Best Identity Theft Protection Services for July 2024

Identity Guard, owned by Aura, is an industry pioneer with over 47 million customers. The Burlington, Massachusetts-based company has been in business since 1996 and uses state-of-the-art technology to protect customers.

Identity Guard protects customers by combining traditional scanning with IBM® Watson™ artificial intelligence. The company sends prompt alerts via their mobile app or email when it detects fraudulent activity, and Identity Guard’s U.S.-based support team is available by phone six days a week.

Plans for individuals include Value ($7.50 per month), Total ($16.67 per month), and Ultra ($25.00 per month). Family plans range from $12.50 to $33.33 per family. The Ultra plan provides extra value with premium credit protection. This includes a monthly TransUnion credit score and monitoring of all three credit bureaus.   

• $1 million identity theft insurance through its subsidiaries or affiliates (American International Group, Inc.)
• Monitoring for all three credit bureaus 
• Annual credit reports from all three bureaus and monthly TransUnion credit score (for educational purposes only)
• Risk management and social media reporting
• Notifications for data breaches
• Dark web monitoring
• Safe browsing tool
• Bank, credit card, and high-risk transaction monitoring
• 401(k) and investment account monitoring
• Criminal and sex offender monitoring
• USPS address change and home title monitoring

LifeLock is an industry leader with nearly 50 million customers, according to the company's website. Founded in 2005, the Tempe, Arizona-based company offers a full suite of identity theft services. 

LifeLock uses Norton antivirus software to block cyber threats. The company also monitors identity threats and sends alerts by phone, text, email, or mobile app. LifeLock has a U.S.-based team that works to fix identity theft issues and may reimburse you $25,000 to $1 million for stolen funds. The company offers 24/7 member support online, via phone, chat, or LifeLock's mobile app, all with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Plans include Standard ($8.99 per month), Advantage ($17.99 per month), and Ultimate Plus ($23.99 per month). Prices increase after the first year, ranging from $11.99 to $34.99 for the same plans. It also offers three plans that include Norton 360, which cost between $8.26 and $24.99 per month.

• $1 million identity theft insurance
• Identity and Social Security number alerts
• Credit monitoring for one to three bureaus
• Security for five to unlimited devices
• VPN for five to unlimited devices
• Bank and credit card alerts
• Alerts for crimes in your name
• Annual credit reports from all three bureaus plus credit scores
• Alerts for 401(k) and investment activity

Owned by Equifax, ID Watchdog is a well-established company for identity theft protection services. The Denver, Colorado-based company has been around since 2005 and has earned recognition through Javelin Strategy & Research’s annual Identity Protection Service Provider Scorecard.

The Platinum plan offers a few premium features. These include credit monitoring for three bureaus, Equifax VantageScore tracking, financial accounts monitoring, and $1 million stolen fund reimbursement for retirement and health savings accounts. 

ID Watchdog sends alerts through the company’s mobile app. You can reach customer service 24/7 through the app or by phone. ID Watchdog offers special features for families, including child credit lock, social media alerts to identify cyberbullying, registered sex offender reporting, and more. 

Plans for individuals include ID Watchdog Plus ($14.95 per month) and ID Watchdog Platinum ($21.95 per month). Both are also available as family plans, ranging from $23.95 to $34.95 per month.

• $1 million identity theft insurance
• Dark web monitoring
• High-risk transactions monitoring
• Subprime loan monitoring
• Identity profile report
• Reporting for registered sex offenders
• Public records and USPS change of address monitoring

IdentityForce, a company owned by Sontiq, has been in business since 1978. The Framingham, Massachusetts-based company has received multiple awards, including recognition in Javelin Strategy & Research’s 2019 Identity Protection Service Provider Awards.

The UltraSecure+Credit plan is a great premium option with extensive credit monitoring features. These include monitoring and scores for all three credit bureaus, a credit score tracker, and a credit simulator. One feature that stands out is IdentityForce’s Mobile Attack Control, which offers alerts for various mobile threats.

IdentityForce protects customers by sending alerts via text, mobile app alerts, or email. The company offers access by phone (877-694-3367) to Certified Protection Experts, who can restore your identity for you 24/7.

Plans for individuals include UltraSecure ($17.99 per month or $179.90 per year) and UltraSecure+Credit ($24.90 per month or $249.00 per year). Both are offered for families as well, ranging from $23.99 to $35.90 per month (or $239.90 to $359.00 per year).

• $1 million identity theft insurance
• Advanced fraud monitoring
• Social media monitoring
• Dark web monitoring
• Online computer protection tools
• Bank and credit card monitoring
• Investment account alerts
• Court records and sex offender monitoring
• Change of address monitoring
• Mobile attack control
• Fully managed restoration
• Junk mail opt-out

Complete ID, a company owned by Experian, is one of the country’s biggest identity theft protection providers. You must be a Costco member to sign up for Complete ID.

Complete ID offers eight types of alerts through the company’s mobile app. The company’s U.S.-based support team is available 24/7, and you can work with a dedicated restoration specialist.

Plans are available for Executive members ($8.99 per month) and Business and Gold Star members ($13.99 per month). Users can also add protection for up to five children for $2.99 to $3.99 per month.

• $1 million identity theft insurance
• Monitoring for all three credit bureaus
• Credit alerts
• Dark web surveillance
• Financial account takeover protection
• Non-credit identity monitoring
• Social Security number monitoring
• Payday loan monitoring
• Monitoring for criminal records
• Designated credit restoration specialist

As the consumer division of FICO, myFICO offers a service that focuses on credit reporting. Most lenders, including 75% of mortgage loan originators, use different versions of your FICO scores to make decisions; myFICO offers access to all 28 versions. If you’re planning to make a big purchase, like a new car or a home, myFICO allows you to monitor the exact score you need.

The Premier plan offers coverage for all three credit bureaus and monthly updates. Access to monthly reports from all three credit bureaus (rather than just the one per year you're entitled to because of FACTA) offers a complete, ongoing picture of your credit profile. This makes it easier to keep an eye on all activity, including fraud or other errors on your reports. 

The company’s products and education tools help you focus on improving your FICO score over time. myFICO offers alerts by phone, mobile app, or email. If an issue comes up, the company’s support team is available six days a week to help restore your identity.

Plans include Basic ($19.95 per month), Advanced ($29.95 per month), and Premier ($39.95 per month).

• $1 million identity theft insurance
• One- or three-bureau coverage
• Updates every month or every three months
• FICO scores
• Scores for mortgages, car loans, and more
• Credit reports
• Credit score and monitoring
• Identity monitoring and restoration