DeleteMe alternatives: 3 free & open-source picks
Compare recorded free and open-source options, their capabilities and operating requirements. Source dates are shown below; licenses, hosted limits and project activity can change.
California residents get one government request to 600-plus brokers; everyone else gets a geography lesson.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installGovernment-hosted browser signup followed by one deletion request
dataPersonal identifiers encrypted before storage in CalPrivacy's DROP system and matched by registered data brokers
the catch vs DeleteMeIt only serves California residents and registered brokers, with no ongoing broad-web discovery or individualized evidence reports like DeleteMe.
setupOnly California residents are eligible, and the request requires personal identifiers for broker matching
facts verified 2026-08-11
Finds the profiles and hands you the opt-out links; your unpaid labor is the business model.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup followed by identity and profile intake
dataPersonal profile data, exposure findings and screenshots in Optery's AWS-hosted cloud account, encrypted in transit and at rest
the catch vs DeleteMeIt finds exposures only periodically and leaves every removal to the user, whereas DeleteMe performs and follows up on removals.
setupProviding enough sensitive identity and address history for accurate broker matching
facts verified 2026-08-11
A phone app that sends individual privacy requests and tracks them; bulk broker removal is the paid part.
latest recorded source check 2026-08-11 · check current terms at the source
Mozilla MonitorEveryone still links it; Mozilla shut the broker-removal product down and deleted its scan data.
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California DROP | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
| Optery Free Basic | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
| Permission Slip by DeleteMe | free (closed) | they host it | ios, android | — | — |
People still pay for DeleteMe because security products are paid for because expert review, infrastructure, and accountability matter more than recreating screens. The recurring cost buys cryptography, secure updates, key recovery, threat intelligence, relay capacity, abuse response, audits, and incident handling, not just the visible interface. The recorded subscription totals $129 a year before any costs of an alternative.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to DeleteMe?
Yes: California DROP, Optery Free Basic, Permission Slip by DeleteMe. These are recorded free or open-source options. Compare their feature limits, licenses, hosting costs and current availability before choosing.
Should I just build my own DeleteMe?
Our verdict is NOT REALLY. A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For DeleteMe, maintain a manual data-broker checklist and evidence log for user-driven opt-outs. The hard boundary is broker coverage, repeated submissions, identity verification, human operations, and legal processes, plus security assurance, infrastructure, and trust. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the DeleteMe build guide.
