Free Opt-Out Guides for People-Search Sites

Updated 2026-10-18 · Prices and policies checked 2026-10-18 · From official instructions

You don’t need to pay anyone. In Consumer Reports’ 2024 study, manual opt-outs removed 70% of listings after four months, more than any paid service (Consumer Reports, “Data Defense: Evaluating People-Search Site Removal Services” (August 2024)). The cost is your time, plus repeat checks.

Guides

• Spokeo
• Whitepages
• BeenVerified
• Intelius, TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate and US Search (PeopleConnect)

California residents: DROP

California’s Delete Request and Opt-out Platform launched January 1, 2026. It lets residents send one free deletion request to every data broker registered with the state, after verifying residency. Brokers began processing requests August 1, 2026, and must check DROP at least every 45 days. The state says more than 500,000 people had signed up by late August 2026, with 654 brokers participating. Sources: California Privacy Protection Agency, Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP); CPPA, “Half a Million Californians Have Signed up for DROP” (August 2026).

Tips that save time

• Use a separate email address for opt-out confirmations.
• Keep a simple list of the sites, dates and listing URLs you’ve removed.
• Recheck every 3–4 months, because listings reappear.
• Consumer Reports found CheckPeople, PublicDataUSA and Intelius among the hardest sites to get removed from.