How to Opt Out of People Search Sites: Free DIY Guide (2026)
People-search sites aggregate your home address, phone number, relatives, and employer from public records — and sell access to anyone who pays. Here is how to remove yourself, broker by broker, for free.
What are people-search sites?
People-search sites are a category of data broker that specializes in aggregating public records — voter registrations, property deeds, court records, social media profiles — and making them searchable by name. A typical profile includes your full name, current and past addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, relatives' names, and employer history.
Unlike consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) which are regulated under FCRA, people-search sites operate in a lighter regulatory environment. CCPA (California), VCDPA (Virginia), and similar state laws give you the right to request deletion, but you have to exercise that right yourself — these sites do not auto-delete.
How to opt out: the general process
Search for your profile
Go to the broker's website and search your full name + city. Some brokers show multiple records — find the ones that match your information.
Locate the opt-out or privacy page
Look in the footer for links labeled "Do Not Sell My Info," "Privacy," or "Opt-Out." Some brokers hide this link — try searching the site for "opt out" or "data removal."
Submit the removal request
Most brokers use a web form that asks for your name, email, and the URL of your profile. Some require email verification. A few (notably MyLife) require a phone call.
Confirm and wait
You will receive a confirmation email. Processing typically takes 24–72 hours for most brokers. Check back after 7 days to confirm your profile is gone.
Escalate if ignored
If a broker does not respond within 30 days, send a formal CCPA deletion request citing California Civil Code §1798.105. OfflistMe's templates include this escalation language automatically.
Top 12 people-search sites: opt-out method and timeline
Start with these 12 — they account for the majority of search traffic for people-search queries.
| Broker | Opt-out method | Time to remove | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokeo | Web form | 24-48h | Opt-out guide → |
| Whitepages | Web form | 24-72h | Opt-out guide → |
| BeenVerified | Web form | 24-48h | Opt-out guide → |
| Intelius | Web form | 72h | Opt-out guide → |
| PeopleFinder | Web form | 24-48h | Opt-out guide → |
| Radaris | Email request | 3-7 days | Opt-out guide → |
| FastPeopleSearch | Web form | 24h | Opt-out guide → |
| MyLife | Email/Phone | 3-5 days | Opt-out guide → |
| TruthFinder | Web form (PeopleConnect) | 3-7 days | Opt-out guide → |
| PeopleLooker | Web form | 24-48h | Opt-out guide → |
| ZabaSearch | Email request | 5-7 days | Opt-out guide → |
| PeekYou | Web form | 24-48h | Opt-out guide → |
See all 300+ brokers: full broker directory
Parent-company groups: one opt-out, multiple removals
Several brokers are owned by the same parent company. Opting out of the parent removes you from all affiliated sites simultaneously.
PeopleConnect
- · TruthFinder
- · Instant Checkmate
- · Intelius
- · US Search
One opt-out covers all
BeenVerified Group
- · BeenVerified
- · PeopleLooker
- · NumberGuru
- · Ownerly
One opt-out covers all
Hiya / Whitepages Group
- · Whitepages
- · Hiya
- · Spokeo
Separate opt-outs required
Thomson Reuters
- · PeopleSearch.com
- · CLEAR
Business-to-business data; consumer opt-out available
How long does DIY opt-out take?
12
Top brokers manually
(estimated 2–4 hrs)
50
Major brokers
(estimated 8–12 hrs)
300+
Full coverage
(estimated 20–40 hrs)
OfflistMe generates the opt-out emails for all 300+ brokers instantly. You send them — no account needed. Start with 3 free, unlock all for $5.
FAQ
Is it free to opt out of people-search sites?
Yes. Under CCPA and GDPR, data brokers are legally required to provide a free opt-out mechanism. You should never pay the broker itself to remove your data. Some third-party services charge to do the opt-outs on your behalf, but the underlying process is always free.
How long does it take for people-search sites to remove your data?
Most major brokers process requests within 24–72 hours. Some take up to 30 days. Sites that use manual review (like BeenVerified) tend to take longer than those with automated opt-out portals. After removal, Google de-indexes the page within 2–6 weeks.
Will my data come back after I opt out?
Sometimes. Brokers re-aggregate data from public records sources periodically — usually every 6–18 months. If your data reappears, you need to re-submit the opt-out request. This is why subscription services charge ongoing fees.
Do I need to opt out of every broker individually?
For the most complete removal, yes. However, some brokers are owned by the same parent company and a single opt-out covers all sister sites. For example, opting out of PeopleSmart covers FastPeopleSearch, TruthFinder, and Instant Checkmate. OfflistMe's opt-out email generator groups these parent-company relationships so you don't send redundant requests.
Related guides
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