How we reviewed this: this is a research-based review. We did not buy or test the product ourselves. We checked the official website, policies and independent customer feedback, and every fact below links to its source. Facts checked 2026-11-01. How we review · Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Quick verdict: is DeleteMe legit and worth it?
Yes, DeleteMe is legit. It’s run by Abine, Inc., a Boston privacy company that launched it in 2010-2011, and it removes your personal information from data broker and people-search sites (the sites that publish your address, phone number and relatives), then re-checks every three months. Unlike most rivals, it pairs automation with human privacy advisors and includes 40 custom removal requests a year. It has an A+ BBB rating and is accredited, and Wirecutter named it its top data removal pick in June 2025.
The honest part: in Consumer Reports’ 2024 test of removal services, DeleteMe removed only 27% of volunteers’ profiles after four months, behind Optery (68%) and EasyOptOuts (65%), and PCMag rates it 3.5 out of 5. It starts at $129 a year with no monthly plan. And its “969 data brokers” headline includes sites on higher tiers and custom-request-only sites; by our count, about 91 are included in the Standard plan.
Our take: DeleteMe is worth it if you want people, not just software, working on your removals and you value a buyer-friendly refund policy. If you want the most removals for the money, the independent tests favor Optery, EasyOptOuts or Incogni. Compare them in our best data removal services roundup.
Pros
- ✓ Human privacy advisors plus automation
- ✓ 40 custom removal requests a year included (60 on Premium)
- ✓ Full refund until your first report, then pro-rated refunds for unused time
- ✓ BBB A+, accredited, just 7 complaints in 3 years
- ✓ Wirecutter top pick (June 2025): “easy to set up and even easier to use”
- ✓ U.S. company with a long track record (Boston, since 2010-2011)
Cons
- ✗ Removed 27% of profiles in Consumer Reports’ 2024 test (4 months)
- ✗ PCMag rating 3.5/5; fewer sites than many rivals
- ✗ $129/yr minimum; no monthly plan
- ✗ “969 brokers” headline vs about 91 in the Standard plan (our count)
- ✗ Reports only every three months on Standard
- ✗ Can’t remove social media or public records
How much does DeleteMe cost?
| Plan | 1 year | 2 years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $129 ($10.75/mo) | $209 ($8.71/mo) |
| 2 people | $229 | $349 |
| Family (4 people) | $329 | $499 |
| Premium, 1 person | $180 | Not listed |
Prices from joindeleteme.com on October 31 and November 1, 2026. There’s no month-to-month plan; plans are prepaid for one or two years and renew automatically, and DeleteMe is for U.S. residents. Premium adds 60 custom requests instead of 40, 15 more broker sites, six scans a year instead of four, and reports every two months.
Check DeleteMe’s current price →
How does DeleteMe work?
- You fill out a data sheet with the details you want removed, like current and past addresses, date of birth and other names you’ve used.
- DeleteMe submits opt-outs using a mix of its privacy advisors and its own software, and sends your first Privacy Report in about 7 business days.
- It re-checks every three months and sends four reports a year (six scans and reports every two months on Premium), because data brokers often re-list people.
- Custom requests: you can ask it to remove you from sites outside its standard list, 40 times a year on Standard.
- Extras: email and phone masking tools (PCMag notes masked phone numbers cost extra).
Does DeleteMe actually work? What the tests show
- Consumer Reports (August 2024): 32 volunteers, 13 people-search sites, four months. DeleteMe removed 13% of profiles in the first week, 20% after a month and 27% after four months, which CR called mid-level. Optery removed 68% and EasyOptOuts 65%, and volunteers who opted out by hand got about 70% removed within a week. CR says its results aren’t statistically significant.
- PCMag (3.5/5, “Good”): it works through “a combination of automation and direct human intervention,” but “removes data from fewer sites than many competitors” and “reports only come out quarterly.” PCMag earns affiliate commissions.
- Wirecutter (June 2025): top pick, “easy to set up and even easier to use,” partly because custom removals are included. Wirecutter also earns commissions, and we couldn’t load its current version.
One thing to know: DeleteMe’s own pricing pages still describe PCMag’s verdict as “Excellent,” but PCMag’s current rating is 3.5, “Good.”
Is DeleteMe safe?
DeleteMe is run by Abine, Inc. in Boston and has been around since 2010-2011. We found no lawsuit, FTC action or data breach involving it. You do give it sensitive details, like your addresses and birth date, which any removal service needs. Consumer Reports flagged one clause in DeleteMe’s privacy policy: it may transfer customer information, including personal information, as part of a sale or merger of the business, which some privacy-minded buyers may not like.
DeleteMe vs Incogni, Optery and EasyOptOuts
| Service | Price, 1 person | Independent results | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeleteMe | $129/yr | 27% in Consumer Reports 2024; PCMag 3.5 | Human help, custom requests included |
| Incogni | $95.88/yr or $15.98/mo | 76.6% in a 2025 academic study (self-reported); PCMag 4.5 | Hands-off automation, 420+ brokers |
| Optery | Free plan; $39 to $249/yr | 68% in Consumer Reports 2024 (top plan); PCMag 4.5 | Removing the most, with screenshot proof |
| EasyOptOuts | $19.99/yr | 65% in Consumer Reports 2024 | Lowest price, 150-day refund |
See the full head-to-head in DeleteMe vs Incogni, and our Incogni review.
How to cancel DeleteMe
Per DeleteMe’s help center, to stop automatic renewal:
- Log in at joindeleteme.com.
- Click Account in the left menu.
- Click Billing & Subscriptions.
- Switch Renewal from On to Off. DeleteMe emails a confirmation with your end date.
- Your service keeps running until the end of your paid term; turning off renewal only stops the next charge.
- Refunds: “If you haven’t received your first Privacy Report, you can request a full refund, no questions asked.” After that, you can still get “a pro-rated refund for the unused time left in your subscription.” Contact support to fully cancel with a refund.
- Deleting your account: under Account, Billing and Subscriptions, choose “Delete my account.” It ends all subscriptions and deletes your data, and it can’t be undone.
- Team or managed plans: if you don’t see the subscription menu, contact DeleteMe support.
DeleteMe’s instructions: cancel auto-renew, refund policy and delete your account.
What customers say
- Trustpilot: 3.5 from 265 reviews, 15% one-star. Praise centers on easy setup and progress updates.
- Listings come back: a March 2026 Trustpilot reviewer said their info was removed, then weeks later reappeared on BeenVerified; an April 2026 BBB review said “months later, all of my information is still out there.”
- Coverage: some BBB reviewers were told DeleteMe doesn’t work with a site they wanted removed.
- Billing: a June 2026 BBB complaint alleged repeated charges at checkout (DeleteMe answered it).
Free alternatives to try first
- Opt out yourself: the FTC explains how; in Consumer Reports’ test, manual opt-outs removed about 70% of profiles within a week.
- California DROP: California residents can send one free deletion request to 650+ registered data brokers.
- Google “Results about you”: free alerts and removal requests for Google Search results showing your phone, address or email.
- DeleteMe’s free scan and DIY guides: see where you’re listed before you pay.
See DeleteMe’s plans and refund terms →
FAQ
Is DeleteMe legit?
Yes. DeleteMe is run by Abine, Inc., a Boston company, has operated since 2010-2011, holds an A+ BBB rating with accreditation, and was Wirecutter’s top data removal pick in June 2025.
Is DeleteMe worth it?
It’s worth it if you want human privacy advisors and 40 custom removal requests a year included, plus pro-rated refunds. If you want the highest removal rate for the money, Consumer Reports’ 2024 test favored Optery (68%) and EasyOptOuts (65%) over DeleteMe (27%).
How much does DeleteMe cost?
$129 a year for one person, $229 for two and $329 for a family of four, or $209, $349 and $499 for two years. Premium is $180 a year. There’s no monthly plan.
How do I cancel DeleteMe?
Log in at joindeleteme.com, go to Account, then Billing & Subscriptions, and switch Renewal to Off. Your service runs until the end of your term. Contact support to fully cancel and request a refund.
Does DeleteMe give refunds?
Yes. You get a full refund if you haven’t received your first Privacy Report (about 7 business days after signup), and a pro-rated refund for unused time after that.
How many sites does DeleteMe remove you from?
DeleteMe advertises 969 data brokers, but that list includes higher-tier and custom-request-only sites. By our count of its list, about 91 are included in the Standard plan; PCMag counted 72 in 2024.
Can DeleteMe remove my info from social media?
No. DeleteMe says it can’t directly remove info from social platforms because they don’t let third parties delete for you; it links to each platform’s own removal tools instead.
DeleteMe vs Incogni: which is better?
DeleteMe includes human advisors and 40 custom requests and has a stronger BBB record; Incogni is cheaper ($95.88 a year or $15.98 a month), covers 420+ brokers automatically and led a 2025 academic study. DeleteMe removed 27% in Consumer Reports’ test, which didn’t include Incogni.
Sources
- DeleteMe pricing
- DeleteMe Premium plan
- DeleteMe: sites we remove from
- DeleteMe: what to expect when you sign up
- DeleteMe: cancel auto-renew
- DeleteMe: refund policy
- DeleteMe: delete your account
- DeleteMe: social media removal
- Consumer Reports: people-search removal services evaluation (Aug 2024)
- PCMag: DeleteMe review
- Wirecutter: best data removal services
- BBB: Abine, Inc.
- Trustpilot: DeleteMe
- FTC: people search sites
- California DROP