If you're looking to remove your personal information from data broker sites, PrivacyOn and DeleteMe are two of the most popular options. Both services submit opt-out requests on your behalf and monitor for re-listings — but they differ significantly in coverage, approach, and pricing. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
What Do Data Removal Services Actually Do?
Data removal services save you the time and effort of manually opting out of data broker sites. Without a service, you'd need to:
- Find your profiles across 100+ data broker sites
- Navigate each site's unique (and often confusing) opt-out process
- Submit removal requests individually
- Monitor for re-listings every few months
- Re-submit opt-outs when your data inevitably reappears
Both PrivacyOn and DeleteMe handle this process for you — but the details matter.
DeleteMe: Overview
DeleteMe, operated by Abine Inc., has been in the data removal space since 2011 and has processed over 100 million opt-out requests. Here's what they offer:
- Pricing: Starting at $129/year for an individual plan (~$10.75/month). Couples plan at $229/year, family (4 users) at $329/year.
- Advertised coverage: 750–976+ data broker sites
- Automated removal: Approximately 85 sites on the Standard plan
- Custom removal requests: Up to 40 per account on the Standard plan
- Monitoring frequency: Quarterly reports on the Standard plan
- Approach: Combination of human privacy experts and automated tools
About DeleteMe's Broker Numbers
DeleteMe advertises coverage of 750–976+ sites, but there's an important distinction. Only about 85 sites are handled through automated removal on the Standard plan. The remainder require "custom removal requests" (capped at 40) or are only available on premium/business tiers. Independent reviews estimate practical automated coverage at closer to 85–181 sites.
PrivacyOn: Overview
PrivacyOn takes a comprehensive approach to data removal, focusing on broad automated coverage and continuous monitoring:
- Coverage: 100+ data broker sites with automated removal
- Continuous monitoring: Ongoing scans to catch re-listings
- Automated approach: Submissions handled automatically across all covered brokers
- Dashboard: Track your removal progress in real time
Head-to-Head Comparison
Coverage and Removal Approach
DeleteMe's human-review approach means each removal gets personal attention, which can be helpful for complex cases. However, this also means slower processing and quarterly rather than continuous monitoring. PrivacyOn's automated approach enables more frequent monitoring and faster response when data reappears.
Monitoring Frequency
Data brokers can re-add your information at any time. DeleteMe's Standard plan checks quarterly — meaning up to three months could pass before a re-listing is caught. More frequent monitoring means less time your data sits exposed online.
Transparency
One common criticism of DeleteMe is the gap between advertised and actual automated coverage. When evaluating any data removal service, look at the number of sites where removal is automated, not just the total number advertised.
Common Complaints About DeleteMe
To give you a balanced view, here are the most frequent criticisms from DeleteMe users:
- Incomplete removals: Users report finding their information on major sites like MyLife and Radaris even after a year of service
- Slow results: Months can pass before meaningful reduction in online presence
- Misleading coverage numbers: The gap between "750+ sites" advertised and ~85 automated sites frustrates users
- Cost relative to results: At $129/year, some users feel the coverage doesn't justify the price
- Data reappearance: Quarterly monitoring means re-listings can persist for months before being caught
Who Should Choose Which?
Consider DeleteMe if:
- You prefer human review of each removal request
- You want a well-established brand with a long track record
- You need business-tier solutions for executives or employees
Consider PrivacyOn if:
- You want broad automated coverage across 100+ data brokers
- Continuous monitoring matters to you (vs. quarterly checks)
- You want your data removed and kept off these sites on an ongoing basis
- You prefer a more hands-off, fully automated approach
The Bottom Line
Both services are better than doing nothing. Your personal data is actively being bought and sold by data brokers, and manual opt-outs are time-consuming and temporary. The best service for you depends on whether you prioritize human review (DeleteMe) or broad automated coverage with continuous monitoring (PrivacyOn).
Try PrivacyOn
PrivacyOn removes your personal information from 100+ data broker sites and continuously monitors for re-listings. If you're ready to take back control of your online privacy, PrivacyOn makes it simple and automatic.