Best Overall

4.9

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On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

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Best Digital + Identity Protection

4.9

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On LifeLock's website

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LifeLock

• Top-rated identity theft protection service
• Provides up to $3 million in coverage
• Multiple monitoring features including dark web, home title, and social media monitoring
• Customer support experience is lacking

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Best for AI-Driven Theft Detection

4.8

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On Identity Guard's website

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Identity Guard

• Easy-to-use identity theft protection service
• Includes extra features like a password manager
• No dedicated remediation assistance available

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Best for Credit Monitoring

4.5

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On IdentityIQ's website

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IdentityIQ

• Variety of plans to meet your needs
• Unlimited monitoring for children
• Nearly impossible to contact customer support

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Best for ID Theft Legal Support

4.7

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On IDShield's website

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IDShield

• Lots of included features
• Lower cost than most ID theft protection
• Can be buggy

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If you're seeking identity theft protection, we did the legwork for you and found the best identity theft protection services on the market — Aura, Norton LifeLock, Identity Guard, IdentityIQ, and IDShield by LegalShield.

In our comprehensive review, we'll explore each of their features, including but not limited to credit monitoring, identity theft insurance, and identity theft recovery services, as well as pricing plans for adults and families with children, and more. Let’s get started.

The best identity theft protection services

• Aura: Best overall
• Norton LifeLock: Best for digital security and identity protection
  
• Identity Guard: Best for AI-driven identity theft detection
• IdentityIQ: Best for credit monitoring
• IDShield by LegalShield: Best for identity theft legal support

Top 5 identity theft protection services compared

Service	Aura Identity Theft Best Overall	Norton LifeLock	Identity Guard	IdentityIQ	IDShield by LegalShield
Individual monthly plan	Starts at $12.00/mo	Starts at $7.50/mo for first yr	Starts at $6.67/mo	Starts at $5.94/mo	Starts at $14.95/mo
Family monthly plan	Starts at $22.00/mo	Starts at $18.99/mo for first yr	Starts at $10.00/mo	Starts at $25.50/mo	Starts at $29.95/mo
Free trial	Yes — 14 days	Yes — 30 days	No	No	No
ID theft insurance	Up to $1 million	Up to $3 million	Up to $1 million	Up to $1 million	Up to $3 million
Best feature	Parental controls and cyberbullying alerts	Home title and investment account monitoring	AI-driven monitoring alerts	Daily credit monitoring	Licensed private investigators for ID recovery
Details	Get Aura Read Aura	Get LifeLock Read LifeLock Review	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review	Read IdentityIQ Review	Read IDShield Review

Aura: Best overall

4.9

Learn More

On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

Who it’s best for

Aura is our top choice for individuals seeking a well-rounded approach to identity theft protection and digital privacy. It's particularly beneficial for tech-savvy users who value advanced technologies such as AI for combating identity theft.

Moreover, Aura’s family plans make it a viable option for households looking to prevent child identity theft and safeguard the personal information of all family members.

What we liked

Aura stands out with its use of innovative technology to provide comprehensive and proactive protection against identity theft. Its service goes beyond basic credit monitoring, providing a holistic approach to identity and privacy protection with features like spam call protection, Safe Gaming cyberbullying alerts, a virtual private network (VPN), antivirus, and parental controls.

What we appreciated most is its use of artificial intelligence to detect potential scam calls and texts before they manifest into identity theft losses. Furthermore, Aura's service includes regular credit score updates and robust data breach alerts, ensuring you're promptly informed of any suspicious activities.

What we didn’t like

Despite its advanced features, Aura’s services might come at a high price point for some. While you indeed get what you pay for, it may not suit those on a tight budget.

Additionally, while Aura's use of artificial intelligence is an asset, it may be overly complex for individuals seeking a more straightforward, user-friendly experience. Lastly, we found the mobile app could benefit from interface improvements.

Aura features

Read Our Aura Review

Norton LifeLock: Best for digital security and identity protection

4.9

Up to 30% off first year when paid annually

Learn More

On LifeLock's website

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LifeLock

• Top-rated identity theft protection service
• Provides up to $3 million in coverage
• Multiple monitoring features including dark web, home title, and social media monitoring
• Customer support experience is lacking

Who it’s best for

Norton LifeLock is an ideal choice for anyone seeking a well-rounded identity theft protection solution: it offers extensive ID theft protection features, up to $3 million in identity theft insurance, and superb customer service with 24/7 live chat support.

What we liked

We really liked that Norton LifeLock offers unique features, not limited to home title monitoring, 401(k) and investment account activity alerts, credit file detection for children, phone takeover monitoring, bank account takeover alerts, and file-sharing network searches.

We’re also impressed with LifeLock’s identity theft insurance coverage of up to $3 million with the Ultimate Plus plan. That’s broken down into the following:

• $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement
• $1 million in compensation for personal expenses
• $1 million in coverage for legal and expert expenses

LifeLock also provides 24/7 live member support via chat, phone, or email. Plans are available that cover individuals, couples, and families with two adults and five kids. You can also get Norton antivirus bundled with LifeLock if you opt for the Norton 360 with LifeLock Select plan. 

LifeLock offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you have plenty of time to determine if it's the right ID theft protection for you. 

What we didn’t like

Despite unique features that many LifeLock alternatives do not offer, LifeLock isn’t without its drawbacks. First, its family plan covers only up to a maximum of five kids, while other identity theft solutions like Aura and Identity Guard cover an unlimited number of kids.

Moreover, while its 24/7 live chat support generally provides a superb experience, there was one occasion when we interacted with a live customer service rep who didn’t give us direct and accurate answers to our inquiries.

Finally, only with LifeLock’s most expensive plan, Ultimate Plus, can you reap the benefits of three-bureau credit monitoring, sex offender registry reporting, and social media monitoring. All of its plan prices also go up after your first year.

Norton LifeLock features

Read Our LifeLock Review

Identity Guard: Best for AI-driven identity theft detection

4.8

Learn More

On Identity Guard's website

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Identity Guard

• Easy-to-use identity theft protection service
• Includes extra features like a password manager
• No dedicated remediation assistance available

Who it’s best for

Our next-best pick, Identity Guard, is one of the best identity theft protection services for tech-savvy folks and anyone who values the power of artificial intelligence (AI) for proactive credit monitoring and keeping identity thieves away from your personal data. The AI-driven alerts come in especially handy for protecting your personal information, like your Social Security number (SSN).

Identity Guard is also a cost-effective choice for seniors and families aiming to safeguard their children's (or grandchildren’s) identities against identity fraud.

What we liked

We were intrigued to discover that Identity Guard leverages IBM Watson AI, using a futuristic and effective approach to identity theft detection. Watson excels at monitoring and reporting fraudulent activity, helping you keep your credit score untarnished without lifting a finger.

Furthermore, Identity Guard’s user-friendly interface and straightforward identity theft and credit monitoring protection are notable positives. Identity Guard is worth it for those seeking to mitigate potential identity theft losses — especially older adults who are often targets of identity theft crimes and scams.

What we didn’t like

Even though we found Identity Guard's AI capabilities impressive, we were saddened to discover it doesn't include credit reports or monitoring with its basic plan. You'll need the Total plan for three-bureau credit monitoring and the Ultra plan for three-bureau annual credit reports. 

And although Identity Guard is touted for its AI-driven alerts, some users have reported occasional inaccuracies with its notifications, which can cause undue worry. Additionally, the latest version of Identity Guard's Android app has a 2.2 star rating on the Google Play Store, with users being disappointed in the latest app changes. The iOS app has a 4.2 star rating, so iPhone users shouldn't be too concerned.

Identity Guard features

Read Our Identity Guard Review

IdentityIQ: Best for credit report monitoring

4.5

Learn More

On IdentityIQ's website

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IdentityIQ

• Variety of plans to meet your needs
• Unlimited monitoring for children
• Nearly impossible to contact customer support

Who it’s best for

IdentityIQ is an excellent service for anyone striving to remain vigilant when it comes to their credit health. With its detailed credit report monitoring system and frequent updates, it's highly suitable if you’re actively working on improving your credit to show lenders or simply want to maintain a good credit status.

Despite the emphasis on credit monitoring, IdentityIQ is also a useful identity theft protection service that monitors the identities of families, with options to prevent child identity theft.

What we liked

IdentityIQ provides a comprehensive identity theft protection and credit monitoring guide on its dashboard. Unlike some competitors, such as Experian, myFICO, or Zander Insurance, IdentityIQ excels at providing credit reports from all three bureaus on a daily basis. This extensive reporting helps you check your credit score frequently and identify any inaccuracies early on.

We also appreciated IdentityIQ's commitment to educating us on how to report identity theft and how to safeguard personal information. In comparison to services like Aura and LifeLock, we found IdentityIQ more user-friendly with intuitive interfaces and clear instructions.

What we didn’t like

Even though IdentityIQ is undoubtedly a legitimate identity protection service, we did encounter some areas of concern. One downside we noticed was the absence of biometric multi-factor authentication (MFA), which some competitors like Allstate Identity Protection do offer.

Providing biometric MFA allows you to further secure your account in case someone tries to gain unauthorized access to your IdentityIQ information.

The service could also do better at providing diverse customer support options. Currently, it's mainly phone-based. Although the emphasis on credit monitoring is beneficial, we felt that more could be done to provide features that prevent child identity theft or offer a plan focused on identity protection for seniors.

IdentityIQ features

Read Our IdentityIQ Review

IDShield by LegalShield: Best for identity theft legal support

4.7

Learn More

On IDShield's website

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IDShield

• Lots of included features
• Lower cost than most ID theft protection
• Can be buggy

Who it’s best for

IDShield by LegalShield provides helpful legal support in the event of an identity theft incident. Its unique strength lies in providing legal assistance, which may be indispensable if you’re grappling with the complex legal aftermath of ID theft.

If price is a concern, this may be a good option, as LegalShield offers competitive pricing options that can fit many budgets. It's also worth considering for families, as it offers a family plan providing identity theft protection for you, your spouse, and up to 10 dependent children.

What we liked

What sets IDShield apart from other services like LifeLock or Experian is its comprehensive legal support, including licensed private investigators.

IDShield is adamant about providing assistance, no matter what situation you’re in. We especially like that each plan comes with consultation services and 24/7 emergency assistance.

The service is also ready to assist you if you need to freeze your credit or place a fraud alert on your report.

What we didn’t like

Despite being a solid option for step-by-step support, IDShield has some drawbacks. While IDShield does provide child identity protection, its services are not as robust as those of other providers, such as Norton LifeLock, which offers a LifeLock Junior plan focused on protecting children from identity theft.

IDShield by LegalShield features

Read Our IDShield by LegalShield Review

Best identity theft protection FAQs

Bottom line: The best ID theft protection

Choosing the best identity theft protection service boils down to personal needs. Aura protects your identity and online privacy, Norton LifeLock offers comprehensive ID theft protection with 24/7 live chat support, Identity Guard leads with AI-driven detection, IdentityIQ excels in credit report monitoring, and IDShield by LegalShield provides necessary legal support.

5 best ID theft protection services

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
Aura Identity Theft	Starts at $12.00/mo	Best overall	Get Aura Read Aura Review
Norton LifeLock	Starts at $7.50/mo for first yr	Best for digital security and identity protection	Get LifeLock Read LifeLock Review
Identity Guard	Starts at $6.67/mo	Best for AI-driven identity theft detection	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review
IdentityIQ	Starts at $5.94/mo	Best for credit report monitoring	Read IdentityIQ Review
IDShield by LegalShield	Starts at $14.95/mo	Best for identity theft legal support	Read IDShield Review

Alternative identity theft protection services

• IdentityForce: This service comes packed with extras, including a password manager, PC protection tools, ghosting identity theft monitoring, and junk mail opt-out. You can opt for IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit if you're seeking credit monitoring features or just IdentityForce UltraSecure depending on your needs.
• Complete ID: An Experian product, this service covers all the necessities, including credit reports, financial account monitoring, and USPS address changes.
• Zander Identity Theft Protection: One of the most budget-friendly ID theft protection services, Zander's Elite plan comes with antivirus software and a VPN for additional online security.
• ID Watchdog: ID Watchdog provides comprehensive identity monitoring and restoration services as well as bonus features like a VPN and Bitdefender antivirus.

You may also be interested in personal data deletion services that help you scrub information like your name, address, and phone number off the internet. 

• Surfshark Incogni: A simple set-it-and-forget-it service that tracks down your data and gets it removed while continuously monitoring for new data broker sites.
• DeleteMe: This service scans 750+ data broker sites for your info and requests removal for you. Bonus features include email, credit card, and phone masking to keep your data private.
• HelloPrivacy: HelloPrivacy scans data broker sites and the dark web for your personal information, saving you hours of time if you had to do the legwork yourself.

How we tested the best identity theft protection

To help us select the best identity theft protection solutions, we considered several crucial features. This included but was not limited to, monitoring capabilities, alert systems, recovery assistance, and pricing.

We took into account the following:

• Monitoring: We checked to see if ID theft services continuously scan the internet as well as dark web databases for personal data misuse.
• Alerts: Fast and accurate alerts allow quick response to suspicious activity.
• Recovery assistance: If identity theft occurs, services should help with recovery and reporting.
• Pricing: We also considered cost-effectiveness, examining what each service offers relative to its price.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft is a crime where someone illegally acquires and uses another person's personal information, like their Social Security number or bank account numbers, typically for financial gain. Types of identity theft include tax-related identity theft, medical ID theft, and ghosting identity theft, to name a few examples.

Identity theft happens in several ways. Fraudsters may use sophisticated methods like phishing scams, data breaches, or malware to gather personal information. More traditional methods include dumpster diving for discarded documents containing personal data or outright stealing wallets or mail.

Identity theft can lead to significant financial loss and a host of other issues, like damage to your credit score. This is why services offering the best identity theft protection and credit monitoring are vital.

Do I need identity theft protection?

As identity theft crimes are on the rise and more young people are becoming victims of ID theft, it’s unquestionable that ID theft protection is worth it. In 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 1.1 million reports of identity theft, with credit card fraud topping the list of types of identity theft. Younger Americans reported losing money to fraud more often than seniors.[1] 

Identity theft protection services are beneficial for many reasons. They provide continuous monitoring of various databases and the dark web for any misuse of your personal information, alert you to potential threats, and assist in the recovery process if you're a victim of identity theft. They can also help prevent child identity theft by monitoring for any fraudulent use of your child's personal information.

Keep in mind, though, that no service can completely guarantee the prevention of identity theft. You may find the costs of these services a deterrent. But, considering the potentially severe consequences of identity theft, many find these services a worthwhile investment.

How does identity theft protection work?

Identity theft protection services work by continuously monitoring various databases and online platforms for your personal information. Here are some typical features:

• Credit monitoring: They monitor your credit reports from major credit bureaus, like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, and alert you to any changes. Be sure to note whether the identity theft protection plan you're choosing offers one-bureau or three-bureau credit monitoring services. One bureau is usually enough, but you may prefer the extra security of three-bureau credit monitoring.
• Dark web scanning: These services scan the dark web for your personal information, reducing the chance that criminals can sell your Social Security number or other details.
• Public data monitoring: You may need help scouring public records for home title theft or other types of fraud. Look for ID theft protection plans that monitor your social media accounts, court records, and even USPS change of address requests.
  
• Identity recovery services: If you become a victim of identity theft, these services will guide you through the recovery process.
• Identity theft insurance: Most services offer insurance that can cover out-of-pocket costs related to restoring your identity.
• Credit lock and credit freeze: Most ID theft protection services assist you with placing a credit lock or freeze on your account. This is essential if you've been targeted by fraud since it ensures no one can open a new account in your name.
• Credit score simulator: Some identity theft protection companies help you build your credit by offering credit score simulators that guide you toward making the best decisions to boost your credit score.
• Additional cybersecurity features: Many of the top identity theft protection service providers on our list offer extra digital security features like a password manager, VPN, and antivirus. This is ideal since hackers can target your Wi-Fi connection or device with malware to extract your sensitive data.
  

How much does identity theft protection cost?

An identity theft protection plan can run you anywhere from less than $10 a month to over $70 a month. Factors that affect your pricing include:

• Are you seeking an individual plan or a family plan? Do you need to cover children with your plan?
• Can you commit to an annual subscription or would you prefer to pay month-to-month?
• Do you need the premium plan with additional cybersecurity features or are you only seeking identity theft protection?
• Is credit protection a priority or do you only need identity monitoring tools?

After considering these questions, you can review the table below and get started on finding a pricing plan for you.

How to choose the best identity theft protection service

When choosing an identity theft protection service, consider the following questions:

• How much does it cost? Can you save money by signing up for an annual plan?
• Does it alert users to data breaches in multiple areas?
• Does it monitor credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax?
• Does it allow you to access annual credit reports or, better yet, quarterly or monthly credit reports?
  
• How often does it provide credit score updates?
• Does it assist with identity recovery?
• Does it provide identity theft insurance, and if so, how much? (Up to $1 million is most common.)
• Is the service encrypted with AES-256?
• Does the service offer an app that’s compatible with your device?
• Does the service’s privacy policy state that it doesn’t sell data?

4.9

Learn More

On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

Author Details

Mars Groves

About the Author

Mars is a cybersecurity professional and writer based in California. He serves as an Advisory Board Member for WEBGAP, specializing in browser isolation.