DeleteMe costs $129/year for one person and uses a human-assisted review to opt you out of data brokers. It's a well-known service, but a 2026 Consumer Reports test measured just a 27% removal rate, and only about 86 broker sites get true automated coverage on the Standard plan. For most people, PrivacyOn delivers wider automated coverage plus dark web monitoring for less money.
DeleteMe Pricing in 2026 (Real Costs)
DeleteMe requires an annual commitment — there is no monthly billing option. Current 2026 pricing on the official plans page:
- Individual (1 person): $129/year — effectively $10.75/month
- Couple (2 people): $229/year — effectively $9.54/month per person
- Family (4 people): $329/year — effectively $6.85/month per person
- Premium (1 person): $180/year — bi-monthly scans, 60 custom removals (vs 40), 15 extra broker sites
- 2-year prepay: Drops the Individual plan to about $8.71/month, but you pay $209 upfront
Optional add-ons include phone number masking at $7/line/month. Refunds are only available before your first Privacy Report is delivered — after that, there is no traditional money-back guarantee.
What DeleteMe Actually Does
DeleteMe, operated by Abine since 2010, is a data broker removal service. You submit your identifiers (names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, aliases), and their staff manually submit opt-out requests to people-search and data broker sites. You receive a Privacy Report every quarter (Standard) or every two months (Premium) showing what was found and removed.
The Coverage Gap Nobody Talks About
DeleteMe's marketing prominently references 750-850+ broker sites, but the fine print tells a different story:
- Standard plan: ~86 sites actively automated for removal
- Premium plan: ~101 sites actively automated for removal
- The remaining 650+ sites require you to spend your annual allotment of 40-60 custom removal requests
- The "950+ sites reviewed" number refers to database scanning — not automated removals
Independent Testing: 27% Removal Rate
Consumer Reports' 2024-2025 study of seven data removal services measured DeleteMe at approximately a 27% removal rate after four months — the lowest score in the test. Manual DIY opt-outs achieved roughly 70% in the same test. One study is not the whole story, but it illustrates the gap between marketing coverage claims and what actually gets removed.
DeleteMe's Real Limitations
- No dark web monitoring: Not offered at any tier — you'll pay separately if you want it
- Quarterly scans on Standard: Your data can be re-listed for up to three months before the next scan catches it
- Slow first report: 7-30 days after signup to see your first Privacy Report
- Annual commitment required: No monthly billing anywhere
- Primarily US brokers: Limited coverage for European, Australian, and Canadian data brokers
- Cannot remove public government records: Court records, voter rolls, and internet archives are out of scope
- Refund window closes with first report: Once your first Privacy Report ships, refunds are not standard
What Users Complain About
- Data still appearing on MyLife, Radaris, ClustrMaps, and BeenVerified after multiple report cycles
- Quarterly reports that look nearly identical with limited visible progress
- Billing disputes on Trustpilot and Sitejabber, especially around auto-renewal
- Some users report a temporary bump in spam right after signup as brokers verify identity for opt-outs
Why readers pick PrivacyOn
100+ broker sites covered, dark web monitoring, and family plans for up to 5 people — from $8.33/mo with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Start your free scan★★★★★ 4.8/5 · Trusted by thousands of families
DeleteMe vs PrivacyOn: Head-to-Head
Here is how DeleteMe compares to PrivacyOn, our top-rated data removal service:
- Automated broker coverage: PrivacyOn covers 100+ data broker sites with continuous automated monitoring and removal. DeleteMe automates only ~86-101 sites and asks you to spend custom-removal credits on the rest.
- Dark web monitoring: PrivacyOn includes dark web monitoring in every plan. DeleteMe does not offer it at any tier.
- Pricing: PrivacyOn starts at $8.33/month with no upfront annual commitment required. DeleteMe requires $129 upfront, with no monthly option.
- Family coverage: PrivacyOn family plans cover up to 5 people. DeleteMe caps its family plan at 4 people for $329/year.
- Monitoring frequency: PrivacyOn runs 24/7 continuous monitoring. DeleteMe scans quarterly (or bi-monthly on Premium).
- Transparency: PrivacyOn publishes a clear count of what is actually automated. DeleteMe's marketing lists 750+ sites while automating a fraction of them.
The Bottom Line on Value
For a family of four, DeleteMe costs $329/year — quarterly scans, no dark web monitoring. PrivacyOn's family plan covers up to 5 people with continuous monitoring, dark web scanning, and 100+ automated brokers, for less.
Who Should Still Consider DeleteMe
DeleteMe still makes sense for a narrow audience:
- You specifically want a human-reviewed workflow, not a fully automated one
- You're an existing subscriber and satisfied with your results
- You care about the free email masking bundled into the subscription
- Brand recognition and 15+ years in market matter to you
Our Recommendation: PrivacyOn
DeleteMe deserves credit for building the data removal category, but the gap between its marketing and its actual automated coverage — combined with the 27% Consumer Reports removal rate and premium pricing — makes it hard to recommend as the best 2026 choice.
PrivacyOn is our top pick. Transparent 100+ broker coverage, dark web scanning included, 24/7 continuous monitoring, family plans up to 5 people, and pricing from $8.33/month. If you're deciding between DeleteMe and something better, start with a free PrivacyOn scan to see where your data is exposed today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does DeleteMe cost per month?
DeleteMe does not sell a monthly plan. The Individual plan is $129/year — effectively $10.75/month if you spread it evenly. The Premium plan is $180/year (~$15/month). A 2-year Individual prepay works out to about $8.71/month but requires $209 upfront.
Does DeleteMe really remove data from 750 sites?
Not automatically. DeleteMe reviews around 950 sites during scanning, but only about 86 sites are on its automated removal list on the Standard plan (about 101 on Premium). The remaining hundreds of brokers require you to spend your annual allotment of 40-60 custom removal requests one at a time.
What's the difference between DeleteMe Standard and Premium?
Premium ($180/year vs $129/year) upgrades scan frequency from quarterly to bi-monthly, adds 15 more actively-automated broker sites, and raises custom removal credits from 40 to 60 per year. It does not add dark web monitoring — that isn't available at any tier.
Is DeleteMe better than doing opt-outs myself?
The 2024-2025 Consumer Reports study measured DIY opt-outs at roughly 70% success versus DeleteMe at roughly 27%. DIY takes 40-80 hours per year to maintain across the biggest brokers, though. DeleteMe pays off if your time is worth more than the coverage gap; it doesn't pay off if you want maximum removal.
Can I cancel DeleteMe and get a refund?
DeleteMe only refunds requests made before your first Privacy Report is delivered — typically within 7-30 days of signup. After that, there is no standard money-back guarantee. Auto-renewal is on by default, so calendar your renewal date if you plan to cancel.
What's the best DeleteMe alternative in 2026?
For most people, PrivacyOn. It covers 100+ automated broker sites, includes dark web monitoring, runs 24/7 continuous scans, offers family plans up to 5 people, and starts at $8.33/month with no annual upfront commitment. Start with a free PrivacyOn scan to see your exposure before you decide.