Optery costs $14.99/mo.
These cost $0.
3 free alternatives to Optery, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Optery vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $14.99/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California DROP | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Optery vs California DROP → |
| Optery Free Basic | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Optery vs Optery Free Basic → |
| Permission Slip by DeleteMe | free | — | — | ★ $0 forever | Optery vs Permission Slip by DeleteMe → |
The picks
3 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
California DROP
freeproprietary, freeHostedCalifornia residents get one government request to 600-plus brokers; everyone else gets a geography lesson.
The catch vs OpteryIt covers only eligible California residents and registered brokers, without Optery's discovery screenshots and individualized exposure tracking.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Government-hosted browser signup followed by one deletion request
- setup
- Only California residents are eligible, and the request requires personal identifiers for broker matching
- your data
- Personal identifiers encrypted before storage in CalPrivacy's DROP system and matched by registered data brokers
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 02
Optery Free Basic
freeproprietary, freeHostedFinds the profiles and hands you the opt-out links; your unpaid labor is the business model.
The catch vs OpteryThe free tier scans periodically and provides self-service links but does not run Optery's automated removals.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup followed by identity and profile intake
- setup
- Providing enough sensitive identity and address history for accurate broker matching
- your data
- Personal profile data, exposure findings and screenshots in Optery's AWS-hosted cloud account, encrypted in transit and at rest
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
A phone app that sends individual privacy requests and tracks them; bulk broker removal is the paid part.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilethey host it
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Optery open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Optery?+
The top free alternative to Optery is California DROP (free). California residents get one government request to 600-plus brokers; everyone else gets a geography lesson. Other popular Optery replacements include Optery Free Basic, Permission Slip by DeleteMe.
How much does switching from Optery to a free alternative save?+
Optery starts at $14.99/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like California DROP saves $899 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Optery clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Optery is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Optery, record discovered public-profile pages and guide the user through legitimate opt-outs. The hard boundary is proprietary scanning coverage, screenshots, automated removals, human review, and monitoring, plus security assurance, infrastructure, and trust.
What is the catch when switching from Optery to California DROP?+
It covers only eligible California residents and registered brokers, without Optery's discovery screenshots and individualized exposure tracking.
