If you’re shopping for a data removal service, Incogni and Optery are two of the strongest options on the market. Both automate the process of removing your personal information from data broker sites, but they take fundamentally different approaches to getting the job done.
This Incogni vs Optery comparison breaks down every meaningful difference — pricing, broker coverage, transparency, ease of use, and who each service is best for — so you can pick the right one without second-guessing yourself.
If you want to see your actual exposure before choosing a service, Optery offers a completely free scan that shows you exactly which data brokers have your personal information. It takes about 30 seconds and gives you a concrete baseline to work from.
Incogni vs Optery: The Key Differences
At the highest level, the Incogni vs Optery comparison comes down to two different philosophies. Incogni is a set-it-and-forget-it service that prioritizes automation and breadth. Optery is a more transparent service that prioritizes verification and visibility into the removal process.
Incogni sends removal requests to 420+ data brokers automatically, re-submits them every 60 to 90 days, and requires almost no involvement from you after setup. Its processes have been independently verified by Deloitte, which adds a layer of credibility that most competitors can’t match.
Optery takes a different approach. It scans data broker sites to find your actual profiles, captures screenshots of your exposed data before removal, and then provides screenshot proof after the removal is complete. This before-and-after verification means you can see exactly what was found and confirm it was actually taken down.
Broker Coverage
Both services cover a large number of data brokers, but the type of coverage differs significantly.
Incogni covers 420+ data brokers with its Standard plan, including people search sites, marketing databases, recruitment brokers, and risk mitigation databases. Every broker on their list is available on every plan — they don’t gate coverage behind higher tiers. The Unlimited plan adds custom removals from 2,000+ additional sites, but the core 420+ are included from day one.
Optery’s coverage depends on which plan you choose. The Core plan covers around 110+ brokers with automation, while higher-tier plans expand to 370+ and eventually 600+ brokers. Optery focuses primarily on people search sites and publicly visible data brokers, though it does cover some marketing databases as well.
Incogni’s advantage is that its Standard plan reaches deeper into non-public databases — marketing brokers, background check companies, and recruitment data collectors that don’t have publicly searchable profiles. Optery’s advantage is stronger coverage of publicly visible people search sites, especially on its higher-tier plans.
Removal Verification
This is where the Incogni vs Optery comparison gets most interesting, because it’s the biggest practical difference between the two services.
Optery provides screenshot verification of every removal. When it finds your profile on a data broker site, it captures a screenshot showing exactly what information was exposed — your name, address, phone number, relatives, whatever was listed. After the removal is processed, a second screenshot confirms the listing is gone. This gives you concrete, visual proof that the service is working.
Incogni does not provide screenshot verification. Its dashboard shows the status of removal requests (sent, in progress, completed), but you’re trusting the status updates rather than seeing visual evidence. Incogni counters this by pointing to its Deloitte audit, which independently verified that their removal processes work as described.
For users who want to see exactly what’s happening with their data, Optery’s transparency is hard to beat. For users who just want the problem handled quietly in the background, Incogni’s approach works fine — especially with the Deloitte verification backing it up.
Pricing Comparison
Both services are competitively priced, though the structures are quite different.
Incogni Individual Standard costs $7.99/month on the annual plan ($95.88/year) or $15.98/month on monthly billing. The Unlimited plan runs approximately $14.99/month annually. Family plans cover up to 5 people starting at roughly $15.99/month annually. For a full breakdown of every tier, see our Incogni pricing guide.
Optery’s Core plan starts at approximately $9/month on annual billing. Higher-tier plans with expanded broker coverage cost more, with the Ultimate plan running significantly higher. Optery also offers a Free Basic plan that scans for your data and shows you where you’re exposed — but it doesn’t remove anything on the free tier.
On a pure cost-per-broker basis, Incogni generally offers more coverage for less money at the entry level. Optery’s free scan makes it easier to try before you buy, which is a significant advantage for people who aren’t sure they need a data removal service yet.
Ease of Use
Incogni is designed to require minimal effort. You sign up, enter your personal information, sign an authorization form, and the service runs in the background. Weekly email reports keep you updated, and you can check the dashboard anytime, but you’re rarely asked to do anything after the initial setup.
Optery is slightly more hands-on. The detailed reporting and screenshot verification give you more visibility, but they also mean there’s more information to review. Some users find this empowering — you can see exactly what’s happening. Others find it unnecessary if they just want the problem solved without thinking about it.
If you want a “set and forget” experience, Incogni is the cleaner choice. If you want to stay informed and verify results yourself, Optery gives you the tools to do that.
Family Plans
Incogni offers family plans that cover up to 5 people under a single subscription. The Family Standard plan runs approximately $15.99/month annually, which works out to roughly $3.20 per person per month — a significant discount compared to individual plans.
Optery does not offer a traditional family plan. Family members need to create their own individual accounts, though Optery does offer discounts when you link multiple accounts together. This means covering a family of 5 through Optery costs substantially more than doing it through Incogni.
If protecting your entire household is a priority, Incogni’s family plan is the clear value winner in the Incogni vs Optery comparison.
Trust and Credibility
Incogni is owned by Surfshark, which is part of Nord Security (the parent company of NordVPN). In August 2025, Deloitte completed an independent audit verifying that Incogni covers the number of brokers it claims, has processed over 245 million removal requests, and resubmits requests every 60 to 90 days. Incogni has also received the PCMag Editors’ Choice Award for data removal. Learn more about this in our Incogni Surfshark explainer.
Optery is an independent, standalone company founded in 2020 that holds two US patents for its data search technology. It doesn’t have a third-party audit comparable to Incogni’s Deloitte report, but its screenshot verification system provides a different kind of transparency — you can see the evidence yourself rather than relying on an auditor’s word.
Both services have earned trust through different mechanisms. Incogni’s trust is institutional (Deloitte audit, corporate backing). Optery’s trust is experiential (you see the screenshots yourself).
Who Should Choose Incogni?
Incogni is the better choice if you want the lowest price for comprehensive coverage, prefer a hands-off experience, need a family plan, or value third-party auditing. It’s ideal for people who want data removal to just happen in the background without requiring their attention. Read our full Incogni review for more details.
Who Should Choose Optery?
Optery is the better choice if you want visual proof that your data was actually removed, prefer to see exactly what brokers had your information, want to start with a free scan before paying, or value transparency over automation. It’s ideal for people who want to stay informed and verify every step of the process. Read our full Optery review for more details.
Our Recommendation
Both services are legitimate, effective tools for reducing your digital footprint. If we had to pick one for most people, we’d give a slight edge to Incogni for its lower price, broader coverage on the base plan, family plans, and Deloitte-verified processes. But Optery’s screenshot verification is a genuinely valuable feature that Incogni doesn’t match — and the free scan makes it risk-free to at least see where you stand.
The best approach for many people is to start with Optery’s free scan to see how exposed you are, then decide whether Optery’s transparency or Incogni’s automation and price is a better fit for how you want to manage your privacy.
For comparisons with other services, check out our Incogni vs DeleteMe breakdown and our guide to the best data removal services of 2026.