XWipe vs Semiphemeral vs Redact: Pros, Cons & Verdict
XWipe is the fastest hosted option with no software to install and $4 entry; Semiphemeral (now Cyd) is free and open-source but runs on your own device; Redact is the broadest, covering 35+ platforms.
These three get recommended together because they answer the same question — "how do I clear my X history?" — in three different ways: a hosted web tool, free open-source software you run yourself, and a multi-platform desktop app. Here are the honest pros and cons of each, then a verdict.
The one-line verdict
Pick XWipe for the fastest X-only cleanup with nothing to install. Pick Semiphemeral / Cyd if free and open-source matters most and you don't mind running it yourself. Pick Redact if you need to scrub many platforms beyond X.
XWipe
What it is: a hosted web tool built only for X. Connect your account, pick your content types, let it run.
Pros: nothing to install; deletes all content types (tweets, retweets, likes, follows, bookmarks, DMs); deletes in the background; starts at $4 for 100 deletions and nothing renews; archive upload reaches your full history, including posts from 2012.
Cons: X only; not open-source; bound by X's ~50-per-15-min rate limit like every tool.
Semiphemeral / Cyd
What it is: free, open-source software from the Lockdown Systems Collective, now called Cyd. It runs on your own computer or phone rather than on someone else's servers.
Pros: free; open-source (readable on GitHub); runs locally, a real privacy point; deletes tweets, likes, and DMs on X.
Cons: you install and run it yourself — not click-and-go; cyd.social states it avoids relying on hostile-platform APIs, so setup is more hands-on; its public pages don't detail retweet, bookmark, or follow/unfollow support on X, so confirm before relying on it.
Redact
What it is: a multi-platform desktop app (Windows, Mac, mobile) covering 35+ services, processing deletions locally on your device.
Pros: broadest reach (X, Reddit, Discord, Facebook, and 30+ more); processes locally; has a free plan for several platforms including X.
Cons: you install a desktop app rather than using the browser; the most useful features sit behind a subscription ($7.99/mo Premium, $14.99/mo Ultimate, per redact.dev as of June 2026); public pages don't explicitly list X bookmarks or follow/unfollow, so confirm before paying.
Side-by-side summary
All figures as of June 2026. Cells we couldn't confirm from public pages are marked "not publicly stated."
| XWipe | Semiphemeral / Cyd | Redact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosted or install | Hosted (web) | Install (runs locally) | Install (desktop/mobile, local) |
| Open-source | No | Yes | No |
| Platforms | X only | X (plus Bluesky and others) | 35+ platforms |
| Deletes bookmarks (X) | Yes | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
| Mass unfollow (X) | Yes | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
| Deletes DMs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Archive reach beyond 3,200 | Yes, via upload | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
| Background deletion | Yes | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
| Price | One-time packs: $4/100 up to $99/5,000 | Free | Free tier; paid $7.99–$14.99/mo |
| Best for | Fast X-only cleanup, no install | Free, open-source, DIY | Multi-platform cleanup |
Which should you choose?
Choose XWipe if your job is X and you want it done fast with nothing installed — especially if bookmarks and follows are part of the cleanup; the $4 entry makes it easy to test. Choose Semiphemeral / Cyd if you'd rather not hand your account to a hosted service, value open-source, and are comfortable running software yourself. Choose Redact if X is only one of several accounts you want scrubbed. All three respect X's ~50-per-15-min rate limit, so choose on model and reach, not raw speed. Pick whichever of the three fits your patience, or have us do the whole cleanup and read the counts at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is XWipe better than Semiphemeral?+
For a fast, X-only cleanup with nothing to install, XWipe is simpler — it's hosted, deletes in the background, and handles bookmarks and follows. Semiphemeral (now Cyd) is the better pick if free and open-source matters most (as of June 2026).
Is Semiphemeral free?+
Yes. Semiphemeral, now called Cyd, is free and open-source software from the Lockdown Systems Collective, and it runs on your own device rather than on remote servers (per cyd.social, as of June 2026).
Which is best for a full X wipe?+
XWipe handles a full wipe across all content types and reaches posts beyond the recent 3,200 via archive upload. That makes it the most complete single tool for clearing one X account (as of June 2026).
Do I have to install anything to use XWipe?+
No. XWipe runs in your browser. Semiphemeral/Cyd and Redact are both software you install and run on your own device.
Fastest X cleanup, nothing to install
All content types, archive support, $4 to start. Runs in the background.
Try XWipe for $4