Incogni vs DeleteMe vs Optery: which works for UK residents?
These three names top every "best data removal service" list. But the reviews are written for Americans. If you live in the UK, the question isn't which is best, it is which one actually reaches the companies that hold your data here.
- Incogni: the strongest of the three for UK data. Works under UK GDPR, covers UK and EU brokers, handles some web forms.
- DeleteMe: excellent at US people-search sites, human-reviewed; less relevant if your life is in the UK.
- Optery: free scan and screenshot proof, but US-focused removals.
- Want UK coverage for less? Ceaselist is £29 a year, email-only, with deadline enforcement.
Side by side
| Incogni | DeleteMe | Optery | Ceaselist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From $7.99/month billed yearly | $129/year | Free scan; from $39/year | £29/year or £3.99/month |
| UK GDPR requests | Yes | Limited; US-centred | No (US-focused) | Yes, plus EU GDPR |
| Web forms | Some | Yes | Yes (US) | No: listed for you to do |
| Follows up non-responders | Re-sends regularly | Re-scans quarterly | Re-scans | Reminder, then ICO complaint pack |
| Proof | Dashboard of statuses | Privacy reports | Before-and-after screenshots | Every message and reply, exportable |
| Refund | 30-day money-back | Check terms | Check terms | Full refund within 30 days, automatic |
Published prices and features, October 2026. US services bill in dollars.
Incogni
Incogni, owned by the VPN company Surfshark, sends automated removal requests to a long list of brokers and repeats them. For a UK resident its key advantage over the other two is that it uses UK GDPR and the EU GDPR and lists European brokers. Reviews praise how little effort it takes. The common complaints are that removals take weeks, the dashboard shows statuses rather than evidence, and you cannot always see what was sent on your behalf. Full Incogni comparison.
DeleteMe
DeleteMe is the long-standing US service: privacy specialists plus automation, with reports every quarter. It is sold in the UK, but its coverage is built around American people-search sites. If you have lived, studied or worked in the US, it is worth considering; for a purely UK footprint you would be paying for coverage you don't need. Full DeleteMe comparison.
Optery
Optery's standout is transparency: a free scan of where you appear and screenshots before and after each removal. Its removals focus on US sites, so for most UK residents the free scan will show little and the paid plans won't reach UK brokers. Full Optery comparison.
Where Ceaselist fits
We built Ceaselist for UK and EEA residents who want the legal right used properly at a lower price. We send each broker a request as your authorised agent, read the replies, push back when a broker stalls, and give you a complaint pack for the ICO when one ignores the deadline. The trade-off is plain: we do email only, so brokers that insist on their own web forms are listed in your account for you to do, with the link.
How to choose in one minute
- Mostly UK or EU footprint and you want the most hands-off option: Incogni.
- UK footprint, cost and legal follow-through matter most: Ceaselist.
- Significant US footprint: DeleteMe, or Optery if you want screenshots.
- Just two or three sites: do it yourself, free.
Questions people ask
Is Incogni better than DeleteMe for UK users?
For most people who live in the UK, yes: Incogni sends requests under UK GDPR to UK and EU brokers, while DeleteMe's strength is US people-search sites. DeleteMe is the better pick if you have a significant US footprint.
Is Incogni worth it in the UK?
It is a reasonable buy if you want hands-off requests to a large broker list, including some web forms, and accept that removals take weeks and are not guaranteed. If price matters more than web-form coverage, an email-only service such as Ceaselist costs about a third as much.
Is there a free version of Incogni?
No. Incogni offers paid plans only, with a refund window. Free alternatives are Optery's free scan (US sites), and writing the UK GDPR requests yourself, which costs nothing.
Does Optery work in the UK?
You can use it, but its removals target US data brokers. It will not do much for UK sources such as the open register, UK people finders or credit reference agencies' marketing data.
What is better than DeleteMe in the UK?
For UK data, a service that works under UK GDPR: Incogni for the broadest automated coverage, or Ceaselist for the lowest price and legal follow-through.
Want this done for you? Ceaselist sends erasure requests to 668 data brokers as your authorised agent, chases the legal deadlines and prepares an ICO complaint when a broker ignores the law. £29 a year or £3.99 a month, full refund within 30 days.
Start with Ceaselist Free do-it-yourself packThis guide is general information, not legal advice. Prices and processes for other services were taken from their public websites and reviews in October 2026 and can change; check before you buy. Ceaselist is our own service, so we have an interest: we have tried to be fair, including about where we fall short.