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Best for Device Protection
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Full identity protection features included on all plans
Comes with bonus VPN and password manager
Affordable pricing compared to other options
Best for Families
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Easy-to-use identity theft protection service
Includes extra features like a password manager
IDShield and Identity Guard are both trustworthy identity theft protection services with a variety of features like credit reporting and social media monitoring. IDShield offers robust device protection, while Identity Guard offers increased personal security. We also like Identity Guard’s pricing, which is lower than IDShield — and many competitors overall.
Identity theft protection is personal, so choosing a product that works for you and your family will come down to how each service’s features fit your life. If you find that neither works for you after looking through this comparison review, then we’ve suggested some additional services you may love.
IDShield and Identity Guard are both robust identity theft protection services that offer a lot of features like sex offender monitoring and reporting, as well as a password manager. IDShield includes a lot of device security features with all plans, while Identity Guard ramps up personal security for individuals and families with features like change of address alerts. While both services are valuable, one is more likely to fit your unique needs.
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| Price | $14.95–$34.95/mo | $7.50–$33.33/mo |
| Identity theft insurance | Up to $3 million | Up to $1 million |
| Credit monitoring | ||
| 3-bureau credit reports | ||
| Credit score | ||
| Identity recovery | ||
| Dark web alerts | ||
| Social media account alerts | ||
| Learn more | Get IDShield | Get Identity Guard |
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Best Value | |
| Paid monthly | $14.95–$34.95/mo | $7.50–$33.33/mo |
| Best value plan | Individual 1-bureau for $14.95/mo | Ultra for $25.00/mo |
| Identity theft insurance | Up to $3 million | Up to $1 million |
| Learn more | Get IDShield | Get Identity Guard |
IDShield doesn’t advertise any free trials or money-back guarantees on its product pages, and the FAQ mentions that the service could only be canceled by providing IDShield with a written notice. When we tested the product, we found this to be inconvenient. Otherwise, the service offers a variety of useful features like dark web monitoring, social media monitoring, and even a password manager.
Identity Guard has plans for individuals and families. It offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans, which means you have the opportunity to test it out for more than a month before you totally commit to a yearly subscription. When we tested the product, we activated the credit lock feature without realizing it (it’s a simple toggle) and spent about a week trying to figure out why our financial transactions were being flagged or denied. It really did the job.
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Our Pick | |
| Credit monitoring | ||
| Financial activity alerts | ||
| 3-bureau credit reports | Yes — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion | Yes — Experian, Equifax, TransUnion |
| Credit score | ||
| FICO score | ||
| Credit lock and freeze | ||
| Identity recovery | ||
| Dark web alerts | ||
| Social media account alerts | ||
| Social Security Number monitoring | ||
| Home title monitoring | ||
| Address change alerts | ||
| Learn more | Get IDShield | Get Identity Guard |
There are a lot of similarities between these two identity theft protection services; the differences include price, device protection, and personal protection. IDShield offers much more device protection, including VPN and malware protection. Identity Guard beefs up personal protection with 401(k) and high-risk transaction monitoring.
We do feel Identity Guard has an advantage over IDShield when it comes to covering families because of the lower overall price. Identity Guard really is affordable for nearly every budget. It makes the service accessible for families who may be living on a tight budget, and, in this economy, who couldn’t use a price break?
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You give a lot of data to an identity theft protection service when you sign up. If you’re offering that much, you should feel confident knowing it’s going to be protected. Two-factor authentication (2FA) can help protect your information from credentials theft, while a service that doesn’t share data reduces the spam you receive.
Our Pick |
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| Two-factor authentication | ||
| Multi-factor authentication | ||
| Collects data | ||
| Shares data with third parties | ||
| Learn more | Get IDShield | Get Identity Guard |
We liked that IDShield didn’t share data with third parties, at least as far as we could tell. Identity Guard didn’t shy away from letting you know in its general privacy policy (shared by sister company Aura) that it does share that info. Personally identifiable information should be kept private because it can lead to an increased risk of identity theft. It seems counterproductive to share that information.
Our Pick |
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Phone, email, FAQ, live chat | Phone, email, FAQ |
| Learn more | Get IDShield | Get Identity Guard |
IDShield has live chat. We love a live chat because we can get immediate answers to specific questions. As far as the rest of the support options, they’re pretty standard. Identity Guard offers phone, email, and FAQ, the same as IDShield, but those options all take extra time. Even though IDShield doesn't offer 24/7 customer support, it does have specialists available 24/7 should an identity theft emergency arise.
Both services only offer apps for Android and iPhone, which on the plus side means you can take your protection service with you. Overall, there’s nothing overly exceptional about either service’s compatibility and customer support options, but that live chat does help nudge IDShield ahead.
IDShield Credit and Dark Web Monitoring dashboard /images/2024/02/14/idshield_credit_and_dark_web_monitoring.jpg)
Identity Guard customer support overview /images/2023/05/12/identity-guard-review_07.png)
Yes. Identity Guard is owned by the same company that owns Aura identity theft protection. Both companies are legitimate, well-respected identity theft protection services. Having tested Identity Guard ourselves for several months now, we can attest to its validity and usefulness. If you’re interested in how these two identity theft protection companies compare, check out our Aura vs. Identity Guard review.
IDShield’s parent company is Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (PPLSI), which also owns LegalShield, a pre-paid legal service. IDShield was created by PPLSI, which leveraged its legal knowledge and contacts to create an identity theft protection company. Today, IDShield boasts the ability to help customers regain their pre-theft identity status by aggressively working to restore their identity.
Identity Guard and Complete ID are both identity theft protection services with a few major differences. In our comparison of Identity Guard vs. Complete ID, we found that Complete ID didn’t offer home title monitoring, while Identity Guard does. We also found that Complete ID wasn’t as robust as Identity Guard in its features and offerings.
LifeLock and IDShield both offer a robust set of tools to protect you from identity theft and other cybercrimes. Both services offer restoration services up to $3 million to recoup identity theft losses. However, we found that LifeLock is better for individuals seeking specific types of protection services, while IDShield is more affordable for protecting families. Check out our Lifelock vs. IDShield review to learn more.
In our comparison, we found that IDShield and Identity Guard tied in most features. We think that this is an accurate representation overall for both products, with just a few exceptions. If you’re looking to bundle your identity theft protection with device protection, you should consider IDShield. If you want increased personal protection that’s affordable for you and your family, Identity Guard is your product.
Identity Guard offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual subscription purchases, which puts this protection service ahead of IDShield. IDShield does not advertise any free trial or money-back guarantee offer, so you can’t test out the service risk-free.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re using identity theft protection. Ultimately, the most important thing is protecting yourself against identity theft. An identity theft and credit protection guide can help you narrow down what you need. As cybercrime continues to rise, ID theft services become increasingly more important.
Easy-to-use identity theft protection service
Includes extra features like a password manager
If you’re looking for the best identity theft protection service and neither IDShield nor IdentityGuard fits your needs, try one of these. We’ve tested them individually and are excited about the variety of features offered, like parental controls or coverage for an unlimited number of children.
Excellent identity theft protection service
Includes a password manager and VPN
Robust tools for children’s security
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