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How Much Is One Person's Data Worth? (2026 Estimates)
Most estimates put one person's data at a few dollars a year or less, but the numbers vary widely. See the figures, why they differ, and what business records can be worth.
One person's data is usually worth very little on its own. Estimates run from a fraction of a cent for basic facts to about $700 a year for a US user's value to advertisers. The answer depends on who is buying, what the data is, and whether it is measured by ad revenue or by resale price.
Smelted does not buy personal data from individuals. It matches companies that hold business records with AI data buyers. This page covers the personal data numbers first, then explains how company records differ.
The main estimates
Several sources publish figures, and they measure different things. Here is what each one says.
| Measure | What it covers | Figure given | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad value per US user | Estimated annual value to advertisers | At least $700 a year | Proton |
| Platform revenue per user | Average annual revenue per user, US and Canada | $217.26 | Proton |
| Basic facts about a person | Age, gender, location | About $0.0005 per person | Datapods |
| Detailed profiles | Sold by data brokers | $0.50 to $50 | Lunyb |
| Hacked personal data | Payment to each victim of a 2015 breach | $100 | University of Utah |
The top figure is the most generous. Proton's analysis estimates what your data is worth to advertisers, based on what large platforms earn per user. It is not a price anyone pays you.
Why the numbers vary so much
The value of one person's data depends on three things: the buyer, the detail, and how the data is combined with other records.
The buyer. Advertisers pay for reach and targeting. Data brokers sell lists and profiles. Criminals pay for complete identity packages. Lunyb notes that advertisers pay pennies for basic browsing behavior, while brokers sell detailed profiles for $0.50 to $50.
The person. Income matters to advertisers. Lunyb says high-income individuals in wealthy zip codes can be worth 10 to 20 times more to advertisers than average users. This is a claim from one source, not a measured price.
The scale. A single fact is almost worthless. A profile with many linked facts is worth more. That is also why platforms earn money from large groups of users, not from one person. Datapods puts Meta's fourth-quarter 2023 revenue at around $68 per user in the US and Canada, and notes that data brokers sell single details for fractions of a cent.
Can you sell your own personal data?
In the sources above, no clear market pays individuals a set price for their personal data, and the figures that exist are small. Before you sign up with any service that offers payment for your data, read its terms. Check who buys the data, what is shared, and whether you can withdraw.
How company data is different
A company's internal records can be worth more than one person's data because they are many records, linked together, and often specific to one industry. That is the kind of data AI teams need to train agents on real work.
Smelted works like this:
- It is a matching service for companies. Your company lists its anonymized internal records, such as support tickets, CRM history, SOPs, project files, code, CAD files or lab data.
- Smelted finds buyers that fit your company, gives a ballpark range, and introduces you to two or three matching buyers.
- Names, contact details and IDs are removed before anything is shared.
- You keep ownership. Buyers receive a license to a copy, not the original.
- You choose what is included and which buyers you meet.
- The buyer pays Smelted's fee. Your company pays nothing.
What your records are worth depends on your headcount, how many years of records you have, and how connected the data is. Smelted gives a range after it reviews your details, and a firm number only comes after a buyer reviews a sample. Payment usually arrives a few weeks to two months after signing, so plan on one to three months from first call to payment.
Smelted is aimed at US companies with roughly 50 to 500 employees, founded in 2022 or earlier, that use tools such as Zendesk, Jira or GitHub, Salesforce or HubSpot, Bullhorn, AutoCAD or Revit, or Benchling. Core industries are staffing and recruiting, engineering and architecture, B2B software, and science labs and biotech R&D. Companies with under 30 employees can still apply, but the buyers who take smaller companies typically pay less.
What to do next
If you run a company that fits this profile, fill in the two-minute form at Smelted. It collects your headcount, tools and history. No meeting is needed to start. If you are an individual with personal data to sell, Smelted is not the right service for that.
FAQ
How much is someone's data worth?
It depends on who buys it and what it contains. Estimates range from about $0.0005 for basic facts to about $700 a year for a US user's value to advertisers, according to Proton. These are estimates, not prices you can collect.
How much is your personal data worth?
For one person, the sources here suggest very little on the open market. Data brokers sell detailed profiles for $0.50 to $50, according to Lunyb. Your own worth depends on what the profile contains and who wants it.
Can I sell my personal data?
Some services say they pay for it. Before you sign up, read their terms, find out who buys the data, and check how you can withdraw. The payments in the sources above are small.
How do companies sell data to AI buyers?
A company can license a copy of anonymized internal records to an AI buyer. Smelted is one matching service for this. It removes names and contact details, lets the company choose what is included and which buyers it meets, and charges the buyer, not the company.
How much money do companies make selling your data?
Advertising is the largest source. Proton reports average annual revenue per user of $217.26 in the US and Canada for Facebook, which it uses as a benchmark for what user data is worth to advertisers.