Clearbit, now part of HubSpot following its 2023 acquisition, is a B2B data enrichment platform that collects and sells detailed professional profiles on millions of business contacts. If you have ever received a suspiciously well-targeted sales email from a company you have never interacted with, Clearbit may be one of the reasons why. Here is how to opt out and remove your data from their systems.
What Data Does Clearbit Collect?
Clearbit specializes in enriching business contact records. Their databases are used by sales and marketing teams worldwide to identify and target potential customers. The types of data they collect include:
- Business contact information: Work email addresses, phone numbers, and office addresses
- Professional details: Job titles, seniority levels, departments, and employment history
- Company data: Employer name, industry, company size, estimated revenue, funding rounds, and technology stack
- Social profiles: LinkedIn, Twitter, and other professional social media accounts
- Firmographic data: Company location, number of employees, and market segment
- Technographic data: Software tools and platforms a company uses, inferred from website analysis
Clearbit aggregates this information from publicly available sources, commercial data partnerships, web scraping, and third-party providers. Their API products allow customers to look up anyone by email address and receive a rich profile in return, which is why your professional details may be circulating through sales tools and CRM platforms without your knowledge.
How to Opt Out of Clearbit
Clearbit offers a formal opt-out process through a CCPA-based "Do Not Sell" form. Follow these steps carefully:
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Visit the opt-out form:
Navigate to dashboard.clearbit.com/ccpa-opt-out in your browser. This is Clearbit's official California "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" form, but it is available to all residents regardless of location.
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Enter your information:
Fill in the required fields, including your name and email address. Use the exact email addresses and details you believe Clearbit has on file for you. If you have multiple professional email addresses, you may need to submit separate requests for each one.
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Submit the form:
Review your information and click the submit button. You should see a confirmation page acknowledging your request.
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Check your email for verification:
Clearbit will send a verification email to the address you provided. You must click the confirmation link in this email for your opt-out request to be processed. Check your spam folder if you do not see it within a few minutes.
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Confirm the opt-out:
After clicking the verification link, your request enters Clearbit's processing queue. They should suppress your data from future API responses and enrichment results.
Processing Time
Clearbit does not publicly state a specific processing timeline, but most requests are handled within 30 days in accordance with CCPA requirements. Keep the confirmation email as proof of your request in case you need to follow up.
Alternative Opt-Out Methods
If you prefer not to use the online form, or if you want to submit a more comprehensive deletion request, Clearbit offers additional contact methods:
- By email: Send your opt-out or deletion request to privacy@clearbit.com. Include your full name, the email addresses you want removed, and a clear statement that you are requesting data deletion.
- By phone: Call (866) 241-4820 during business hours to make your request verbally.
- Through HubSpot: Since Clearbit is now part of HubSpot, you can also submit privacy requests through HubSpot's privacy portal at legal.hubspot.com/privacy-policy.
Tips for a Stronger Request
When contacting Clearbit by email, consider referencing specific privacy regulations that may apply to you:
- CCPA/CPRA if you are a California resident — request both opt-out from sale and full deletion
- GDPR if you are in the EU or UK — cite your right to erasure under Article 17
- State privacy laws — many US states including Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Texas now have consumer privacy laws with deletion rights
Important Limitations
Warning: Previously Enriched Data Persists
Opting out of Clearbit stops your data from being served through their API going forward, but it does not recall data that has already been delivered to their customers. Any sales team or CRM that previously enriched your contact record through Clearbit will retain that data in their own systems. You would need to contact those companies individually to request deletion.
- Data can be re-collected. Clearbit continuously scrapes and aggregates data from public sources. If your professional information remains publicly available on LinkedIn, company websites, or other platforms, Clearbit may re-collect it over time. Periodic re-submission of your opt-out request is recommended.
- Multiple email addresses require separate requests. If you have had several professional email addresses across different jobs, submit an opt-out for each one individually.
- HubSpot integration complicates things. With Clearbit now integrated into HubSpot's platform, your data may also exist within HubSpot's broader ecosystem. Consider submitting a separate privacy request to HubSpot as well.
Beyond Clearbit: The B2B Data Problem
Clearbit is one of many B2B data enrichment platforms that trade in professional information. Similar services like ZoomInfo, FullContact, Apollo, and Lusha maintain overlapping databases. Opting out of one platform while ignoring the others leaves your professional profile widely accessible to sales teams and marketers.
PrivacyOn automates the opt-out process across 100+ data brokers, including B2B enrichment platforms like Clearbit and traditional people-search sites. With continuous monitoring, PrivacyOn detects when your data reappears and submits removal requests automatically, saving you the effort of tracking and re-submitting opt-outs across dozens of platforms.