- 3-bureau credit monitoring and credit reports
- Up to $5 million identity theft insurance
- Antivirus, VPN and password manager
- Save up to 68% today
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Up to $1M reimbursement
- Enjoy 52% off your first year
- Up to 3-Bureau Credit Monitoring
- Dark web monitoring & SSN alerts
- Special offer: Save 63% on Ultra Protection
- Scam Protection and Identity Theft Insurance
- View your digital footprint
- Try for only $1
- Proactive monitoring & real-time alerts
- Credit report reminders
- Repays up to $1M for stolen funds & expenses
- Quickly lock or unlock your credit
- Up to $1M identity theft coverage
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Real-time credit card & ID breach alerts
- Create a new identity & email for online use
- Covers unlimited devices
- Regular credit monitoring & alerts
- Up to $1M reimbursement
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau
- Credit files from all 3 bureaus
- Personalized alerts
- Shared alerts with trusted contacts
- Mobile app for iOS & Android
- Credit and SSN alerts
- Licensed private investigators & 24/7 support
- 3-bureau credit monitoring and credit reports
- Up to $5 million identity theft insurance
- Antivirus, VPN and password manager
- Save up to 68% today
Am I at Risk of Identity Theft?
Personal identity protection has become even more vital due to the increased demand for digital services that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread use of email and online shopping also calls for adequate precautions for your identity and credit protection.
According to Javelin Strategy & Research—a subsidiary of award-winning analytics and advisory firm Escalent—15 million Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2021, amounting to losses of over $24 billion. By combining identity fraud and scam statistics, Javelin established that the total losses in the US were as high as $52 billion, with 42 million victims. Thus, failing to protect your identity could see you suffering a similar fate.
Is an Identity Theft Protection Tool Worth the Investment?
An identity theft protection tool can be the difference between being safe or suffering financial and legal consequences. Identity theft victims suffer the stress of trying to get their identity back, restoring their credit scores, and organizing the repayment of any financial implications of the crime. Identity thieves can also alter your medical records, which could harm your future medical care if not detected immediately.
Therefore, it’s worth investing in the best identity theft protection to secure your personal details. ID safety companies offer free trials to sample their full-service offerings, and you can also get discounts for your first annual subscription.
How Do These Tools Work?
The best identity protection services provide an all-round ID safety solution to help you guard your credentials but also recover if a personal data breach occurs. The protection companies monitor credit bureaus for any changes to your financial status. For example, if a criminal attempts to open a fraudulent bank account in your name, the protection service will spot it and notify you.
Identity protection service providers check that your personal information is not being used anywhere else. They’ll scan the dark web, check social media, and send you suspicious activity alerts to enable you to be proactive about your safety. Furthermore, they offer money recovery services through their insurance policies and help to repair your credit score. Other solutions on offer include password managers, safe browsing and anti-phishing tools, and a virtual private network (VPN) application to guard you when using public internet networks.
Here are some features and capabilities offered by the best identity protection services on the market today:
Monitor & Detect | Alert | Restore |
Credit card transactions | Detect changes in your credit score | Identity Restoration Specialists |
Dark Web | Be alerted when your information is stolen or offered for sale | Up to $1M reimbursement of stolen funds |
Social media | Learn of social media activity using your name or photos | Coverage for lawyers and experts |
Court records & bookings | Learn of crimes reported in your name | Lost wallet protection |
The US Postal Service | Know if your mail has been redirected | 24/7 member support |
SSN | Find out about addresses associated with your Social Security Number | |
Banks | Detect attempts to take over your account or loans taken in your name | |
Sex offenders | Learn if an offender moves into your neighborhood | |
Driver’s license | Learn if someone uses your driver’s license fraudulently |
Not all identity theft protection services have all of these capabilities. To find the best one to meet your needs, just go through the chart above or read our reviews of the top services on the market.
It’s Your Identity—Protect It
With so much activity occurring online today, our personal information is “up for grabs”—from your credit card number, address, Social Security number, bank information, personal photos, and more. A good identity theft protection service ensures that determined scammers keep their hands off your precious personal data.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1exceptional9.8
All-in-one ID, financial, and device protection- Best for - Best identity theft protection company overall
- Starting price - $9/monthly or $108/year
- Free trial - 60-day money-back guarantee
All-in-one ID, financial, and device protectionRead Aura ReviewAura - Best identity theft protection company overall
Aura provides robust protections against identity theft, including online account surveillance, financial transaction monitoring, and a secure digital "vault" for storing sensitive personal data.
The suite also features a password manager that simplifies the generation and storage of multiple robust passwords. Moreover, Aura's VPN utilizes high-grade encryption to safeguard your online activity, particularly on public Wi-Fi networks. Additionally, they offer AI-powered antivirus and safe browsing tools, which serve as a digital fortress against unwanted site trackers and fraudulent sites.
Aura monitors all three credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends to detect identity theft. The CFPB also advises vigilance for credit check inquiries from unfamiliar companies and suspicious accounts, all of which Aura can oversee for you.
Why we chose Aura: In the event of a data breach, Aura promptly intervenes with security alerts, comprehensive fraud resolution services, and up to $1 million per person in premium identity theft insurance. The platform's sleek, user-friendly interface also showcases a "Protection Summary," conveniently displaying active anti-identity theft measures on a central dashboard.
Our experience: We were impressed with Aura's 24/7 customer support service. We appreciated that their U.S.-based fraud resolution team was always ready to assist us personally in the event of fraudulent incidents. If a breach occurs, the team would collaborate directly with us to develop a recovery plan and resolve the issue.
Aura Pros & Cons
PROS
Full suite of tools to protect your identity and finances60-day money-back guarantee for annual plan24/7 U.S.-based customer supportCONS
Fixed plans, no mixing, and matching - 2excellent9.3
Full-spectrum protection from Norton- Best for - Best for Norton antivirus users
- Starting price - $9.99
- Free trial - 60-day money-back guarantee
Full-spectrum protection from NortonRead LifeLock ReviewLifeLock - Best for Norton antivirus users
A product of anti-virus heavyweight Norton, LifeLock boasts the tech, accessibility, and ease that you’d expect from the industry-leading company. Most impressive are the plans themselves, which not only blend online security and ID theft protection but offer more flexibility than usual.
Lifelock’s plans include ID and Social Security number alerts and are offered in tandem with Norton’s 360 suite. This means that combo plans net you VPN services plus solid ID theft features like stolen funds reimbursement that ranges from $25,000 to $1 million dollars, bank account and credit card activity alerts, and even 401(k) investment account alerts on the Ultimate Plus plan.
LifeLock also offers LifeLock Junior, an affordable add-on for children under 18 that includes
Dark web monitoring and file-sharing network searches. All plans include 24/7 live member support and the aide of US-based identity restoration specialists.
LifeLock Pros & Cons
PROS
Reimbursement up to $1 millionAntivirus and protection from cyber threats60-day money-back guaranteeCONS
Only worth it if you want Norton 360Pricing can be confusing - 3excellent9.1
Effortless AI-backed data protection- Best for - Best for full-spectrum protection
- Starting price - $7.20/monthly or $79.99/year
- Free trial - Free trial: Yes
Effortless AI-backed data protectionRead Identity Guard ReviewIdentity Guard - Best for full-spectrum protection
Identity Guard has safeguarded over 45 million identities and resolved more than 140,000 cases to date. They collaborate with IBM Watson's AI technology, leveraging its advanced data analysis and predictive capabilities to enhance threat detection.
The service protects your online identity by monitoring the dark web (a notorious hub for cybercrime activities) and alerting you if criminals are selling your personal information. Identity Guard also continuously monitors your personal and financial data, with their U.S.-based support team always at the ready to handle any emerging issues.
Why we chose Identity Guard: With 20 years of industry experience, Identity Guard stands out for providing effective identity theft protection and monitoring services, powered by AI. These services promptly alert you to a wide range of potential threats. They also offer up to $1 million in insurance coverage per adult to cover legal fees and replace lost funds.
Our experience: We found that even Identity Guard's most budget-friendly plan provides top-tier protection from ID fraud. We were particularly impressed by the inclusion of dark web monitoring in this entry-level subscription package.
Identity Guard Pros & Cons
PROS
Monitors credit score with all 3 credit bureausUtilizes IBM’s Watson AI tech for optimal performance$2,000 emergency cash fundCONS
No 24/7 customer service3-credit reporting only with premier plans