Optery has a Free Basic tier in 2026, but it doesn't actually remove your data from anywhere — it just shows you quarterly exposure reports across hundreds of broker sites, and you have to submit every opt-out yourself, one by one, forever. Real automated removal starts at Optery Core ($39/year) and climbs to $249/year for Ultimate. If you want a free way to see your exposure without the manual grind, PrivacyOn's free scan does the same discovery in seconds — with no credit card and no obligation — and if you decide to hand off removal, PrivacyOn's family plan covers up to 5 people for $8.33/month.
Short Answer
Yes, Optery has a Free Basic plan. No, it doesn't remove your data — it only tells you where you're exposed and hands you the DIY work. For a real free-first path: run a free PrivacyOn scan, then decide whether you want an automated service to take over.
What Optery Free Basic Actually Includes in 2026
Optery Free Basic is a genuinely free account, but the word "free" hides what it doesn't include.
- Quarterly exposure reports — you see which of hundreds of broker sites are currently listing your name, address, phone, or relatives
- Direct links to each broker's opt-out page
- DIY only — no removals submitted for you
- Limited profile matching — one name and one city/state per user
- No dark-web monitoring
- No custom removals — reserved for Ultimate
DIY Opt-Outs Take Real Time
The average manual data-broker opt-out takes 5-15 minutes per site: fill a form, verify email, sometimes call. With 100+ brokers, that's 10-25 hours of work — and re-listings happen constantly, so this isn't a one-time job.
Optery Paid Plans and Pricing 2026
Automated removals only start on paid tiers. All three are billed annually.
Optery Core — $39/year
- 100+ site coverage with automated removals
- Quarterly re-scans
- Basic exposure reporting
Optery Extended — $149/year
- 200+ site coverage
- Faster re-scan cadence
- Priority processing
Optery Ultimate — $249/year
- 350+ sites with Expanded Reach; 150+ without
- Unlimited custom removal requests
- Full profile support (aliases, multiple addresses)
- Priority support
Hidden Costs Beyond the Free Tier
- Family coverage costs more. Optery family plans multiply — each additional profile bumps annual cost. Compare that to PrivacyOn's flat 5-person family plan.
- Expanded Reach is Ultimate-only. The 350+ site count only applies to the top tier; Core and Extended cover fewer sites than the marketing suggests.
- Custom removal caps. Only Ultimate offers unlimited custom removals. Lower tiers cap them.
- Dark-web monitoring not included in the base plans — you'd need a separate service.
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
Optery Free vs PrivacyOn Free Scan
What Each Free Option Delivers
- Optery Free Basic: Quarterly exposure report; DIY opt-out links; account required
- PrivacyOn free scan: Immediate exposure scan across 100+ broker sites; no credit card; no obligation
What You Pay to Automate Removal
- Optery Core: $39/year for 100+ sites, no dark-web monitoring, no family plan included
- PrivacyOn: From $8.33/month ($99.96/year) for 100+ brokers plus 24/7 dark-web monitoring plus family plan for up to 5 people
Coverage and Convenience
- Optery: Strong for solo users comfortable managing broker removal as a standalone task
- PrivacyOn: Better for households — one plan covers 5 people, and dark-web monitoring is built in rather than sold separately
PrivacyOn Wins the Family Math
Optery's per-profile pricing punishes families — five separate Ultimate profiles at $249/year each is $1,245. PrivacyOn covers up to 5 people on one plan from $8.33/month, includes dark-web monitoring, and lets you start with a free scan (no card) to see exactly what you're paying to fix.
Who Should Actually Use Optery Free Basic?
Optery Free Basic is a reasonable pick if you:
- Enjoy the DIY approach and have time to submit dozens of opt-out forms manually
- Only want visibility into your exposure, not action
- Are protecting one person, not a household
- Don't need dark-web monitoring or ongoing coverage
For anyone else, the free tier's value is limited — because the actual removal work never gets done.
What About Optery's Free Trial on Paid Plans?
Optery doesn't run a traditional "free trial" on the paid tiers. The Free Basic account is the free onramp — everything above it is a paid annual subscription with a limited money-back window. Read the current terms at checkout; refund policies change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Optery free in 2026?
Optery has a Free Basic tier that gives you quarterly exposure reports showing which of hundreds of broker sites list you — but you have to submit every opt-out yourself. Automated removals only start on the Core plan at $39/year.
What's the difference between Optery Free Basic and paid plans?
Free Basic shows you where you're exposed and hands you DIY links. Paid plans (Core $39/yr, Extended $149/yr, Ultimate $249/yr) actually submit opt-out requests on your behalf, re-scan quarterly, and — on Ultimate — process unlimited custom removals across 350+ sites.
Is there a better free alternative to Optery?
Yes. PrivacyOn's free scan requires no credit card and no account creation friction — it immediately shows which of 100+ broker sites list you. If you want removal handled for you, PrivacyOn starts at $8.33/month with dark-web monitoring included and a family plan for up to 5 people. That covers more scope than Optery Core for less per person on families.
Does Optery Free include dark-web monitoring?
No. Dark-web monitoring is not part of any Optery tier by default — it's typically added through partner products or separate subscriptions. PrivacyOn includes 24/7 dark-web monitoring on every paid plan.
Can I use Optery Free forever?
Yes. Optery Free Basic doesn't expire. You'll keep getting quarterly exposure reports and DIY opt-out links, but you'll never see automated removals unless you upgrade. If DIY becomes a chore, PrivacyOn's fully automated service from $8.33/month is the lower-friction alternative — start with the free scan first.
Which is cheaper long-term: Optery or PrivacyOn?
For solo users, Optery Core at $39/year looks cheaper than PrivacyOn's ~$100/year individual, but Optery Core lacks dark-web monitoring and covers fewer sites than PrivacyOn. For families, PrivacyOn wins outright — $8.33/month covers up to 5 people, whereas five Optery profiles multiply the yearly bill several times over.