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Keeping personal information safe has become more crucial than ever in an era dominated by digital footprints and online presence.
Individual privacy is seriously threatened by data brokers, companies that collect, aggregate, and sell personal information. As a result, the demand for effective data removal tools has soared, as individuals seek reliable solutions to reclaim control over their online identities.
In this detailed comparison, we will be looking at two popular data removal tools: Incogni and DeleteMe. Both services aim to help users minimize their digital footprint and reduce their exposure to potential privacy risks.
Before we dive into the specifics of each service, let’s first understand why someone might want to remove their data from data brokers.
| Incogni | DeleteMe | |
| What is it? | A data removal tool from VPN provider, SurfShark. | A premium data removal tool from Abine. |
| How does it work? | Sign up, provide your name and address, and grant limited power of attorney. Incogni will handle the rest, contacting data brokers to request the removal of your information. | Answer a few small identity-related questions and your first report will be completed within 7 days, with new reports every quarter detailing the information located and removed from brokers. |
| Key Features |
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| How much does it cost? | Plans start at $77.88/year | A standard plan will set you back $129/year |
Why Remove Your Data from Data Brokers?
Protecting Personal Privacy
Data brokers collect personal information, including addresses, phone numbers, and online habits. Removing this data reduces the risk of identity theft, stalking, and other crimes.
Preventing Targeted Advertising
Data brokers often sell user information to advertisers, resulting in personalized and sometimes intrusive advertisements. Data removal tools offer a way to curtail the extent to which one’s online activities influence targeted ads.
Enhancing Online Security
Cybersecurity threats are increasing and personal data on broker platforms can be targeted. Removing such data boosts online security.
Regaining Control over Information
Many people are unaware of how extensively their data is shared online. Data removal tools provide users with the ability to manage their information and decide who it is shared with.
In order to choose the best tool for your privacy needs and preferences, it’s important to understand the functionalities, features, and user experiences of Incogni and DeleteMe. Join us on this comparative exploration to gain clarity on the differences between these two tools.
"DeleteMe" safeguards your online privacy by removing your personal information from online databases and websites, giving you control over your digital footprint and protecting you from identity theft.
Main Differences Between Incogni vs DeleteMe
The main differences between Incogni vs DeleteMe are:
- Incogni is currently available to US, UK, EU, Swiss, and Canadian residents, whereas DeleteMe is only available to those in the US.
- Incogni starts at $77.88/year, compared to DeleteMe’s $129/year price tag.
- Incogni currently only offers individual plans, whereas DeleteMe offers discounted plans for 2 users, families, or businesses.
- Incogni targets more than 180 data brokers and automatically repeats removal requests when necessary. DeleteMe targets over 750 and follows up with human operators when required.
- Incogni sends the data you provide at sign-up to brokers to request removal, whereas DeleteMe uses it to search online databases for matches before requesting removal.
Exploring Incogni and DeleteMe Features
Incogni
Key Features
- Available to US, UK, EU, Swiss and Canadian residents
- 30-45 day estimated data removal timeframe
- Free guides for manual data removal
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Weekly updates
Incogni is a data removal tool that is offered by SurfShark, a VPN provider. The tool is designed to help users easily identify and remove their personal information from the internet.
With Incogni, the process of requesting the removal of your data is incredibly straightforward and automated, saving you time and hassle. Whether you’re concerned about your privacy or simply want to keep your personal information secure, Incogni is a useful tool that can help you achieve your goals.
Getting Started
Sign-up forms can be invasive and require you to provide personal information. Compared to DeleteMe, Incogni’s sign-up form feels less intrusive.
However, you will still need to provide your name and address. Additionally, you will need to give the service limited power of attorney so that they can act on your behalf. Unlike DeleteMe, all fields are required for the service to work. Nevertheless, you won’t be asked to provide as much information or a scan of your ID.
Incogni’s Approach to Data Removal
One major consideration at this stage is how each service uses the data you have supplied. DeleteMe may ask for more information but it checks this against an online database before requesting removals if it finds any matches.
Incogni on the other hand sends the information you’ve supplied, directly to the brokers to request removal. Consider how much information you’re comfortable handing over and how each service uses this data to complete removal requests.
Whilst both methods work, and brokers can’t legally keep the information that Incogni sends them, DeleteMe’s approach is arguably more accurate.
The Experience
Once you’ve signed up, data removal requests are sent out that same day, with responses in the first week and removal requests completed within a month. This is not quite as powerful or as prompt as DeleteMe, which will issue your first report within 7 days and often have removals completed within hours of them being requested.
That being said, Incogni’s dashboard is incredibly clean and easy to understand and navigate, making it an ideal option for those who’d rather just let the service get on with the task at hand with minimal manual input.
Unlike DeleteMe there’s no human team on standby and no way to make manual or custom removal requests, but Incogni will continue to repeat requests if it runs into issues.
You should choose Incogni if:
You need a reliable, cheap, no-thrills, easy-to-use data removal tool.
Incogni – Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely user-friendly
- An affordable option for those looking for basic data removal without extra features
- From reputable VPN provider SurfShark
- Makes repeated requests when required
- Tracks responses
- Checks for personal data on people search sites
Cons
- Removal process can be slow
- Reports can be lacking in detail
- Only individual plans currently
DeleteMe
Key Features
- Available to US residents only
- Free guides for manual data removal
- Quarterly data removal reports
- Phone and email masking tools
- Ability to make custom requests
- Human team can assist if automation fails
- Family and business plans available
DeleteMe is a subscription service, just like Incogni, that specializes in helping individuals remove their personal information from various data broker websites available online. It is important to note that as of now, DeleteMe is only available to residents of the United States.
Therefore, if you are not a US resident, you might want to consider this when choosing the right tool for yourself. While non-US residents can sign up and use the service, the results will likely be limited.
For instance, as a UK resident, I only received one hit on my report. This can be attributed to the fact that DeleteMe works with data brokers located solely in the US.
Getting Started
DeleteMe differs from Incogni in a few ways. Aside from being a premium alternative with extra tools and features, DeleteMe asks for more personal data upfront. It might seem odd to hand over personal data to have it removed from other online sources, but the more information you can provide, the more accurately the service will be able to operate.
What’s more, the amount of information you fill out on the initial data sheet is entirely up to you. You may provide as much or as little as you wish, but results and effectiveness may vary.
There’s even an option to upload a scan of your ID, which may make some users hesitant but can speed up the process as some data brokers require proof of ID to approve deletion requests.
DeleteMe’s Approach to Data Removal
When it comes to removing your data from the internet, there are different approaches you can take. Incogni casts a wide net, sending your sign-up information to all data brokers, hoping to find your data and remove it. In contrast, DeleteMe takes a more precise approach.
They first cross-check your information in an online database to identify data brokers who are likely to have your information. Then, they make requests to these data brokers to remove your data.
While Incogni’s approach is not necessarily problematic, as data brokers are not allowed to hold any information sent to them without explicit consent, DeleteMe’s approach is more accurate and less likely to result in your data being missed. So, if you want to be certain that your data is removed, it may be worth considering DeleteMe’s approach.
The Experience
One major gripe users may have with DeleteMe is how overwhelmingly dense and simultaneously vague the data reports are. Reports come in a PDF format and contain a full list of all data brokers that have been checked.
In theory, this sounds great, but in the event they hold no data on you, it’s a lot of unnecessary information crammed into one document. Coinciding with this is the lack of URLs or links to any of the brokers that get flagged.
Have a removal request that’s flagged as pending or rejected? Good luck finding the broker’s website. Thankfully these issues are easily remedied by DeleteMe’s human staff who are the service’s saving grace and most prominent stand-out feature.
You should choose DeleteMe if:
You’re a US resident looking for a more complete service that utilizes more than just automated removal requests to get the job done.
DeleteMe – Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely user-friendly
- Squeaky clean user interface
- A human team can assist when required
- Option for custom removal requests
- Additional privacy tools, including phone and email masking
Cons
- Data reports can be a bit overwhelming to look at
- Reports can be vague, and the lack of links to brokers is disappointing
- Quite costly
Other Alternatives to Consider
Incogni and DeleteMe are just two of a growing number of data removal tools out there, but not all are equal. Consider your budget and your requirements, and check our guides for further information. I’d also recommend checking out Kanary and IDX if neither DeleteMe nor Incogni has you convinced.
Kanary is another incredibly budget-friendly option that doesn’t lack features but keeps things simple. IDX, on the other hand, is a feature-rich, premium suite of digital privacy tools that comes in two flavors: IDX Identity or IDX Privacy. There’s also the IDX Complete plan, which combines the two.
If you’d rather take a swing at handling data removal requests yourself, you can find excellent DIY guides written by DeleteMe and Incogni. But consider that it’s a painstakingly slow process.
FAQs
Question: Are these tools safe and legitimate?
Answer: Yes. Both Incogni and DeleteMe follow data privacy laws such as CCPA and GDPR. DeleteMe also boasts a SOC 2 (Type 2) certification, showing they have been audited and found to be satisfactory in how they handle and store user information.
Question: Can these tools remove me from Google search results?
Answer: These tools target the data at the root. ie with the data brokers rather than the search results directly. In theory, you should see less accurate Google results as a result of removing your information from data brokers, but these tools do not directly clean up Google search results.
Question: Are these tools worth it?
Answer: This depends on your use case. If you’ve experienced issues with your data having negative effects such as increased insurance premiums, or been the victim of scams, it could be worth considering. Pricing and functionality vary greatly, so consider your needs and budget and take a look at our helpful guides for more info.
Incogni vs DeleteMe Compared: Final Thoughts
It’s hard to decide between Incogni and DeleteMe, both of which are excellent options for anyone looking to regain control of their data. The most important thing to consider is your location and budget. Incogni is an excellent option if you are on a tight budget, or live outside the US. It’s not lacking in features either, making it arguably the best bang for your buck.
In case you are based in the US and would like to take advantage of human assistance or are tempted by the additional privacy tools, DeleteMe is a very useful and powerful option. If you are willing to stomach the premium price tag.
"DeleteMe" safeguards your online privacy by removing your personal information from online databases and websites, giving you control over your digital footprint and protecting you from identity theft.
Read More: How to Find the Best Online Security Tools