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Best Overall
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Excellent identity theft protection service
Includes a password manager and VPN
Robust tools for children’s security
Best for Advanced Features
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Lots of unique features like medical ID fraud protection, court record monitoring, and deceased family member fraud remediation
Easy-to-use dashboard
There’s nothing worse than opening up your bank account to see suspicious activity or a gigantic loss of funds. This is where identity and credit monitoring services like Aura and IdentityForce become invaluable. The protection features offered by each of these providers include fraud alerts, fraud monitoring, fraud protection, insurance coverage, and other identity monitoring services that help you avoid scams and increase your digital security.
We took a look into each service’s protection plans, monitoring features, and restoration services, as well as how each service fits into your monthly budget. Let’s get into it.
Aura is considered one of, if not the best identity theft protection services available. In addition to identity theft protection, a VPN, and a password manager, you also get advanced cybersecurity with antivirus software that protects against viruses and malware. IdentityForce, on the other hand, only offers a VPN, but its identity theft protection features list is extensive and gets granular with protection on the UltraSecure+Credit plan.
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| Price | $9.00–$30.00/mo | $17.95–$23.95/mo |
| Identity theft insurance | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| Credit monitoring | ||
| 3-bureau credit reports | Yes — Experian, TransUnion, Equifax | Yes — Experian, TransUnion, Equifax |
| Credit score | ||
| Identity recovery | ||
| Dark web alerts | ||
| Social media account alerts | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get IdentityForce |
Best Pricing
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| Monthly price range | $9.00–$30.00/mo | $17.95–$23.95/mo |
| Best value plan | $9.00/mo (billed annually) | $19.95/mo |
| Identity theft insurance | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get IdentityForce |
Aura offers a 14-day free trial with a 60-day money-back guarantee. To sign up for this trial, you need to input a payment method — a credit/debit card, Apple Pay, or PayPal. The Aura plans are simple because most of the features are available on all levels. The only real difference, other than increased storage and devices, is the addition of parental controls for the Family plan. Otherwise, Aura offers most of its great features to all customers.
IdentityForce offers only two plans, so you have the choice between a plan for an individual or for a family. The biggest negative is there isn’t protection for couples. You could purchase two separate plans, but that could get pricey. Otherwise, IdentityForce offers a lot of features in each plan, but the UltraSecure+Credit plan definitely has the most. It’s also the more costly option and doesn’t include a 30-day money-back guarantee. In fact, if you decide to cancel IdentityForce, your account immediately closes, and you receive reimbursement for any unused portion of your current plan. Not ideal, but at least there’s a 30-day trial.
| Feature | Our Pick
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| Credit monitoring | ||
| Financial activity alerts | ||
| 3-bureau credit reports | Yes — Experian, TransUnion, Equifax | Yes — Experian, TransUnion, Equifax |
| Credit score | ||
| VantageScore | ||
| Credit lock and freeze | Yes — credit lock | Yes — credit freeze |
| Identity recovery | ||
| Dark web alerts | ||
| Social media account alerts | ||
| Social Security Number monitoring | ||
| Home title monitoring | ||
| Address change alerts | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get IdentityForce |
While these two identity theft protection services have similar features, IdentityForce really expands on its offerings with the UltraSecure+Credit plan. This plan could easily exceed monthly budgets, especially for families, but the features are both robust and granular. IdentityForce doesn’t just monitor the dark web; you also receive credit reports, monthly score updates, and three-bureau credit monitoring. And this is just a sampling of the in-depth reporting IdentityForce offers.
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Aura might look like it offers less, but Aura’s AI-based software is so advanced that it doesn’t need to detail all of its functionality. Aura offers truly affordable plans with additional features like a storage vault and antivirus protection. Additionally, Aura offers couples the ability to get protection without having to pay for two separate plans. This is a feature IdentityForce lacks. Aura has the potential to protect your identity and eliminate the need for a variety of other cybersecurity products. It protects you from hackers and other cyber criminals with one product rather than making you buy a bunch of different programs that may not be compatible.
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When it comes to identity theft protection services, you want one that won’t sell your data. You’re offering up so much personal information that it’s necessary to choose a service that respects your privacy. Neither Aura nor IdentityForce sells your data, but some of your info is shared with third parties for affiliate marketing. As far as we could find, neither service has ever experienced a data breach. That’s a major win for each of these services. All of this means either choice would likely keep your data safe.
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| Two-factor authentication | ||
| Collects data | ||
| Shares data with third parties | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get IdentityForce |
Both Aura and IdentityForce are pretty equal as far as two-factor authentication (2FA), data collection, and data sharing are concerned. Keep in mind that both share your personal information.
While we aren’t thrilled that a data protection service would share your data, at least neither is actually selling it. Data is shared with third parties to “offer you services,” but those third parties are already partners with each of these services. On the plus side, Aura doesn’t allow its partners to use our personal information for purposes outside of communicating, evaluating, improving, and administering offers. Comparatively, IdentityForce collects the information you provide, logs data from your device, and imports any third-party data it can find on you. And IdentityForce nonchalantly mentions that you’ll be contacted in the event the service uses your information for any reason unrelated to marketing.
Best Support
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | Yes — VPN only | |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Support guides, phone, email, chat | Support guides, phone, email |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get IdentityForce |
At first glance, you can see that IdentityForce isn’t compatible with macOS, but we were able to use the web features just fine on Safari. The additional software needed for some of the features isn’t compatible with Macs. If you’re a Mac user, you’re probably used to software having partial compatibility. For the price, however, we would want to be able to use every feature we’re paying for, not just the ones available on the web dashboard.
It’s also worth noting that the 24/7 customer support for IdentityForce is only for member issues regarding the software. If you need remediation services for a lost wallet, identity theft, or tapping into the insurance, that’s only available Monday-Friday 8 am-8 pm EST, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 am-7 pm EST, excluding major holidays.
Aura has a similar deal with its remediation specialists who are only available Monday-Friday, 9 am-6 pm EST. That may be okay, but if you’re mugged at 2 am, you’re on your own canceling your credit cards, debit cards, and anything else until after the sun comes up.
Aura offers compatibility with all of the operating systems listed, including Mac. However, the VPN is the only compatible extra on iOS. Maybe that’s because of the added security of iOS products through Apple, but either way, the antivirus won’t be available for iPhones and iPads. Aura does offer 24/7 customer support via chat, so you always have a resource to reach out to for a response, even if it’s automated. This is a major win in our book because it lets you start the process of support faster.
Yes, through independent reviews and our own testing, we’ve determined that Aura is a fantastic option for identity theft protection. Aura starts at a lower price than many of its competitors, includes a variety of features even on its lowest-priced plan, and offers additional features like antivirus protection. It’s a great identity theft company.
IdentityForce definitely offers a lot of in-depth features. It can give you a full-picture analysis of your online presence. It also offers a variety of protection options and avenues to take if you’re a victim of identity theft. It’s a little bit more expensive, and there are alternatives out there that can protect you for less (albeit with fewer features), but we don’t think that IdentityForce is a bad choice, especially if it fits within your budget.
Both Aura and IdentityForce offer account monitoring, annual credit reports, identity restoration, white-glove remediation, fraud resolution, and a variety of other protections against identity thieves. However, some of the main differences between Aura and IdentityForce include features, customer support, and compatibility.
Aura has a less extensive features list, as it does not include social media account monitoring. But most of IdentityForce’s stand-out features are on its UltraSecure+Credit plan, while Aura offers most features to every customer. Aura has a live chat feature for customer support that is unmatched by IdentityForce. IdentityForce doesn’t offer full compatibility with Mac, while Aura supports all Apple products.
Aura. While IdentityForce does offer a ton of features and a lot of useful functionality, Aura includes more features on lesser-priced plans, has more customer support options, and offers more compatibility with a variety of operating systems. Both services offer remediation assistance in the case of identity theft or identity fraud, and both offer additional features like VPNs and password managers. IdentityForce is a solid product, but we think Aura edges it out with the advantages it presents.
If you’re looking for the best identity theft protection services, we think Aura holds that title. In case Aura or IdentityForce isn’t what you’re looking for, however, we’ve reviewed other products that might better fit your needs. Identity theft can be a nightmare to resolve, which is why identity protection services are worth it, even if just for your peace of mind.
Excellent identity theft protection service
Includes a password manager and VPN
Robust tools for children’s security
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