Incogni 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 IncogniIt is California-only and registry-bound, without Incogni's ongoing request follow-up across a broader broker set.
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 IncogniIt supplies exposure reports and self-service links rather than submitting and chasing removal requests for the user.
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 Incogni 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 $191.76 a year before any costs of an alternative.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to Incogni?
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 Incogni?
Our verdict is NOT REALLY. A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Incogni, track manual data-removal requests and reminders without impersonating the user or bypassing identity checks. The hard boundary is broker network, legal authorization, repeated removals, support, and operational scale, plus security assurance, infrastructure, and trust. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the Incogni build guide.
