Optery vs Incogni: Which Data Removal Service Wins in 2026?
Incogni is the most heavily marketed name in data removal. Optery is the most awarded. Here’s how they actually compare on price, coverage, and proof.
Quick Verdict
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 (4.3/5 across 2,900+ reviews) and European headquarters that EU customers may prefer, but you pay more for less coverage transparency, and you take removals on faith.
Start With Optery’s Free Exposure ReportAt a Glance
| 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, 635+ sites + unlimited custom removals | Unlimited: $29.98/mo or $179.88/yr, custom removals |
| Coverage | 380+ / 555+ / 635+ sites by plan (950+ 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 rating | 4.1/5 (215 reviews) | 4.3/5 (2.9K reviews) |
| Ownership | Independent US company (California) | Surfshark / Nord Security (Lithuania & Netherlands) |
| Expert awards | PCMag Editors’ Choice 2022–2026; CNET Editors’ Choice 2026 | — |
Pricing and coverage as published August 2026; both change over time.
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 genuinely free plan. The notable matchup: 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 seeing is believing matters to you, this is the deciding difference.
Marketing vs Substance
A practical note for anyone researching this category: Incogni benefits from Surfshark’s large influencer and affiliate marketing budgets, so many “Incogni review” articles are written by paid promoters. That doesn’t make Incogni bad. It makes independent signals worth more. On those, Optery leads: five straight PCMag Editors’ Choice awards, CNET’s 2026 Editors’ Choice, a BBB A+ with a 4.79/5 customer rating, and screenshot proof anyone can verify. (Disclosure: this site earns referral commissions from Optery, which is exactly why we show you the platform ratings and the negative reviews too.)
Where Incogni Wins
- Review volume: 4.3/5 on Trustpilot across 2,900+ reviews, a bigger sample than Optery’s 215.
- Simplicity: two tiers, clean interface, minimal decisions to make.
- European base: EU customers may prefer a GDPR-native, Europe-headquartered provider.
More Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Use code SUMMER2026 for 20% off if you upgrade.
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