Actual exposed profiles shown | The scan is described as producing a “personalized exposure report” showing where data is found | Yes, Free Basic includes a Personalized Exposure Report with screenshots and view links to hundreds of sites |
| Screenshots provided for free | Not Available | Yes, per Optery’s pricing page, Free Basic includes “Personalized Exposure Report with Screenshots” |
| Self-service removal tools included free | Cloaked routes users toward a paid subscription for removals after the Free Scan | Yes, Free Basic includes self-service removal tools and shortcuts to broker opt-out pages |
| Ongoing free monitoring | Not Available | Yes, free quarterly Exposure Reports continue for as long as the account remains active |
A free scan should help you make a decision, not just create anxiety. Cloaked’s free scan requires a phone number and produces an exposure report. Optery’s Free Basic account requires no credit card, includes a Personalized Exposure Report with screenshots, and continues with free quarterly reports for as long as the account stays active.
6. Pricing and Value
| Plan or tier | Cloaked | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free scan only (requires phone number) | Free Basic account, no credit card required, ongoing |
| Lowest paid plan | Individual: $12.49/mo billed monthly, or $9.99/mo billed annually ($119.99/yr) | Core: $3.99/mo billed monthly, or $3.25/mo billed annually ($39/yr) |
| Mid-tier plan | Couple: $19.99/mo billed monthly, or $14.99/mo billed annually ($174.99/yr), covers 2 people | Extended: $14.99/mo billed monthly, or $12.42/mo billed annually ($149/yr), adds a human Privacy Agent and screenshot Removals Reports |
| Highest consumer plan | Family: $29.99/mo billed monthly, or $24.99/mo billed annually ($299.99/yr), covers up to 4 people | Ultimate: $24.99/mo billed monthly, or $20.70/mo billed annually ($249/yr), for one person, with unlimited custom removals |
| Family option | Yes, Family plan bundles up to 4 people at one flat price, including full feature set (aliases, password manager, insurance, data removal) | Yes, Optery for Family offers up to 30% off all plans. NO LIMIT to the number of people you can add. |
| Business option | Enterprise plan available; custom pricing via demo request; framed as an employee benefits bundle | Optery for Business: Free PRO (free), Core PRO, Ultimate PRO, and a custom Enterprise tier (minimum 100 licenses) with SSO/SCIM/SAML included |
| Money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee | 30-Day Money Back Guarantee for individual accounts (not available for business accounts) |
Optery also maintains a promo codes page for certain special circumstances and needs, offering a discount to groups such as military members and veterans, healthcare workers, teachers, seniors, students, and domestic violence or stalking victims, among others.
7. Consumer Reports and Independent Testing
In August 2024, Consumer Reports evaluated the top people-search removal services, including Optery, DeleteMe, EasyOptOuts, IDX, Kanary, Confidently, and ReputationDefender. Cloaked was not part of this study, presumably because it did not have a strong offering in this category. Optery was the most effective service of all services tested at the end of the four-month blind study. While the Consumer Reports study was well-intentioned, it was poorly designed and had several problems, which Optery responded to in a public statement.
8. Awards for Personal Data Removal
Optery’s awards and recognition is unparalleled in the personal data removal industry. A representative sample is listed below, with a fuller list on Optery’s Awards page here.
- CNET Editors’ Choice (2026)
- PCMag.com Editors’ Choice (2022 – 2026)
- Cybersecurity Excellence Award (2024 – 2026)
- SiliconANGLE TechForward Award for Digital Risk Protection (2025)
- Fortress Cybersecurity Award (2025 – 2026)
- Global InfoSec and Top InfoSec Innovator Awards by Cyber Defense Magazine (2024 – 2026)
- Fast Company “Next Big Things in Tech” for Security & Privacy (2023)
Cloaked has also received recognitions:
- Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas Awards, Honorable Mention in the Small and Mighty category, recognizing Cloaked’s broader consumer privacy mission rather than a specific product or category ranking.
- Product Hunt, “Product of the Day”, awarded at Cloaked’s public launch out of beta in 2023.
When a company is recognized across multiple, independently judged programs over several consecutive years by outlets that also cover competitors, that consistency adds useful context when evaluating vendor maturity. Optery stands on its own, with the most awards by far of any personal data removal service in the industry.
9. Best Fit: Who Should Choose Which for Personal Data Removal?
| User type | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-conscious consumer | Optery | Free Basic account plus a $3.99/month Core plan undercuts Cloaked’s lowest individual price |
| Family privacy buyer who wants a multi-function privacy bundle for entire family | Cloaked | Cloaked’s Family plan bundles aliases, password management, insurance, and data removal for up to 4 people in one flat price. Simple Couple / Family tiers may be easier to reason about than tiered broker counts |
| Person who wants verifiable screenshot proof of work for personal data removal | Optery | Optery’s Free Basic tier includes a screenshot-based Exposure Report at no cost, and Extended and Ultimate plans provide the before-and-after screenshot Removals Reports |
| High-risk individual (executive, journalist, stalking survivor) concerned with most comprehensive and effective personal data removal | Optery | Optery’s Ultimate plan offers unlimited Custom Removals, unlimited name/address variations, expansive data broker coverage, and a “Humans + Machines” approach with assigned human Privacy Agent for this exact use case |
| User who wants a single app for aliases, spam-call blocking, VPN, password management, identity theft insurance, and and basic personal data removal coverage | Cloaked | Cloaked’s bundle covers a wider variety of day-to-day privacy needs in one subscription |
Final Recommendation
Ultimately, the better choice depends on what problem you’re trying to solve. If your top priority is removing your personal information from data brokers, Optery remains the clear leader, offering a deeper, more transparent, and more comprehensive service than Cloaked. If, however, you’re looking for an all-in-one privacy toolkit that combines identity protection, password management, email and phone aliases, VPN, dark web monitoring, basic personal data removal, and other privacy features into a single subscription, Cloaked delivers a broader set of capabilities.
For consumers who want the strongest data broker removal available without giving up those additional privacy tools, using Optery alongside Cloaked can provide the best of both worlds.
Regardless of what you decide, you can start by creating a free Optery account for a free Exposure Report with screenshots (no credit card required) before making any purchase decision. And if you already have a Cloaked account, why not create a free Optery account for the free Exposure Report to see which data brokers Cloaked might have missed?