Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Incogni (by Surfshark) vs Optery
Where Incogni (by Surfshark) and Optery differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15.98Lower | $39.99 |
| Free plan limits | Free Exposure Scanner only, no removal service; results informational, based on a limited amount of data and kept 15 minutes; access to the service requires an active subscription | Free quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools only; no automated removals |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile apps | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Logging policy | Not a VPN: collects account, device and support data via cookies and pixels; service data kept up to 24 months after termination, support records 6 years, anonymised analytics kept indefinitely | Collects profile/contact, device/IP, web analytics, social and geolocation data; uses Google Analytics and retargeting/advertising cookies; data kept while account is active and deleted on account deletion; does not sell or rent personal data for monetary consideration |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Jurisdiction (US), Open source (No).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Optery scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Price from is lower at Incogni (by Surfshark): $15.98 vs $39.99.
- Platforms: only Incogni (by Surfshark) offers Mobile apps.
- Platforms: only Optery offers iOS, Android, Browser extension.
- Support channels: only Incogni (by Surfshark) offers Chat, Phone.
- Founded is lower at Optery: 2020 vs 2021.
- Incogni (by Surfshark) is available in 34 more countries.
- Pricing model: only Optery offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
Incogni (by Surfshark)
Incogni (by Surfshark) suits anyone who wants a broker removal service run on their behalf instead of chasing brokers alone. The long-term plan sits at $7.99 a month, above the site median of €3.97, and renewal costs $95.88.
Optery
Optery suits readers who want scanning and removals run for them each month instead of working through opt-out forms by hand. Coverage reaches 950 data brokers across US, CA and AU, the figure that sets it apart from cheaper self-service tools.
Score breakdown
| Area | Incogni (by Surfshark) | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Monthly plan costs $15.98 and the long-term plan $7.99, against a site median of €7.89. | 9.8HigherMonthly rate $39.99 sits above the data removal median of €10.52, though yearly price ranks 2 of 23. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.4HigherFree plan gives quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools only; paid plans add Monthly automated scanning and removals over 950 brokers. |
| Privacy | 8.6Higher | 8.5 |
A third option
PureVPN has price from at $12.95, against $15.98 for Incogni (by Surfshark) and $39.99 for Optery.
PureVPN reviewWhere these facts come from
Incogni (by Surfshark)
- incogni.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.incogni.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Optery
- optery.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Incogni (by Surfshark) | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 52 of 280 | 19 of 280 |
| Data removal services | 15 of 41 | 4 of 41 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Incogni (by Surfshark) | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free, BudgetCovers more |
| Legal entity | Incogni Inc. | OPTERY, INC. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2021 | 2020Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Data removal
| Fact | Incogni (by Surfshark) | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $95.88 | $39 to $249Lower |
| Data brokers covered | 420 | 950Higher |
| Countries covered | United States, Canada, EU | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa |
| Removal frequency | Recurring requests re-sent about every 10 days | Monthly automated scanning and removals |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Incogni (by Surfshark) | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $15.98Lower | $39.99 |
| Credit bureaus monitored | Not confirmed | 635 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Incogni (by Surfshark) | Optery | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15.98highest quarter | $39.99highest quarter | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Incogni (by Surfshark)
Pros
- Covers 420 data brokers in the United States, CA and EU with requests re-sent Recurring requests re-sent about every 10 days
- The yearly plan starts at $7.99 a month over 12 months, a clear step down from $15.98 monthly
- Backed by Surfshark as owner, with a Deloitte 2025 assurance report
Cons
- Renewal costs $95.88, so the low entry rate does not carry over to the second year
- The free tier is a scanner only, so removals need a paid subscription
- Coverage is limited to US, CA and EU
Optery
Pros
- Paid plans come with Monthly automated scanning and removals, which is the whole reason to pay rather than filing opt-out forms by hand.
- Coverage spans 950 data brokers across US, CA and AU, a list close to DeleteMe's 969.
- Annual billing runs $39 to $249, starting below the data removal yearly median of €104.36.
Cons
- Monthly billing of $39.99 runs well above the data removal median of €10.52, so the short commitment is the expensive way in.
- Free plan limits stop at quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools, so the scanning and removals arrive with the paid plans (Monthly automated scanning and removals).
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no live chat or phone line for a removal that gets stuck.
Who each suits
Incogni (by Surfshark)
Who it suits
- People who want removal handled for them rather than doing opt-out requests themselves
- US, Canadian and EU residents who want ongoing monitoring
- Households that value a single fixed yearly price over monthly billing
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone outside the US, Canada and the EU
- Readers who want a free removal service, since the free plan only scans
- Those who want a private network, because this is a removal service rather than a VPN
Optery
Who it suits
- Readers who want Monthly automated scanning and removals handled for them and would rather not track opt-out forms themselves.
- People in the United States, CA and AU who want a free look at their exposure before paying anything.
- Readers who want broker removals and credit bureau monitoring together, since 635 bureaus are covered.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts, for readers who cap the yearly bill at $19.99.
- Surfshark, whose yearly price of €121.23 is in euro against Optery's $39 to $249 in dollars, if a single currency's figure settles your budget.
- DeleteMe, if the length of the removal list decides it: 969 sites against 950.
Current offers
Incogni (by Surfshark)
Current offer
Discount code
55% off all annual plans with coupon code GETSAFE: 55% off annual plans
limited-time offer; applies to annual plans; VAT/Sales Tax may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
55% off annual plans with coupon code INCOGNI_BLOG: 55% off annual plans
blog offer; applies to annual plans
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free Exposure Scanner: free exposure scan
scan report only; provided as-is and does not obligate a paid subscription
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Optery
Current offer
Discount code
Optery's 2026 Fall Sale: 20% off
Use promo code FALL2026 at checkout
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Incogni (by Surfshark) | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | Yes | No |
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Croatia | Yes | No |
| Cyprus | Yes | No |
| Czechia | Yes | No |
8 of 42 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Incogni (by Surfshark)
What does Incogni cost?+
The monthly plan runs at $15.98 a month, and the long-term plan works out at $7.99 a month across 12 months. The yearly total is $95.88. Renewal is billed at $95.88.
Is there a free plan?+
Yes, a free plan exists, but it is limited. It offers a free exposure scanner only, with no removal service attached. Results are informational, based on a limited amount of data and kept for a short window, and using the service needs an active subscription.
Optery
What does Optery cost, and is annual billing cheaper than monthly?+
Entry pricing starts at $39.99, and the monthly rate is $39.99. Annual billing runs $39 to $249 across the paid plans, so the lower end of that yearly range is much lighter than paying month to month. Read the monthly figure as the cost of trying the service and the yearly range as the commitment, with several tiers in between.
Is there a free plan, and what is left out of it?+
Yes. The free plan covers quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools, and it stops there: automated removals sit with the paid plans. That makes it a way to see which brokers hold your details and to handle the opt-outs yourself. Paid plans begin at $39.99 if you want the service to submit and resubmit them.