Data brokers have your information. They're selling it to advertisers, insurance companies, and anyone willing to pay.
Both GhostSweep and Incogni promise to help you remove your data from these brokers. But they take very different approaches.
Here's an honest comparison to help you decide which tool is right for you.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | GhostSweep | Incogni |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $9.99/mo or $95.88/yr | $13.49/mo or $161.88/yr |
| Account Discovery | Yes (email scan) | No |
| Data Broker Removal | DIY with templates | Done for you |
| Visual Network Map | Yes | No |
| Forgotten Accounts | Shows all accounts | No account scanning |
| Opt-Out Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Brokers | 500+ | 180+ |
| Best For | DIY, visibility, control | Hands-off, convenience |
What is GhostSweep?
GhostSweep is a privacy tool that helps you discover and delete your digital footprint.
Key features:
- Email scanning - Finds every account linked to your email
- Digital Shadow Map - Visualizes which data brokers are tracking you
- CCPA/GDPR opt-out templates - Generate legally compliant deletion requests
- Progress tracking - Monitor your removal requests
- Account management - See and delete forgotten accounts
The approach: You stay in control. GhostSweep shows you the full picture, provides the tools, and you decide what to delete.
What is Incogni?
Incogni is a data broker removal service that handles opt-outs on your behalf.
Key features:
- Automated removal - Incogni submits opt-out requests for you
- 180+ data brokers - Covers major US and international brokers
- Progress dashboard - See which brokers have been contacted
- Regular scans - Quarterly monitoring and re-removal
- Email updates - Get notified when brokers respond
The approach: Fully hands-off. You give Incogni permission to act on your behalf, and they handle everything.
Feature Comparison
1. Account Discovery
GhostSweep:
- ✅ Scans your email to find forgotten accounts
- ✅ Discovers accounts from 2011, 2015, old forums, trials
- ✅ Shows you exactly what's out there
- ✅ Average user finds 67 forgotten accounts
Incogni:
- ❌ Does not scan for accounts
- ❌ Only focuses on data brokers
- ❌ Won't find old forum accounts or forgotten services
Winner: GhostSweep (if you want to find all your accounts)
2. Data Broker Removal
GhostSweep:
- Shows you which brokers have your data
- Generates CCPA/GDPR opt-out email templates
- You send the emails yourself
- Track responses in dashboard
- Covers 500+ brokers
Incogni:
- Submits opt-out requests on your behalf
- You give them power of attorney
- They handle all communication
- Regular follow-ups and re-submissions
- Covers 180+ brokers
Winner: Depends on preference
- Incogni if you want fully hands-off
- GhostSweep if you want control and visibility
3. Visualization & Understanding
GhostSweep:
- ✅ Digital Shadow Map shows network of brokers
- ✅ Visual graph of connections
- ✅ See exactly who has access to what
- ✅ Understand how your data flows
Incogni:
- ❌ No visualization
- ❌ Just a list of brokers
- ❌ Less insight into how data is connected
Winner: GhostSweep (for transparency and education)
4. Ease of Use
GhostSweep:
- Requires you to send emails
- Need to track responses
- More work, but you're in control
- Good if you want to understand the process
Incogni:
- Completely automated
- Zero effort after setup
- Set it and forget it
- Good if you just want it handled
Winner: Incogni (for convenience)
5. Progress Tracking
GhostSweep:
- Dashboard shows opt-out status
- Track which brokers you've contacted
- Monitor responses
- Visual progress indicators
Incogni:
- Dashboard shows removal progress
- See which brokers removed your data
- Quarterly scan reports
- Email notifications
Winner: Tie (both have good tracking)
6. Privacy & Control
GhostSweep:
- You control everything
- No power of attorney needed
- You send the emails
- Your data stays with you
Incogni:
- Requires limited power of attorney
- They act on your behalf
- They need your personal info to submit requests
- More delegation required
Winner: GhostSweep (for privacy purists)
Pricing Comparison
GhostSweep:
- Monthly: $9.99/month
- Annual: $95.88/year ($7.99/month)
- Free tier: Email scan to find accounts
Total annual cost: $95.88
Incogni:
- Monthly: $12.99/month
- Annual: $77.88/year ($6.49/month)
- No free tier
Total annual cost: $77.88
Price Winner: Incogni (cheaper annually)
But: GhostSweep offers more features (account discovery, visual maps) and covers more brokers (500+ vs 180+)
Broker Coverage
GhostSweep:
- 500+ data brokers including:
- Major brokers (Acxiom, Epsilon, Oracle)
- People search sites (Spokeo, Whitepages)
- Specialized brokers
- International brokers
Incogni:
- 180+ data brokers including:
- Major US brokers
- People search sites
- Some international brokers
- Regular updates to list
Winner: GhostSweep (wider coverage)
Legal Compliance
GhostSweep:
- Provides CCPA-compliant templates
- Provides GDPR-compliant templates
- You submit the requests yourself
- Legally valid
Incogni:
- Submits CCPA requests on your behalf
- Submits GDPR requests on your behalf
- Requires power of attorney
- Legally valid
Winner: Tie (both are legally compliant)
Time Investment
GhostSweep:
Initial setup: 10 minutes
- Scan email
- Review accounts
- Generate opt-out emails
Ongoing: 30 minutes/month
- Send opt-out emails
- Track responses
- Follow up with non-responders
Total time commitment: ~1 hour first month, 30 mins/month after
Incogni:
Initial setup: 5 minutes
- Create account
- Grant power of attorney
- Done
Ongoing: 0 minutes
- Everything automated
- Just check dashboard occasionally
Total time commitment: 5 minutes total
Winner: Incogni (if time is your priority)
Who Should Choose GhostSweep?
Choose GhostSweep if you:
- ✅ Want to find forgotten accounts (not just brokers)
- ✅ Prefer to stay in control of the process
- ✅ Want visual insights into your data exposure
- ✅ Care about understanding how data flows
- ✅ Want to see the full picture before taking action
- ✅ Prefer maximum broker coverage (500+ vs 180+)
- ✅ Don't mind sending emails yourself
- ✅ Want transparency over convenience
Best for:
- Privacy enthusiasts
- People who like control
- Those with technical curiosity
- Anyone who wants account discovery too
Who Should Choose Incogni?
Choose Incogni if you:
- ✅ Want completely hands-off removal
- ✅ Don't have time to manage opt-outs
- ✅ Just want it done for you
- ✅ Don't need account discovery features
- ✅ Prefer zero effort after setup
- ✅ Want quarterly monitoring built in
- ✅ Don't mind giving power of attorney
- ✅ Prioritize convenience over visibility
Best for:
- Busy professionals
- People who want "set and forget"
- Those who don't want to manage emails
- Anyone prioritizing time over control
Real User Experience
GhostSweep User:
"I scanned my email and found 257 accounts I forgot about. The Digital Shadow Map was eye-opening—I had no idea 43 brokers were connected to my accounts. Sending the opt-out emails took about an hour, but I felt in control the whole time."
Incogni User:
"I signed up, gave them permission, and that was it. I check the dashboard occasionally and see they're removing my data. I love that I don't have to think about it."
The Verdict
There's no clear winner—it depends on what you value.
Choose GhostSweep if:
You want the full picture. You want to know exactly what accounts exist, which brokers have your data, and how it's all connected. You're willing to invest a bit of time to stay in control.
Best for: Privacy enthusiasts who want visibility + control
Choose Incogni if:
You just want your data removed and don't care about the details. You value convenience over visibility. You don't need account discovery features.
Best for: Busy people who want hands-off removal
Use Both?
Actually, you could use both:
- GhostSweep to find and delete forgotten accounts
- Incogni to handle ongoing data broker removal
Combined cost: ~$174/year, but you get complete coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both tools together?
Yes! They serve different purposes:
- GhostSweep finds forgotten accounts
- Incogni handles broker removal
They complement each other well.
Which one removes more data brokers?
GhostSweep covers 500+ brokers vs Incogni's 180+. But Incogni handles the submission for you.
Do I need to give personal information?
Both require your email and name. Incogni needs additional info (address, DOB) to submit opt-outs on your behalf.
How long does removal take?
Both: Data brokers must respond within 45 days under CCPA. Full removal can take 2-3 months.
Will data brokers re-add my information?
Yes, potentially. Both tools offer ongoing monitoring:
- GhostSweep: You can re-run scans and re-submit
- Incogni: Quarterly automatic re-scanning
Are these tools legitimate?
Yes, both are legitimate services using legal opt-out processes (CCPA/GDPR).
Bottom Line
GhostSweep = Visibility + Control + Account Discovery
Incogni = Convenience + Hands-Off + Simplicity
Budget-conscious? Incogni is cheaper annually ($77.88 vs $95.88)
Want maximum coverage? GhostSweep covers 500+ brokers vs 180+
Value your time? Incogni is fully automated
Want to learn? GhostSweep shows you exactly what's happening
Best overall? Depends on your priorities. Both are solid tools.
Try Them Out
GhostSweep:
- Free email scan to find accounts
- See exactly what's out there
- Upgrade if you want opt-out tools
- Try GhostSweep →
Incogni:
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Annual plan offers best value
- Fully automated from day one
- Try Incogni →
Final Thoughts
The "best" privacy tool is the one you'll actually use.
If you're the type who wants to understand exactly what's happening with your data, wants to find forgotten accounts, and doesn't mind sending a few emails—GhostSweep is your tool.
If you just want your data removed and don't want to think about it—Incogni is perfect.
Either way, you're taking control of your privacy. That's what matters.
Want to see your digital footprint before deciding? GhostSweep offers a free email scan to show you exactly how many forgotten accounts you have.