In today’s digital age, your personal information—home address, phone number, email, and even family members’ names—is likely floating around the internet. Data brokers collect this sensitive information and sell it to anyone willing to pay. This not only leads to annoying spam calls and emails but also exposes you to identity theft, stalking, and doxxing.
At Data Scrub Guide, we test various privacy tools to help you take back control. Today, we are reviewing Optery, one of the most advanced automated data removal services on the market.
### What is Optery?
Optery is a privacy management service designed to scan the web for your personal information and automatically submit opt-out requests to data brokers on your behalf. Unlike many competitors that only cover 30 to 50 brokers, Optery scans over 300+ data broker sites.
The standalone feature that sets Optery apart is its “Free Exposure Report.” Before you pay a single cent, Optery provides a comprehensive report complete with actual screenshots showing exactly where your private information is currently exposed online.
### Key Features of Optery
1. Free Exposure Reports
Optery is one of the few services that offers a genuinely useful free tier. Once you sign up, Optery scans dozens of major people-search sites and sends you a detailed report with direct links and screenshots of your exposed profiles.
2. Automated Removals
If you upgrade to a paid plan, Optery’s automated system goes to work. It submits opt-out requests, handles verification emails, and continually monitors these sites to ensure your data doesn’t reappear.
3. Custom Removals for High-Risk Individuals
For professionals, journalists, or victims of stalking who need maximum protection, Optery offers higher-tier plans that include human-assisted custom removals for harder-to-clear databases.
### Optery vs. DeleteMe vs. Incogni
While DeleteMe is the most famous name in this space, Optery offers significantly more value for tech-conscious users. DeleteMe relies heavily on human privacy coordinators, which makes their process slower. Optery uses advanced automation, meaning scans happen faster and cover way more brokers at a lower price point.
Incogni is another popular budget option, but it lacks the visual screenshot proof that Optery provides. Seeing actual screenshots of your data being removed gives you unmatched peace of mind.
### Pricing Plans
Optery offers several tiers to fit different budgets:
– Free Tier: Includes exposure scans and screenshots so you can remove the data yourself manually.
– Core Plan ($3.99/mo): Covers 100+ fundamental data brokers with automated removals.
– Clarity Plan ($14.99/mo): Covers 300+ brokers, including custom removals.
### Final Verdict: Is Optery Worth It?
If you want to scrub your personal footprint from the internet without spending hundreds of hours filling out manual opt-out forms, Optery is currently the best tool available. The free scan alone makes it worth trying today.
At Data Scrub Guide, we give Optery a 9.5/10 rating for its transparency, speed, and extensive broker coverage.