Optery has earned a solid reputation as a data removal service, offering everything from a free scan to premium plans that automate removals across hundreds of broker sites. But with pricing that can reach nearly $250 per year for full coverage, is Optery actually worth the investment in 2026? We break down the features, pricing, pros, and cons — and explain why PrivacyOn may be the better choice for most people.
What Is Optery?
Optery is a data removal service that scans people-search and data broker websites for your personal information and submits opt-out requests on your behalf. Founded in 2021, the company has grown its broker coverage significantly and offers tiered plans ranging from a free basic scan to a premium service with human privacy agents.
Optery's Plans and Pricing (2026)
Optery uses a tiered pricing model:
- Free Plan: Scans a limited number of broker sites and provides a report, but you must submit opt-out requests yourself manually
- Basic Plan (~$49/year): Automated removal from a limited set of brokers, with basic monitoring
- Standard Plan (~$149/year): Expanded broker coverage with automated removals and monthly re-scans
- Ultimate Plan (~$249/year): Full coverage of 600+ broker sites, human privacy agents for custom removals, removal verification with before-and-after screenshots, and priority support
Broker Coverage Varies by Plan
One of the most common complaints about Optery is that full broker coverage is locked behind the most expensive plan. On the Basic plan, you're only protected against a fraction of the data brokers that have your information, leaving significant gaps in your privacy protection.
What Optery Does Well
Transparency With Screenshots
Optery provides before-and-after screenshots showing your data being found and then removed from broker sites. This visual proof gives users confidence that the service is actually working, and it's a feature that not all competitors offer.
Free Scan
The free tier lets you see which brokers have your data without paying anything. This is useful for understanding the scope of the problem, even if you choose a different service for the actual removal work.
Broad Coverage on Premium Plans
On the Ultimate plan, Optery covers 600+ data broker and people-search sites, which is one of the widest coverages in the industry. The inclusion of human privacy agents for custom removal requests is also a differentiator for complex cases.
Where Optery Falls Short
High Cost for Full Protection
At $249/year for the Ultimate plan, Optery is one of the more expensive data removal services. And the reality is that the Basic and Standard plans leave many brokers uncovered, meaning you're only partially protected unless you pay top dollar.
No Dark Web Monitoring
Unlike some competitors, Optery focuses exclusively on data broker removal and doesn't include dark web monitoring to alert you when your personal information appears in stolen databases or hacker forums.
No Family Plans
Optery's plans cover individual users. If you want to protect your spouse, children, or elderly parents, each person needs their own separate subscription — which can quickly multiply the cost.
Removals Aren't Permanent
This is true of all data removal services, not just Optery: data brokers continuously re-collect information, so your data will reappear unless it's continuously monitored and re-removed. Optery handles this with monthly re-scans, but only on paid plans.
Optery vs. PrivacyOn: A Direct Comparison
| Feature | PrivacyOn | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8.33/mo | ~$4.08/mo (Basic) |
| Full Broker Coverage Price | $8.33/mo | ~$20.75/mo (Ultimate) |
| Broker Sites Covered | 100+ | Varies by plan (up to 600+) |
| Dark Web Monitoring | Yes, included | No |
| Family Plans | Up to 5 people | Individual only |
| 24/7 Monitoring | Yes | Monthly re-scans |
| Removal Verification | Yes | Yes (screenshots) |
Why PrivacyOn Is the Better Value
While Optery offers impressive coverage on its premium tier, PrivacyOn delivers the features most people actually need at a fraction of the cost:
- All-inclusive pricing: PrivacyOn's $8.33/month plan includes full broker coverage, dark web monitoring, and 24/7 protection. There's no tiered system where you need to pay 3x more to unlock the features that matter.
- Family protection: PrivacyOn's family plans cover up to 5 people, making it dramatically more affordable for families compared to buying separate Optery subscriptions for each family member.
- Dark web monitoring included: PrivacyOn alerts you when your personal information appears on the dark web — a critical security feature that Optery doesn't offer at any price point.
- Continuous monitoring: Rather than monthly scans, PrivacyOn provides 24/7 monitoring to catch re-listings faster and keep your data off broker sites consistently.
Our Recommendation
Optery is a legitimate service that does what it promises, especially on the Ultimate plan. But for the vast majority of people — and especially for families — PrivacyOn offers better overall value with its combination of data broker removal, dark web monitoring, family plans, and affordable all-inclusive pricing.
The Bottom Line
Is Optery worth it in 2026? It depends on your budget and needs. If you want the widest possible broker coverage and don't mind paying premium prices for an individual plan, Optery's Ultimate tier is a solid choice. But if you're looking for comprehensive privacy protection that includes dark web monitoring, covers your whole family, and won't break the bank, PrivacyOn is the clear winner.
PrivacyOn starts at just $8.33 per month and protects your entire family — including data broker removal, dark web monitoring, and 24/7 surveillance. It's the best overall value in the data removal space, and our top recommendation for anyone serious about protecting their personal information online.