DeleteMe vs Dataseal
An honest comparison backed by real user reviews and independent research
The bottom line
DeleteMe is the more established service with broader geographic coverage and a longer track record. Dataseal offers a lower barrier to entry with its money-back guarantee and manual removal controls. However, Dataseal's history raises serious transparency concerns. The company was formerly run by the same team behind ThatsThem, a data broker that profits from the same personal data these services promise to remove. Neither service delivered standout removal rates in independent testing.
For most people, we recommend looking beyond both of these options. If you must choose between the two, DeleteMe is the safer bet despite its limitations.
Head-to-head comparison
DeleteMe
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Dataseal
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|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $8.71/mo | $12.99/mo |
| Consumer Reports removal rate | 27% | Not tested |
| Money-back guarantee | No | Yes |
| Manual removal controls | No | Yes |
| Removal requests per quarter | 10 | Unlimited |
| Coverage | USA + Europe | USA only |
| Support | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Data broker conflict of interest | No | Yes (ThatsThem / Durt Holdings) |
DeleteMe
DeleteMe launched in 2011 and is one of the oldest data removal services on the market. It scans data broker sites for your personal information and submits opt-out requests on your behalf. Plans start at $8.71 per month when billed annually.
The service covers both USA and European data brokers. It runs scans and submits up to 10 removal requests per quarter. You get 24/7 support and regular privacy reports showing what was found and removed.
In the Consumer Reports data removal study, DeleteMe achieved a 27% removal rate after four months. That was the lowest among all services tested. Manual opt-outs by users themselves achieved 70%.
What users say
"I used DeleteMe for a year and my info kept reappearing on the same sites. Felt like I was paying for a service that never actually finished the job."
"DeleteMe does the bare minimum. 10 requests per quarter is not enough when there are hundreds of data brokers out there."
Pros and cons
Pros
- Longest track record in the industry
- Covers USA and European brokers
- Lower monthly price at $8.71/mo
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Only 27% removal rate in Consumer Reports testing
- Limited to 10 requests per quarter
- No money-back guarantee
- No manual removal controls
Dataseal
Dataseal positions itself as a user-friendly data removal service with both automated and manual removal options. It costs $12.99 per month and includes a money-back guarantee. The dashboard is intuitive and support is responsive according to most Trustpilot reviews.
Unlike DeleteMe, Dataseal gives you the ability to submit manual removal requests alongside its automated system. That sounds like a plus on paper. But there is a major catch.
Conflict of interest. Dataseal was formerly run by the same team behind ThatsThem, a people-search data broker. The parent company is called Durt Holdings. A company that profits from collecting and selling personal data was also selling a service to remove that same data. Our affiliate relationship with Dataseal ended in August 2023 after this became widely documented.
What users say
"After 3 months with Dataseal I was nearly impossible to find on people search sites. Very happy with the results."
"Only 66 out of 198 records were actually removed. Some of the removals they reported seemed like duplicates of the same listing."
"The dashboard looks great but I question how many of the reported removals are real vs just the same record counted twice."
Pros and cons
Pros
- Money-back guarantee
- Manual and automated removal options
- Intuitive dashboard
- Responsive 24/7 support
- Generally positive Trustpilot reviews
Cons
- Run by same team behind data broker ThatsThem (Durt Holdings)
- Possible duplicate removal reporting
- USA only, no European coverage
- Higher price at $12.99/mo
- Not tested by Consumer Reports
- Mixed real-world removal results (66 of 198 records in one case)
Pricing
DeleteMe is the cheaper option at $8.71 per month on an annual plan. Dataseal charges $12.99 per month. That is a 49% premium for Dataseal. Dataseal does include a money-back guarantee, which DeleteMe does not offer. If you want to test the waters without risk, Dataseal has the edge here. But the price difference adds up over time.
Broker coverage
DeleteMe covers data brokers in both the USA and Europe. Dataseal is limited to USA brokers only. If you have any international exposure or live outside the United States, DeleteMe is the only option between these two.
DeleteMe caps removal requests at 10 per quarter. Dataseal does not appear to have the same limit, and it lets you submit manual requests alongside automated ones. More requests per quarter means more brokers can be targeted. On volume alone, Dataseal has an advantage. But volume means nothing if the removals are not sticking or are being double-counted.
Real user experience
Both services receive mixed reviews from real users. DeleteMe users frequently complain that personal information reappears on the same sites after removal. The 10-request-per-quarter limit frustrates people who want more aggressive coverage.
Dataseal reviews are split. Some users report being "nearly impossible to find" after a few months. Others report that only a third of their records were actually removed. Several users have raised concerns about possible duplicate counting in removal reports. When a service reports 100 removals but some of those are the same listing counted multiple times, the real number is lower than it looks.
Neither service has a clean track record based on user feedback alone.
The ThatsThem problem
This is the biggest issue with Dataseal and the reason we ended our affiliate relationship in August 2023. Dataseal was run by the same people behind ThatsThem, a data broker that collects and sells personal information. The parent company, Durt Holdings, operated on both sides of the privacy equation. They profited from exposing your data and then charged you to remove it.
This conflict of interest has been widely documented across privacy forums and review sites. Even if Dataseal has since changed its practices, the history is hard to ignore. Trust matters in a service that handles your most sensitive personal information.
Who should pick which
Pick DeleteMe if you want a longer track record, need European broker coverage, or prefer to spend less per month. Just go in with realistic expectations. A 27% removal rate is not great.
Pick Dataseal if you want manual removal controls, a money-back guarantee, and you are comfortable with the company's history. The dashboard is genuinely good and support is responsive.
Consider a different service entirely if removal performance is your top priority. In the Consumer Reports study, other services like Optery scored significantly higher than DeleteMe. And Dataseal was not tested at all.
Final verdict
Neither DeleteMe nor Dataseal is perfect. DeleteMe has weak removal rates but a clean reputation. Dataseal has better features on paper but a troubling history with data broker ties.
If we had to pick one, we would go with DeleteMe. It costs less, covers more regions, and does not have a conflict of interest baked into its corporate history.
But honestly, both services trail behind competitors like Optery and Incogni when it comes to actual removal performance. Before committing to either option here, check out our full comparison of DeleteMe alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dataseal legitimate?
Dataseal is a real company that does submit data removal requests. However, it was formerly operated by the same team behind ThatsThem, a people-search data broker, under the parent company Durt Holdings. This conflict of interest has been widely documented. The service itself works, but the corporate history raises trust concerns.
Why did Consumer Reports rate DeleteMe so low?
Consumer Reports found that DeleteMe achieved only a 27% removal rate after four months of testing. That was the lowest among all seven services tested. By comparison, users who manually submitted their own opt-out requests achieved a 70% removal rate. The study suggested that automated services vary widely in effectiveness.
Does Dataseal really count duplicate removals?
Some users have reported that Dataseal's removal reports appear to count the same listing multiple times. One Reddit user reported only 66 out of 198 records being genuinely removed. While we cannot confirm this is systematic, it is something to watch for when evaluating your own reports.
Are there better alternatives to both DeleteMe and Dataseal?
Yes. In the Consumer Reports study, services like Optery scored significantly higher removal rates than DeleteMe. Incogni and Kanary also receive stronger user reviews overall. Check our full guide to DeleteMe alternatives for detailed comparisons.
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This page contains affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure for details.