DeleteMe Review: is it worth it in 2025?

So you’ve decided to take care of your personal information scattered across the internet — congratulations on taking this important step toward greater privacy! But now you want to know if data removal services like DeleteMe are worth the cost? You came to the right place. In this DeleteMe review, I’ll go into its features, pricing, and effectiveness, so you can decide if it’s the right solution for your privacy needs.

DeleteMe at a glance: pros and cons

DeleteMe promises to help you reclaim control of your information by simplifying the complex process of removing your personal details from data broker sites. However, like most services, it isn’t perfect. So, let’s take a quick look at its strengths and weaknesses.

At a glance, DeleteMe offers a customer satisfaction-focused service and targets a long, constantly growing list of data brokers. However, its primary focus on data brokers — not social media or direct website data — may introduce some limitations.

While DeleteMe’s human-based research and manual removal requests might lead to higher success rates on sites that resist automated inquiries, these removals can take longer. This hands-on approach also comes at a higher cost.

What is DeleteMe?

DeleteMe is an online privacy service that helps you remove your personal details from data broker websites. These sites collect and sell information like your name, address, phone number, email, and more. DeleteMe takes care of the time-consuming and complicated process of submitting opt-out requests to get your info removed from the web.

Key DeleteMe features

DeleteMe does a lot more than just fire off automated removal requests. To provide a quality data removal service, it offers a host of features to help better protect your privacy. Let’s take a closer look:

Personal data scans across data broker websites

Once you sign up for DeleteMe, it scans its network of data broker and people search sites looking for your publicly available personal information. This initial scan shows you which sites have your details, such as your name, aliases, addresses (past and present), phone numbers, email addresses, age, birth date, family member information, and professional details.

DeleteMe claims to remove private information from 750+ data brokers. However, 568¹ of those sites are only on the list because of successful custom removal requests (as of July 2, 2025, based on the information available on their website).

I sent a quick request to the customer support team and got a confirmation that the Standard plan actually covers over 86 sites. Based on the information provided in their pricing page² and doing simple math, the Premium plan then covers over 101 sites.

That means the majority of the advertised 750+ sites aren’t actively monitored, and you still have to look for your personal information exposed online yourself, plus file manual removal requests.

If you want to get confused even further, look at all the sites listed on the official Sites we remove from page¹. You’ll see additional plans like Diamond, Platinum, and VIP mentioned. I tried looking for any information about them on the website, but couldn’t find anything at all.

However, my inquiry confirmed that there are, in fact, such plans as Diamond, Platinum, and VIP — although they seem to be only available through special links provided in the response email. Therefore, I won’t get into more detail about them and will only focus on what’s available on the official website.

Manual opt-out requests by trained privacy experts

Different data brokers have different requirements. Some require phone verification, many use human verification tests to block automated requests, and others even require postal mail.

So, while DeleteMe has a smaller automated request base compared to some of its competitors, it stands out by having privacy experts manually handle most of the removals. This personalized removal effort might take longer, and results may vary, but it may have the edge when it comes to the trickier removals that automation can’t always handle.

It’s also worth mentioning that DeleteMe allows only 40 custom removal requests per year with their Standard plan and 60 with the Premium plan². So, if you end up finding your details on more sites than the allowed number of custom requests, you’ll have to opt out of those yourself. However, DeleteMe provides an extensive list of opt-out guides³ for various data brokers, which might help.

Ongoing removal and monitoring

Unfortunately, your data doesn’t stay removed forever. Once it’s out there, it keeps resurfacing regularly as data brokers update their databases or new brokers emerge, and one-time removals are rarely sufficient. DeleteMe provides continuous monitoring to catch when your information reappears and automatically initiates new removal requests.

Detailed removal reports

DeleteMe provides in-depth removal reports delivered as downloadable PDFs. The frequency of these reports depends on your subscription: quarterly for Standard plans and every two months for Premium users.

Each report includes key details like:

• Date of the last scan;
• Total number of listings reviewed during the period;
• Number of records successfully removed;
• Number of data brokers holding your personal data;
• Total number of PII (Personal Identifiable Information) — data units like name, address, etc. — found across the data brokers;
• Estimated saved time on searching for and removing your profiles.

At the end of each report, you’ll find multiple pages listing the brokers reviewed with their logos, the average time it takes to remove data from that site, and a status icon. A green Clean icon means your data has been successfully removed. If a removal is still in progress, the report briefly outlines what type of information is still exposed.

Multiple support channels

DeleteMe offers customer support through multiple channels. You can submit your requests via email 24/7 or contact the support team via live chat and phone during business hours (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday). You can also look for an answer yourself in their searchable knowledge base and FAQ.

DeleteMe pricing and plans

DeleteMe offers two main pricing tiers — Standard and Premium. Let’s take a look at their coverage, prices, duration, and features:

Standard

Standard plan includes:

• Automated removals from 86 data broker sites;
• 40 custom removals;
• Unlimited aliases, previous names, and email addresses;
• Quarterly reports;
• Privacy tools like email masking and phone masking (paid add-on $7 per number).

Premium

Premium plan includes:

• Automated removals;
• 15 additional data broker sites;
• 60 custom removals;
• Unlimited aliases, previous names, and email addresses;
• Bi-monthly reports;
• Privacy tools like email masking and phone masking (paid add-on $7 per number).

Note: Listed prices are in USD. Prices and features are accurate as of July 2, 2025, and are subject to change. Please check joindeleteme.com for the latest information. 

DeleteMe’s pricing varies depending on whether you choose the Standard or Premium plan, as well as the number of people covered.

The Standard plan starts at $129/year for one person and includes features like quarterly reports, up to 40 custom removals, and basic automated removal services. Multi-year pricing is also available and can save you money in the long run, especially for couples and families.

For those seeking more frequent updates and deeper coverage, the Premium plan offers bi-monthly reports, 60 custom removals, and access to 15 additional data broker sites. However, it’s only available for single users at $180/year.

Data removal process

After purchasing a DeleteMe subscription of your choice and signing up, here’s how your data removal will be processed:

Step 1: You have to fill in DeleteMe’s data sheet with your personal information. You can choose which information you want to submit for removal: your full name, date of birth, email addresses, current and past home addresses, phone numbers, employer information, and more. 

Step 2: You need to sign the authorization form, which allows DeleteMe to act on your behalf when requesting data removal from third-party sites. This is important because many data broker sites require proof of authorization before processing these requests.

Step 3: DeleteMe begins the initial scan of data broker sites and requests automated removals where your information appears. You will receive the first privacy report within approximately a week, where you can see your current online exposure and status updates of the requested removals.

Step 4: In the meantime, your automated removal requests are being processed, you can request custom removals from other sites where you know your information appears. DeleteMe’s privacy experts will submit removal requests on your behalf, and you should find status updates for these sites in the next privacy report.

Step 5: After the initial cleanup, DeleteMe continues to monitor for your data appearing on its supported data broker sites. If it detects new exposures, the removal process starts automatically, and the latest updates will be visible in your next privacy report.

Data broker coverage

DeleteMe advertises to remove private information from 750+ data brokers¹. This claim appears in huge text at the top of the page — with no asterisk or no small print next to it. However, as it turns out, that’s not entirely true. Below that statement, they list all sites they “have found and removed data from.”

Then, you need to look through the whole list of 750+ sites, carefully pay attention to the footnote:

* means the site is included in all plans;

** means the site is included in Business Gold, Diamond, Platinum, and VIP plans;

*** means the site is included in Diamond, Platinum, and VIP plans;

**** means the site is included in Platinum and VIP plans;

º means the site is included in the VIP plan only;

~ means the site is included in International plans;

^ means the site is available for custom removal requests.

So, besides the fact that the pricing page does not provide information or an option to buy plans other than Standard and Premium, 500+ of the sites on their advertised list have “^” next to them. This means DeleteMe has successfully removed customer data from that site at least once via a custom request.

What I’m trying to clarify here is that, if you had your personal information listed in all 750+ of the advertised sites, DeleteMe would automatically request removal from 86 of them if you have the Standard subscription and 101 if you have Premium. Some of them would require a subscription to some mysterious plan, while for the majority — 568 of the listed sites — you’d have to request a custom removal. And you only get 40 or 60 custom removals per year, depending on your subscription (Standard and Premium).

If you ask me, this deceptiveness and lack of transparency are not signs of a very trustworthy service and definitely raise some concerns — if not about the service quality itself, then at least about their questionable marketing tactics.

Data privacy compliance and policies

While DeleteMe has to collect your personal information in order to remove it, it maintains strong privacy and security standards to protect your data, as outlined in its official policies (effective May 22, 2025):

Core privacy commitments⁴

• No data sales — DeleteMe explicitly states that they are not a data broker and don’t sell your information;
• Limited data use — all personal information you provide in the data sheet is entirely optional and is only used to provide DeleteMe services.

Regulatory compliance⁴

• CCPA/CPRA — for California residents with full rights to access, delete, and correct data;
• GDPR — for European users with a designated EU representative and clearly defined processing purposes.

Security measures⁴

• Encryption — to keep your data safe, it is encrypted in transit and at rest (TLS 1.2+ and AES-256);
• Access controls — you can set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your account;
• Monitoring — DeleteMe continuously monitors for threats and uses intrusion detection systems.

DeleteMe vs. Incogni

To get a better understanding of data removal services in general, it might be useful to see how DeleteMe stacks up against other big players in the field. In this instance, let’s compare DeleteMe vs. Incogni.

Note: Listed prices are in USD. Prices and features are accurate as of July 2, 2025, and are subject to change. 

DeleteMe provides a more human-assisted rather than fully automated removal process, which may appeal to users who prefer a more hands-on approach — even if it’s happening behind the scenes. However, it comes with higher costs, especially when adding privacy tools like masked numbers or cards.

Incogni offers broader automated coverage, bundled with useful privacy and security tools like a VPN (Virtual Private Network), Antivirus, and Alternative ID, all at a lower price. It’s a real steal for those seeking convenience and comprehensive digital protection.

Interested to learn more? We have a full Incogni review ready, too. 

The added value of Surfshark + Incogni

Incogni is part of Surfshark One+ — the all-in-one cybersecurity bundle, designed to protect your privacy and keep you secure online and when you’re logged off.

VPN for encrypted browsing

Surfshark VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP (Internet Protocol) address, making it harder for websites, advertisers, or hackers to track you. This helps you stay private online, avoid targeted ads, and safely access the web.

Alternative ID for your identity protection

With Surfshark’s Alternative ID, you can generate an online alias with a full name, birth date, home address, and multiple email addresses. You can use that alternative information to mask your primary contact details and reduce exposure of your personally identifiable information.

You can also add an alternative number to your subscription and generate a virtual phone number to shield your primary number from untrusted entities, including data brokers.

Antivirus for device protection

Surfshark Antivirus allows you to shield up to five devices from malware, viruses, and other cyberthreats. With real-time scanning, regular updates, and seamless operation, it helps you keep your devices secure with no interruptions.

Alert for data leak notifications

Surfshark’s data leak monitoring tool Alert keeps an eye on your emails, accounts, credit cards, and IDs. It notifies you if your private data ends up in the wrong parts of the internet, allowing you to take timely action and keep your information safe. 

Search for private browsing

Surfshark Search provides a clean, private way to surf the web — no ads, tracking, or personalized filters based on your past searches. Your activity will stay truly private, leaving no digital footprint behind.

Conclusion: Is DeleteMe worth it?

So, is DeleteMe worth the cost in 2025? The answer depends on your priorities, needs, and budget. If you prefer a human-guided process and don’t mind paying a premium for hands-on service, DeleteMe might be just what you’re looking for. However, if you want a much broader data broker and people search sites coverage, and even save a few dollars, you may want to consider other options.

Go beyond data removal — get your all-in-one privacy suite now

One subscription. All-around protection. Real peace of mind.

Get Surfshark + Incogni

References

¹ https://joindeleteme.com/sites-we-remove-from/
² https://joindeleteme.com/pricing/?premium=true
³ https://joindeleteme.com/blog/opt-out-guides/
⁴ https://privacy.joindeleteme.com/policies