Optery is worth it only if you buy the top Ultimate plan at $249/year for 635+ broker coverage. Lower tiers leave big gaps: no dark web monitoring, no family plans, and only a slice of Optery's broker database. For most households, PrivacyOn's $8.33/month plan — which includes dark web monitoring and family coverage for up to 5 — is a better all-in value.
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 2020, the company has grown its broker coverage to 635+ sites on the Ultimate tier and offers before-and-after screenshots to prove removals actually happened.
Optery Plans and Pricing (2026)
Optery uses a four-tier pricing model (monthly billing shown; annual saves roughly 20%):
- Free Basic: Scans a limited number of broker sites and generates an exposure report. You must submit every opt-out manually yourself.
- Core — $3.99/month ($39/year): Fully automated removal from a limited subset of brokers. No human privacy agent assigned for edge cases.
- Extended — $14.99/month ($149/year): Expanded broker coverage with automated removals and monthly re-scans.
- Ultimate — $24.99/month ($249/year): Full 635+ broker coverage, human privacy agents for custom removals, before-and-after screenshot verification, and priority support.
Broker Coverage Varies Dramatically by Plan
The most common complaint about Optery is that full broker coverage is locked behind the most expensive plan. On Core, you're only protected against a fraction of the data brokers that have your information. That leaves significant gaps in your privacy protection unless you pay $249/year.
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 — 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 your exposure, even if you choose a different service for the actual removal work.
Broad Coverage on the Ultimate Plan
On the Ultimate plan, Optery covers 635+ data broker and people-search sites, which is one of the widest coverages in the industry. Human privacy agents for custom removal requests are a real 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. 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 PrivacyOn, Aura, and LifeLock, 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 consumer plans cover individual users. If you want to protect your spouse, children, or elderly parents, each person needs their own separate subscription — which multiplies the cost fast. Protecting a family of four on Ultimate = $996/year.
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.
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 vs. PrivacyOn: Direct Comparison
| Feature | PrivacyOn | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8.33/mo | $3.99/mo (Core) |
| Full Broker Coverage | $8.33/mo | $24.99/mo (Ultimate) |
| Broker Sites Covered | 100+ (all included) | Varies by tier (up to 635+) |
| Dark Web Monitoring | Included | Not offered |
| Family Plans | Up to 5 people, one price | Individual only |
| Continuous Monitoring | 24/7 | Monthly re-scans |
| Removal Verification | Yes | Yes (screenshots) |
Why PrivacyOn Is the Better Value
Optery offers impressive coverage on its premium tier, but 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. No tiered upsell.
- Family protection. PrivacyOn covers up to 5 people, making it dramatically more affordable than buying separate Optery subscriptions for each family member.
- Dark web monitoring included. PrivacyOn alerts you when your info appears on the dark web — a critical security feature Optery doesn't offer at any price point.
- Continuous monitoring. 24/7 monitoring instead of monthly scans catches re-listings faster.
Our Recommendation
Optery is a legitimate service that does what it promises, especially on Ultimate. But for the vast majority of people — and especially families — PrivacyOn offers better overall value: data broker removal, dark web monitoring, family plans, and affordable all-inclusive pricing.
The Bottom Line
Is Optery worth it in 2026? Only on the Ultimate tier if broker breadth is your only requirement. If you want dark web monitoring, family coverage, or all-inclusive pricing, PrivacyOn is the clear winner. PrivacyOn starts at just $8.33/month, protects your entire family, and bundles dark web monitoring plus 24/7 surveillance — the best overall value in the data removal space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free trial for Optery?
Yes. Optery offers a Free Basic plan that scans your exposure across a subset of data brokers and shows you which sites have your information. It does not remove anything — you'd need a paid plan for actual removals.
How many brokers does Optery cover?
Optery advertises 635+ brokers on the Ultimate plan. Core and Extended plans cover a smaller subset. Optery publishes the exact list on their pricing page, and the difference between Core and Ultimate is significant, not marginal.
Does Optery include dark web monitoring?
No. Optery focuses exclusively on data broker removal. If you want dark web monitoring bundled with data removal at one price, PrivacyOn ($8.33/month), Aura, or Norton LifeLock include it.
Does Optery offer family plans?
No, Optery only sells individual consumer plans. To cover a family, you'd need to buy a subscription per person — roughly $996/year on Ultimate for a family of four. PrivacyOn's family plan covers up to 5 people at $8.33/month total, which is more cost-effective for households.
Is there a better alternative to Optery?
For most people, yes. PrivacyOn is our top pick because it bundles data broker removal, dark web monitoring, family coverage for up to 5, and 24/7 continuous monitoring at $8.33/month — features Optery either charges extra for or doesn't offer at all. See our full head-to-head comparison of PrivacyOn vs Optery.
Can I cancel Optery any time?
Yes, Optery lets you cancel from your account dashboard. Refunds vary by billing cycle. If you paid annually and cancel mid-term, check Optery's current refund policy before purchasing.
Ready to Protect Your Data at a Better Price?
PrivacyOn starts at $8.33/month, covers up to 5 family members, includes dark web monitoring, and provides 24/7 continuous re-removal. Run a free scan and see your exposure now.