Mar 14

6 Best Identity Theft Protection Services

by John Stapel

The rise of e-commerce and social media has made it nearly impossible to avoid leaving a digital footprint. As a result, it’s essential to safeguard your personal information from identity theft. If you’ve ever been a victim of this crime or are just concerned with protecting your profile, it’s worth considering the services of credible identity theft protection firms. These companies monitor your data, alert you to suspicious activity, and help restore your identity.

We’ve researched many alternatives and compiled a breakdown based on factors such as costs, features, credit monitoring, and restoration services. Discover the 6 best identity protection services  below.

The Most Important Factors for Finding Reputable Identity Theft Protection Services

If you’re thinking about using an identity theft protection service, keep these key questions in mind:

  • Is the service provided worth it? Identity theft protection firms monitor our personal, credit, and financial profiles, as well as our social media interactions. They also track changes to our addresses and social security numbers and scan the dark web for any other suspicious behavior. Many of us don’t have the time or resources to perform these tasks, so it seems wise to outsource this function.
  • Does the cost outweigh the benefits? Identity theft protection may not be high on the list of priorities for most people. Therefore, we looked at entities with packages as low as $7.50 per month that still have a proven track record.
  • Will I be financially covered if my identity is stolen? Choose a company that offers insurance to cover stolen funds so that you can still pay your bills and support your loved ones while rectifying the problem.
  • Can the firm help me restore my identity once it has been compromised? Many businesses offer monitoring and restoration services as a packaged deal. If you decide to use one of these service providers, it makes sense to find one that can restore your identity to your pre-theft status.

Identity Guard has 20 years of experience in protecting consumers’ identities. It uses IBM Watson artificial intelligence, which increases its capacity to monitor and protect consumers’ personal information. Identity Guard offers affordable plans ranging from $7.50 to $25 for individuals and $12.50 to $33.33 for families.

There are three plans available that cover numerous features, including credit and debit card monitoring, 401K investment monitoring, and sex offender alerts. Consumer Advocate also explains another exceptional benefit of using this firm: “Identity Guard has been third-party tested and states they have the speediest alerts among identity theft service providers. Customers may be alerted within seconds of an identity security breach.”

  • Rapidly notifies consumers of suspicious or fraudulent activities
  • Provides a personal case manager to help resolve cases of theft or fraud
  • Offers a $1 million insurance policy to cover the loss of funds in the event of a data breach
  • Some reviewers claim to experience issues with the company's online verification process when trying to purchase the service
  • 3-bureau credit monitoring is only available on the Ultra plan

We added LifeLock to the list due to the cybersecurity tools it offers in all three of its plans. Additionally, the LifeLock Identity app instantly notifies you of suspicious activities via message alerts. You can then immediately respond to prevent the situation from worsening.

LifeLock provides dark web and ID verification monitoring, stolen wallet protection, and various other features spread across all its packages. Its patented Identity Lock allows consumers to freeze their Transunion credit files to prevent the unauthorized opening of new accounts. This is crucial to maintaining a good credit history.

LifeLock also has a Million Dollar Protection Package that includes stolen funds reimbursement, personal expense compensation, and coverage for lawyers and experts ranging from $25,000 to $1 million.

  • All packages offer identity and social security number tracking, which detects unusual activities associated with your personal information
  • US-based agents are available to help if you become a victim of identity theft
  • Supplies secure VPN for multiple devices; its premium plan features an app for unlimited PCs, tablets, Macs, and smartphones
  • Only the Ultimate Plus plan provides credit monitoring with all three bureaus
  • Identity theft insurance ranges from $25,000 to $1 million, depending on the option you choose. Essentially, you'll need the most expensive plan to ensure that you're fully covered if your identity is stolen
  • Some reviewers state they've received terrible customer service, a concerning factor given the urgent nature of the service provided

IdentityIQ has been in the business of protecting consumers’ identities since 2009 and provides extensive credit monitoring services. It offers Enhanced Credit Protection, which alerts customers to a 10-point shift in their Transunion score, a change in their collection balances, the addition of authorized card users, and various other adjustments to their profile.

It also supplies clients with anti-virus software and a VPN to help safeguard their private data and transact online securely. Additionally, it runs checks on individuals’ non-credit-based personal information. This includes monitoring changes in your address, criminal record, and unusual activities using your social security number.

  • Includes an affordable package with basic monitoring services for simple, cost-effective coverage
  • Provides identity theft insurance up to $1 million
  • Case managers help restore your identity in the event it's compromised
  • Family protection is only available on the Secure Max plan
  • 3-bureau credit monitoring is only available on the Secure Pro and Max packages

Since its incorporation 40 years ago, IdentityForce has offered solutions for identity theft protection to individuals, businesses, and government agencies alike. The company sets itself apart from the others on this list by using the Sontiq Intelligent Identity Security Platform to enhance its surveillance services. This award-winning cloud-based platform focuses on safeguarding every aspect of a consumers’ identity.

Additionally, its social media monitoring helps detect scams, malware, and unusual activities associated with hacking an account. The IdentityForce Mobile app notifies users of possible threats and provides a safe platform to interact online. It also has an outstanding product, ChildWatch, that observes your children’s data, social media interactions, and their social security number for any suspicious activity.

  • Offers a 30-day free trial on the UltraSecure package
  • Excellent resources on its website help consumers understand the dynamics of identity theft and the steps to prevent it
  • Provides theft insurance up to $1 million
  • 3-bureau credit monitoring is only available on the UltraSecure plus Credit plan
  • Limited plans to choose from

IDShield offers comprehensive identity theft protection and restoration services to consumers and businesses. It has affordable monthly packages for individuals and families, with family plans including much-needed monitoring of minors. This service tracks your child’s social security number for new accounts, credit applications, court documents, and unusual activities. As such, we believe it’s the best identity theft protection for families.

IDShield’s variety of services includes monitoring the internet and payday loans, providing quarterly credit scores, and facilitating consultations with licensed private investigators during the restoration process. IDShield provides an identity theft protection policy of $1 million to help members who have had their data breached and identities compromised.

  • Offers a 30-day free trial on all four of its plans
  • IDShield mobile app sends instant notifications of changes to your data, suspicious activities on your accounts, and fraud alerts
  • Provides immense resources on its site to educate consumers about the risks of identity theft and actions needed to prevent it.
  • Doesn't offer credit reports
  • The 1-bureau plan only performs credit monitoring with Transunion

ID Watchdog has been helping customers safeguard their personal and financial information since 2005. Comprehensive features to protect minors distinguish the company from other service providers on this list. Its Equifax Child Credit Lock safeguards children against credit fraud. Essentially, you’ll create an Equifax credit report for your child and then lock it to prevent potential lenders from gaining access to it.

Additionally, it monitors your children’s social media accounts for any cyber bullying or interactions that may damage their reputation and alerts you to these instances. ID watchdog provides two packages for individuals and families with a wide range of detection services. These include credit report locking, subprime loan monitoring, tracking of credit scores, and supplying credit reports. Given its scope of services, it certainly provides the best identity theft protection consumer reports.

  • Mobile app available for on-the-go notifications
  • Offers $1 million in theft insurance
  • Multiple features included in family plans to protect your children
  • 3-bureau credit monitoring is only available on the Premium plans
  • Family options only cover four minors

Other Identity Theft Protection Services We Considered

ReliaShield

ReliaShield is a Tennessee-based identity theft protection company that offers credit bureau, personal information, and dark web monitoring, as well as restoration services. It has three affordable plans ranging from $7.99 to $21.99 for individuals and $14.99 to $34.99 for families.

  • All family packages cover minors at no cost
  • Provides $1 million in theft insurance
  • 3-bureau credit monitoring is only available on the Elite option

How We Found the Best Identity Theft Protection Services

When researching and compiling our list of the 6 best identity theft protection services of 2021, we considered these important attributes:

Package Features We selected companies that provide additional services outside of routine credit checks. These include personal information and social media monitoring, social security number tracking, change of address notifications, and many other features that protect your crucial data.

Cost We focused primarily on organizations that offer an affordable range of options covering both individuals and families. We wanted identity theft protection to be a viable, cost-effective purchase for you and your family.

Theft Insurance We only included firms that provide an identity theft protection policy. This means you can remain financially stable while your case is investigated and restored.

What You Need to Know About Identity Theft Protection Services

Are identity theft protection services worth it?

chevron-down

chevron-up

Yes. If you and your family have a widespread online presence, it's wise to use a qualified firm to protect yourself and your loved ones.

What are the best identity theft protection services?

chevron-down

chevron-up

Based on our research, we've concluded that companies like Identity Guard, LifeLock, and IdentityIQ are some of the best identity theft protection services.

How much does it cost for identity theft protection?

chevron-down

chevron-up

Packages range from $7.50–$24.99 for individuals and $12.50–$35.90 for families.

What is identity theft protection?

chevron-down

chevron-up

It's the monitoring of your personal and financial information to detect any fraudulent or suspicious activity that occurs against your name.