Incogni vs IDX: Which Comes Out on Top in 2023 for Protecting Your Data Privacy?

As an online privacy advocate, data security is one of my top concerns these days. Our personal information is more at risk than ever before. Just look at the alarming rise in identity theft – over 52 million Americans were victims of ID theft in 2021 alone according to the Federal Trade Commission.

It‘s clear we all need to take action to protect our data. That‘s why services like Incogni and IDX are so valuable. Both tools aim to help you take control of your online privacy, but they go about it in different ways.

So which one comes out on top as the best privacy protector for 2023? I‘ve tested and compared Incogni and IDX in depth to find the answer. Read on for my full, unbiased review comparing the two services across all the factors that matter most when safeguarding your personal data.

At a Glance: Incogni vs IDX

Before we dive into the details, here‘s a high-level overview of how Incogni and IDX compare:

Now let‘s explore how these two privacy champions compare across the features and criteria that matter most.

Data Removal: Effortlessly Erasing Your Data Trail

The core purpose of both Incogni and IDX is to find where your personal data is being stored and sold online, and get it removed. As the adage goes, if you‘re not paying for the product, you are the product.

Here‘s how the two services‘ data removal capabilities stack up:

Incogni identifies data brokers and people search sites that are likely to have your personal data. It sends verifiable removal requests to these sites on your behalf, and regularly checks back to ensure your data stays removed.

Pros:

• Automated process finds and removes data quickly
• Regular scans ensure your data stays off new sites

Cons:

• Relies on following standardized removal processes, less customization

IDX also scans for your personal data and submits opt-out requests. But it provides more ways to customize the removal process. You can tailor requests to specific data types or individual sites if desired.

Pros:

• Robust customization for power users
• Wide range of data sources covered

Cons:

• Less automation, more manual configuration needed

For most people who simply want their data removed from as many sources as possible with minimum effort, I‘d recommend Incogni. But sophisticated users may appreciate IDX‘s expanded customization and control.

Ongoing Monitoring: Staying Ahead of New Threats

Removal is just one piece of the privacy puzzle. You also need to monitor for new threats as more data brokers crop up.

Incogni really shines here with continuous automated monitoring of people search sites. It scans for new brokers and proactively sends them removal requests on your behalf.

IDX puts more of the monitoring onus on users. While it checks some key sites, you need to manually identify new brokers to send removal requests to.

If you want a set-it-and-forget-it ongoing privacy assistant to proactively protect your data as the landscape changes, Incogni is likely the better choice.

Identity Theft Protection: Remediation When Things Go Wrong

Hopefully you never need it, but identity theft remediation is an important final layer of privacy protection. IDX offers robust remediation services if your identity is compromised, while Incogni focuses solely on data removal.

Here are some of IDX‘s identity protection offerings:

• Dark web monitoring – IDX scans black market sites for your personal data and alerts you of any suspicious activity.
• Remediation services – If you do become an ID theft victim, IDX provides expert assistance with all the recovery steps – contacting agencies, fixing your credit, and more.
• $1 million insurance – All IDX plans come with identity theft insurance up to $1 million to cover any costs.

So while Incogni offers lower cost basic privacy protection, IDX is worth the higher price if you specifically want that additional identity theft safety net.

Ease of Use: Simple Setup vs Custom Control

When it comes to user experience and convenience, Incogni generally wins out. The interface is intuitive and simple to navigate. You don‘t need any technical expertise to start removing your data in just minutes.

IDX provides more advanced customization options but the platform may seem overwhelming for non-technical users at first. There are more settings to configure and specialized tools if you want to dig deeper.

If you prioritize effortless ease of use, Incogni is likely the better choice. But IDX offers greater configuration possibilities for those with more technical needs.

Pricing: Affordable vs Premium Privacy

Not surprisingly given the different features, Incogni is more affordable while IDX costs more but offers greater breadth of services.

Here‘s a pricing comparison:

Incogni‘s budget-friendly pricing makes it accessible for individuals who just want simple but solid data removal protection.

IDX costs 3x as much annually, but provides more value for users who require expanded privacy services like identity theft remediation.

The pricing aligns with the overall positioning – Incogni for affordability and core privacy protection, IDX for premium identity protection services.

Support: Friendly Experts Ready to Help

Given the sensitive nature of privacy tools, having knowledgeable and responsive customer support is crucial.

Both Incogni and IDX offer excellent support resources, available by phone, email or chat. Based on reviews, Incogni‘s support receives especially high marks for being friendly and quick to resolve issues.

Rest assured you‘ll have a helping hand to answer any questions and address concerns with either service. But Incogni looks to edge out IDX when it comes to exceptionally helpful and personable customer service.

The Bottom Line: Incogni for Core Privacy, IDX for Full Protection

So in the battle of Incogni vs IDX, which comes out on top in 2023?

For most users who want straightforward and affordable data removal, I think Incogni is the winner. It offers an unbeatable combination of automated data erasing, proactive monitoring, ease of use and low pricing. If core privacy protection is your main need, Incogni has you covered.

However, IDX is worth the higher price for those who want an expanded suite of identity protection – dark web monitoring, remediation services, custom controls. It‘s the way to go if you need complete 360 degree data security.

Here‘s a final at-a-glance view of when to choose Incogni vs IDX:

Whichever you choose, the most important thing is taking action to defend your data. I hope this detailed review helps you decide whether Incogni or IDX is the best way to reclaim your privacy in 2023. Stay safe out there!