IDShield vs. Identity Guard 2024: Advanced Device Protection vs. Personal Protection

Identity Guard is the best identity theft protection service between the two, as it offers increased personal security. We also like Identity Guard’s pricing, which is lower than IDShield — and many competitors overall. However, IDShield does offer robust device protection. IDShield and Identity Guard are both trustworthy identity theft protection services with a variety of features like credit reporting and social media monitoring.

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 vs. Identity Guard review at a glance

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, we found that Identity Guard is best overall.

• IDShield: Best for device protection
• Identity Guard: Best for families

IDShield vs. Identity Guard compared

Star rating	4.4 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.6 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Price	$14.95–$34.95/mo	$6.67–$29.99/mo
Types of identity monitoring	Dark web, social media, and SSN monitoring	Dark web, social media, SSN, and home title monitoring
Credit monitoring
Identity theft insurance	Up to $3 million	Up to $1 million
Identity restoration services
24/7 customer support
Learn more	Get IDShield Read IDShield Review	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review

IDShield pros and cons

Identity Guard pros and cons

Which identity theft protection is the better value?

Identity Guard starts at a lower price point than IDShield, and it also comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. However, IDShield does offer up to $3 million in identity theft insurance.

		Best Value
Price range	$14.95–$34.95/mo	$6.67–$29.99/mo
Best value plan	Individual 1-bureau for $14.95/mo	Ultra for $20.83/mo
Money-back guarantee		60 days
Learn more	Get IDShield Read IDShield Review	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review

IDShield plans

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.

• Individual: Offers unique features in four categories: identity protection, identity restoration, financial protection, and cybersecurity and device protection. Since IDShield includes a VPN and malware protection as part of its features, you can use these with your plan instead of purchasing additional services, which could save you even more money.
• Family: Includes all of the features of the individual plan but adds a spouse or domestic partner and unlimited dependents. There aren’t any additional features for the family plan since minor child monitoring is also included in the individual plan.

Identity Guard plans

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.

• Value: Includes basic features like identity theft insurance, data breach notifications, dark web monitoring, and transaction monitoring. Includes safe browsing and a password manager.
• Total: Includes everything in the Value plan but adds some premium credit protection features and bank account monitoring.
• Ultra: Includes everything in the previous two plans but adds extras like social media account monitoring and expanded credit protection.

Which identity theft protection has the better features?

Identity Guard offers more monitoring types to make sure your personal data is kept secure.

		Our Pick
Social Security Number monitoring
Financial activity alerts
Credit monitoring
3-bureau credit reports	Yes — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion	Yes — Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit score
Identity theft insurance	Up to $3 million	Up to $1 million
Dark web monitoring
Social media monitoring
Home title monitoring
Address change alerts
Learn more	Get IDShield Read IDShield Review	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review

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?

Which identity theft protection is more secure?

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.

IDShield vs. Identity Guard data security

While both services collect your personal data, Identity Guard shares your data with third-parties and affiliates for marketing purposes.

	Our Pick
Collects data
Shares data with third parties
Learn more	Get IDShield Read IDShield Review	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review

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.

Which identity theft protection has better compatibility and customer service?

Both services offer similar contact methods. However, Identity Guard offers 24/7 support, so you can get assistance no matter what time it is.

		Our Pick
Android
iOS
Dedicated restoration specialists
Lost wallet remediation
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Phone, email, FAQ, live chat	Phone, email, FAQ, live chat
Learn more	Get IDShield Read IDShield Review	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review

Both of these services offer a 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. However, IDShield doesn't offer 24/7 customer support, though 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 24/7 availability does nudge Identity Guard ahead.

FAQs

IDShield vs. Identity Guard: Which is better?

In our comparison, we found that Identity Guard is the overall best. Identity Guard offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual subscription purchases, which puts this protection service ahead of IDShield. If you want increased personal protection that’s affordable for you and your family, Identity Guard is your product.

Category		Our Pick
Value
Features
Test results
User experience
Learn more	Get IDShield Read IDShield Review	Get Identity Guard Read Identity Guard Review

If you’re looking to bundle your identity theft protection with device protection, you should consider 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.

Top identity theft protection alternatives

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.

• Aura: Aura offers a robust identity monitoring solution with plans for individuals, couples, and families. Aura monitors your SSN, auto and home titles, criminal and court records, and your financial transactions. It also offers several additional features, including antivirus software, a virtual private network (VPN), and a password manager. First-time annual subscribers can take advantage of Aura’s 60-day money-back guarantee offer.

  Get Aura I Read Aura Review

• Norton LifeLock: LifeLock by Norton provides the most extensive identity theft insurance, offering anywhere from $1.05 million to $3 million, depending on your plan. LifeLock also monitors your identity in several different ways, including social media monitoring, home title, crime alerts, and investment account activity. First-time annual subscribers can take advantage of Norton’s 60-day money-back guarantee offer.
  
  Get Norton LifeLock | Read Norton LifeLock Review

• Identity Force: Identity Force is a highly rated identity theft protection service. The family plans cover two adults and unlimited children, allowing you to prevent child identity theft as well. IdentityForce doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, but you can try the service via a 30-day trial if you input your credit card info upfront.

  Read Identity Force Review