The best identity theft protection service will be one that meets your needs at the price you're willing to pay.
While our system for rating these services is more nuanced than this (you can read all the details at the bottom of this article), at the core of our rating system is the balance between the security features provided and the cost of those features.
Best Identity Theft Protection Companies
- Norton 360 with LifeLock Select: Best overall
- IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit: Best for complete coverage
- IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan: Best value
- Aura – All-In-One ID Theft Protection: Best for families
- Identity Guard: Best flexibility
- PrivacyGuard Identity Protection: Best basic coverage
Featured Identity Theft Protection Companies
$17.99 monthly or $179.99 annually
- Refund on service if Norton can’t remove virus from device
- Cybersecurity features
- Identity theft recovery assistance
- Only monitors one credit bureau
$15 monthly or $144 annually
- Solid range of protections including parental controls
- Includes antivirus, VPN, and password manager features
- Reasonable pricing for couples and families
- No social media monitoring
Aura ID Theft Protection offers comprehensive identity protection at some of the best prices on the market, which should be expected from one of the services we included in both our credit monitoring and identity theft protection guides.
Aura All-In-One- All plans come with 24/7 customer support
- Every adult member on your plan is backed by $1,000,000 insurance policy to cover eligible losses and fees due to identity theft.
- Enjoy a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.
- 60-day money back guarantee is only available for annual plans purchased through Aura’s websites (excludes Amazon) or via the Customer Support team.
$29.95 monthly or $299.50 annually
- Cybersecurity protects credit
- Credit monitoring
- Social media
- Credit scoring simulator
- Credit reports are given quarterly
- Relatively expensive
- No free trial
- What you need to know: There are various types of credit scores, and lenders use a variety of different types of credit scores to make lending decisions. The credit score you receive is based on the VantageScore 3.0 model and may not be the credit score model used by your lender.
- $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance
- Password Manager
- Credit Monitoring: 3 Bureau
- Credit Score Simulator
- Quarterly 3 Bureau Credit Scores and Credit Reports
- Credit Freeze & Credit Report Fraud Assistance
Best Overall Identity Theft Protection: LifeLock
Cost: $17.99 monthly or $179.99 annually
LifeLock is an identity theft protection service operated by Norton, one of the leading brands in cybersecurity. LifeLock isn't a standout on its own, but it gains a lot of value when paired with Norton 360, Norton's cybersecurity protection plan.
Key Features
Norton 360 with LifeLock Select offers three plans: Standard, Advantage, and Ultimate Plus. The Standard plan offers the most value for its price and a sizable first-year discount. However, for more serious identity protection, it may be worth upgrading to one of the advanced plans.
Read our full LifeLock review.
Best Identity Theft Protection for Complete Coverage: IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit
Cost: $29.95 monthly or $299.50 annually
IdentityForce Ultra Secure+Credit is a product of TransUnion, but the +Credit plan also covers Experian and Equifax. It offers broad monitoring capability, including social media accounts, mobile device scanning, and dark web data analysis. It can also alert you of suspicious activity in your banking and investment accounts, in addition to credit-related fraud alerts.
Key Features
On top of monitoring, Ultra Secure+Credit also offers cybersecurity features such as an online vault for storing sensitive digital documents and a VPN. Ultra Secure+Credit also offers an entry-level plan with most of the same features apart from credit monitoring, which is a good fit for anyone who already has that base covered.
While standard pricing is $29.95 a month, you can rummage around online for IdentityForce discounts. In the past, we've found lower prices by Googling "IdentityForce discount."
Read our full IdentityForce review.
Best Identity Theft Protection for Value: ID Shield
Cost: Starting at $14.95/month
IDShield offers comparable protection to Ultra Secure+Credit at a lower price if you're paying monthly. You'll get all the essentials like three-bureau credit monitoring, alerts, and various cybersecurity and device protection tools.
The few features IDShield lacks (like junk mail removal) aren't essential, so going without them is a reasonable tradeoff if cost is a priority.
Key Features
One negative of IDShield is that it tends to get lower marks for its interface; if that deters you from using the security features, then whatever you save in monthly fees is nullified. IDShield is a well-rounded plan, but you should test it out with the 30-day free trial.
Read our full IDShield review.
Best Identity Theft Protection for Families: Aura
Cost: $15 monthly or $144 annually
Aura Aura – All-In-One ID Theft Protection provides fewer monitoring services than Ultra Secure+Credit and IDShield — it doesn't include social media, for example.
It still offers well-rounded protection with monitoring of all three credit bureaus and the standard security tools, as well as email aliases to reduce spam and exposure to data breaches.
Key Features
Aura All-In-One shines brightest with its couple and family plans, which provide the same protections for additional members (children or adults) at a heavily discounted cost per person. Aura's family plan also offers parental controls for mobile devices.
Read our full Aura review.
Best Identity Theft Protection for Flexibility: IdentityGuard
Cost: $8.99 to $29.99 monthly for individuals, $14.99 to $39.99 monthly for families
Owned by Aura, Identity Guard has three core plans: Value, Total, and Ultra. With a family version for each of these tiers, Identity Guard has six plans overall.
Even without the annual discounts applied, Identity Guard's Value plan is the cheapest service on this list. Its more expensive plans are still competitively priced compared to other services on this list, though you'll get a much better deal if you commit to an annual plan.
Key Features
One thing to note is that Identity Guard reserves its White Glove fraud resolution service for its Ultra plan, significantly reducing the utility of the Value and Total plans.
Read our full IdentityGuard review.
Best Identity Theft Protection for Basic Coverage: PrivacyGuard
Cost: $9.99 per month
PrivacyGuard has some gaps in its identity theft protection. Notably, its credit monitoring feature is a completely separate plan from its identity theft coverage unless you purchase the most expensive bundle.
However, we're just recommending the identity protection service alone, as you can fill its credit monitoring gap using other tools that are available for free.
Key Features
PrivacyGuard provides many services that are harder to replicate without paying, like dark web scanning and public records monitoring at lower prices than its competitors. You'll also get tools to secure your browser and keyboard.
PrivacyGuard also provides bank account and credit card monitoring, which are surprisingly scarce features among identity protection services.
Read our full PrivacyGuard review.
What Is Identity Theft Protection?
Identity theft protection is any service that protects consumers' personal information, such as name, birth date, Social Security number, and financial information, to ensure that it isn't used to steal money or for some other type of fraud.
If your identity has been stolen before, you're more likely to be targeted again. You may need to arm yourself more heavily than you would otherwise with features like dark web monitoring, public records monitoring, and identity theft recovery.
If you're concerned about your children, consider looking for identity protection that offers features for them. Most identity theft protection services in our guide provide features specifically for children, like Aura's hate speech monitoring or IdentityForce's Childwatch, which includes social media monitoring and Child Credit Activity Monitoring.
Types of Identity Theft Protection
Protecting your identity and other sensitive personal information is like protecting your home against fire. Most houses have fire prevention measures baked into their design, including fire-resistant materials, landscaping precautions, and fire hydrant access.
You should have early detection and alert systems like smoke, heat, or flame detectors and suppression systems like fire extinguishers and sprinklers. Hopefully, you observe basic fire safety protocols like storing flammable materials properly and not leaving open flames unattended. Finally, you should have fire insurance to protect yourself financially.
None of those measures guarantees your house won't catch fire, but collectively, they mitigate the risk and extent of fire damage. Similarly, identity theft protection doesn't guarantee your personal information will remain secure, but it reduces the likelihood you'll experience the worst outcomes of having your identity stolen.
Like fire protection, identity theft protection isn't a single measure but an array of complementary measures designed to safeguard your personal information.
Standard features offered by identity theft protection companies generally fit into one of the following three categories:
- Monitoring and alerts — Given how quickly identity thieves put stolen data to ill use, early detection and warning are critical to minimizing damage. Identity theft detection companies monitor your personal information for suspicious activity and notify you when something is amiss. What you get varies among companies and plans but usually includes monitoring of credit reports, Social Security numbers, property and court records, and more.
- Security tools — While security measures aren't foolproof, your data is less vulnerable with some of the features that identity theft protection services offer. This includes tools like antivirus and malware protection, a virtual private network (VPN) for safe browsing, and password management.
- Recovery — When your personal information has been compromised, identity theft protection can help you limit further damage by freezing your credit and exposed accounts. It can also help you recover from identity theft and cover related expenses, though it's unlikely to reimburse direct losses resulting from fraud.
Identity Theft Protection and Credit Monitoring
One identity protection feature to prioritize is reporting from all three major credit bureaus; many entry-level plans only monitor one bureau, leaving room for suspicious activity to slip through unnoticed.
You should also look for a service that gets audited regularly by independent security experts and deletes your information when you cancel your subscription (rather than holding onto it indefinitely).
How to Report Identity Theft
If you suspect your identity has been stolen, your first action should be to freeze your credit to prevent the thief from applying for credit in your name. It's free and won't damage your credit. You can always unfreeze your reports later when the dust settles.
Your next steps to report identity theft depend on the nature of the identity theft and any fraud that may have already occurred:
- File an identity theft report: The Federal Trade Commission has a program that will help you create a recovery plan and generate an identity theft report that you can use later as documentation. You can also file a report over the phone at 877-438-4338.
- Report the fraud to involved companies: Notify any banks, credit card issuers, or other companies involved in your identity theft case. The sooner you do this, the better. If you don't report within a certain timeframe, you could be liable for any debts incurred.
- Notify the credit bureaus: Call at least one of the main credit bureaus to let them know your identity has been stolen. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires credit bureaus to notify the others, and you'll receive a 90-day initial fraud alert, which means creditors have to take reasonable steps to verify the identity of anyone applying for credit under your name. Later, with an identity theft report, you can extend the fraud alert to seven years.
- Contact law enforcement: Depending on the situation, you may want to file a police report, especially if you know who stole your identity. Some creditors may also require you to file a report with law enforcement.
If your Social Security number has been compromised, and you continue to have issues with identity theft, you may be eligible to get a new Social Security number. However, the requirements for a new Social Security number are high. You need to have been repeatedly targeted by identity thieves or in situations of harassment, abuse, or life endangerment. You'll need to contact your local Social Security office and arrange an in-person appointment.
How to Get Identity Theft Protection
Numerous factors go into choosing an identity theft protection service. One of the big factors is cost. Michael Scheumack, a security expert and chief innovation officer of IdentityIQ, recommends looking for discounts or deals if you set up autopay or pay annually instead of monthly. In some cases, you might even be able to sign up for a low-cost or free trial and test out the service for yourself.
The amount of protection you need can vary depending on how much you have to protect. If you're a likely target of identity theft due to your job or assets, then you might want to consider something more substantial (and much more expensive) that offers bespoke services, explains Kurt Sanger, a cybersecurity expert at Batten Safe and the former deputy general counsel for US Cyber Command. Otherwise, you might want more basic — though still robust — protection.
With that in mind, here's what you need to know when comparing identity theft protection services.
Signs of a Good Identity Theft Protection Service
What you need from an identity theft protection service will vary based on your assets and needs, but the basics are relatively uniform. Here are the factors to consider when choosing an identity theft protection service.
Clear, comprehensive services
You want to know what the company will do, how it will help you, and how quickly you'll find out if something goes wrong. Rebecca Morris, founder of the online magazine "Safe Not Scammed" and a cybersecurity educator with a PhD in logic, computation, and methodology, recommends choosing a service that monitors the following services:
- Social Security number
- Court records
- Sex offender registries
- The dark web
"Ensure the plan provides timely alerts and notifications regarding possible suspicious activity," adds Scheumack.
Responds in real time
Just like you want immediate alerts, you also want an actual person available if one of those alerts is problematic. "Real-time responses by actual representatives — not preprogrammed responses or chatbot — is a great sign because that's what you'll want if you suspect your identity has been stolen," Sanger says. Ideally, you'll have an expert who is specifically dedicated to your case, as opposed to a general hotline for your questions.
Offers prevention tools
Identity theft protection services often highlight what they'll do to alert or help you if there's an incident, but what about stopping it in the first place? "The goal of identity theft prevention is to avoid the need for restoration support, so understanding prevention tools is critical," says Sanger. At the very least, it should give you guidance on securing your assets and internet presence — though actionable steps are even better.
Monitors all three major credit bureaus
Three main credit bureaus are responsible for keeping a record of your credit history and documenting any changes, but they don't alert you to those changes. "Some companies only monitor one credit bureau in real-time," says Scheumack. "Fraud may not show up on all of your credit reports right away, so an option that monitors all three of the major bureaus can be essential."
If you're regularly checking your credit reports, skipping this will make your identity theft protection cheaper, explains Morris. However, without immediate alerts, the information could go unnoticed for extended periods of time.
Red Flags in Identity Theft Protection Services
There's no clear outline of solutions
The last thing you want from the company you're paying for identity theft protection is a lot of talking in circles. You'll want to look for concrete information on services within the fine print of a company's website, looking for details on support in the case of identity theft and costs.
"Are the explanations clear? What do you do first, and who do you contact first if you suspect an incident? Will the service pay in advance to help restore your identity or reimburse you after you have paid? Can coverage extend to family or other household members?" Sanger says. If it doesn't answer these questions, then it's time to look elsewhere.
It's unreachable
The last thing you want to do when dealing with a stolen identity is wait on hold for three hours listening to jazz music — or worse, have to wait for an email response. As Sanger explains, if you struggle to get in touch with the company from the get-go, it's not going to be any better when you really need the company's help.
Your service only monitors one credit bureau
If you're really checking your credit reports regularly, then you can ignore this. But getting real-time alerts that someone has taken a loan in your name or signed up for a credit card can help you stop identity theft in its tracks. Similarly, you want to be getting these notifications.
The company has few or mostly negative reviews
You don't want to be the guinea pig for an identity theft protection service or spend lots of money only to find out that it's widely hated. Take the time to look at the reviews (and to verify a good amount exists) before signing up, Morris says.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
While an identity protection service will make it harder for hackers and identity thieves to use your identity, Eva Velasquez, founder and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, says that "hiring a service does not mean you can or should abdicate all responsibility for good identity and cyber hygiene." She says that many financial organizations may refuse to reimburse victims if they determine the victims didn't take sufficient care of their credentials and accounts.
Because identity theft is often a crime of opportunity, taking steps to reduce the risk can go a long way toward preventing it entirely. You can do a lot to protect your personal information by practicing good data hygiene and staying vigilant about how your information is used and distributed. Simple steps like using strong passwords and antivirus software, securing your mail, and regularly reviewing account statements for suspicious activity will help you prevent and detect identity theft.
You can also look into various products beyond identity theft protection to prevent identity theft. You ask the credit bureaus to freeze your credit or place a fraud alert on your credit reports, preventing identity thieves from borrowing money using your credit. These are free services offered by credit bureaus.
Those practices, combined with well-rounded identity theft protection, will significantly reduce the risk of having your personal information compromised.
Expert Advice on Identity Theft
Included in our guide to the best identity theft protection services is our expert panel, consisting of experts in identity theft protection and credit.
Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center and one of the members of our expert panel, recommends considering several questions about your specific situation. You should consider how many people you're covering, their ages, and how digitally engaged they are. "Make sure you purchase coverage that meets your individual needs," Velasquez says.
We interviewed identity theft experts to inform our picks for the best identity protection services. These answers have been edited for concision. Here's what they had to say:
Is Identity Protection Worth It?
Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of the Identity Theft Resource Center:
Paid identity protection services can have value for individuals and families that have the financial means to pay for the services. These services can take some of the leg work out of monitoring your identity and the recovery process should an identity crime occur.
I often use the analogy of hiring a pet groomer or grooming my dog myself. I can bathe and groom my dog for "free," but I do have to consider the cost of the shampoo, tools, water, and my time versus hiring someone to do it for me. Both are legitimate ways to meet the need but depend on my personal preference.
Before you purchase, make sure that you don't already have this benefit available to you. Some homeowners or renters insurance plans have riders that provide this coverage. Some employers offer these services as an employee benefit for free or at a discount. Some membership organizations you already belong to may also offer this as a benefit at a reduced cost.
Jennifer Streaks, Senior Personal Finance Reporter at Business Insider:
Identity theft protection is very important right now. Identity thieves and scammers are getting more advanced every few months. Identity theft protection gives you peace of mind and protects your personal information, just like a bank protects its money. Everyone should have it.
Jeanne Kelly, credit coach and founder of The Kelly Group:
Absolutely. It is crucial to recognize that even if you are cautious about sharing your personal information, it is still stored in various databases, such as those of financial institutions, schools, and medical offices. Therefore, having identity theft protection ensures that you are promptly alerted in case of any issues and provides professional assistance in restoring your identity.
Paul Kim, editor at Business Insider:
Identity protection can be a nice thing to have for peace of mind. However, most people don't need to spring for the fanciest, most expensive plan out there. Some of the cheaper plans, plus a little vigilance on your part, will often do the trick.
How Much Identity Protection Do I Need?
Velasquez:
Ask yourself the following questions: How many people do I intend to cover? What are the ages of the individuals needing services? Do they have access to, and can they make effective use of, digital platforms? How digitally engaged are they? Make sure you purchase coverage that meets your individual needs.
For example, if you purchase a family plan with features including cyberbullying monitoring, is that something you currently need? Are your children of an age that they are engaged online, and this feature is helpful? If you have plans available through an employee benefits program or insurance policy, ask your benefits administrator or insurance broker for assistance in determining the level of coverage that is most suitable for you.
Kelly:
Conduct thorough research to understand the available options. It is not sufficient to rely solely on receiving alerts. It is essential to find an identity theft protection service that not only notifies you but also offers robust support in resolving identity theft issues. Think of it as having an alarm system that also sends help when triggered. Look for services that provide the expertise of private investigators to assist you throughout the identity restoration process.
Kim:
When shopping for identity protection, you should think about how much of a risk identity theft poses. Obviously, everyone can be targeted, but some people are at higher risk. Certain states have higher rates of identity theft than others. Additionally, people who were victims of identity theft are more likely to be targeted than those who have never had their identities stolen.
What Are the Most Important Identity Theft Protection Features?
Velasquez:
Transparency. This is an individual choice. The important features are going to vary based on the individual. However, a service that is transparent about what it covers and what it does not is key. Make sure you read all the information to understand what is covered, how the service is provided, and the limitations of the service, if any. Read the terms of any insurance plans carefully and ensure you understand what losses are actually covered and what your duty of care or other obligations are to seek reimbursement for losses.
Kelly:
One crucial feature is the ability to grant power of attorney or authorization for someone else to handle the intricate process of restoring your identity. Dealing with identity theft can be incredibly time-consuming, often requiring hundreds of hours. By having experts handle the work on your behalf, you can save valuable time and ensure that the restoration process is handled effectively. It is crucial to proactively obtain identity theft protection before any issues arise.
Kim:
Two features I look out for are dark web monitoring and court records monitoring because it's difficult to replicate these yourself. If you're looking for basic identity protection that may not offer every type of monitoring, ensure that the service will at least monitor the dark web and court records.
What makes an identity theft protection service good?
Velasquez:
In addition to my response above, also read consumer reviews and look at third-party accreditation sites such as the Better Business Bureau. Reading reviews will allow you to determine if there is a pattern of behavior that demonstrates poor customer experience.
While no company is going to be perfect, seeing how they resolve customer complaints and issues will be useful in making your determination to do business with them.
Kelly:
A good identity theft protection service should monitor multiple aspects of your identity, including your social security number, driver's license, passport ID, medical card, social media accounts, and address changes with the postal service. Remember, identity theft encompasses more than just credit-related fraud. For instance, if someone gains access to your medical ID or driver's license number, they can exploit it to receive medical services or cash checks under your identity. Therefore, ensure that the service you choose monitors these essential areas. Additionally, in the event of an identity theft incident, make sure the service provides comprehensive support for identity restoration.
Kim:
The identity protection services I pay particular attention to will offer solutions for the before, during, and after of identity theft. So, it'll offer features that protect your identity before any theft occurs, like cybersecurity measures and VPNs. The identity protection service will also provide identity monitoring to alert you when identity theft occurs. Lastly, a good identity protection service will have restoration experts who will guide you through the process of recovering your identity. Ideally, they'll do most of the work for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft protection is a service that monitors your personal information to detect and prevent identity theft and fraud. These services can include credit monitoring, wallet protection, and social media monitoring to ensure scammers do not illegally use your information.
Whether you really need identity theft protection depends on how diligent you are about protecting your information and monitoring your credit on your own. Identity theft protection can help prevent fraudulent use of your monetary and personal information, providing peace of mind and security.
No, identity theft protection services cannot prevent identity theft. While they can significantly reduce the risk and help detect fraud early, no service can guarantee complete prevention of identity theft.
Immediately report the theft to your identity theft protection service, contact your bank and credit card accounts, and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Rate Identity Theft Protection Services
Our system for rating identity theft protection services balances the price of the service with the features that the service provides. It also acknowledges that these services are businesses that must be responsive to customers.
While we can analyze these services on a tangible, quantifiable level, the best identity theft protection service is one that you'll actually use. A service may not have the most features, but if that service inspires you to be more proactive about protecting your information, that's a selling point. The next step is finding out how to get identity theft protection that works for you.
Business Insider's personal finance team rates services on a scale from one to five stars, with five being the highest. We apply these ratings to the overall service and the individual plans it offers.
- Provided features (45%)
- Price of service (45%)
- Customer support (10%)
See the full breakdown of how we rate identity theft protection services.