4 Top data removal services for online protection

Data brokers collect your information and sell it for money. Ever just want to opt out of it all? No need to answer and say, “Put me on the do-not-call list” to every single marketer in the world. Just do it with a single click using the best data removal services we vetted.

These days, identity theft is skyrocketing, and the methods criminals use are becoming more sophisticated. On average, manually removing your info from 100 brokers could take over 50 hours, and often brokers simply add your data back, according to the data removal team at Aura.

You might think you’re safe while on the phone, handing over personal information to companies you trust— but sometimes, those companies are the scammers themselves.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there has been a “huge jump” in impersonation scams targeting people over 60 in the last four years. Many victims are losing significant amounts of money, and for some, their entire life savings are at risk.

Although you may be looking for free data removal services, it may not be the best or thorough. It could even be a scam! So follow our trusted resources for a guided solution to your robocall problems. Paid services ensure ongoing monitoring, removal from hundreds of sites, and alerts if your information appears where it shouldn’t.

Ready to find the right service for you? Let’s dial in.

Product Spotlight

Best Overall: Aura

Pros:

• Strong insurance and remediation support
• Affordable entry‑level pricing starting at $9 per month
• Removes personal data from 140+ data brokers
• 60-Day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• It lacks niche protections compared to some competitors, such as social media

Aura is an award-winning digital and identity protection service for individuals, families, and businesses, with plans starting at $9 per month. It goes beyond traditional identity theft protection, also monitors children’s online activity and social interactions.

The platform can remove your personal data from 140+ data brokers and even from Google search results. Members can receive up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, while Aura continuously scans the dark web and alerts you if any of your financial accounts are compromised. That includes Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, passports, driver’s licenses, National Provider IDs, and health insurance IDs.

With packages designed for individuals, parents, and businesses, Aura covers a wide range of potential data breaches. All plans feature bank- and military-grade security and include a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Monthly prices start at $9.00 per person.

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DeleteMe significantly reduces exposure to identity theft, doxxing, and unwanted online attention. Users receive clear, easy-to-understand reports and a dashboard to track progress, making the service virtually hands-free.

Experts locate and remove it, covering a wide range of data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, social media profiles, property values, past addresses, marital status, photos, and even relatives. Prices start at $8.60 per person, per month.

New York Post Review: “Access to DeleteMe was a benefit offered at a previous company I worked for, and it was one that I immediately took advantage of. I think it’s something that anyone with an online presence should do, and the fact that I have experienced people impersonating me on the internet, it felt like an important precaution to take.

The work perk gave me access to an individual plan, which ultimately suited me just fine. Set-up was a cinch and the rest of the process was just as easy. Once enrolled, it seemed to be mostly a “set it and forget it” situation. After a few weeks, I got my first report in my email inbox detailing how many sites they scanned for any of my personal data and how many of those sites they got in touch with to remove that info. I don’t recall having to take any additional action.

It seemed like once a month, I’d get another report letting me know more data removal requests they did on my behalf. The only reason I stopped using the service was that I left the company that provided my membership.” — Adam Schubak, senior manager of growth in commerce

Best Features: incogni

The best personal data removal services provide data removal services at an upfront cost. This company is very easy to locate pricing with transparent policies. Incogni helps reclaim your digital privacy by erasing personal information from more than 420 data broker sites, with support for over 2,000 additional sites through its custom removal feature.

Verified by Deloitte, the service has already completed over 245 million data removal requests, showing its impact in keeping user information off the web.

This Cyber Week, incogni is offering an impressive 55% off annual plans with the coupon code REMOVEME, and each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Plans start at $7.19 a month and can range up to $20.69 with an unlimited family plan. Keep in mind that annual purchases make it even cheaper for the year.

Best Budget: Optery

When it comes to safeguarding your personal information online, Optery stands out for its budget-friendliness.

Its patented technology and automated removal process make it effortless to erase your home address, phone number, and other private details from hundreds of data broker sites, reducing the risk of identity theft, spam, and phishing.

With live screenshots to prove their work, SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is a free version and a very low entry of $3.99 a month, which increases from there depending on the service you want.

FAQ

We interviewed a team of data removal experts from Aura to answer pressing questions, helping us make informed decisions and find solutions to everyday data removal challenges.

How long does it take to recover from identity theft?

Recovery from identity theft varies widely. The time it takes depends on what information was stolen, how it was used, and how quickly the fraud is detected. Some victims resolve issues in a few days or months, while more complex cases can take much longer.

Identity theft recovery is highly personal and may take days, weeks, or even months to recover, especially if the fraud is complex.

What are the consequences of identity theft?

Identity theft can disrupt nearly every part of your life. In 2024 alone, the FTC received millions of identity theft and fraud reports, and consumer losses totaled billions of dollars. From stolen credit card numbers to full-scale identity takeovers, the impact can be severe.

You’re looking at possible financial ruin. Fraudsters can open credit cards, take out loans, medical bills, or apply for auto or mortgage financing using your identity — racking up debt and damaging your credit. Not to mention the legal and administrative headaches it will cause.

What is the dark web, and how does that affect my data?

The Dark Web is a hidden part of the internet made up of private websites, forums, and marketplaces. Users access it through a special browser that allows them to stay anonymous. Cybercriminals, hackers, and even government agents use it to track information.

What’s one simple step people can take today to protect their identity and personal data?

If you are not hiring one of the established data removal companies above, Aura recommends making your password hard to hack. If you’re reusing passwords or choosing ones that are easy to remember, you’re making it easier for hackers to access many parts of your digital life.

Failing to maintain strong password hygiene across your online accounts can lead to serious problems like identity theft and financial fraud.

But it’s more than just password protections — everyone is vulnerable. According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, “30% of breaches were linked to third-party involvement, twice as much as last year, and
driven in part by vulnerability exploitation and business interruptions.”

You may never know when or how an attacker will strike, which is why it would be wise to hire a data removal company to monitor your assets for you.

What seemingly “normal” habits are actually the most dangerous?

Many everyday habits can put your personal information and security at risk. Oversharing on social media, for example, can expose sensitive details like your birthday, your pet’s name, or even your workplace information that hackers can exploit.

Other risky habits include clicking suspicious links, using public Wi-Fi without protection, and neglecting to monitor your credit or account activity regularly.

Services like Aura help safeguard your privacy. Aura allows you to keep personal information private, manage your privacy settings, and avoid sharing your real-time location. It also offers an online data removal service that scrubs your information from people search sites, data brokers, and search results.

With its safe browsing feature, Aura blocks malicious and phishing websites in real-time, keeping your browsing secure. Along with many other thoughtful features to protect your digital life.

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