DeleteMe
DeleteMe offers a comprehensive solution to remove your data from data brokers, social media, and various online services that collect, store, and share data without consent.
Features
- Scans the web for your personal details on data broker sites and attempts removal.
- Provides free scanning so that you can see what private details are online.
- Monitors for data breaches by checking if your information is available on the dark web.
- Offers custom removals of user-submitted data removal requests.
Pros
- Good data removal track record with 750+ broker websites covered.
- Easy-to-use dashboard with automated features.
- Provides masked phone and email addresses, as well as data breach protection.
Cons
- It might be expensive for some users.
- Reports are provided quarterly.
DeleteMe searches for and removes the personal data of individuals and businesses in real-time from broker websites, making it ideal for those who want to enhance their privacy and secure their identity on the web and from public records.
In this DeleteMe review, we’ll go through its in-depth review and explain how it works while covering its benefits, features, pros, and alternatives.
What is DeleteMe?
DeleteMe is a personal data removal service designed to help individuals and organizations. It gathers personal information from users and removes matching information from the web, especially from search engines and data broker sites, clearing digital footprint, enhancing privacy, and reducing risks.
DeleteMe was founded in 2011 by Rob Shavell, a leading privacy company headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts. The company aims to remove users’ data and save time and effort in finding, requesting, and deleting it online.
Benefits of Using DeleteMe
The 6 benefits of DeleteMe are mentioned below.
- Protects from identity theft and fraud by removing personal information from data broker sites.
- Ensures protection through regular scans and removals for year-round protection, with periodic updates and detailed reports.
- Provides privacy experts who handle the removal process and provide customized support.
- Eliminates manual opt-outs, saving you significant time and effort.
- Gives access to information about data brokers, PII, and privacy protection strategies.
- Offers a free scan to assess your data exposure before purchase.
DeleteMe Features
DeleteMe has 5 key features, as are listed below.
- Automated Data Removal: Uses advanced algorithms to automatically locate and remove personal data from various data broker sites.
- Continuous Monitoring: Regularly scans the internet for your personal information to ensure ongoing protection, with quarterly reports.
- Custom Removal Requests: Allows users to submit specific data for removal, providing tailored privacy solutions.
- Detailed Reporting: Generates comprehensive privacy reports that detail which information has been removed and from which sites.
- Multi-layered Security: Employs encryption and secure protocols to protect user data during the removal process.
What kind of Data does DeleteMe Remove?
DeleteMe removes personal information from data broker sites, which includes name, age, address, photos, email, past address, phone number, relatives, social media accounts, occupation, marital status, and property value.
DeleteMe Pricing
DeleteMe offers its users plans that are curated according to the Single, Couple, and Family. Here is the breakdown of the pricing based on the user coverage and duration.
Plan Type | User coverage | Pricing (One year) | Pricing (Two years) |
---|---|---|---|
Standard Protection – Single | 1 person | $10.75 per month, billed annually | $8.71 per month, billed annually |
Most popular plan – Couple | 2 people | $19.08 per month, billed annually | $14.54 per month, billed annually |
Family protection – Family | 4 people | $27.42 per month, billed annually | $20.79 per month, billed annually |
All plans offer similar features, with the main difference being the number of users covered. For business support, DeleteMe provides customized pricing based on specific business requirements, which can be obtained by contacting them.
How DeleteMe Works
DeleteMe works by collecting the personal information you submit. Later, DeleteMe experts will search for your information and remove it from data broker sites and search engines, along with various sources that collect personal information.
Once done, regular reports are provided and monitored continuously throughout the year. Here is a breakdown of how it works.
Submit Info
After you purchase a DeleteMe subscription, you’re redirected to the DeleteMe personal profile page, where you need to fill in your personal information, which is divided into 7 steps.
Doing this is easy and feels like filling out a form. The on-screen instructions leave no room for confusion, and it takes only about 15-20 minutes to complete.
The best part about DeleteMe is it allows the addition of family members with ease. You can add family members to DeleteMe by either inputting the data on their behalf or by sending the data sheet as an invitation through the mail for them to complete.
Data Removal by Experts
The personal data you have provided reaches DeleteMe’s data removal experts, where your data is checked across 750 data broker sites.
During this process, DeleteMe ensures that personal data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and critical data is effectively deleted from these platforms.
Get Detailed Reports
After data removal experts have checked the data, detailed reports and findings are presented next. These reports are generated after experts initiate the process of sending opt-out requests on your behalf.
The first report, delivered within a week, identifies where your personal information has been found and specifies the initial actions taken for its removal. While the first report doesn’t include any removal, the quarterly reports focus on removal and provide important information like List reviewed, Listings removed, Total PII found, etc.
DeleteMe does the necessary automation on behalf of the user, which is requesting the removal of personal information from data brokers. However, the user needs to acknowledge the final confirmation sent by the data broker to delete the data.
This sums up the DeleteMe working process and the removal of your data from data brokers. As a result, you’re free of identity theft and fraud with fewer spam emails, telemarketing calls, and targeted ads, increasing overall privacy and security.
DeleteMe Pros
DeleteMe’s 5 pros have been listed below.
- Continuous monitoring: There is a continuous monitoring process followed so that when a user’s data is found with a data broker, the removal process can start.
- Reliable reporting: Reports are sent every quarter so that users are kept aware of how their private data is being safeguarded.
- Automation: Periodic reports, scans, and updates take place automatically so that there is continuous protection. Alerts are sent for data breaches Ike when personal data is found on the dark web.
- Free scanning: Before even signing up for DeleteMe users are offered a free scan so that they are made aware of the data exposure scale before its removal.
- Customer support: Email, chat and phone support is provided if users face any problems or have complaints.
DeleteMe Cons
While DeleteMe is packed with reliable features, it lacks in 3 areas as have been elaborated upon below.
- Pricing: Affordable and well-curated plans are restricted to one and two-year annual subscriptions.
- Availability: It is available only to US residents, limiting its accessibility to those outside the US.
- Scope: Effectively removes personal information but does not cover the removal of sensitive information such as credit card details.
What are the Online Data Removal Services other than DeleteMe?
Managing your digital footprint and protecting personal information from being misused by data brokers is crucial, which DeleteMe takes care of. If you want to explore more online data removal services, below is a list of 4 of the best personal data removal services apart from DeleteMe.
Onerep
Onerep is an automated data removal service that uses AI to scan and delete personal information from 199 data broker sites. It offers continuous monthly monitoring to ensure your data doesn’t reappear, addressing issues like identity theft, reputation risk, and spam reduction.
Onerep Plans:
- Individual Plan – $8.33/month, 1 person
- Family Plan – $15.00/month, up to 6 people
- Business Plan – Custom pricing, 10+ people, dedicated account manager and user management
Incogni
Incogni automates the process of opting out of data broker databases, covering various types of brokers, including financial, marketing, and people search sites. It focuses on reducing the risks of scams, privacy invasions, and identity theft by eliminating detailed personal information from these databases.
Incogni Plans:
- Individual Plan – $12.98/month or $6.49/month billed annually, 1 person
- Family and Friends Plan – $32.98/month or $16.49/month billed annually, 4 people
Privacy Bee
Privacy Bee offers proactive privacy protection by not only cleaning up existing data breaches but also taking steps to prevent future ones. It provides 24/7 monitoring for data breaches on the internet and dark web and a browser extension to manage which companies have access to your data.
Privacy Bee Plans:
- Pro Membership – $197/year, 1 user, includes removal from hundreds of sites and ongoing monitoring
Optery
Optery covers the removal of personal information from over 330 data broker sites and offers a free basic plan for users to explore their data exposure. It provides personalized exposure reports and live screenshots as proof of work, ensuring transparency.
Optery Plans:
- Free Basic Plan – Free, ongoing monitoring for 1 user
- Core Plan – Automated removals from 100+ sites, limited to 1 name and city/state per user
- Pro Plan – Removals from 205+ sites, unlimited name variations, and past cities/states for 1 user
- Business Plan – Custom pricing, additional features like a Human Privacy Agent, and detailed removal reports
Comparison of DeleteMe, OneRep, Incogni, PrivacyBee, and Optery
Geekflare’s ratings are determined by our editorial team, considering various factors to help you choose the right business software for your needs. | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name, email address, custom removal requests | Name, current & previous address, phone numbers, photos of your home, age | Personal information like DOB, email, phone number | Full name, phone number, email address, home address | Home address, phone number, etc. | |
750+ | 199 | 180+ | 440+ | 330+ | |
Quarterly | Monthly | Via Requests | On Dashboard | Quarterly | |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Email, Chat, Phone | Email, Phone, Chat | Form | Email, Chat | ||
20% OFF | 45% OFF | 50% OFF | None | 20% OFF | |
My DeleteMe Verdict
DeleteMe is simple to use and easy to navigate around, two important elements for non-tech users. The quarterly reports are detailed, and the process is automated and does not require user intervention, though some users might prefer more frequent reporting.
While the one-year and two-year plans are well curated, there would be more flexibility with half-yearly plans. Additionally, the service’s limitation to the US is a drawback as it doesn’t cover personal information removal while traveling internationally.
AnyUnlock receives the Geekflare Innovation Award as not only does it simplify and automate the process of removal of user personal data from the clutches of data brokers, it provides transparent reports and custom removal requests too. Instead of a manual process of locating the data broker and requesting personal data being taken off, users just need to submit their information to DeleteMe and rest easy while it takes care of their online privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, DeleteMe effectively oversees personal info removal from broker sites, search engines, and other online platforms, significantly reducing your digital footprint and enhancing privacy. It provides additional facilities like card masking and phone number and email addresses, too.
DeleteMe begins the data removal process immediately after you submit your information. The first detailed report is typically provided within a week, with ongoing removals and quarterly updates.
No, DeleteMe does not sell your data. Its comprehensive service focuses on removing your personal information from the internet and uses encryption and secure protocols to protect your data throughout the process.
Alternatives to DeleteMe include Onerep, Incogni, Privacy Bee, and Optery. These services also offer automated data removal and continuous monitoring, each with unique features and pricing plans that address a wide range of user privacy concerns.
Learn More About Tools and Apps to Protect Your Data
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EditorJoy R Bhamre is an Editor at Geekflare who brings to the table a unique blend of language and technical expertise. Being an English Literature Honors Gold Medalist, Cambridge-certified Business English Communications Trainer, and the author of ‘Apocalypse’ she knows the value each word brings to a piece. This with her 15-odd years of corporate experience ranging from copywriting to academic publications, accounting, pharmaceuticals, technology, and finance is what set her apart as a language artist building brands through words.
As a Google-certified Digital Marketing Specialist, Joy enjoys crafting content to suit reader engagement and semantic writing principles. When she’s not glued to her laptop, you’ll find her working towards breaking her next running personal record or in a meditative mood contemplating whether the pen/keyboard is mightier than AI (hint: there still needs to be a brain behind the prompt!). 😉
Education: English Literature Hons, The Maharaja Sayajirao University
Expertise: Digital Marketing Strategy, Privacy, Crypto, B2B and B2C Technology Solutions