XWipe vs Semiphemeral vs Redact: Pros, Cons & Verdict
XWipe is the fastest hosted option with no software to install and $2 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 $2, no subscription; 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 | $2/100, up to $49 one-time Nuke | 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 $2 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.
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, $2 to start. Runs in the background.
Try XWipe for $2