The Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2026

Aura is the best identity theft protection service we tested, offering extensive identity and credit monitoring plus a full security suite. If you want tried-and-true digital protection with more robust monitoring tools, LifeLock is a reputable alternative.

Identity theft is becoming more common as more of our information is accessible online. In fact, reports of identity theft increased by 9% across the country from 2023 to 2024, the first time the number of identity theft reports rose year-over-year since 2021.

Other services I recommend include Identity Guard, OmniWatch, IDShield, and Coveron. In this roundup, I'll share my experiences testing each service to help you understand how they work and whether they're worth the price. Here are our top identity theft protection services of 2026.

The best identity theft protection services of 2026

Aura: Best overall identity theft protection service

What I liked

Robust identity theft protection: Aura provides comprehensive monitoring of your financial and identity data. Everything, from your Social Security number (SSN) to property titles and bank transactions, is monitored for signs of potential theft. 

It's not just limited to adults, though. Under the Aura Family plan, children can also receive this same extensive monitoring to keep them safe.

Ease of use: During testing, I found Aura had an intuitive dashboard with clear monitoring tabs. I appreciated that alerts were easily accessible, as they appeared first on the main dashboard. 

I also liked that Aura AI monitors financial activity and flags spending outside your usual patterns. This alert could help you spot an unauthorized transaction sooner.

Complete cybersecurity suite: Aura makes a solid effort at being an all-in-one security suite. All plans include data removal, antivirus software, a VPN, ad and tracker blocking, and a password manager. 

The built-in security features are convenient and offer baseline protection against malware, hackers, identity thieves, and other bad actors.

Also won:

• Best for families: Aura Parental Controls allow parents to set screen time limits, view browsing history, and receive alerts about potential cyberbullying or scams. Combined with Safe Gaming features and child SSN monitoring, Aura is an excellent choice for preventing child identity theft and keeping kids safe online.
• Best for credit monitoring: Aura is one of the top options for credit monitoring, as all plans offer extensive tools. Aura provides monthly credit scores from VantageScore and 3-bureau credit monitoring. If you notice something wrong, an instant Experian credit lock can prevent further damage from occurring.

What I didn’t like

No social media monitoring: Aura doesn't provide social media monitoring, which could alert you to unusual logins or suspicious activity on your accounts. Social media monitoring is helpful for identifying signs of account compromise on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others.

Extra features are limited: Aura does offer bonus features, such as a VPN and password manager. However, our testing showed that these features have limited functionality. The Aura VPN is a simple on/off toggle, lacking typical VPN capabilities such as server selection. 

Similarly, the password manager allows password sharing only among family members who are on the plan and does not offer digital legacy, a feature that dedicated password managers typically include.

Star rating summary

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OmniWatch: Best for scam protection

What I liked

Scam protection features: Cybercriminals continually devise scams to trick you into sharing personal information or sending money under fraudulent circumstances. But what happens if you receive a text message that looks like it’s from your bank and can't tell if it's real or not?

OmniWatch's Scam Protection can assess whether messages may be legitimate or part of a scam. You can upload texts, emails, URLs, QR codes, or images for analysis. You can also connect a Gmail account so OmniWatch can automatically scan incoming emails for potential phishing attempts.

Ransomware and scam protection insurance: OmniWatch offers insurance for ransomware and scam protection, up to $100,000 with the top-tier plan. This coverage may help with eligible losses from an online scam, which identity theft insurance may not cover.

Scam protection app for mobile: The OmniWatch Scam Protection Center is available in the app. You can scan messages, emails, and URLs to check for suspicious content. Then, OmniWatch flags content it identifies as suspicious.

Also won:

• Best for individuals: OmniWatch is an affordable service for individuals on a budget. It has all the essential features for identity theft protection, including dark web monitoring, credit monitoring, and identity restoration services.
• Best for dark web protection: Personal data may be sold on dark web marketplaces. OmniWatch can monitor the dark web for personal information, including your SSN, phone number, physical address, and email address. It also has a dedicated data breach tracking tab that alerts you when it detects that your information may be compromised.

What I didn’t like

Privacy policy language around data sharing: OmniWatch's privacy policy states that it might share your personal information with advertisers and other third parties. It's not ideal for those looking for premium privacy. 

However, it doesn't share sensitive data, and OmniWatch does provide tutorials on how to turn off cookies in your browser, which would block sharing with advertisers.

Lack of advanced monitoring: OmniWatch is newer compared to Aura or LifeLock. While it provides excellent value, it has several gaps, such as financial accounts and social media monitoring. OmniWatch offers basic credit and dark web monitoring, but it lacks a comprehensive identity theft protection service.

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LifeLock: Best for comprehensive monitoring

What I liked

Complete identity monitoring: LifeLock pretty much monitors everything you can think of with its financial and identity monitoring. Some unique data it monitors includes social media, phone takeover, buy-now-pay-later alerts, and utility account creation. While some ID theft protection services have social media monitoring, you won't find such a comprehensive monitoring service elsewhere.

High identity theft insurance: On the Total plan, LifeLock offers up to $3 million in ID theft insurance per adult, which beats competitors like Aura and Coveron. All plans include up to $1 million in reimbursement for lawyers and experts, along with varying amounts for stolen funds depending on your plan.

The extensive identity theft coverage far exceeds the industry average of $1 million per adult. Plus, LifeLock has added up to $10,000 in scam reimbursement. 

Also won:

• Best security suite: As part of the Norton security suite, LifeLock can be bundled with other security software to provide a strong defense against online threats. Our positive experiences testing Norton products, including Norton 360 antivirus and Norton Secure VPN, show that its tools can help protect your data and devices.

What I didn’t like

Features vary by plan: LifeLock has several plan options with significant feature differences, which could make choosing a plan overwhelming. Some competitors, like Aura, include all features in every plan. 

Several types of monitoring are locked behind the Total plan, including home title monitoring, investment account alerts, and bank account takeover alerts. With so many plans available, it can be challenging to select the right coverage for your situation, as you may be unsure of what you truly need.

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Coveron: Best for online privacy

What I liked

NordVPN for online security: Coveron can be bundled with other Nord Security services, such as the popular NordVPN. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, which could help protect your online activity from prying eyes. NordVPN is our top recommended VPN due to its advanced security protocols, stellar reputation, and reliable performance. It's included in the Coveron Full Protection plan.

NordVPN Threat Protection for browsing security: Along with NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro is also included in the Full Protection plan. The anti-malware tool works 24/7 to block malicious software, ads, phishing, and trackers. 

Our testing indicates that Threat Protection effectively blocks malware and phishing websites. Threat Protection can protect your data as you browse the internet.

Incogni data removal for online privacy: Coveron's top plan also includes Incogni for data removal. Incogni is one of the best data removal services we've tested and the only one currently independently audited.

Our testing found that Incogni is easy to use and intuitive, and it removes personal data from 420+ data brokers. Including a reputable data removal service in Coveron Full Protection provides significant value.

Also won:

• Best for fraud protection: Coveron offers comprehensive identity protection, including dark web monitoring and five compensation policies for most plans covering identity theft, cyber extortion, and online fraud.

  All plans include up to $10,000 in online fraud and cyberattack insurance, which could help if you are a victim of romance scams, phishing, or fake tech support scams. Cyberextortion insurance is a unique service not included with typical identity theft protection services. With the Identity Theft Insurance plan or higher, Coveron may cover up to $50,000 in expenses if ransomware or doxxing affects you.

What I didn’t like

Limited coverage: Coveron is a relatively new service, and it lacks the robustness of other identity protection services. It doesn’t provide features like coverage for more than one person or for children. 

Previously, we recommended against Coveron for large familes because you'd need to purchase individual plans for every family memer. However, it recently added plans that cover couples and families with children, closing this gap.

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Identity Guard: Best value identity theft protection

What I liked

Low first-year rate for top plan: Identity Guard offers a budget-friendly introductory cost, comparable to LifeLock's Ultimate plan. For only $7.99/mo, an individual can get premium identity theft monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, and 3-bureau credit monitoring. It also includes bonus features like safe browsing and a password manager.

Advanced online protection: It's no surprise that Identity Guard offers excellent online protection tools, given its ownership by Aura. Both services offer similar advanced security tools. 

Identity Guard has emphasized safe online browsing by incorporating tools such as a password manager, an ad blocker, an anti-tracking feature, and data-broker removal.

Robust identity monitoring services: Identity Guard, similar to LifeLock and Aura, offers a comprehensive range of identity monitoring. It includes monitoring for high-risk transactions, 401(k) and investments, and USPS address changes. 

Identity Guard is slightly more affordable than its competitors, offering a solid balance of comprehensive monitoring and budget-friendly pricing.

Also won:

• Best Aura alternative: Since Identity Guard and Aura are owned by the same company, they have similar features. What sets Identity Guard apart is the inclusion of social media monitoring and its "Risk Management Score," which provides a personalized risk assessment. If you're an individual or don't need Aura's parental controls, then Identity Guard is one affordable Aura alternative.

What I didn’t like

Limited family protection: Identity Guard doesn't offer extensive family protection features. It has only the standard identity and credit monitoring features for children. Other competitors, such as Aura, offer additional features for families, including parental controls, Safe Gaming, and online browsing safeguards.

Identity restoration only on top plan: White glove fraud remediation is available only on the top-tier Ultra plan. Access to premium identity restoration specialists is a valuable resource if you're a victim of identity theft. 

Still, you could be left hanging if you opt for one of Identity Guard’s lower-tier plans. Other competitors, such as Aura, offer this service with all plans.

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IDShield: Best for identity restoration

What I liked

Guaranteed identity restoration services: IDShield offers guaranteed identity theft restoration. It provides dedicated, licensed private investigators and consultation services to help restore a stolen identity.

Most identity theft services offer up to $1 million in reimbursement for eligible unrecovered costs. IDShield offers up to $3 million, comparable to LifeLock and Coveron, and includes assistance for lost or stolen wallets.

Advanced financial monitoring: Standard financial monitoring involves watching credit reports and financial transactions for possible fraud. IDShield takes it a step further by also monitoring loans, such as payday and subprime lending.

It also looks for signs of financial fraud, such as hard credit inquiries, high-risk applications, and account activity that exceeds financial thresholds. If it finds a red flag, IDShield provides assistance with placing a credit freeze and fraud alert.

Robust device protection: Our devices are the gateway to our personal information. Bad actors like to gain access through malware or by stealing passwords from phishing scams.

IDShield includes device-protection features such as a VPN, password manager, data encryption, virus protection, and login credential monitoring. These tools could help protect the data on your devices.

Also won:

• Best for online reputation protection: IDShield includes several online reputation and privacy tools. It can review your social media and flag content that might negatively affect your reputation. It also provides LinkedIn profile optimization and a tool to find old accounts and remove personal data from the internet.

What I didn’t like

No credit reports: IDShield provides monthly credit scores but does not include credit reports from any of the three major credit bureaus. You can get free digital credit reports through annualcreditreport.com, but you must request them yourself.

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What is identity theft?

Identity theft is a crime in which someone obtains and uses another person's personal information without permission, often to commit fraud or seek financial gain. Some common types of identity theft include:

• Tax identity theft
• Medical identity theft
• Ghosting identity theft
• Child identity theft
• Employment identity theft

Identity thieves often obtain personal information through phishing scams, data breaches, malware, discarded documents, stolen wallets, or stolen mail. 

Identity theft can lead to significant financial loss, credit damage, and other problems. Identity theft protection and credit monitoring services may help you spot suspicious activity and respond to it.

Do I need identity theft protection?

Identity theft protection may be worth the cost if you want ongoing monitoring and recovery support. In our survey, we found that victims lost $3,312 on average to identity theft, and 23% said they were still dealing with repercussions months or years later.

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received over 2.6 million reports of identity theft, and imposter scams were the most commonly reported type of fraud.^[1]

Identity theft protection services are beneficial for many reasons. Depending on the plan, an identity theft protection service may monitor databases and the dark web for signs that someone is misusing your personal information. It may alert you to potential threats and provide recovery help after identity theft. Some plans also monitor a child’s personal information for fraudulent use.

Keep in mind, though, that no service can completely guarantee the prevention of identity theft. You may find the costs of these services a deterrent. But, considering the potentially severe consequences of identity theft, many find these services a worthwhile investment.

How does identity theft protection work?

Identity theft protection services monitor selected credit, public-record, and online sources for signs that someone may misuse your personal information, then alert you and may provide recovery support. Here are some typical features:

• Credit monitoring: They monitor your credit reports from major credit bureaus, like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, and alert you to any changes. Be sure to note whether the identity theft protection plan you're choosing offers one-bureau or three-bureau credit monitoring services. One bureau is usually enough, but you may prefer the extra security of three-bureau credit monitoring.
• Dark web scanning: These services scan the dark web for your personal information and alert you when they find it.
• Public data monitoring: Public data monitoring can alert you to possible fraud by checking sources such as court records and USPS change-of-address requests. If home title theft concerns you, confirm that the plan specifically includes home title monitoring.
  
• Identity recovery services: If you become a victim of identity theft, these services will guide you through the recovery process.
• Identity theft insurance: Most services offer ID theft insurance that can cover out-of-pocket costs related to restoring your identity.
• Credit lock and credit freeze: A credit freeze restricts most new creditors from accessing your credit report, which can make it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. You place a freeze directly with each credit bureau.
• Credit score simulator: Some identity theft protection companies help you build your credit by offering credit score simulators that guide you toward making the best decisions to boost your credit score.
• Additional cybersecurity features: Many of the top identity theft protection service providers on our list offer extra digital security features like a password manager, VPN, and antivirus. This is ideal since hackers can target your Wi-Fi connection or device with malware to extract your sensitive data.
  

How much does identity theft protection cost?

Identity theft protection plans can cost from less than $10 to more than $70 per month. Your price depends on the type of plan and the coverage you choose:

• Are you seeking an individual plan or a family plan? Do you need to cover children with your plan?
• Can you commit to an annual subscription, or would you prefer to pay month-to-month?
• Do you need the premium plan with additional cybersecurity features, or are you only seeking identity theft protection?
• Is credit protection a priority, or do you only need identity monitoring tools?

Use the table below to compare starting monthly prices for individual and family plans.

	Individual starting price	Family starting price
Aura	$9.00/mo	$17.00/mo
OmniWatch	$7.99/mo	$19.99/mo
IDShield	$14.95/mo	$29.95/mo
LifeLock	$10.42/mo	$30.00/mo
Coveron	$2.99/mo	N/A
Identity Guard	$7.50/mo	N/A
IdentityForce	$16.66/mo	$20.83/mo
Complete ID	$8.99/mo	$11.98/mo
IdentityIQ	$7.44/mo	$27.00/mo
Zander Identity Theft Protection	$6.25/mo	$12.08/mo

How to choose the best identity theft protection service

When choosing an identity theft protection service, consider the following questions:

• How much does it cost? Can you save money by signing up for an annual plan?
• Does it alert users to data breaches in multiple areas?
• Does it monitor credit reports from all three bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax?

• Does it provide access to credit reports, and how often can you view them?

• How often does it provide credit score updates?
• Does it assist with identity recovery?

• Does it provide identity theft insurance? If so, what coverage amount does it include?

• Is the service encrypted with AES-256?
• Does the service offer an app that’s compatible with your device?
• Does the service’s privacy policy state that it doesn’t sell data?

Advice from the experts

Understanding current identity theft risks is an important first step in protecting your identity online. The All About Cookies team consulted a panel of experts to explain those risks and the state of identity theft today.

Click below to see expert opinions on the following questions:

• What are the most dangerous consequences of having your identity stolen?
• What kinds of newer scams should consumers be on the lookout for?
• What does the future of identity theft scams look like?
• What long-term solutions could curb the risk to consumers?

Bottom line: The best ID theft protection services of 2026

While the best ID theft protection service will depend on your specific needs, Aura is the best all-around, offering extensive monitoring, ease of use, and additional cybersecurity tools. Whether you're looking for coverage for yourself or the entire family, Aura fits many situations.

However, if social media monitoring, robust cybersecurity tools, or above-average insurance coverage are important to you, one of the other ID theft protection services in this roundup would provide better coverage.

FAQs