The best identity theft protection — compared honestly
We independently research every major service on price, features, and real-world coverage. No pay-to-rank. No sponsored placements.
2026 identity theft protection comparison
Comparing price, credit monitoring, dark web scanning, and insurance coverage across the top services.
| Service | Our rating | Starting price | 3-bureau monitoring | Dark web scan | Insurance | Best for | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aura
All-in-one digital safety
Top pick
|
$12/mo
Individual plan
|
Yes All plans |
Yes | $1M per adult | Overall value | Read review | |
|
LifeLock
by Norton, most recognized brand
|
$10.42/mo
Core plan
|
Yes Advanced plan |
Yes | Up to $3M | Highest insurance | Read review | |
|
NordProtect
by NordVPN, bundles VPN + ID
|
$3.99/mo
Silver plan
|
Yes Platinum plan |
Yes | Up to $1M | Budget + VPN bundle | Read review | |
|
Identity Guard
Powered by IBM Watson AI
|
$7.50/mo
Value plan
|
Yes Total plan |
Yes | $1M | AI monitoring | Read review | |
|
IDShield
Licensed private investigators
|
$14.95/mo
1-bureau plan
|
Yes 3-bureau plan |
Yes | Up to $3M | Recovery support | Read review | |
|
IdentityIQ
Strong family + credit focus
|
$6.99/mo
Secure plan
|
Yes Secure Pro plan |
Yes | $1M | Families | Coming soon | |
|
Experian IdentityWorks
Direct bureau access, free tier
|
Free / $24.99
Free plan / Premium
|
Yes Premium plan |
Yes | Up to $1M | Free starter option | Coming soon |
How we compare these services
What makes this site different from sponsored "best of" lists.
Independent research
We test and review every service ourselves. No company pays to appear in our comparison table or influence our rankings.
Reviewed quarterly
Prices, coverage tiers, and insurance policies change frequently. We review and update every listing at least every three months.
We compare what matters
3-bureau monitoring, dark web scanning, insurance payout limits, and recovery support — not just marketing language.
Honest about affiliate links
We earn a commission when you sign up through our links. This funds the site — but it never influences which service we rank highest.
Identity theft is growing — and getting harder to catch
The FBI received more than 1 million cybercrime complaints in 2025, with reported losses of nearly $20.9 billion, a 26% jump in a single year. Identity thieves now target children, medical records, and tax returns, not just credit cards. A monitoring service won't prevent theft, but it can catch it early and help you recover.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report (published April 2026).
Guides & common questions
Straight answers to the questions real people ask about identity theft protection.