Best Identity Theft Protection In 2023: IDShield vs LifeLock vs Identity Guard® vs IdentityForce & More

To keep the lights on, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. Our review process.

Cartoon of thieves stealing with laptop in background
Don’t let these mischievous thieves steal your identity!

With each online profile we create, every service we sign up for, and all the smart gadgets we buy, we put our identities at risk. Technology is evolving, and with it, our personal information becomes more vulnerable. Protecting your identity isn’t an option — it’s a must. We bring you our expert reviews of the top ID theft protection services.

Best Identity Theft Protection

The best way to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft is to stop it before it starts by proactively having a service monitor it for you. These ID theft protection services not only alert you when something suspicious happens, but several will also help you with the recovery process if your identity is stolen, including reimbursement for any losses.

Before we jump into the company reviews, here are some important details that we considered in conducting our review. We chose the best identity theft protection based on the following six criteria:

  1. Monitoring coverage
  2. Recovery services
  3. Customer service & reputation
  4. Mobile access
  5. Family/Child protection
  6. Pricing

Winner: IDShield Review

id shield logo 250 png

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IDShield, a LegalShield product, offers one of the most comprehensive identity theft monitoring and resolution services on the market at a nearly unbeatable price for both individuals and families of up to 10 people. It monitors almost everything imaginable and gives you a cheaper plan option of having only one credit bureau monitored (note: most credit report changes should show up at all bureaus anyway).

IDShield’s restoration services are unsurpassed in the industry. The company uses licensed private investigators, who do all the legwork for you to restore your name, and it’s backed by $1 million insurance for stolen funds and expense reimbursement. Customers rave about their experience.

ID Shield screenshots

Personal Experience

One of Safe Smart Living’s contributors uses IDShield to protect her and her family. Here is her experience:

I’ve used IDShield for over a year and have had a great experience with it. I use it to monitor my family and I’s identities and it notifies me of any potentially suspicious activity.

One of the main reasons I chose it over its competitors was because I can monitor my entire family for less than $30 per month. I’m not sacrificing monitored coverage either. It’s the best of both worlds.

ProsCons
  • Very affordable individual and family plans
  • Offers $1 million insurance
  • The family plan protects up to 10 people
  • Fully managed recovery support with licensed private investigators
  • Free LegalShield IDShield app for iOS and Android
  • Their parent company, LegalShield, is A+ BBB rated
  • 24/7 emergency support
  • No free trial
  • Doesn’t include internet security software
  • Need to reconnect LinkedIn frequently

Pricing

The only difference between the two IDShield plans is that the individual plan covers one person and the family plan covers up to 10.

Individual Plan: $14.95/month (1 bureau); $19.95/month (3 bureaus)

Family Plan: $29.95/month (1 bureau); $34.95/month (3 bureaus)

  • Social security number monitoring
  • Credit card number monitoring (up to 10)
  • Bank account number monitoring (up to 10)
  • Medical ID number monitoring (up to 10)
  • Court records monitoring
  • Quarterly credit score tracking
  • Change of address monitoring
  • Black-market website monitoring
  • File-sharing network monitoring
  • Data breach alerts
  • New credit account alerts
  • Identity restoration services
  • Investment account monitoring

Read Our In-Depth IDShield Review

Runner-Up: IdentityForce Review

identity force logo 250

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IdentityForce, our runner-up for the best identity protection provider, monitors practically everything imaginable (SSN, driver’s license, email, etc.). Unlike our top pick, this company offers a plan that monitors all three credit reporting bureaus with your membership so you can stay on top of any suspicious credit report changes.

Unfortunately, there is no family plan available, so you’ll have to add a plan for each person in your family you want to be monitored, which can get expensive. If your identity gets stolen while using IdentityForce, you’re covered by its $1 million insurance plan.

The company also offers 24/7 support in case your identity is stolen. Its specialists will do a majority of the paperwork, calling, and other legwork for you to help restore your name. When it comes to monitoring your personal data, no one else has better coverage for the price.

IdentityForce App Screenshots

Pros

Cons

  • More coverage than many other companies
  • Monitors SSN, driver’s license number, sex offenders, email and more
  • 24/7 phone support and live chat and email from 8am-8pm, plus FAQs
  • Fully managed recovery support
  • Child plan available as an add-on
  • Established in 1978 with long history in industry
  • $1 million insurance protection
  • A+ BBB rating
  • Bank and credit card activity alerts
  • No family plan
  • Must upgrade plans for credit report/score monitoring

Price

You can test out IdentityForce by signing up for its 14-day free trial.

 UltraSecureUltraSecure+Credit
PriceRegular Price: $17.00/month or $179.00/year 

 

Discount for our Readers: $14.99/month or $149.90/year

Regular Price: $23.99/month or $239.90/year 

 

Discount for our Readers: $19.99/month or $199.90/year

Optional ChildWatch Add-On $2.75/month or $27.50/yearGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
14-Day Free TrialGreen checkmark 
Sex Offender MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Pay Day Loan MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Change of Address MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Court Records MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Fraud MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Identity Score & ReportGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Identity MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Fraud Alert ReminderGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Medical ID Fraud ProtectionGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Junk Mail Opt-outGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Identity Threat AlertsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Delete NowGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Online Protection Tools (Anti-Phishing, Anti-Keylogging, etc.)Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Lost Wallet AssistanceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Fraud Resolution Specialist Green checkmark
Identity Restoration AdvisorGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
$1 Million Identity Theft InsuranceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Credit Score Simulator Green checkmark
Three Bureau Credit Scores Green checkmark
Three Bureau Credit Reports Green checkmark
Three Bureau Credit Monitoring Green checkmark
Credit Score Monitoring Green checkmark
Instant Credit Report IncludedGreen checkmark

Read Our In-Depth IdentityForce Review

3rd Place: Identity Guard® Review

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Identity Guard® monitors your identity and helps protect it. The company has invested in Watson AI to provide constant scanning of your data for compromise, allowing the company to alert you quickly, which should allow you to minimize damages.

In the case that your identity is stolen, Identity Guard® will help pay to have it recovered no matter how it happened (even if it wasn’t the service’s fault). And when you call in, you will be assigned a dedicated case manager so you are speaking with the same person every time so you don’t have to re-explain your issue repeatedly.

Identity Guard App screenshots
ProsCons
  • $1 million in insurance*
  • Monitoring alerts sent to you quickly due to Watson AI constant scan technology
  • A+ BBB rating (been BBB accredited since 1996)
  • Family plans available
  • 24/7 phone support for those who have lost or had their credit cards stolen
  • They don’t send fraud alerts to credit bureaus
  • Does not monitor sex offenders
  • No free trial

Pricing

 Individual ValueIndividual TotalIndividual UltraFamily ValueFamily TotalFamily Ultra
Monthly CostBilled Monthly: $8.99 

 

Billed Annually: $5.40

Billed Monthly: $19.99 

 

Billed Annually: $12.00

Billed Monthly: $29.99 

 

Billed Annually: $18.00

Billed Monthly: $14.99/month 

 

Billed Annually: $9.00

Billed Monthly: $29.99/month 

 

Billed Annually: $18.00

Billed Monthly: $39.99/month 

 

Billed Annually: $24.00

$1 Million Identity Theft InsuranceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Mobile AppGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Online “Dark Web” MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Social Security Number MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Monthly Credit Score Green checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
3-Bureau Credit Changes Green checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Bank Account Takeovers Green checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Requests To Open Bank Accounts Green checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
3-Bureau Credit Report  Green checkmark  Green checkmark
Anti-Phishing AppGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Safe Browsing ExtensionGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Potential Cyberbullying On Social Media     Green checkmark
Social Insight Report  Green checkmark  Green checkmark
 Individual ValueIndividual TotalIndividual UltraFamily ValueFamily TotalFamily Ultra

Read Our In-Depth Identity Guard® Review

Comparison Table

All companies below monitor SSNs and address changes and offer recovery assistance.

 1st: IDShield2nd: Identity Force3rd: Identity Guard®Complete IDCSIDEquifax
Complete
Experian IdentityWorksID WatchdogLifelockPrivacy GuardReliaShieldZander
Lowest Price/Month$14.95$14.99$5.40$8.99$9.99$19.95$9.99$14.95$8.99$9.99$7.99$6.75
Family PlanGreen checkmark Green checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark   Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Child PlanIncluded in Family PlanAdd-OnIncluded in Family PlanAdd-OnIncluded in Family PlanIncluded in Family PlanIncluded in Family PlanAdd-On
Limited Coverage
 Included in Family PlanIncluded in Family Plan
Free Trial 14 Days    30 Days  $1 for 14 Days  
Monitors Bank AccountsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Monitors Credit CardsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Monitors LoansGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Monitors Insurance Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkMust Request  
Monitors Medical RecordsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Must Request Green checkmark
Monitors Driver’s LicenseGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkMust RequestGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Monitors Public RecordsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark 
Monitors Criminal RecordsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark  Green checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmark 
Monitors Sex OffendersGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark  Green checkmarkGreen checkmark  Green checkmark Green checkmark 
Monitors EmailGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark      Green checkmark
Fully Managed Restoration ServiceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark   Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Lost/Stolen Wallet AssistanceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark Green checkmark  Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
ID Theft Insurance$1 Million$1 Million$1 Million$1 Million$1 Million$1 Million$1 MillionVariesUp to $3 Million $1 Million$1 Million
Mail List Removal Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark    Green checkmark   
Credit ReportsAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausTransUnion OnlyAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 Bureaus 
Credit ScoreAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 Bureaus All 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 BureausAll 3 Bureaus 
 1st: IDShield2nd: Identity Force3rd: Identity Guard®Complete IDCSIDEquifax
ID Patrol
Experian IdentityWorksID WatchdogLifelockPrivacy GuardReliaShieldZander

9 More Companies Reviewed (A – Z)

Here are the companies that didn’t make our top 3 this year. As you’ll note, in a few cases our research revealed the services to be so unreliable that we recommend you steer clear of them.

Complete ID | CSID | Equifax Complete Premier | Experian Identity Works | ID Watchdog | LifeLock | Privacy GuardReliaShieldZander

Complete ID Review

Complete ID logo

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Complete ID is an Experian ID theft service sold through Costco. Complete ID offers solid credit monitoring with all three bureaus. It offers a child add-on plan and $1 million insurance. Unfortunately, we’ve found too many complaints about customers not being able to access their system or reach anyone in customer service to recommend them at this time.

ProsCons
  • $1 million insurance
  • Detects the use of personal information to apply for a line of credit, utilities, cell phone plans, etc.
  • Good three credit bureau monitoring
  • Child add-on plan
  • 24/7 support hours
  • Must be a Costco member
  • Many consumer complaints about poor or non-existent customer support
  • Not BBB accredited

Pricing

Both pricing tiers include the same benefits.

Costco Executive Members

  • $8.99/month
  • +$2.99/month for child protection

Costco Business & Gold Star Members

  • $13.99/month
  • +$3.99/month for child protection

Benefits include:

  • Annual 3b Credit Report, Vantagescore®, And 3b Monitoring
  • Monthly Credit Vantagescore® Updates
  • Internet Surveillance
  • SSN And Non-credit Identity Monitoring
  • Financial Account Application & Takeover Alerts
  • Payday Loan Monitoring
  • Criminal Records Monitoring And Neighborhood Watch
  • Lost Wallet Replacement Assistance (Learn what to do if you lose your wallet)
  • Full-Service Identity Restoration
  • $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance
  • 24/7 Member Service Support

Read Our In-Depth Complete ID Review

CSID Review

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At first, we thought Experian-owned CSID was strictly a B2B identity theft protection solution. However, we contacted the company and found out differently. It’s difficult to find the webpage directly to their pricing and packages, so we’ve provided a direct link to it above. CSID has low prices, but it does not cover as much as its competitors which is why it isn’t ranked higher.

ProsCons
  • $1 million insurance
  • Family plan
  • Monitors sex offenders
  • 24/7 fraud hotline
  • A+ BBB rating
  • No child-specific plan, although children are included in the family plan
  • No lost wallet assistance
  • Does not monitor your driver’s license, bank accounts, credit cards or credit score

Pricing

Both plans below cover the same items.

Protector Plus $9.99/month

Protector Plus Family Plan $11.99/month

  • Credit monitoring
  • CyberAgent internet surveillance
  • Court and public records monitoring
  • Non-credit loan monitoring
  • Child monitoring (only for the family plan)
  • Change of address
  • Sex offender report
  • Social security number
  • $1 million insurance
  • Identity restoration

Equifax Complete Premier Review

Equifax ID Patrol

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Equifax Complete Premier has a competitively priced family plan, but unfortunately, its monitoring falls short compared to many other services. It also lacks in its customer service. Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus, is still trying to recover its reputation from its massive data breach in 2017.

ProsCons
  • Competitively priced plans
  • Good Family Plan that includes up to 2 adults and 4 children
  • Monitors your social security number, credit cards, banks accounts and medical ID numbers
  • $1 million identity theft insurance with all plans
  • Poor customer service reputation
  • Limited recovery services
  • Some customers have been charged after they cancel
  • Doesn’t monitor public records
  • Only get 3-bureau credit scores and reports once a year

Pricing

 Complete PremierComplete FamilyUltimate Plus (Norton 360 with LifeLock)
Price$19.95/month$19.95/month$29.9/month
Number of People1 PersonUp to 2 Adults and 4 Children1 person
3-Bureau Credit Scores (Annually)Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
3-Bureau Credit Reports (Annually)Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Equifax Credit Score (Daily)Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Equifax Credit Report (Daily)Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
3-Bureau Credit File MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Equifax Credit Score MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Internet ScanningGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Automatic Fraud AlertsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark 
Credit Monitoring Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Data Breach Notifications  Green checkmark
Lost Wallet AssistanceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Identity Theft ProtectionGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark (+ alerts)

View Our In-Depth Equifax Review

Experian IdentityWorks Review

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Experian is one of the three main credit bureaus, and its IdentityWorks product offers a solid set of identity theft monitoring features and excellent credit monitoring. Its family plans cover up to 10 children, so this could be a cost-effective option for large families. If you need ID theft recovery assistance, you get a dedicated fraud specialist, but it doesn’t do all the work for you like some other companies.

ProsCons
  • $1 million in insurance
  • Fraud alerts sent to you
  • Family plans available for up to 10 people
  • 24/7 phone support for those who have lost or had their credit cards stolen
  • 30-day free trial
  • Does not monitor your driver’s license or email
  • Must upgrade plans for 3-bureau credit scores, bank account and credit card coverage
  • Doesn’t offer fully managed recovery support
  • Not BBB accredited (but consumer rating of A-)

Pricing

Experian IdentityWorks offers a 30-day free trial. Save 17% on plans if billed annually.

 IdentityWorks PlusIdentityWorks Premium
Price Per Month for 1 Adult$9.99$19.99
Dark Web SurveillanceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
InsuranceUp to $500,000Up to $1 Million
Lost Wallet AssistanceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Social Security Number MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Address Change VerificationGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Bank Account & Credit Card Takeovers Green checkmark
Identity Validation Alerts Green checkmark
Payday Loan Monitoring Green checkmark
Court Records & Bookings Green checkmark
Sex Offender Registry Green checkmark
File-Sharing Network Monitoring Green checkmark
Social Network Monitoring Green checkmark
Lock & Unlock Your Experian Credit FileGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Real-Time Alerts on Attempted Credit InquiriesGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Credit Bureaus MonitoredExperian3 Bureaus
3-Bureau FICO Scores Quarterly
Experian FICO ScoresDailyDaily
Fraud Resolution ServicesGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark

ID Watchdog Review

ID Watchdog logo

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ID Watchdog offers relatively basic monitoring services. Its strength lies in its resolution services, which get top reviews from consumers. It has a 100% resolution guarantee and also provides identity theft insurance. You can also add child protection to an adult plan.

ProsCons
  • Identity theft insurance available (varies by policy)
  • 24/7 email and phone support
  • Monitors SSN, driver’s license, public and criminal records and more
  • 100% Identity Theft Resolution guarantee with fully managed recovery support
  • Child plan available as add-on
  • A+ BBB rating
  • Doesn’t monitor credit card or banking transactions
  • No lost wallet assistance
  • Must pay extra for credit reports/scores and monitoring from all 3 bureaus

Pricing

 SelectPremium
Price For Individual$14.95/month or $150/year$21.95/month or $220/year
Price For Family (up to 4 kids)$23.95/month or $240/year$34.95/month or $350/year
Basic Identity MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Advanced Identity MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Cyber MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Email and SMS NotificationsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Full Service Identity RestorationGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Credit Report Monitoring1 Bureau3 Bureaus
Credit Reports and Scores 
NPI MonitoringGreen checkmark
Credit Report Lock 
Ingegrated Fraud Alerts 
Password Manager 
Financial, Social Monitoring 

LifeLock Review

LifeLock logo

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LifeLock offers several different plans for you to choose from, but to get the same coverage you’ll get from IdentityForce and Identity Guard®, you’ll end up paying more. Its Million Dollar Protection™ Package provides reimbursement for funds stolen, attorney fees, and personal expenses you incur while restoring your identity.

It also offers a child plan to add on to any adult plan. If your identity gets stolen, you’ll get a dedicated specialist who will do a lot of the recovery legwork for you.

ProsCons
  • Million Dollar Protection™ Package
  • Detects the use of personal information to apply for a line of credit, utilities, cell phone plans, etc.
  • Monitors your driver’s license, mother’s maiden name, and medical information
  • Fully managed recovery support
  • A- BBB rating
  • 24/7 support
  • Monitors websites to make sure your credentials are not for sale
  • Features include court records scanning and sex offender registry
  • Offers more coverage than some other competitors
  • Child plan is available as an add-on to an adult plan
  • Delay on notifications for credit reports
  • Does not monitor all transactions at all businesses
  • Does not monitor email
  • Must upgrade plans for bank account coverage and credit report/score monitoring

Pricing

 LifeLock StandardAdvantageUltimate Plus
Price (save on annual plans)$8.99/month or $89.99/year$17.99/month or $179.88/year$19.99/month or $239.88/year
Family Plan (2 adults)$14.99/month or $149.87/year$28.99/month or $287.889/year$8.99/month or $89.99/year
Family Plan (2 adults + 5 kids)$21.99/month or $221.87/year$35.99/month or $359.99/year$46.99/month or $467.88/year
Identity & Social Security and AlertsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Dark Web & Privacy MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Data Breach NotificationsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
LifeLock Identity Alert System Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Lost Wallet Protection Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
USPS Address Change Verification Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Reduced Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Black Market Website SurveillanceGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Live Member Support 24/7/365Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
$1 Million Total Service GuaranteeGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Fictitious Identity Monitoring Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Court Records Scanning Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Home Title Monitoring Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Data Breach Notifications Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Online Annual Credit Reports and Scores1 Credit Bureau1 Credit Bureau3 Credit Bureau
Credit Card, Checking and Savings Account Activity Alerts Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Investment Account Activity Alerts  Green checkmark
Checking and Savings Account Application Alerts  Green checkmark
Bank Account Takeover Alerts  Green checkmark
Credit Inquiry Activity  Green checkmark
File-Sharing Network Searches  Green checkmark
Sex Offender Registry Reports  Green checkmark
Monthly Credit Score Tracking  Green checkmark

Read Our In-Depth LifeLock Review

PrivacyGuard Review

PrivacyGuard logo

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The Affinion Group’s PrivacyGuard offers three different plans. Its highest plan for $24.99/month has a decent combination of credit and identity monitoring, although its credit monitoring is the stronger of the two.

It also offers identity theft insurance and dedicated resolution services. However, all the reports of poor customer service and billing problems give us pause to recommend this company.

ProsCons
  • $1 million ID theft insurance
  • Fully managed recovery support w/ 24-hour hotline
  • Try it for 14 days for $1
  • Monitors email
  • FAQs, email and phone support
  • No family or child plan
  • Must request for certain items to be monitored
  • Customers say they randomly cancel your service
  • Customers aren’t pleased with their customer service
  • Not BBB accredited

Pricing

PrivacyGuard gives you a 14-day trial for $1.

 ID ProtectionCredit ProtectionTotal Protection
Price Per Month$9.99$19.99$24.99
3 Bureau Credit Reports & Scores Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
24/7 Daily Credit Monitoring Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Monthly Credit Score Tracking Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Credit Scores Simulator Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Financial Calculator Suite Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Credit Information Hotline Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Dedicated ID Fraud Resolution SupportGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
ID Verification MonitoringGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Black Market Website SurveillanceGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Social Security Number Event TrackingGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Online Directory ScanGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Annual Public Records ReportGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Public Records MonitoringGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Online Fraud AssistanceGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Reduced Pre-Approved Credit Card OffersGreen checkmark Green checkmark
Lost & Stolen Wallet AssistanceGreen checkmark Green checkmark
$1 Million ID Theft InsuranceGreen checkmark Green checkmark

ReliaShield Review

ReliaShield logo

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ReliaShield jumped into the ID theft industry two years ago with an extremely competitive product. Their ID theft protection service boasts monitoring for nearly everything our top winners cover, a fully-managed restoration service with a dedicated ID theft specialist, and $1 million insurance for stolen funds and reimbursement. And their cost is among the lowest you can find.

However, we can find next to no customer feedback about ReliaShield, which is an important part of our review criteria. We’re keeping a close eye on this service and it’s likely that they’ll move up in our rankings in the near future once we get a better idea of their track record in protecting people’s identity.

ProsCons
  • Very affordable individual and family plans
  • Offers a $1 million stolen funds and reimbursement protection
  • The family plan protects up to 10 people
  • Fully managed recovery support with a dedicated specialist
  • A- BBB rating
  • 24/7/365 emergency support
  • Very little customer feedback online
  • Doesn’t monitor medical records
  • No free trial
  • Doesn’t include internet security software

Pricing

The family plan includes two adults and up to 10 children.

 EssentialPrimeElite
Individual Pricing$7.99/mth$14.99/mth$21.99/mth
Family Pricing$14.99/mth$24.99/mth$34.99/mth
SSNGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Driver’s License No.Green checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Change of AddressGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Court RecordsGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Wallet ProtectionGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Dark Web MonitoringGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Data Breach UpdatesGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
24/7/365 Recovery SupportGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Unlimited Resoration ServicesGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
$1 Million ProtectionGreen checkmarkGreen checkmarkGreen checkmark
Non-Credit Loan Monitoring Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Sex Offender Monitoring Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Social Media Monitoring Green checkmarkGreen checkmark
Credit Bureau Monitoring 1 Bureau3 Bureaus
Monthly Credit Score Tracking  Green checkmark
Bank Account Takeover  Green checkmark
New Bank Account Application  Green checkmark
New Credit Card Application  Green checkmark

Zander Review

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Zander Insurance provides excellent full recovery services with certified specialists and a total of $2 million in insurance for a fraction of what you pay for other companies. It also monitors your basic personal information, including bank accounts and credit cards.

Zander falls short in other features, namely no credit bureau or personal/criminal monitoring. If you’re mainly concerned about assistance after a fraudulent event, it comes highly recommended by many consumers.

ProsCons
  • Offers $1 million stolen funds protection and $1 million in reimbursement protection
  • Monitors your driver’s license, bank accounts, credit cards, email and more
  • Sends fraud alerts to your smartphone and email
  • Provides fully managed restoration services with certified ID theft specialists
  • Offers a family plan
  • 24/7/365 customer support
  • A+ BBB rated and accredited
  • No free trial
  • Doesn’t monitor credit bureaus or provide credit scores
  • Doesn’t monitor public or criminal records
  • No sex offender search

Pricing

Both plans include the same monitoring and restorations services. The family plan provides coverage for you, your spouse, and any dependent children living in your house.

Individual Essential Plan: $6.75/month; $75/year

Individual Cyber Bundle Plan: $9.99/month; $110/year (ID theft + UltraVPN, Credit Lock, New Account & Account Takeover Monitoring)

Family Plan: $12.90/month; $145/year

  • $1 million reimbursement & stolen funds insurance
  • Lost or stolen wallet assistance
  • Monitors driver’s license, SSN and medical insurance ID
  • Change of address
  • Monitors bank accounts and credit cards
  • Full recovery services
  • 24/7/365 hotline

Family Cyber Bundle Plan: $19.49/month; $215/year (ID theft + UltraVPN, Credit Lock, New Account & Account Takeover Monitoring)

More Ways To Protect Yourself

If there’s one thing you take from this article, we hope it’s that you realize the threat of identity theft is serious. It’s not an easy mess to clean up, and taking proactive steps to monitor you and your family’s identities is the best way to protect yourselves.

See our comprehensive guide on identity theft to learn more about ID theft statistics, credit monitoring and other ways to safeguard your identity. For more tips to help you get protected online, read our guide on cybercrime prevention.

Identity Guard® Disclosures
*The score you receive with Identity Guard is provided for educational purposes to help you understand your credit. It is calculated using the information contained in your TransUnion credit file. Lenders use many different credit scoring systems, and the score you receive with Identity Guard is not the same score used by lenders to evaluate your credit.
**Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group‚ Inc. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms‚ conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms‚ conditions‚ and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
***Your card will be charged either a monthly or annual fee, depending on the membership plan you choose. You may cancel your membership anytime simply by contacting us. If you do not cancel your membership within the trial period, your card will be charged either a monthly or annual fee, depending on the membership plan you choose. You may cancel your membership anytime simply by contacting us.

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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