The 10 Best Identity Theft Protection Providers of 2024

What’s the Best Way To Protect Your Identity?

Identity theft has become one of the most common and dangerous crimes in America for two reasons: It’s lucrative — and it’s only getting easier for scammers to commit. 

According to the latest data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) [*]:

Over 5.4 million Americans were victims of identity theft and fraud in 2023 — with losses of more than $10 billion.

While banks and financial institutions have measures in place to try and protect your accounts, they can’t stop all types of fraud. That’s why so many people are turning to dedicated identity theft protection services in order to keep their identities and accounts secure. 

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what identity theft protection is, why you need it, and then review 10 top-tier options to help you choose which one is best for you.

Do You Really Need Identity Theft Protection?

The truth is that no, you don’t need identity theft protection. 

Many of the features offered by even the best identity theft protection providers can be replaced by free services and manual work. For example, everyone can pull their credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, freeze their credit, sign up for data breach notifications, and monitor their online accounts for hacking. 

But these are often complicated and time-consuming tasks — and they still can’t guarantee that your identity won’t be stolen. 

Modern identity theft protection providers do the work for you, by monitoring your accounts and personally identifiable information (PII) and alerting you in near real-time to suspicious activity. 

Many services utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to highlight threats before they even get to you and provide digital security tools to protect your devices and data against hacking. Best of all, you get access to personalized support and identity theft insurance if you become the victim of identity theft.

If you are at higher risk for identity theft, this kind of protection is a must-have. 

You may be at high risk if any of the following applies to you:

• If you’ve been the victim of identity theft in the past. Previous victims are anywhere from 40–70% more likely to be targeted multiple times [*]. If you’ve had your identity stolen in the past, you should sign up for identity theft protection. 
• If your personal information has been leaked in a data breach. If a bank, government agency, or other institution with which you do business suffers a breach, your most sensitive information could be readily available to hackers and scammers. 
• If you’re unwilling or unable to freeze your credit. One of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft is to freeze your credit. However, it’s not always a feasible option — especially if you need to apply for credit in the near future. 
• You know you won’t actively monitor your credit, bank account, and identity. Actively monitoring your financial accounts takes time and effort. It also demands enough technical proficiency to know how to recognize and combat unusual activity. If you’re not able to do that on your own, you should have a reputable digital security provider do it for you.
• You have children or elderly parents/grandparents for whom you’re responsible. Young children and seniors are much less likely to closely monitor their accounts for signs of fraud — or know what to do when they see signs of unauthorized activity. Identity theft protection services help bolster their security and safeguard their identities against fraud.

The bottom line: Understanding your personal risk factors and the limitations of each provider can help you decide if identity theft protection is right for you and your family — and which service you should choose.

💡 Related: How Much Does Identity Theft Protection Cost (and Do You Need It)? →

The 10 Best Identity Theft Protection Providers in 2024

The best identity theft protection services all offer some combination of the same features: identity monitoring, credit protection, digital security, hands-on support, and identity theft insurance. 

Here’s a high-level breakdown of our picks for the best identity theft protection services available in 2024:

Now, let’s take a look at each service, its pros and cons, pricing plans, and how to choose if it’s the right option for you.

1. Identity Guard

Identity Guard started offering consumer identity theft protection services back in 1996. Since then, it has helped protect over 38 million people by consistently adopting new and emerging technologies. 

Identity Guard is a true all-in-one solution, combining award-winning identity theft protection with three-bureau credit monitoring, White Glove Fraud Resolution support, online security tools, and a $1 million insurance policy.

Identity Guard’s main selling feature is its robust identity watchlist. You can monitor more than 70 unique pieces of your identity — including your Social Security number (SSN), driver’s license, bank account information, credit and debit card numbers, and even health insurance information. You’ll get alerts if any of your data shows up on the Dark Web, in recent data breaches, or public records and sex offender lists.

How much does Identity Guard cost? 

Identity Guard offers a three-tier pricing system based on your needs. You can also sign up for a family plan that includes coverage for up to five adults and an unlimited number of children.

Here are Identity Guard’s plans and pricing as of February 2024 using this special discount link:

• Value Plan (no credit monitoring): $6.67 per month (individual) and $10 (family)
• Total Plan: $13.33 per month (individual) and $19.99 (family)
• Ultra Plan: $19.99 per month (individual) and $26.67 (family)

Final verdict: Identity Guard is a powerful and affordable option for individuals and families. Its Ultra plan provides the tools and services you need to keep your identity safe.

2. Aura

Aura is owned by the same company as Identity Guard, but adds more digital security and family-focused features to help proactively keep your identity secure. 

Aura’s all-in-one solution includes top-rated identity theft protection and three-bureau credit monitoring on all accounts, along with a full suite of digital security tools to protect you and your family against hacking. This includes Safe Browsing tools, a military-grade virtual private network (VPN), powerful antivirus software, secure password manager, and optional AI-powered spam call and text protection.

Among Aura’s biggest selling points are its easy-to-use mobile app (on both Android and iOS), robust family plans including powerful parental controls, and 24/7/365 U.S.-based White Glove Fraud Resolution support. You can also try Aura for free for 14 days.

How much does Aura cost? 

All Aura plans include almost all of the same features, and the price you pay doesn’t change after your first year. 

Here are Aura’s plans and pricing as of February 2024:

• Individual Plan: $12/month 
• Couple Plan (two members): $22/month 
• Family Plan (five adults and unlimited children): $37/month (can include members living in different households, such as elderly loved ones or kids away at school) 

Final verdict: Aura is an excellent choice for families with children and older parents or grandparents to protect — as well as anyone who wants comprehensive online security. 

💡 Related: Aura vs. LifeLock vs. Identity Guard: Which One Is Best? →

3. Experian IdentityWorks

Experian IdentityWorks is the flagship identity theft protection service offered by Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. It alerts you to changes to your credit report, and can also help you place a fraud alert on your credit file to warn lenders that you could be at risk of identity theft.

How much does Experian IdentityWorks cost? 

While Experian’s free Basic plan offers a limited set of credit monitoring services, you’ll want to opt for the Premium plan for full identity theft protection.

Here are IdentityWorks’ plans and pricing as of February 2024:

• IdentityWorks Basic (Experian credit monitoring only): free 
• IdentityWorks Premium (individual): $24.99/month
• IdentityWorks Premium (family): $34.99/month

Final verdict: Experian IdentityWorks offers its most valuable features on its premium plan, which comes at a higher price than many competitors.

4. ProtectMyID

ProtectMyID is another identity theft protection service offered by Experian. It is similar to Experian IdentityWorks, but with an important distinction — ProtectMyID is only available to members of the American Automobile Association (AAA).

How much does ProtectMyID cost? 

You need to be a paying AAA member in good standing before you can sign up for ProtectMyID. Once you do, you’ll have access to a limited free plan as well as two tiers of premium coverage.

Here are ProtectMyID’s pricing plans as of February 2024:

• Essential: Free for AAA members
• Deluxe: $10.95/month
• Platinum: $15.95/month

Final verdict: ProtectMyID is an affordable option for entry-level credit monitoring for AAA members. However, it won’t protect against sophisticated identity theft attacks.

5. LifeLock

LifeLock is one of the most visible brands in identity theft protection, thanks to its connection with Norton 360. It offers a wide range of different plan options — from basic identity theft protection with minimal financial protection to comprehensive coverage including Norton 360 digital security.

How much does LifeLock cost? 

LifeLock’s pricing and plan structure is one of its biggest downsides. Not only is LifeLock more expensive than other similar services — it forces users to choose between upwards of 50 different plan options. 

Here are LifeLock with Norton 360’s pricing plans as of February 2024:

• LifeLock Select: $8.29/month
• LifeLock Advantage: $15.99/month
• LifeLock Ultimate Plus: $24.99/month

All of these prices only apply to the first year of subscription. After that, prices increase by 40-70%, making LifeLock one of the most expensive identity theft protection providers on this list.

Final verdict: LifeLock offers a broad range of plans and features. However, it almost always ends up being more expensive than other options on this list — especially after the first year discount ends.

💡 Related: Is LifeLock Worth the Price? How To Decide →

6. IdentityForce

IdentityForce is owned by TransUnion, one of the major credit bureaus. Its plan options offer identity theft protection and credit monitoring as two distinct services. You can also bundle them together into a single service, but the price is higher than many other options on this list.

How much does IdentityForce cost? 

Here are IdentityForce’s plans as of February 2024:

• IdentityForce UltraSecure plan: $17.99/month
• IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit plan: $23.99/month

IdentityForce doesn’t offer standard family plans, but it does create custom family plans for customers who call and speak with a live agent. 

Final verdict: IdentityForce offers good protection for individuals, but at a higher price point than many other services that offer similar or better protection. 

🤔 Still unsure? See how IdentityForce compares to LifeLock →

7. ID Watchdog

ID Watchdog is owned by Equifax — another of the three major credit bureaus. In 2017, Equifax suffered a massive data breach and agreed to a global settlement with the FTC for up to $425 million [*]. ID Watchdog offers many of the identity theft protection features that other services provide, but specializes in credit monitoring.

How much does ID Watchdog cost? 

Here are ID Watchdog’s pricing and plans as of February 2024:

• ID Watchdog Select: $14.95/month (individual) or $23.95/month (family)
• ID Watchdog Premium: $21.95/month (individual) or $34.95/month (family)

Final verdict: ID Watchdog’s service comes with significant gaps. You can’t monitor your Experian credit file without paying for its Premium plan, and it doesn’t come with much-needed digital security features.

💡 Related: How To Choose The Best LifeLock Alternative in 2024 →

8. Zander

Zander is an identity theft protection service that heavily promotes its affiliation with the finance celebrity Dave Ramsey. It monitors personally identifiable information (PII) like your SSN and home title against public records, and triggers alerts when unusual activity shows up. 

Zander’s Elite Bundle includes debit, credit, and transaction monitoring, as well as limited digital security tools provided by UltraVPN and UltraAV. However, Zander doesn’t include any form of credit monitoring — leaving you susceptible to financial fraud.

How much does Zander cost? 

Zander offers two plan tiers with the option to protect your family (two adults and unlimited children). Zander doesn’t offer a free trial. However, if you pay monthly (which costs slightly more), you can cancel at any point.

Here are Zander identity theft insurance’s pricing plans as of February 2024:

• Essential Plan: $6.75/month (individual) or $12.90/month (family)
• Elite Cyber Bundle: $11.99/month (individual) or $21.99/month (family)

Final verdict: Zander offers affordable identity monitoring services, but no additional credit monitoring and only rudimentary digital security tools.

💡 Related: How Does Identity Theft Happen? 10 Risks You Need To Know →

9. PrivacyGuard

PrivacyGuard is an identity theft protection provider with multiple service tiers. It can provide you with identity theft protection, credit monitoring services, or both. Each option comes with its own pricing plan, but neither includes sophisticated digital security tools.

How much does PrivacyGuard cost? 

Here are PrivacyGuard’s pricing plans as of February 2024:

• Identity Protection: Starts at $9.99/month — only offers basic identity protection
• Credit Protection: Starts at $19.99/month — includes monthly three-bureau credit scores
• Total Protection: Starts at $24.99/month — offers everything in both plans (above)

Final verdict: PrivacyGuard has fewer proactive security features than other entrants on this list, but it does have competitively priced credit monitoring services.

💡 Related: The 7 Best Credit Protection Services of 2024 (Why You Need One) →

10. IDShield

IDShield is an identity theft protection service offered by a legal service provider called LegalShield. IDShield offers a wide range of identity theft protection services including credit monitoring and fraud resolution — but its standout feature is access to private investigators to help you recover from identity theft and fraud.

How much does IDShield cost? 

Here are IDShield’s plans and pricing as of February 2024:

• Individual (one credit bureau monitoring — only TransUnion): $14.95/month
• Individual (three-bureau monitoring): $19.95/month
• Family (one credit bureau monitoring — only TransUnion): $29.95/month
• Family (three-bureau monitoring): $34.95/month

Final verdict: IDShield is an appealing option for people who want private investigators to help track down scammers. Its other features aren’t as advanced as others on this list.

How To Choose an Identity Theft Protection Provider

The best identity theft protection services share many of the same security features and add-ons. They monitor your most sensitive information and financial accounts for fraudulent activity, conduct Dark Web monitoring to search for leaked information and protect you from data breaches, and provide identity recovery services to customers who have been targeted by scammers. 

However, most ID theft protection services differ when it comes to their credit capabilities, insurance reimbursement policies, and the prices of their annual plans. 

Choosing the right identity theft protection plan for yourself and your family members requires knowing more about your exposure to risk.

Here are some things to consider when choosing between identity theft protection companies:

• Assess your risk level. The more accounts, assets, and digital footprint exposure you have, the more of a target you become for identity thieves and scammers. If your data has been leaked in data breaches, accounts have been hacked in the past, or you’ve already been a victim of identity theft, you’ll want to look for special features to address those issues. 
• Decide which features you care about most. Some people want to protect their investment accounts above all else. Others want credit simulators and other tools to help improve their monthly credit scores. Your needs may not be the same as everyone else’s, and your top picks for identity theft protection may differ as a result.
• Decide if you’re protecting yourself or your family. Many identity theft protection services offer different levels of protection for individuals and families. These generally come at different price points, too.
• Consider your budget. Most identity theft protection services offer basic protection at very low prices — and some offer it for free. Better protection will come at a higher price, but not all providers charge the same rates for premium services.
• Understand the key features that you need. The more you know about your own personal risk profile, the better. Pay special attention to the difference between credit monitoring and digital security against hacking and phishing attacks. You may want stronger protection against certain types of attacks.
• Check user reviews for confirmation. Even a full-featured identity theft protection service may not be the right choice for you if it doesn’t offer excellent customer support. Make sure you can trust your provider to be there for you when you need them.

💡 Related: How To Choose The Best LifeLock Alternative in 2024 →

How Does Identity Theft Happen? 

Identity theft happens when scammers use your personal data to commit identity fraud. That fraud can take many forms — such as using your Social Security number (SSN) to take out a payday loan or filing a change of address form with the local post office. In each case, someone is pretending to be you and profiting in some way that you will eventually have to pay for.

Identity thieves can gain access to your data by using the Dark Web, or by conducting phishing scams against you directly. They may trick you into clicking on malicious links, or conduct elaborate romance scams designed to lure you into trusting them. 

In each case, the goal is to convince you to give up sensitive data that scammers can use against you.

How To Protect Against Identity Theft

Identity theft protection services help reduce the risk of identity theft, but they aren’t the only options out there. Make sure you’re prepared by paying attention to the following tips:

Learn to recognize the warning signs of identity theft

Find out what identity theft looks like in practice. If you know how to detect the early warning signs, you may be able to stop identity thieves before they cause catastrophic damage.

Here are some red flags to look out for:

• Strange withdrawals or transfers are being made from your bank account.
• You receive calls from debt collectors about loans or accounts you don’t recognize.
• You’re getting mail from credit card issuers describing accounts you don’t remember opening.
• Credit reports, tax documents, and court records reflect unusual activity.

Secure your online accounts and data against hackers

Identity theft often starts with a compromised online account. It may be something as simple as losing access to your social media account. In time, scammers will work their way into your bank account and other sensitive records. 

Take these steps to prevent hackers from breaching your accounts:

• Always activate two or multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA) on every account that supports it.
• Use strong, unique passwords for every account. Consider using a password manager to add another layer of security.
• Keep your devices and apps up-to-date. Hackers can launch attacks by exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated software.

💡 Related: The 10 Best Credit Monitoring Services of 2024 →

Freeze your credit with all three bureaus

If you suspect that someone has gained access to one of your accounts, you can take proactive action by freezing your credit with all three major bureaus. This makes it much harder for identity thieves to open new accounts and take out loans in your name.

To freeze your credit, you need to contact each of the bureaus individually:

Some identity theft protection services include a one-click credit freeze or lock as a feature, which makes the process much faster and easier.

Reduce your online footprint, and share less on social media

Identity thieves can use your public information against you. They may impersonate trusted colleagues and co-workers, or use other information you’ve posted online to launch attacks against you. 

Here are a few steps you can take to reduce your digital footprint:

• Limit what you share on social media and other websites. You can also request that Google remove personal information that appears in search results [*]. 
• Take down photos that show you in public spaces that you frequently visit. If someone else posts photos of you, ask them to take them down.

💡 Related: How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft in 2024 →

The Bottom Line: Identity Theft Protection Gives You Peace Of Mind

With only a few pieces of your personally identifiable information (PII), identity thieves can impersonate you, take over your online accounts, empty your bank accounts, and take out loans in your name. 

Keeping your identity secure can be a complex and time-consuming task. Anyone with a credit history is potentially at risk of identity theft —  but identity theft protection services like Identity Guard make it much easier to keep your identity safe. 

Save on award-winning identity theft protection. Get 33% off Identity Guard today.