When comparing data removal services like DeleteMe, Optery, PrivacyBee, Removaly, OneRep, LifeLock, The Kanary, and Reputation Defender, you should:

1) Sign up for each company’s free scan and compare the results. The quality of each company’s free scan is a good indicator of the quality of its opt outs. If the company can’t produce a free scan, they probably shouldn’t be taken seriously. A lot of the companies in the space have incredible marketing that creates high hopes, but their products are actually very disappointing and ineffective. The quality of the free scan is usually a tip off if the service is going to be a hero or a dud before you turn over your credit card. Optery’s free scans produce an average of 70+ results per person (sometimes over 100+ results). I’m not aware of any other company coming anywhere close to that number. Most don’t even cover that many data brokers to begin with. You can learn more about the Optery Exposure Report (free scan) here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVUmjbOG9vY

2) Check the number of data brokers each service covers. Optery covers 200+ data brokers. Whereas, according to their web sites, DeleteMe covers 38, Removaly covers 47, and OneRep covers 94. Some companies don’t even list the data brokers they cover (that's a bad sign). Also, check to see if the company offers “Custom Removals” for when you find a data broker that their service does not cover. Optery provides Custom Removals, and here’s the full list of data brokers covered:

https://www.optery.com/pricing/#data-brokers-we-cover

3) Check to see where the company is headquartered and primarily based, and if it is being run as a corporation, or as someone’s side-hustle. A lot of people are surprised when they find out that OneRep is headquartered in Belarus, since they maintain an LLC, mailing address and a few employees in the U.S.A. Do some background research on each company and its leadership team before you give them any money. Where are they based? Are they professional? Can you take them seriously? Do they have financial partnerships with data brokers? Many of the companies in the space do not list their leadership team on their web site. This is often because the business is being run as a side-hustle for someone with a day job, sometimes from a different country. Optery is incorporated in the state of Delaware as a C Corporation, and is headquartered in California. You can learn more about the company’s mission and leadership here:

https://www.optery.com/about-us/

4) Ensure you are not inadvertently funding the very data brokers you’re trying to be removed from. Most of the companies in the space are high integrity companies with no ties or financial arrangements with the data broker industry. But some are not. OneRep and BrandYourself (parent company of Zoro Privacy and HelloPrivacy) are known for having ties into the data broker through affiliate partnerships. For example, here’s a screenshot of the data broker ClustrMaps directing you to their affiliate partner OneRep after your opt out is complete. Avoid these companies unless you want to fund the very companies you're trying to be removed from.

https://imgur.com/a/juSC66b

5) Demand evidence in the form of screen shots or direct links. Most of these companies will tell you your profiles have been removed, and force you to take their word for it. Optery is the only company I am aware of that provides direct links to your profiles so you can verify at the source when a profile is removed, and also sends out a quarterly “Removals Report” with before and after screen shots proving the work that’s been done. You can also use Optery’s free Exposure Report and links to double-check the work of any other service to keep them honest.

6) Check to see if the service offers monthly and yearly billing options. Optery offers both, but many other services only offer yearly billing.

7) Review the company’s guarantee. Optery provides a 30 day no questions asked money back guarantee.

https://help.optery.com/en/article/how-does-your-30-day-mone...

8) Don’t put too much weight in the reviews you read online. The sad reality is that a large percentage of them are bought or just written using fake accounts by the company’s employees or founders to try to influence you or game their rankings in search engines. This is why my #1 recommendation is to sign up for a free scan to start vetting the company’s product yourself.