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Best for comprehensive online and identity protection
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ID theft protection that monitors your SSN, bank accounts, credit cards, and brokerage and retirement accounts for suspicious activity
Every plan includes the full feature set, so no additional cost to unlock monitoring, insurance, or restoration
Bundles data removal with identity theft protection, antivirus, VPN, and a password manager in one subscription
Best for browser safety
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Browser security tool that monitors your email for phishing attempts and alerts you to data breaches tied to your address
Monitors dark web exposure for up to 5 people, with individual, couples, and family plans available
Includes up to $1M in identity theft insurance and a dedicated hotline if your identity is compromised
Aura is a better choice for people who are looking for a full suite of identity theft protection, monitoring, and online security tools. Guardio is a lightweight browsing protection tool. It does have some basic identity monitoring, but it's not a replacement for traditional antivirus software.
The upside to Guardio is that there won't be a steep renewal fee. But overall, we think Aura offers the better long-term value for the price. Here's why.
Guardio is mainly built for browser, email, and scam protection, while Aura combines identity theft monitoring with a broader set of digital security tools. If you want lightweight browser safety, Guardio may be enough. If you want identity monitoring, fraud support, and extra privacy features in one plan, Aura is the more complete option.
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Our Pick |
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| Price | $9.00–$30.00/mo | $9.99-$34.99/mo |
| Protection approach | App/device-based + browser extension | Browser extension (Chrome, Edge) + mobile app |
| Phishing & scam protection | ||
| Malicious site blocking | ||
| Email threat protection | Yes (AI spam call & message protection) | Yes (Gmail security) |
| Dark web monitoring | ||
| Identity theft insurance | Up to $1 million per adult | Up to $1 million per adult |
| Credit monitoring | Yes — Experian, Equifax, TransUnion | |
| Identity restoration services | Yes — white glove fraud resolution | Yes — 24/7 identity theft resolution |
| VPN included | ||
| Antivirus included | Yes (manual scans, Windows real-time) | No (browser-based only, no file scans) |
| 24/7 customer support | Yes (email; phone for ID theft resolution only) | |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Chrome, Edge, Android, iOS |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Aura offers more complete identity theft coverage than Guardio, including financial monitoring, fraud support, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance per adult.
What helps Aura stand out is that it also bundles extra digital security tools, including data removal, antivirus, a VPN, an ad blocker, a password manager, and AI-powered spam call and message protection. The Family plan also includes parental controls.
The tradeoff is that some of Aura's bundled tools aren't as strong as dedicated standalone products. In our hands-on testing, for example, Aura Antivirus didn't catch phishing pages as reliably as top standalone antivirus software.
Guardio is designed mainly for browser-based threats, including malicious sites, scam messages, and phishing attempts. Setup is simple, since protection starts through the browser extension and mobile app rather than a full desktop security suite. It's a sensible fit for people who want lightweight scam and browsing protection.
However, Guardio isn't a full antivirus replacement. It doesn't provide traditional device-wide malware scanning, and our testing found its threat detection could be inconsistent. It also offers fewer bundled security extras than Aura.
Aura offers stronger overall value if you want identity theft protection plus broader digital security tools in one subscription.
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Our Pick |
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| Price range | $9.00–$30.00/mo | $9.99-$34.99/mo |
| Best value plan | Individual — $9.00/mo covering 10 devices | Premium Individual — $9.99/mo |
| Family plan | Yes — from $25.00/mo (5 adults + unlimited kids) | Yes — from $23.33/mo (up to 5 people) |
| Free plan | No, but has a 14-day free trial | Yes (basic browser protection) |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 60 days | |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Aura combines identity theft monitoring with financial alerts and a wider security bundle. In addition to watching for fraud and data exposure, it includes tools like data removal, a password manager, and a VPN. Child online protection is available only with the Family plan.
Aura offers a 14-day free trial and a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. Learn more about Aura pricing.
Guardio focuses on browser and mobile scam protection, including phishing, fake websites, and suspicious messages. It also alerts you to some exposed personal data, but it doesn't match Aura's deeper identity and financial monitoring.
Guardio doesn't offer a free trial or a money-back guarantee. However, it does have a free plan. While it's limited to basic browser protection, the free plan can help you decide whether this is the right service for you. Learn more about Guardio pricing.
Aura offers stronger online protection, including malware scans and additional security tools.
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Our Pick |
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| Phishing protection | ||
| Scam & fraud site blocking | ||
| Malicious link blocking | ||
| Email threat protection | Yes — AI spam call & message protection | Yes — Gmail security integration |
| SMS/text scam protection | ||
| Browser extension | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Yes — Chrome, Edge, Chromium-based browsers |
| Malware/virus scanning | Yes — manual scans (Quick, Full, Custom) | |
| Real-time protection | Yes — Windows only | Yes — browsers, Android, and iOS |
| Firewall | ||
| VPN | ||
| Password manager | ||
| Parental controls | Yes (family plans) | |
| Ad blocker | Yes (Safe Browsing extension) | |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Guardio is centered on browser safety, including phishing protection, malicious-site blocking, and scam prevention. Its mobile app adds message filtering, but the service is still best suited to people who want lightweight browser and scam protection rather than a full security suite.
Aura includes a wider mix of tools for blocking threats, protecting accounts, and improving privacy across your devices. That said, its antivirus component is not as convincing as a dedicated antivirus product. In our testing, Aura handled file-based threats better than Guardio but still missed phishing protection checks we would have liked it to catch.
Aura offers several monitoring features that cover personal information and financial accounts. Guardio offers only data breach alerts and not comprehensive identity monitoring.
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Our Pick |
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| Dark web monitoring | ||
| Data breach alerts | ||
| SSN monitoring | ||
| Financial account monitoring | Yes — bank, credit card, investment, retirement | |
| Credit monitoring | Yes — Experian, Equifax, TransUnion | |
| Credit reports | Yes — annually, all three bureaus | |
| Credit score | Yes — VantageScore, updated monthly | |
| Credit lock | ||
| Home and auto title monitoring | ||
| Criminal and court record alerts | ||
| Address change alerts | ||
| Identity theft insurance | Up to $1M per adult | Up to $1M per adult |
| Identity restoration services | Yes — U.S.-based white glove fraud resolution | Yes — 24/7 identity theft resolution |
| Lost wallet remediation | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Aura is the stronger pick for identity theft protection because it offers more traditional monitoring and recovery support. It watches for a wider range of identity and financial threats, and it includes fraud resolution plus up to $1 million in identity theft insurance per adult.
Guardio's identity features are more limited. It can alert you when certain personal details, like your email address or phone number, show up in leaks, but it doesn't offer the same depth of monitoring or restoration support as Aura. It does, however, include up to $1 million in identity theft insurance per adult.
Overall, Aura performed better during our testing experiences. Guardio was more inconsistent with its results, while Aura proved more reliable in most fields.
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Our Pick |
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| Manually downloaded malware (AMTSO) | Pass — quarantined the file | Inconsistent — passed in 01/2025 and 05/2025, failed in 09/2025; Windows AV interfered with 02/2026 test |
| Drive-by malware download (AMTSO) | Pass — quarantined the file | Inconsistent — same pattern as above |
| Phishing page detection (AMTSO) | Fail — allowed page visit across all test rounds | Inconsistent — passed in 01/2025 and 05/2025; failed in 09/2025 and 02/2026 |
| EICAR file detection (manual scan) | Pass — detected files in Downloads, Desktop, Screenshots, and Recycle Bin | N/A — no file scanning capability |
| False positives noted | Occasional (e.g., flagged Turbo VPN and AVG in one test round; none in most rounds) | N/A |
| No. of scan types | Quick, Full, Custom (manual only; no scheduled scans) | No manual scans — runs in background only |
| Scan performance | Quick: 1–24 sec. Full: 45 sec–26 min depending on device. Low system impact in most rounds. | N/A |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Because neither service has meaningful third-party antivirus test results we could rely on, we focused on our own hands-on testing for threat detection, alerts, and everyday usability. We used EICAR-based checks where applicable and also reviewed how consistently each service warned us about suspicious activity.
Across repeated testing, Aura was more dependable for file-based threat detection, though it still fell short on phishing-page detection in our latest checks.
Guardio was less consistent in repeated testing. In some sessions it caught threats well, and in others it missed them. Since it also lacks traditional malware scanning, it isn't as complete a security option as Aura.
Since Aura provides in-depth details about security measures, you should feel confident that your data is secure.
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Our Pick |
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| Collects data | ||
| Shares data with third parties | Yes — for co-branded partner promotions; does not sell personal data | Yes — for providers, analytics, and promotions; does not sell personal data |
| Encryption | AES-256 storage encryption; device encryption via Bitlocker/FileVault | 256-bit SSL encryption |
| Two-factor authentication | Yes — SMS, email, or authenticator app | |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Companies that handle identity theft protection services get direct access to your personal information. You need to share your private data so they can monitor for threats. Therefore, it's crucial that these companies offer strong security measures and a transparent privacy policy.
Both Aura and Guardio say they do not sell user data, but Aura provides clearer information about its security practices and data handling. We also found it easier to verify Aura's protections than Guardio's, including account-security details.
Aura works on all devices and several major browsers. While customer support is slower, it does have a chat option, and you don't have to pay extra for phone support.
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Our Pick |
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| Windows | Yes (digital security features) | No (Chrome/Edge extension only) |
| macOS | Yes (digital security features) | No (Chrome/Edge extension only) |
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Yes — Chrome, Edge, Chromium-based browsers only |
| Dedicated restoration specialists | Yes — U.S.-based, 24/7 | Yes — 24/7 identity theft resolution |
| Lost wallet remediation | ||
| 24/7 customer support | Yes (email only; phone via Guardio VIP add-on) | |
| Customer support options | Chat, phone, email, online guides | Email, online guides; phone for ID theft resolution or VIP subscribers only |
| Customer support response (testing) | Response within 2 hours | Response within same minute in testing |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Guardio is mainly designed for Chrome- and Edge-based browsing protection, with added mobile coverage through its app. Aura works across a broader mix of devices and platforms, making it the more flexible choice for households that want wider compatibility.
Aura also has the advantage on customer support. It offers 24/7 chat, email, and phone support on all plans, while Guardio's support options are more limited. Guardio doesn't offer chat support, just email. For phone support, you have to pay a premium price. If phone access matters, Aura is easier to reach.
Aura offers stronger identity theft protection than Guardio and includes more security extras, but people who want a more proven antivirus component may want to look at Norton 360 as an alternative. With the right plan, Norton 360 combines identity theft protection with more established antivirus protection.
Our #1 rated antivirus that scores 18/18 on AV-TEST across Windows, macOS, and Android, verified across multiple test rounds
Passed every malware, drive-by download, and phishing detection test we ran, quarantining threats automatically
Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise: if Norton can't remove a virus, you get your money back
Learn more in our Norton 360 review.
Aura is the better overall choice if you want broader protection for both your identity and your devices. It delivers more complete monitoring and more security tools than Guardio, even if some individual features are not best-in-class.
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Our Pick |
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| Value | ||
| Online threat protection | ||
| Identity protection | ||
| Test results | ||
| Privacy and security | ||
| Compatibility & customer support | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Guardio |
Aura makes the most sense for shoppers who want identity theft monitoring, fraud support, and extra privacy tools in one place. It's also the better fit for families that want added protections like parental controls and child monitoring.
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ID theft protection that monitors your SSN, bank accounts, credit cards, and brokerage and retirement accounts for suspicious activity
Every plan includes the full feature set, so no additional cost to unlock monitoring, insurance, or restoration
Bundles data removal with identity theft protection, antivirus, VPN, and a password manager in one subscription
Guardio may still be a worthwhile pick if your main goal is lightweight browser and scam protection and you don't need full identity theft monitoring or device-wide security tools.
Our team has conducted hands-on testing on 10+ identity theft protection services using a consistent process. We sign up several days before formal testing begins, giving each service time to populate our dashboard with real monitoring data.
Then, we evaluate each product across six areas:
We retest all identity theft protection services at least once a year. To learn more about how we test, read our full identity theft protection testing methodology here.
Guardio and Aura are different types of services. Guardio focuses mainly on browser safety, scam detection, and blocking malicious sites, while Aura is a broader identity theft protection service that also includes financial monitoring and additional security tools.
Guardio offers limited identity theft protection. It can monitor certain exposed personal details, such as your email address and phone number, and it includes identity theft insurance. But if you want deeper credit, fraud, and financial monitoring, a service like Aura offers more comprehensive coverage.
Aura is generally better for families because its Family plan includes parental controls, child identity monitoring, and broader household coverage. Guardio can cover multiple people, but it doesn't offer the same family-focused feature set.
Guardio is not a full replacement for antivirus software. It can help block phishing, scams, and unsafe websites, but it doesn't provide the same device-wide malware scanning and removal you get from a dedicated antivirus product like Norton 360.
ID theft protection that monitors your SSN, bank accounts, credit cards, and brokerage and retirement accounts for suspicious activity
Every plan includes the full feature set, so no additional cost to unlock monitoring, insurance, or restoration
Bundles data removal with identity theft protection, antivirus, VPN, and a password manager in one subscription
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