DeleteMe is one of the oldest and best-known brands in the personal-data-removal space. It helped define the category over a decade ago and still gets a lot of press and word-of-mouth.
But once you dig into the details, a gap appears between the story its marketing tells and what you actually get with a Standard plan. Optery, by contrast, has focused on transparent coverage, verifiable removals, and flexible pricing from day one.
Comparison Quick Summary
- Winner: Optery (Best for coverage, verification, and price flexibility)
- Coverage: Optery covers ~50% more data brokers in core plans than DeleteMe
- Proof: Optery provides removal verification screenshots; DeleteMe provides list counts
- Pricing: Optery offers monthly and yearly plans; DeleteMe only provides yearly plans
Below is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which solution best meets your data-removal needs.
1. Coverage Comparison: Number of Data Brokers Removed
Both Optery and DeleteMe list large numbers of data broker sites on their websites. The real question isn’t just “how many logos are on the page?” but how clearly they explain what is actually covered in your plan, and how much of that coverage is automatic versus manual.
DeleteMe’s homepage highlights “960+ data brokers” under a bold “Sites We Remove From” headline. However, based on our research into the fine print, only a portion of those sites are handled automatically in a standard consumer subscription:
- 85 sites are covered automatically by DeleteMe’s Standard plan.
- 14 additional sites are reserved for Business Gold, Diamond, Platinum and VIP Plan tiers.
- 146 sites are international-only.
- 556 sites are only accessible via Custom Requests—meaning you must find the profile yourself and submit it manually.
For an average customer, this makes it difficult to know exactly what coverage they are buying.
Optery takes a transparent approach to the same problem:
- Clear Coverage: Each plan (Core, Extended, Ultimate) has a published data broker count and a searchable coverage list.
- More Comprehensive Coverage: The Core plan alone covers more than twice as many data brokers (370+ or 130+ sites with enabling Expanded Reach) as DeleteMe’s Standard plan, while still priced significantly lower.
- Multiple Coverage Options: Higher tiers add hundreds more data brokers and include clearly labeled Custom Removals with straightforward policies (e.g., unlimited on Ultimate).
Coverage at a Glance
| Coverage Question | Optery | DeleteMe |
| How is coverage presented? | Clear, plan-by-plan broker counts and searchable lists. | Single “960+ sites” list with icons, symbols, and footnotes that are harder to interpret. |
| Data Brokers covered by entry plan | 370+ data brokers on Core. | data brokers on Standard. |
| How much depends on user-submitted custom requests? | Custom Removals exist, but are clearly labeled and primarily an add-on to already broad automatic coverage. | A large portion of the “960+” total is only reachable via Custom Requests you must submit yourself. |
| Can I easily see what my specific plan covers? | Yes – filter by plan and broker directly from the coverage list. | Only partially – coverage by plan is not clearly broken out for the full “960+” headline number. |
Bottom line: both services combine automatic removals with some level of manual / custom work, but Optery makes it much easier to see exactly which data brokers are covered on your plan and delivers much broader automatic coverage even on its entry-level tier.
2. Verification: Do They Provide Removal Screenshots?
For a data-removal service, evidence matters.
DeleteMe:
- Runs quarterly reviews and then sends you a PDF “Privacy Report” summarizing which sites were checked and how many listings were removed.
- The dashboard shows counts like “Listings Reviewed” or “Listings Removed,” but no screenshots, no direct profile links, and no visual before-and-after proof.
Optery:
- Pioneered screenshots for both Exposure Reports and Removals Reports. Removals Reports include before-and-after screenshots to give customers maximum transparency.
- Shows live thumbnails in the dashboard so you can click through to see exactly where your profile was found and how it looks after removal.
- Provides downloadable PDF reports with those same screenshots included.
Independent reviewers have repeatedly called out this difference, Optery’s verifiable reporting is a key reason it has been awarded PCMag Editors’ Choice multiple years in a row and has become the most awarded product in the category.
Bottom line: DeleteMe asks you to trust aggregated counts and quarterly PDFs. Optery shows you, in detail, where your data appeared and where it was removed.
3. Removals Process: Humans-Only vs Humans + Machines
DeleteMe leans heavily into a manual, advisor-driven model:
- The Standard plan operates on a quarterly review and removal cycle.
- A human Privacy Advisor reviews 85 data brokers, submits removals, and compiles a PDF summary every three months.
- A large portion of DeleteMe’s touted “960+” sites can only be used via Custom Requests, which require you to find your own profiles and submit them for the advisor to handle.
Optery uses a “Humans + Machines” approach:
- Automated monthly scans and opt-outs handle the heavy lifting across hundreds of data brokers.
- Human Privacy Agents step in for QA, difficult data brokers, and edge cases (especially on Extended and Ultimate plans).
- Removal status updates are reflected in the app continuously rather than only once a quarter.
Process Comparison
| Process | Optery | DeleteMe |
| Scan / removal frequency | Monthly by default | Quarterly for consumer plans |
| Approach | Hybrid automation + human agents | Primarily manual human advisors |
| Custom Removals | Included and unlimited on Ultimate | Central to coverage; volume caps unclear |
Bottom line: DeleteMe’s manual process can feel “personal,” but it’s slower, narrower, and more work for the customer. Optery’s hybrid model scales better, updates more often, and still gives you human backup when needed.
4. Flexible Plans and Free Tools
Free Scan
DeleteMe promotes a “Free Scan”, but in testing the scan:
- Results pages showed only 3–6 broker tiles, always from the same small pool (e.g., MyLife, SmartBackgroundCheck, CyberBackgroundChecks).
- No actual data (full name, address, etc.) is shown.
- No direct links or screenshots to verify those records.
- The main call-to-action is to start a paid subscription.
In practice, DeleteMe’s free scan behaves more like a “marketing hook” than a genuinely useful, verifiable scan.
Optery’s Free Basic tier is a full product:
- Real scan across hundreds of data brokers.
- Dozens of actual screenshots of your exposed profiles.
- Self-service DIY opt-out tools and direct links.
- No credit card required.
Pricing
DeleteMe Standard:
- Starts at $129/year for 1 person, $229/year for 2, and $329/year for a family plan.
- Only annual or multi-year options; no monthly billing is offered to consumers.
Optery:
- The Optery Core plan starts at $3.99/month or $39/year, with Extended and Ultimate plans scaling up coverage and features.
- Optery offers both Monthly and Yearly billing, and the ability to easily pause or change plan levels with prorated billing.
Pricing & Accessibility
| Option | Optery | DeleteMe |
| Free tier | ✅ Yes (scan + tools) | 🚫 No |
| Entry price | $3.99/month | $11/month ($129/year) |
| Monthly billing | ✅ Yes | 🚫 No (yearly only) |
| Flexible upgrades / downgrades | ✅ Seamless, pro-rated | ⚠️ Limited; higher tiers require sales contact |
Bottom line: DeleteMe charges more, scans less often, and locks you into annual commitments. Optery gives you a powerful free tier, low entry pricing, and real flexibility.
5. Security and Trust
Independent Validation and Reputation
When you look beyond feature lists and start asking “who do independent reviewers actually recommend?”, Optery pulls clearly ahead.
Over the last few years, Optery has been repeatedly recognized by independent reviewers and industry groups for its approach to data removal. That includes multiple PCMag Editors’ Choice recognitions, as well as awards and mentions from outlets like Fast Company and several cybersecurity and privacy industry organizations. In those reviews, Optery is often highlighted for:
- Screenshot-based exposure and removal reporting
- Transparent, plan-by-plan broker coverage
- Flexible pricing and a genuinely useful free tier
DeleteMe, meanwhile, is a well-known legacy brand with strong name recognition and plenty of media coverage. It helped popularize the category and still appears frequently in press roundups of privacy services.
However, when you compare recent, product-specific awards and head-to-head recommendations, Optery surfaces more often as the platform reviewers single out as a top or best-in-category choice.
Bottom line: Both brands are established and visible, but Optery stands out as the more frequently awarded and independently recommended platform for modern data removal.
The Verdict
DeleteMe is a well-known, long-standing option that helped popularize the data-removal space. For people who are comfortable with quarterly, advisor-driven reports and a smaller set of automatically covered sites, it can still get the job done.
But if you care about clear coverage, frequent removals, and proof of results, Optery comes out ahead. With broader, more transparent broker coverage, screenshot-based verification, flexible pricing (including a powerful free tier), and repeated recognition from independent reviewers, Optery is better aligned with what modern privacy-conscious users actually need.
Ready to take control of your personal data? Start your free Optery scan in minutes.
🔗 Want the full comparison? Read our complete DeleteMe Review – Pros and Cons for detailed screenshots, charts, and testing data.
