10 Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2023
Identity theft and cyber theft are crimes that claim more victims each year. In 2021, the Identity Theft Research Center reported that 294 million Americans had their data compromised. Everyone, from children to seniors, is at risk for identity theft.
Being a victim of identity theft can disrupt your life both emotionally and financially. However, there are services that may help ease your mind if your personal information is ever used to commit identity fraud. If you’re considering identity theft protection services, read on to discover whether one of the companies below might be a good fit.
Our Top Picks for Best Identity Theft Protection Services
- Best All-In-One Solution: Aura
- Best for Credit Monitoring: IdentityIQ
- Best Features: LifeLock
- Best Value: Identity Guard
- Best for Families: ReliaShield
- Best Reputation: IdentityForce
- Best for Free Identity Theft Protection: Experian
Best Identity Theft Protection Reviews
There are many identity theft protection services on the market. To find the best option for you, you’ll need to review the features that each service offers and the cost associated with those benefits.
In addition to the price, pay attention to services like real-time credit monitoring, credit access, family coverage, and ID theft protection services. We kept these details and more in mind when we reviewed identity theft protection services, and we broke our top picks into five categories.
Why we chose it
During our research, Aura emerged as the best all-in-one identity theft protection provider. The company’s robust membership offerings include some of the most attractive features available in the industry.
Aura offers credit monitoring services, credit report and score access, and Social Security number and bank account monitoring. The company also provides customers with premium features such as antivirus protection, VPNs, password management, and spam and robocall reduction. You can manage your account online or using the company’s mobile app. (Tip: A VPN or antivirus software is a great add-on. The best VPN services and best antivirus software can cost up to $9.99 per month on their own.)
- 24/7 customer support
- $1 million of identity theft insurance
- 60-day money-back guarantee (annual plans)
- 2-week free trial
- More affordable plans may be available elsewhere
- Monthly credit score access limited to one credit bureau
Aura doesn’t offer tiered plans like most other identity theft protection companies. Every customer receives the same level of service and monitoring of suspicious activity. But the company does have different membership options for individuals, couples, families, and groups.
| Aura Membership | |||
| Individual | Couple | Family or Group | |
| Number of Members | 1 | 2 | 5 (Adults or Children) |
| Monthly Fee | $15 | $29 | $50 |
| Annual Cost | $144 | $264 | $444 |
| Credit Report Monitoring (Inquiries Only) | 3-Bureau | 3-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| Monthly Credit Score Access | 1-Bureau | 1-Bureau | 1-Bureau |
| Annual Credit Report Access | 3-Bureau | 3-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| 401(k) and Investment Account Monitoring | Included | Included | Included |
| Lost Wallet Help | Included | Included | Included |
| Password Manager | Included | Included | Included |
| Identity Theft Insurance | $1 million per adult | $1 million per adult | $1 million per adult |
Why we chose it
IdentityIQ is our choice for the identity theft protection service with the best credit monitoring. On top of identity theft insurance and other common features, the company offers two membership options with three-bureau credit monitoring. The most expensive option comes with a great benefit — monthly access to all three of your credit reports and scores.
The ability to check your credit report frequently and receive fraud alerts when there’s a change in it is incredibly valuable. These helpful tools make it easier to maintain a good credit score while detecting the signs of fraudulent activity that could result in negative entries on your credit report.
- 3-bureau credit monitoring with some plans
- Access credit reports and scores from all three credit bureaus
- $1 million in identity theft insurance for all members
- Dark web monitoring and alerts included with some plans
- Pricing on advanced plans may not work for every budget
- Basic plan (Secure) doesn’t include credit report and score access
- No mobile app
IdentityIQ offers four membership options ranging from $8.99 to $32.99 per month. You can pay for membership on an annual basis, but there’s no discount for paying in advance.
Below is a side-by-side look at IdentityIQ’s four identity theft protection options.
| IdentityIQ Membership | ||||
| Secure | Secure Plus | Secure Pro | Secure Max | |
| Monthly Fee | $6.99 | $9.99 | $19.99 | $29.99 |
| Annual Cost | $71.30 | $101.90 | $203.90 | $305.90 |
| Credit Report Monitoring | 1-Bureau | 1-Bureau | 3-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| Access to 3 Credit Reports and Scores | Not Included | Annual | Bi-Annual | Monthly |
| Credit Score Simulator | Not Included | Not Included | Not Included | Included |
| ID Theft Coverage | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware Software | Included | Included | Included | Included |
Why we chose it
Norton LifeLock, a premier company in the digital protection sector, gets the nod for the identity theft protection service with the best features. Membership plans not only offer $1 million in identity theft coverage, but also include identity restoration services, 24/7 live support, credit monitoring, data breach notifications, and more.
- 60-day money-back guarantee (annual plans)
- Up to $1 million in coverage for legal fees plus stolen funds reimbursement
- Discounted plans for family members
- More expensive than some other companies
- Membership fees increase after a year
With LifeLock, you can get a discounted membership plan for the first year. The cost for service initially ranges from $6.99 to $23.99 per month. If you’re willing to pay on an annual basis, there’s an opportunity to save.
Here’s a closer look at the three different membership plans and some key features of each.
| LifeLock by Norton 360 Membership | |||
| Standard | Advantage | Ultimate Plus | |
| Monthly Fee |
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| Annual Cost |
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| Credit Report Monitoring | 1-Bureau | 1-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| Access to Credit Reports and Scores | Not Included | Monthly Access, One Bureau |
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| Identity and Social Security Alerts | Included | Included | Included |
| ID Theft Coverage | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| Phone Takeover Monitoring | Not included | Included | Included |
| Alerts on Crimes in Your Name | Not included | Included | Included |
| Social Media Monitoring | Not included | Not included | Included |
| 401(k) and Investment Monitoring | Not included | Not included | Included |
Why we chose it
It’s important to make sure that the cost of an identity theft protection service fits into your budget. If you’re looking for the most affordable option, Identity Guard’s basic plan at $7.50 per month (based on annual billing) is well worth considering.
Identity Guard has helped more than 47 million consumers protect their identities since 1996 and has resolved 140,000 cases of identity fraud. The company also uses artificial intelligence by IBM Watson to effectively detect and alert you to potential threats.
- Membership starts at $7.50 per month (annual billing)
- Dark web monitoring
- Convenient mobile app
- Advanced plans can be expensive
- Credit monitoring not included with value plan
Identity Guard offers three different levels of protection. Each level comes with a different price tag and varying benefits, as outlined below.
| Identity Guard Membership | |||
| Value | Total | Ultra | |
| Monthly Fee | $8.99 | $19.99 | $29.99 |
| Annual Cost (17% Savings) | $90 | $200 | $300 |
| Family Plan (Monthly Fee) | $14.99 | $29.99 | $39.99 |
| Family Plan (Annual Cost) | $150 | $300 | $400 |
| Credit Report Monitoring | Not included | 3-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| Monthly Credit Score Access | Not Included | 1-Bureau | 1-Bureau |
| Identity and Social Security Alerts | Included | Included | Included |
| $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance | Included | Included | Included |
| Safe Browsing Tool | Included | Included | Included |
| Bank Account Monitoring | Not included | Included | Included |
| Social Media Insights Report | Not included | Not included | Included |
| 401(k) and Investment Monitoring | Not included | Not included | Included |
Why we chose it
ReliaShield earns our pick for the best identity theft protection for families due to a combination of the affordability of its family plans and the level of protection they offer. It’s important that parents protect not only their personal information but safeguard their children from identity theft, as well. According to a recent study by Javelin Strategy & Research, one out of every 50 children is victimized by identity fraud.
Family protection plans with ReliaShield start at $14.99 per month. Individual plans are $7.99/mo. and up. Under family plans, all children in your household under the age of 18 enjoy free identity protection.
- All plans include $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement coverage
- Children under 18 years old (in the same household) free under family plans
- 24/7 customer service
- Credit monitoring not included with Essential plan
- No free trial
- Membership auto-renews
Like many other identity theft protection companies, ReliaShield offers three membership tiers. Below is a side-by-side comparison of each option, along with the costs and benefits you can expect.
| ReliaDShield Membership | |||
| Essential | Prime | Elite | |
| Monthly Fee | $7.99 | $14.99 | $21.99 |
| Annual Cost | $87.99 | $164.99 | $241.89 |
| Family Plan (Monthly Fee) | $14.99 | $24.99 | $34.99 |
| Family Plan (Annual Cost) | $164.89 | $274.89 | $384.89 |
| Credit Report Monitoring | Not included | 1-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| Monthly Credit Score Tracking | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Data Breach Updates | Included | Included | Included |
| $1 Million Stolen Funds and Expense Coverage | Included | Included | Included |
| Social Media Monitoring | Not included | Included | Included |
| Court Records Monitoring | Not included | Included | Included |
| Credit Card Application Alerts | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Bank Account Takeover Alerts | Not included | Not included | Included |
Why we chose it
IdentityForce holds high rankings on reputable review websites such as Trustpilot and with institutions such as the Better Business Bureau. The company holds a 4.4 rating out of a possible 5 on Trustpilot, with the majority of reviews rating the company “excellent.” It’s also accredited by the Better Business Bureau, holding an A+ rating with only 7 complaints closed in the last three years.
- Excellent reputation for customer satisfaction
- Owned by TransUnion, one of the big three credit reporting agencies
- Simple two-tiered product offerings so you know what you’re paying for
- Uses VantageScore instead of the more widely used FICO for its credit scores
- Pricier than some of its competitors
The company offers a number of monitoring services, including fraud, credit report and payday loan monitoring. IdentityForce also offers Dark Web Monitoring, which surveys the black market where personal information is bought and sold.
IdentityForce offers two options. The UltraSecure package includes credit monitoring protection features for $17.95 a month. You can add credit monitoring for $23.95 a month. You can access your account through the website and its mobile app, which is available on both Android and iOS.
| Identity Force Membership | |||
| UltraSecure | UltraSecure + Credit | Childwatch | |
| Monthly Fee | • $17.95 (Year One) | •$23.95 | • $2.75 per month with UltraSecure or UltraSecure + Credit plan |
| Annual Cost | • $179.50 | • $239.50 | • $27.50 per year with UltraSecure or UltraSecure + Credit plan |
| Credit Report Monitoring | Not included | 3-Bureau | Depends on plan you select |
| Access to Credit Reports and Scores | Not Included | Instant access, 3-Bureau | Depends on plan you select |
| Identity and Social Security Alerts | Included | Included | Included |
| ID Theft Coverage | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| Phone Takeover Monitoring | Not included | Included | Depends on which plan you select |
| Alerts on Crimes in Your Name | Included | Included | Included |
| Social Media Monitoring | Included | Included | Included |
| 401(k) and Investment Monitoring | Not included | Included | Depends on which plan you select |
| Restoration support | Included | Included | Included |
Why we chose it
Experian is one of the big three credit reporting agencies, along with TransUnion and Equifax. The company also offers identity protection plans, with its basic plan being offered for free. The free plan includes an Experian credit report and a personalized FICO score, as well as Experian credit monitoring and score monitoring.
- One of the big three credit reporting agencies
- Offers free plan including credit monitoring and FICO score tracker
- Offers advanced identity theft monitoring with its premium plan
- Includes up to 10 children identity monitoring in its family plan
- Paid plans don’t offer as much as other less costly plans from other companies
- Has a mixed reputation
To get 3-bureau credit monitoring as well as monthly privacy scans and dark web internet surveillance alerts, you’ll need to upgrade to its singular premium plan, which costs $24.99 after a 30-day free trial. The company also offers family plans for one additional adult and up to 10 children for $34.99.
As a credit reporting agency, Experian is in a unique position to offer free-of-charge credit reports and FICO scores, although its identity protection plans are not as robust as offerings from other companies. Its credit score is based on the FICO Score 8 model.
| Experian Membership | |||
| Free Plan | Premium Plan | Family Plan | |
| Monthly Fee | Free |
| $34.99 |
| Annual Cost | Free | • $299.88 | $419.88 |
| Credit Report Monitoring | Experian report and FICO score Included | 3-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| Access to Credit Reports and Scores | Experian report and FICO score included |
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| Identity and Social Security Alerts | Not included | Included | Included |
| ID Theft Coverage | Not included | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| Phone Takeover Monitoring | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Alerts on Crimes in Your Name | Not included | Included | Included |
| Social Media Monitoring | Not included | Included | Included |
| 401(k) and Investment Monitoring | Not included | Included | Included |
| Restoration support | No included | Included | Included |
Other companies we considered:
Identity Theft Protection Guide
The guide below details how an identity theft protection service could benefit you both in preventing the crime from occurring and in recovering from it if it does. You’ll also discover some of the limitations of identity theft protection and additional (or alternative) steps you can take on your own.
What are the warning signs of identity theft?
Unfortunately, identity theft is a crime that’s often detected well after it’s been committed. Even people who take all the appropriate steps to keep their personal identifying information ultrasecure can be victims. Here are some of the signs that may indicate that your identity has been compromised:
- You see a withdrawal from your bank account or a charge on your credit card account that you don’t recognize.
- You receive a call from a collection agency on an account that you never opened.
- Your credit report indicates queries about your creditworthiness that you didn’t authorize.
- You discover that your debit card PIN or your online bank account PIN no longer works.
- Your email password or passwords for other online services no longer work.
- A charge you make to a debit or credit card is unexpectedly declined for insufficient funds or insufficient credit reserves.
- Your health insurance carrier refuses to cover a medical expense because it claims you have maxed out your benefits.
- Odd entries appear in your medical records referring to treatment you never received or prescriptions you never filled.
- The IRS declines to issue you a tax refund because a refund on your return has already been issued (to someone else).
- You receive a summons from small claims court alleging that a payday loan you never took out hasn’t been repaid.
- You receive a message from a trusted friend that someone is impersonating your social media accounts.
How do identity theft protection services work?
Identity theft protection services are designed to notify you when something goes wrong. They use advanced digital tools to detect when your personal identifying information shows up in places it doesn’t belong.
In general, identity theft protection cannot keep your information from being compromised. But it can inform you when a problem occurs so you can take immediate action to limit the damage. Many services also offer coverage and/or assistance to help you clean up the effects of identity theft if you become a victim.
Most common types of identity theft scams
Below are some of the most common identity theft scams that fraudsters may use to try to steal your personal information.
- Data Breaches: A data breach is what happens when a criminal steals information from a company or organization’s database. When Equifax fell victim to a data breach, for example, the personal information of some 147 million U.S. consumers was exposed. In 2021, there were a record 1,862 data breaches in the United States.
- Account Takeover: This type of credit fraud happens when someone gains access to your account information, such as a credit card number, and uses it to make unauthorized purchases.
- True Name Credit Fraud: True name credit fraud occurs when someone steals your personal information and uses it to impersonate you when applying for new credit.
- Tax-Related ID Theft: When a criminal uses your Social Security number to file fraudulent tax returns or to claim a refund or tax credit, it’s tax ID theft.
- Phishing Messages: Phishing messages are emails or texts designed to trick you into sharing sensitive information like logins, passwords, and more.
- Home Title Theft: While home title theft is relatively rare, it’s one of the more frightening and expensive types of fraud you can fall prey to. Home title thieves steal your identity, then use it to forge a deed transferring ownership of your property to themselves. The best way to prevent home title theft is to carry home title insurance.
How to prevent identity theft
Purchasing identity theft protection services can limit your risk of being victimized, of course. But cybersecurity experts also recommend you take some do-it-yourself measures to protect yourself—habits you can adopt to make yourself less attractive and vulnerable to hackers and identity thieves in general. Here are some common-sense tips to follow:
- Safeguard your social security number (SSN).
- Create strong passwords and update them frequently.
- Use two-factor authentication whenever it’s an option.
- Use a password manager to store your passwords. No matter what you do, don’t carry a paper list of your passwords in your wallet.
- Learn to recognize phishing and other common scams so you don’t fall prey to them.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi connections, particularly when doing financial business.
Only open email attachments from trusted sources. Some contain malware that logs your every keystroke—personal data and passwords included.
- Read your financial accounts and credit card statements carefully every month. Comb through them carefully for any charges you don’t recognize.
- If you suspect your identity has been stolen, consider initiating a credit freeze, which will prevent third parties from accessing your credit report. That can help limit the damage you suffer from the theft.
Cyber criminals often access public records to search for compromising information. Many states allow you to request the removal of certain information from your public records. You may want to check if yours is one of them.
How to choose an identity theft protection service
No single identity theft protection solution is perfect for everyone. Instead, focus on the features that matter most to you.
Want to keep a close eye on your own credit information? If so, search for a service that provides 3-bureau credit monitoring along with monthly credit reports and score access. (Note: Anyone can access their credit reports for free once every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com.) Make sure the company you hire sends fraud alerts using the fastest, most convenient method for you. For other people, making sure their children’s information is protected might be a high priority, so searching for a family plan might make sense.
Once you’ve found the services that offer the features you want, consider the cost. Make sure the price fits into your monthly budget, then hunt for the company that provides the best value.
How to report identity theft
The Federal Trade Commission provides an easy way to report identity theft. Visit IdentityTheft.gov to file a free identity theft report and create your personal recovery plan.
If a criminal has opened fraudulent credit accounts in your name, you should notify all three major credit bureaus. You can dispute the fraudulent accounts with a copy of your official identity theft report and the credit bureaus by law must suppress any fraudulent accounts from your credit file within four business days.
Note: the best credit repair companies may be able to manage this process for you if you prefer to outsource the task. But be aware that professional credit repair services charge for the work they do on your behalf.
Identity Theft Protection FAQs
An identity theft protection monitoring company will generally offer a suite of services aimed at protecting you in the event your personal information is compromised. Plans range from rudimentary up to what’s considered total protection in the industry. But it’s important to know that identity theft protection can’t prevent identity theft. It can only help mitigate the damage.
Some of the most common identity theft protection services are as follows.
- Credit Monitoring: Many identity theft protection service providers alert you to credit report changes. The most effective type of credit monitoring package is one that watches for changes to your records in all three credit bureaus—Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
- Credit Report and Score Access: If your identity theft protection service offers periodic credit report and/or score access (preferably with all three credit bureaus), it’s easy to keep a close eye on your credit information. New accounts, credit inquiries, and other credit report items that you don’t recognize could all be signs of identity theft. This benefit allows for a deeper review of your credit information while credit monitoring merely provides an alert.
- Insurance: Identity theft insurance comes standard with many identity theft protection plans, and could help you recover lost funds if someone uses your personal information to commit fraud. However, the amount of insurance available and the types of expenses it will cover can vary. For example, some identity theft insurance policies include stolen funds reimbursement. Others only include coverage to pay for professional services such as attorney’s fees that you might incur when trying to recover from identity theft.
- Cybersecurity: Protecting your personal information online is more important than ever before. If you find an identity theft protection plan with online security features like social media monitoring, VPNs, password managers, and antivirus software, the added protection could be helpful.
Identity theft experts report that someone has their identity stolen every 14 seconds. About a third of all Americans have faced some form of identity theft. Seemingly minor things like losing your driver’s license or filing a change of address form can put you at greater risk.
Identity theft is more rampant in the US than in other countries. And it’s predicted to become more common as our world becomes more digitized and cybercriminals get more sophisticated. It’s a serious problem that’s not to be ignored.
Fortunately, there are laws that limit the financial liability banks and credit card companies can hold you accountable for when you’re a victim of fraud.
But having your identity stolen can wreak havoc with your credit score and profile. And that’s a costly matter. If your credit score is undermined by identity theft, you may not be able to get credit when you need it.
You could also wind up paying higher interest rates for financial products like insurance and auto loans. You might be refused housing because landlords deem you a risky tenant. Furthermore, employers often look at your credit history when you apply for a job. So you could even lose out on professional opportunities.
You can start by sharing your child’s social security number only when absolutely necessary and teaching your child never to share it without your permission. Child predators of all kinds, including sex offenders, often approach kids through social media channels. Just as you teach your kids about how to steer clear of potential sex offenders, you should instruct your kids how to recognize inappropriate requests for personal information. And while it may feel invasive to you, make an effort to monitor your kids’ online presence.
Pretty much all identity theft protection plans include identity theft monitoring. But some do not include identity recovery services. It is possible to do the detailed work of restoring your identity on your own. But it’s a heavy lift and could involve writing dozens of letters and spending hours following up with your creditors.
Purchasing identity restoration services saves you all that time and tedium. So yes, many people find it’s well worth the price.
How We Found the Best Identity Theft Protection
As we searched for the best identity theft protection services available, we focused on several key factors, including:
- Benefits: The best identity theft protection services feature benefits that work together to offer peace of mind and protect customers from many different angles.
- Fees: While different companies charge different fees, it’s important to make sure that the cost of services seems reasonable for the features it offers to customers.
During our research, we consulted several expert sources:
- Identity Theft Research Center
- Javelin Strategy Child Identity Fraud Study
- Federal Trade Commission
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
Summary of the Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2023
- Best All-In-One Solution: Aura
- Best for Credit Monitoring: IdentityIQ
- Best Features: LifeLock
- Best Value: Identity Guard
- Best for Families: ReliaShield
- Best Reputation: IdentityForce
- Best for Free Identity Theft Protection: Experian
Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
This story was originally published November 30, 2022 at 5:45 AM.