Optery vs Incogni: Which Data Removal Service Wins in 2026?
Incogni is the most heavily marketed name in data removal, and Optery is the most awarded. This page compares them on price, coverage, and proof.
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · Optery Reviews · Updated November 1, 2026
Optery wins on value and verification: its $3.99/mo entry plan covers nearly as many brokers as Incogni’s $15.98/mo Standard plan, its free tier lets you see your exposure before paying, and it’s the only service providing before-and-after screenshot proof of removals. It’s also the most awarded product in the category: PCMag Editors’ Choice 2022–2026 and CNET’s Best Overall Data Removal Service of 2026. Incogni is a solid, simple product with strong Trustpilot volume (4.3 across 3,078 reviews, most recent ones invited) and European headquarters that EU customers may prefer, but you pay more for less coverage transparency, and you take removals on faith.
Optery vs Incogni at a glance
| Compared on | Optery | Incogni |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3.99/mo ($39/yr), free tier available | $15.98/mo or $95.88/yr (Standard) |
| Premium tier | Ultimate: $24.99/mo, 625+ sites + unlimited custom removals | Unlimited: $29.98/mo or $179.88/yr, custom removals |
| Coverage | 380+ / 555+ / 625+ sites by plan (940+ with custom) | ~420 brokers on Standard |
| Proof of removals | Before-and-after screenshots | Confirmation notices, no screenshots |
| Name variations | Unlimited (Extended and up) | Limited to 3 |
| Free option | Free exposure report + self-service tools | None |
| Trustpilot, Oct 2026 | 4.1 across 234 reviews; the 50 most recent are all unprompted (avg 4.0) | 4.3 across 3,078 reviews; unprompted reviews avg 2.7 (26 of the 100 most recent; the other 74 were invited, avg 4.8) |
| Ownership | Independent US company (California) | Surfshark / Nord Security (Lithuania & Netherlands) |
| Expert awards | PCMag Editors’ Choice 2022–2026; CNET Editors’ Choice 2026 | — |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of November 2026. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
Pricing: A Quarter of the Cost at Entry Level
Incogni keeps it simple with two tiers: Standard at $15.98/month ($95.88/year) and Unlimited at $29.98/month ($179.88/year). Optery spans $3.99 to $24.99/month across three paid tiers plus a free plan. Optery Core at $3.99/month covers more than 85% as many brokers as Incogni Standard at roughly 25% of the monthly price. Optery Extended at $14.99/month covers 555+ sites, more than Incogni Standard, for less money.
Proof: The Screenshot Gap
Incogni tells you removals happened; it doesn’t show you. There are no before-and-after screenshots, so verifying its work means visiting data broker sites yourself. Optery’s screenshot-verified removals are the main reason PCMag has kept it at Editors’ Choice for five straight years. If you want to see each removal for yourself, this is the deciding difference.
Marketing vs Substance
Incogni benefits from Surfshark’s large influencer and affiliate marketing budgets, so many “Incogni review” articles are written by paid promoters. That is no mark against Incogni’s product, but it means independent signals deserve more weight. On those, Optery leads: five straight PCMag Editors’ Choice awards, CNET’s 2026 Editors’ Choice, BBB accreditation with a 4.8/5 customer rating, and screenshot proof anyone can verify. (Disclosure: this site earns referral commissions from Optery, which is why we show you the platform ratings and the negative reviews too.)
Where Incogni Wins
- Review volume: 3,078 Trustpilot reviews to Optery’s 234. On unprompted reviews alone, Optery leads (4.0 vs 2.7 in October 2026 samples).
- Simplicity: two tiers, clean interface, minimal decisions to make.
- European base: EU customers may prefer a GDPR-native, Europe-headquartered provider.
Optery vs Incogni FAQ
Is Optery or Incogni cheaper?+
Optery's Core plan is $3.99/month for 380+ sites, about a quarter of the price of Incogni's Standard plan at $15.98/month (or $95.88/year) for around 420 brokers. At the comparable mid-tier, Optery Extended is $14.99/month for 555+ sites. Optery also has a free tier; Incogni does not.
Does Incogni show proof of removals?+
No. Incogni sends confirmation notices but does not provide verifiable evidence like before-and-after screenshots. Optery documents removals with screenshots on its Extended and Ultimate plans.
Who owns Incogni?+
Incogni is owned by Surfshark, which merged with Nord Security in 2022 to form a European cybersecurity conglomerate. It operates primarily out of Lithuania and the Netherlands. Optery is an independent US company based in California.
Can I test Incogni's work with Optery?+
Yes. Optery's free exposure report scans hundreds of sites and shows what's still exposed, with screenshots. It's a common way for customers of other removal services to double-check their coverage; Optery reports finding ~50 exposed profiles on average for customers of competing services.
See What Incogni Might Have Missed
Optery’s free exposure report shows what’s still out there, with screenshots, whether or not you’re using another removal service.