Incogni vs. Hogo Privacy Defense 2024

Discover which data removal service is best for you: Incogni's automated simplicity for cross-platform users or Hogo Privacy Defense's comprehensive features and engaging interface for mobile users.
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Best for simplicity

4.5
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Incogni's website

Privacy Protection
Incogni
BLACK FRIDAY: 50% off
  • Limits public access to your information and protects your data from theft
  • Sends removal requests on your behalf
  • Tracks and repeats removal requests if needed
  • Not able to submit custom requests

Best for interactive features

3.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Hogo Privacy Defense's website

Privacy Protection
Hogo Privacy Defense
  • Easy to use and set up
  • Up to $25,000 in fraud insurance
  • Shares data for marketing purposes

When it comes to protecting your personal information online, both Incogni and Hogo Privacy Defense offer valuable services that are designed to keep your data safe from data brokers and other entities looking to exploit your information. In this matchup, Hogo Privacy Defense wins.

They each cater to different needs and preferences, making it essential to choose the right data removal service for your specific situation. This article will help you understand the features, pricing, and benefits of both Incogni and Hogo services so you can decide which one is best for you.

In this article
Review at a glance
Pricing
Features
Security
User experience
FAQs
Incogni vs. Hogo Privacy Defense: Which is better?

Incogni vs. Hogo Privacy Defense review at a glance

Incogni and Hogo Privacy Defense cater to different preferences in data protection. Incogni offers a straightforward, automated service ideal for those wanting a "set and forget" solution with broad data broker coverage.

In contrast, Hogo Privacy Defense provides a more interactive experience with gamified elements and additional features like identity theft insurance, making it suitable for those who enjoy engaging with their data protection process.

Incogni vs. Hogo Privacy Defense compared

Star rating
4.5
3.9
Price $7.49–$32.98/mo Free or $5.99/mo
# of site removals 179 Not specified
Privacy reports
Family plan
Recurring removals
Custom removal requests
Encryption Undisclosed AES-256
Extras No, unless you get it as part of the Surfshark One+ plan Credit monitoring, financial account monitoring, identity theft insurance
Learn more Get Incogni
Read Incogni Review
Get Hogo Privacy Defense
Read Hogo Privacy Defense Review

How we test and rate data removal services

To review data removal services, we sign up for the service anywhere from a week to a month in advance. This allows it time to gather our data, scrub it from the data broker and people search sites, and send us reports on its process.

With so many data broker websites, you’ll want to make sure the one you choose sends requests to a lot of them, as well as follows up and searches for more. 

Once we've spent some time with the service, we calculate our editorial rating by taking into account key features, prices, security measures, and other criteria.

To learn more about how we test, check out our full data removal testing methodology here.

Incogni pros and cons

Pros
  • Low maintenance
  • Comprehensive data broker coverage
  • Fast response and removal
Cons
  • No privacy reports
  • Lacks additional security features

Hogo Privacy Defense pros and cons

Pros
  • Easy to use and set up
  • Free for basic features
  • Up to $25,000 in free fraud insurance
Cons
  • Doesn’t remove information from primary sites
  • Relatively basic features compared to other apps

Which data removal service is the better value?

Our Pick
Paid monthly $14.98/mo $5.99/mo
Paid annually $7.49/mo (billed annually) N/A
Paid every two years N/A N/A
Number of people covered 1-4 1 or the entire household
Money-back guarantee Yes — 30 days
Best value plan Annual Plan for $7.49/mo (billed annually) Free
Learn more Get Incogni
Read Incogni Review
Get Hogo Privacy Defense
Read Hogo Privacy Defense Review

Incogni plans

Incogni offers straightforward monthly or annual plans designed for individual users or a family of four. Each plan includes automated data removal from data brokers with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Incogni provides a 30-day money-back guarantee but does not offer a free trial.

  • Individual plan: This plan includes automated data removal requests, comprehensive data broker coverage, and basic monitoring features. It is ideal for solo users seeking a hassle-free solution.
  • Family & Friends plan: It’s the same as the individual plan, but you can invite up to 4 people to join.

Hogo Privacy Defense plans

Hogo Privacy Defense provides interactive plans suitable for individuals and households. The service includes gamified elements, identity theft insurance, and credit monitoring. Hogo offers a 30-day money-back guarantee but does not have a free trial.

  • Free plan: One swipe data broker removals, $25K fraud insurance, and the ability to stop robocalls and scams are all included with the free plan.
  • Premium plan: Premium has unlimited data removal requests, identity theft insurance up to $1 million, credit and financial monitoring, and gamified user experience. This plan covers multiple users, making it great for families.

Winner: Hogo Privacy Defense offers the best value with its interactive features and comprehensive coverage for families at a lower monthly cost.

Which data removal service has the better features?

Our Pick
Free scan
Data broker opt-out
Data broker site scans
Number of data brokers covered 180+ N/A
How often is data rechecked? Quarterly Bi-weekly
Monthly report
Marketing list removal
Email privacy
Privacy reports
Real-time alerts
Social media account monitoring
Dark web monitoring
Credit monitoring
Fraud monitoring
Learn more Get Incogni
Read Incogni Review
Get Hogo Privacy Defense
Read Hogo Privacy Defense Review

Incogni focuses primarily on automated data removal, making it a streamlined choice for users who want to set up their service and let it run with minimal interaction. However, it lacks additional monitoring and alert features like real-time alerts, credit monitoring, and fraud monitoring. This can be a significant drawback for users who need continuous, comprehensive protection across various aspects of their digital and financial lives.

On the other hand, Hogo Privacy Defense provides a broader range of monitoring features, including real-time alerts, credit monitoring, and fraud monitoring, which can be crucial for promptly addressing identity theft and fraud. The free scan feature allows users to get a glimpse of the service's capabilities before committing, which is a nice advantage. For users who prioritize these additional protections and real-time updates, Hogo might be the better option despite its smaller coverage of data brokers.

Additional features

Both services offer unique features beyond basic data removal. Incogni, although limited to its primary function, excels in its thorough approach to removing personal information from a vast number of data brokers.

Hogo, while offering a more interactive experience, also includes valuable features like fraud resolution services, which help you recover if you fall victim to fraud, and identity theft insurance for premium users, which provides financial protection against the costs associated with identity theft.

The Incogni dashboard, showing 99 requests in progress.

The Hogo privacy dashboard.

Winner: Hogo Privacy Defense offers the best set of features overall with its real-time alerts, credit monitoring, and fraud monitoring. These additional protections provide comprehensive coverage and immediate updates, making it a more robust choice for users seeking extensive data protection.

Which data removal service is more secure?

When it comes to the best data removal services, security is paramount. Ensuring that your personal information is removed and protected during the process is crucial. Features like two-factor and multi-factor authentication provide an extra layer of security, requiring additional verification steps to access your account.

For example, two-factor authentication might use a combination of a password and a code sent to your phone, while multi-factor authentication could include biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition.

Reasonable data collection for account administration purposes, such as payment processing and monitoring, is acceptable as long as the service is transparent about what data is collected and how it is used. Sharing data with third parties should be minimal and only for necessary functions, such as payment processing or legal compliance.

Incogni vs. Hogo Privacy Defense data security

Our Pick
Encryption AES-256
Two-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication
Collects data Minimal
Shares data with third parties Minimal
Learn more Get Incogni
Read Incogni Review
Get Hogo Privacy Defense
Read Hogo Privacy Defense Review

Neither Incogni nor Hogo Privacy Defense offers two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), which is a notable drawback for both services. However, Hogo uses AES-256 encryption, a robust standard for protecting data.

Incogni collects and shares minimal data, mainly for account administration and legal compliance. In contrast, Hogo Privacy Defense collects more extensive data and shares it with third parties, including for marketing purposes, which might be a concern for some users.

Winner: Incogni. Even though Incogni lacks robust encryption, its minimal data sharing practices make it a slightly safer option overall.

Which data removal service has the better user experience?

Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
24/7 customer support
Customer support options Email, online guides, submit a ticket Email, online guides, blog
Learn more Get Incogni
Read Incogni Review
Get Hogo Privacy Defense
Read Hogo Privacy Defense Review

In terms of compatibility, Incogni supports a broader range of platforms, including Windows and macOS, whereas Hogo Privacy Defense is limited to mobile platforms (Android and iOS) and lacks desktop applications. This makes Incogni more versatile for users who need cross-platform access to their data removal service.

Regarding customer support, Hogo Privacy Defense offers more comprehensive options, including email, online guides, and a blog with helpful articles. Incogni, on the other hand, only offers email support and online guides, which might be sufficient but less robust compared to Hogo's offerings.

Both services feature user-friendly interfaces, but there are notable differences in their accessibility and ease of use. Incogni's interface is straightforward, allowing users to navigate easily through the dashboard to monitor data removal requests. But the lack of real-time alerts and interactive elements can make it feel less engaging.

Hogo Privacy Defense stands out with its gamified interface, which includes animated characters and rewards, making the user experience more engaging. However, the initial setup requires sharing more personal information, which might be a concern for some users.

Winner: Draw. Both Hogo Privacy Defense and Incogni provide comparable customer support and compatibility options. The main difference is that Hogo is only available via an app now, whereas you can access Incogni on any browser.

FAQs


+

Is Hogo Privacy Defense better than Incogni?

Hogo Privacy Defense offers more comprehensive features, making it better for users seeking extensive protection. Incogni is simpler and supports more platforms.


+

What is the best data deletion service?

The best data removal service depends on your needs. We think DeleteMe is an excellent service overall, but Hogo and Incogni are good alternatives. For comprehensive protection and support, consider Hogo Privacy Defense. For a straightforward, automated solution, Incogni is an excellent choice.


+

Is Incogni data removal worth it?

Yes, Incogni is worth it for users seeking a simple, automated data removal service that covers a wide range of data brokers with minimal effort.


+

Who owns Incogni?

Incogni is owned by Surfshark, a company known for its VPN and privacy protection services. You can bundle Incogni data removal services with the Surfshark One cybersecurity suite.

Incogni vs. Hogo Privacy Defense: Which is better?

Incogni offers robust platform compatibility and a straightforward, automated data removal process, making it ideal for users who want a hassle-free experience. However, it lacks real-time alerts and extensive customer support options.

Comparatively, Hogo Privacy Defense provides a more engaging and interactive experience with gamified elements and real-time alerts, but it’s limited to mobile platforms.

Overall, Hogo Privacy Defense is the better choice for users seeking comprehensive protection and support, while Incogni is best for those who prefer a simple, cross-platform solution.

4.5
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Incogni's website
Privacy Protection
Incogni
BLACK FRIDAY: 50% off
  • Limits public access to your information and protects your data from theft
  • Sends removal requests on your behalf
  • Tracks and repeats removal requests if needed
  • Not able to submit custom requests

Incogni vs. Hogo Privacy Defense alternatives

If Incogni or Hogo Privacy Defense doesn’t meet your needs, consider these alternatives.

  • DeleteMe: DeleteMe offers comprehensive data removal services from a wide range of data broker sites. It provides detailed reports and regular updates on the status of your data removal requests, making it a strong choice for users who want thorough, ongoing privacy protection.

    Get DeleteMe | Read Our DeleteMe Review

  • Aura: Aura combines data removal with robust identity theft protection features, including credit monitoring, fraud alerts, and financial monitoring. This service is ideal for users who want a comprehensive solution that covers both data privacy and identity security.

    Get Aura | Read Our Aura Review

  • HelloPrivacy: HelloPrivacy focuses on making data removal simple and accessible, offering user-friendly tools to help you opt out of data broker sites. It’s a great option for users who want an easy-to-use service that provides essential privacy protection without added complexity.

    Get HelloPrivacy | Read Our HelloPrivacy Review

4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On DeleteMe's website
Privacy Protection
DeleteMe
Use code PARTNER20 for 20% off
  • Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
  • 100+ million successful opt-out removals
  • Provides continued removals every three months

Author Details
Ryan Clancy is a freelance writer and blogger. With 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience, he's passionate about all things engineering and tech. He loves bringing engineering (especially mechanical) down to a level that everyone can understand.