In this article:
Identity theft and fraud protection for your finances, personal info, and devices.
How Does Discover Protect Your Identity?
With online scams, fraud, and identity theft becoming more common, it pays to proactively protect your identity. According to the latest data from the Federal Trade Commission FTC) [*]:
More than 5.4 million Americans were victims of fraud and identity theft in 2023 – with total losses topping $10 billion.
Discover has built a strong reputation as a credit card company, but many customers may not realize that the company also offers an identity theft protection service.
Discover Identity Theft Protection is an easy option for current cardholders — but is it the best way to protect your identity and finances?
In this guide, we explore Discover Identity Theft Protection’s features, pricing, and pros and cons, as well as how it stacks up to competitors like Identity Guard.
Discover Identity Theft Protection Review: Features and Pricing
Discover Identity Theft Protection is a paid service for Discover customers that provides basic identity monitoring and fraud remediation services.
This service is offered in addition to the fraud detection features available to all Discover card members — including Experian credit file monitoring, regular Dark Web scans, FICO score tracking, and account fraud alerts.
Here are some of the standout features that come with Discover Identity Theft Protection:
- Three-bureau credit monitoring. Discover’s paid plan expands from its free offering by monitoring your credit file with all three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You’ll get alerted to “key changes” to your credit files, including new accounts, credit inquiries, and potentially negative information in your credit history.
- Bank account alerts. Discover monitors thousands of financial institutions and will alert you of suspicious activity on your accounts or if a bank account is opened in your name.
- Limited SSN and identity alerts. Discover will alert you if your Social Security number (SSN) is used to create a new identity — but only at Experian. You’ll also receive alternative and payday loan alerts, address change alerts, and criminal court alerts.
- Dark Web monitoring. Discover will monitor and notify you if your SSN was leaked in a data breach and is being illegally shared on one of the thousands of Dark Web sites it monitors.
- Up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. Discover’s paid plan provides industry standard coverage of up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. This covers legal expenses, stolen fund reimbursement, and other eligible losses from identity fraud.
- Child protection for up to 10 children. Unlike other identity theft services that charge for children, Discover provides limited monitoring and coverage for up to 10 children on each adult account — at no extra cost.
Discover Identity Theft Protection offers a decent level of protection. However, it isn’t an all-in-one provider like more modern identity theft protection options such as Identity Guard, Aura, and Norton LifeLock.
Most noticeably, Discover doesn’t include digital security tools, has limited identity and credit protection features, and can’t defend you against online scams and phishing.
Plus, Discover only offers a single plan option priced at $15/month for each adult user. This means couples must pay $30/month for basic protection.
If you have multiple adults in your household, Discover’s pricing is steep compared to other identity protection services. Identity Guard, for instance, covers up to five adults and unlimited children for just $17.99/month on an annual plan.
Who Is Discover Identity Theft Protection Best Suited For?
Discover is a decent identity protection option for some people. But it has serious limitations that could leave you vulnerable to modern threats.
For example, the lack of digital security tools and comprehensive identity monitoring means that you’ll likely only find out if your identity has been stolen well after scammers have used it to defraud you.
Here are some of the benefits and downsides of using Discover Identity Theft Protection:
While it doesn’t provide comprehensive protection against fraudsters, there are still some situations in which it makes sense to sign up for Discover Identity Theft Protection, such as:
- You’re already a Discover card member. Discover’s identity theft protection is only available to Discover card members. If you’re already one — and you trust the company — it could be a good idea to sign up.
- You already have a digital security provider. If you have access to antivirus software, a virtual private network (VPN), password manager, and other digital security tools, Discover Identity Theft Protection might be a decent option to fill in the gaps.
- You have a large family that needs protection. With up to 10 children covered under each plan, Discover’s identity protection is ideal for families with multiple children who need an inexpensive option. However, you’ll still pay more than other services to cover multiple adults.
The bottom line: Discover asks a premium price for limited features and protection. Unless you fall into one of the categories above, you’re probably better off going with another provider.
What Are the Downsides of Using Discover Identity Theft Protection?
Even if you’re an ideal candidate for Discover Identity Theft Protection, there are some downsides to consider:
- Limited identity theft protection. The biggest downside of Discover is that it doesn’t monitor more of your sensitive information. Modern scammers aren’t just after your SSN — They also use credit card and account numbers, passwords, and other data to steal your identity and defraud you. Without comprehensive monitoring, Discover leaves you vulnerable.
- Expensive plans for multiple adults. Starting at $15/month per user, Discover is more expensive than other identity protection services offering comparable or even more value. For example, Identity Guard starts at just $6.67/month for individuals on its most basic plan.
- No digital security tools. Discover Identity Theft Protection doesn’t include Safe Browsing tools or a password manager. These tools block dangerous websites and can prevent you from accidentally clicking on a malicious link or falling for a phishing scam.
- Won’t help protect your privacy online. With billions of people using social media, identity thieves know it’s a prime hunting ground to scour for victims. Discover doesn’t monitor your social media and online accounts or provide you with access to a VPN. If you frequently browse the internet or use public Wi-Fi, you could open yourself up to hacking, malware, and identity theft.
- Doesn’t proactively protect you. Discover Identity Theft Protection’s focus is more on monitoring, alerts, and remediation in the event that your identity is stolen. It doesn’t offer a credit lock or other tools that can help shield you from threats to begin with.
💡 Related: Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce: Which One Is Best In 2024? →
Why You Should Consider Identity Guard as a Discover Alternative: Feature Comparison
So, is Discover Identity Theft Protection worth it?
While Discover is a widely trusted credit card company, there are plenty of alternatives to its paid identity protection service that offer similar or even better protection — without the downsides.
Identity Guard has been one of the leading identity theft protection providers for 25 years — helping to keep more than 38 million people safe.
Identity Guard’s features include data protection, device security, identity and credit monitoring services, and more.
Here’s a breakdown of how Identity Guard compares to Discover:
Now, let’s dive deeper into some of the key features of Identity Guard and Discover Identity Theft Protection — and how they stack up against each other:
Identity monitoring
A major feature of identity theft protection is monitoring your personal information for signs that it’s been compromised, leaked, or used by scammers. Providers differ in how much information they track, where they monitor, and how they alert you.
Here’s how Discover shapes up to Identity Guard when it comes to identity monitoring:
Key takeaway: Unfortunately, the identity protection Discover offers is severely limited. It only tracks your SSN on the Dark Web — or if your personal information is used to apply for Experian credit.
Credit monitoring and fraud alerts
While you can monitor your credit manually by ordering free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, an identity protection service can take the work out of it for you. Many monitor your credit reports and send notifications to alert you of fraudulent activity.
They also allow you to initiate a credit freeze or lock, which prevents prospective lenders from opening new credit accounts in your name or accessing your file.
Here’s how Discover’s credit monitoring compares to Identity Guard:
Key takeaway: Both services offer credit monitoring with all three major credit bureaus. To get three-bureau monitoring with Identity Guard, you need to subscribe to the Total or Ultra plan. The Total plan starts at just $11.99/month — which is still less expensive than Discover at $15/month.
💡 Related: The 10 Best Credit Monitoring Services of 2024 →
Public record monitoring
If criminals get a hold of your SSN, they can use your identity to commit crimes, get your name added to sex offender lists, and attempt to change your address or home title.
Public record monitoring can give you peace of mind knowing that your identity isn’t being used for nefarious purposes — but not all identity theft protection services monitor the same databases.
Here’s how Identity Guard and Discover compare when it comes to public record monitoring:
Key takeaway: In addition to change-of-address and court record alerts, Identity Guard also monitors the sex offender registry and protects your home title.
Identity theft insurance policy
Without identity theft insurance, falling for a common scam could have devastating consequences — from tanked credit scores to lost wages and drained investment accounts.
If you become a victim of identity theft, reputable identity protection providers offer coverage and remediation services so that you don’t have to tackle restoring your identity, credit, and funds alone.
Here’s how Identity Guard and Discover’s insurance policies compare:
Key takeaway: For families or couples, Identity Guard’s potential $5 million insurance coverage is a huge selling factor over Discover. Identity Guard also provides Lost Wallet Protection. If your purse or wallet is stolen, Identity Guard will help you cancel your debit cards, monitor for fraud, and can even send you up to $2,000 in emergency cash from one of your accounts if needed.
Family protection
Identity theft can happen to anyone — including elderly loved ones and children.
Child identity theft, in particular, is on the rise, as scammers know that legal guardians rarely monitor their children’s credit — allowing identity thieves to get away with their crimes for months or even years.
Here’s how Discover and Identity Guard can protect you and your loved ones:
Key takeaway: Identity Guard’s plans can cover multiple adults — even those in separate households — making it that much easier to safeguard your whole family for an affordable price.
Digital security tools
Scams and identity theft often happen as a result of unknowingly interacting with malicious links, websites, or by using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
Digital security tools help shield your identity as you browse the internet — by warning you before you click on a link or input sensitive information into a dangerous website.
Here are the digital security tools that Identity Guard and Discover offer:
Key Takeaway: If you want proactive protection, choose Identity Guard. Unlike other identity theft protection services, Discover doesn’t provide any kind of Safe Browsing tools, leaving you and your family vulnerable to online threats and scams.
Pricing
When choosing an identity theft protection provider, it’s important to weigh cost versus value. You need to consider:
- The level and types of protection that you need
- The number of adults and children covered (if you need a family plan)
- Whether there’s a discount offered for annual billing
- Whether prices increase upon renewal after your first year
- Customer reviews on well-known sites like Trustpilot and G2
When it comes to pricing, here’s how Identity Guard and Discover compare:
Key Takeaway: With comprehensive ID theft protection, flexible family plans, and digital security tools, Identity Guard provides more value at a lower price point than Discover.
How To Cancel Your Discover Identity Theft Protection Plan
You can cancel your Discover Identity Theft Protection plan at any time and won’t be charged for future months.
If you cancel in the middle of the month, you’ll receive a prorated refund for the remainder of the unused subscription period.
To cancel your Discover Identity Theft Protection plan:
- Call 1-800-347-3089 and ask the representative to cancel your services.
- Log in to your Account Center. Click on Shortcuts at the top of the page. Then, select Identity Theft Protection.
Keep in mind that even after canceling your Identity Theft Protection, Discover may still share your personal information for marketing and “everyday business” purposes [*]. You can find out more about Discover’s data sharing policies by contacting them at 1-800-347-7552.
💡 Related: Identity Guard vs. LifeLock: 2024 Review and Comparison →
The Bottom Line: Discover Can Leave You Vulnerable
While Discover Identity Theft Protection offers some decent credit protection, it lacks essential features that can leave you vulnerable to online scams and fraud.
Namely, its lack of comprehensive identity monitoring and digital security tools is a major drawback to consider before signing up for the service.
For more comprehensive identity theft and online account protection, consider Identity Guard. With Safe Browsing tools, advanced Dark Web monitoring, and flexible plan options, Identity Guard can shield you and your family from the latest and most dangerous threats.
