Why revisit account deletion — again?
Every platform brags about two-click sign-ups, yet the exit door is often a maze. JustDeleteMe shines a light on these dark patterns: it is an open-source catalog of direct links and step-by-step instructions for removing — or learning you can’t remove — your online profile. I tested the service to measure its coverage, reliability, and ease of use.
Minimal interface, maximum usability
The homepage loads in under a second, with no tracking cookies or intrusive banners. Front and center you’ll find:
- a search bar for services;
- quick-toggle filters (Popular, A-Z, difficulty level);
- cards with a traffic-light difficulty label:
green easy,
yellow medium,
red hard,
black impossible.
Coverage: more than 1,900 services mapped
My internal crawl counted 1,900+ entries, spanning mainstream giants (Meta, Google) and niche platforms. Most instructions are up-to-date; links for Netflix, Coinbase, and Threads worked on the first try. I did hit a few 404s on minor forums — expected in a community-driven project.
Add-ons and useful “siblings”
- Chrome/Firefox add-on: overlays the traffic light on the site you’re visiting;
- Mobile app: works offline — handy on the go;
- JustGetMyData: a companion directory for exporting your data before deletion.
Strengths
- Broader coverage than competing directories;
- Zero tracking: no third-party cookies;
- Code and database public on GitHub, fully auditable;
- Browser plugin brings the service “on-site,” cutting friction.
Limitations & opportunities
- Community maintenance: links can go stale without periodic reviews;
- Interface only in English: wider localization would boost EU adoption;
- No post-deletion verification: deeper insights require pro services (DeleteMe, Incogni);
- “Impossible” category needs nuance: GDPR lets many “black” services accept DSR/legal requests.
Final scorecard
- Database coverage: 9.5 / 10
- Link & instruction accuracy: 8.5 / 10
- Privacy & transparency: 10 / 10
- Usability: 9 / 10
- Multi-language support: 6 / 10
Overall average: 8.8 / 10
Conclusion
If data control is a pillar of your security hygiene, JustDeleteMe deserves a permanent bookmark (or even better, the browser extension). It won’t replace paid brokers that fight data-harvesting giants, but for ditching yet another forgotten account it offers the best time-to-result ratio of 2025. The ongoing challenge is community upkeep: flagging a dead link or opening a pull request is the most concrete way to strengthen our digital opt-out rights.
Pro tip: Before deleting, use the “JustGetMyData” link to download a copy of your data. A local backup today could save headaches in future audits, tax filings, or disputes.
