TrustedCompanyReviews receives commissions from affiliate partners that it reviews. The reviews, rankings, and product information of affiliates constitute advertising.

Aura Credit Monitoring Review

8.6

Aura Credit Monitoring Review - Pros, Cons, and Facts You Should Know

Sometimes referred to as Aura digital security or Aura financial fraud protection, Aura is an identity theft and credit monitoring company offering three distinct paid membership subscriptions, each of which provides an extensive list of valuable services to help protect you from identity fraud. Aura also allows you to keep an eye on your credit score from all three main credit bureaus. Learn more about the company in this Aura credit monitoring review.

Monitoring your credit is an important part of protecting your financial health, but it's only one piece of the picture. Credit monitoring can alert you to changes in your credit profile, while addressing high-interest unsecured debt may help improve your financial position over time. If managing existing debt is one of your primary concerns, learning more about Accredited Debt Relief can help you understand another approach to improving your overall financial well-being.

Pros


  • Compiles credit scores from all three credit bureaus
  • Thorough identity protection services are available
  • Excellent customer service and ID fraud assistance reviews
  • 14-day free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee
  • VPN and virus protection are included in all membership plans
  • Up to $5 million identity fraud insurance available in top plan
  • Bank transaction monitoring provided

Cons


  • Full credit reports are only available annually
  • Online predator protection only available in the top-tier family plan
  • Costs more than some competitors
  • Doesn't offer FICO scores or financial advice
  • Can only freeze and thaw Experian credit

About Aura

Starting in 2014, Aura is a service provider that rates as our top pick for the best ID theft company for seniors in our annual review of the best identity theft companies that also excels at credit monitoring. You may see a similar company listed as Aura Identity Guard. The difference is that Aura's parent company owns Identity Guard, and the two companies operate as independent entities.

Aura's credit monitoring services come with each plan, including reporting from all three main credit bureaus, and provide your credit score as listed by VantageScore. The company has a relationship with Experian, one of the main credit bureaus, which allows you to freeze and unfreeze, or thaw, your credit report from the Aura app.

Aura members can pay for their services on a monthly or annual basis. Paying once annually for your membership offers substantial cost savings over the month-to-month rate. Prices range from $15 per month or $144 per year for individual membership to $50 per month or $444 per year for the most comprehensive family plan that includes protection for up to five adults and unlimited kids.

Aura Features and Benefits

Credit monitoring is a large part of all three plans that Aura offers. The company provides a 14-day trial period for all of its membership subscriptions and a 60-day money-back guarantee if you're unsatisfied with the service. Following are the basic benefits of an Aura subscription.

  • Credit monitoring of all three main credit bureaus

  • Monthly credit score updates

  • Annual full credit report availability

  • Online tools like antivirus protection, password management, and a VPN

  • Identity theft insurance protection

  • Social Security Number monitoring

  • Loan and bank activity monitoring

  • ID theft repair assistance

Aura Editorial Rating

Trusted Company Reviews Rating Score for Aura: 6.6

Criteria

Points

Better Business Bureau Grade

9

Trustpilot Review Rating

8

Free Credit Monitoring Available

0

Three-Bureau Reporting Available8

9

Best Plan Monthly Cost

0

Identity Theft Features

7

Credit Score Update Frequency in Lowest-Cost Plan

2

Credit Score Update Frequency in Highest-Cost Plan

2

Family Plan Available

5

Additional Features

6

Expert Opinion Score

18

Aura Plan and Pricing

There are no free membership plans with Aura. However, the company offers three plans that all feature credit monitoring and a host of identity theft protections.

Individual Protection

Family Protection

Ultimate Protection

Monthly / Annual Price

$15 / $144

$30 / $288

$50 / $444

Features

VPN

Antivirus protection and ad blocker

Password management

Email masking

$1M identity theft insurance protection

Fraud protection

ID theft remediation service

1GB of sensitive data storage

Protection and credit monitoring for 1 adult

VPN

Antivirus protection and ad blocker

Password management

Email masking

$2M identity theft insurance protection

Fraud protection

ID theft remediation service

2GB of sensitive data storage

Protection and credit monitoring for 2 adults and unlimited children

Parental controls

VPN

Antivirus protection and ad blocker

Password management

Email masking

$5M identity theft insurance protection

Fraud protection

ID theft remediation service

5GB of sensitive data storage

Protection and credit monitoring for 5 adults and unlimited children

Parental controls

Online predator alerts

Is Aura Credit Monitoring Right for You?

Aura is an excellent choice for individuals and families primarily in the market for identity theft and fraud protection but also wanting to monitor their credit score and bank activity as part of an overall package.

While Aura isn't the cheapest way to monitor your credit, and some identity theft services are available through other companies at lower prices, the company offers thorough credit monitoring as part of its identity theft protection packages, and the combination may be worth the slightly increased expense over its competitors.

If you're looking for credit monitoring of all three bureaus, consistent credit score updates, and desire a high degree of comfort knowing that your identity is being protected, Aura is worth considering. If you find that Aura isn't your best option, the company offers a free trial and a money-back promise.

Aura Vs. LifeLock

Aura and LifeLock are similar companies in that they both provide identity theft and financial fraud protection, including credit monitoring. While Aura is somewhat more costly than LifeLock, especially for first-year subscribers in which LifeLock customers receive an introductory discount, Aura's membership plans offer a bit more flexibility, straightforwardness, and more substantial online tools for families with children.

Aura members receive credit monitoring of all three credit bureaus and monthly credit score updates regardless of their chosen plan. LifeLock reserves three-bureau updating for customers in the higher-cost plans only. Both companies allow you to try them out by offering 60-day money-back guarantees. However, LifeLock grants a 30-day trial period, compared to Aura's 14-day trial before billing starts.

Regarding identity protection and fraud deterrence, both companies offer long lists of features and benefits, including virus protection and other online tools, comprehensive ID theft insurance coverage, and help to put things back together after a lost or stolen wallet incident or identity exposure issue.

The company you choose will likely depend on which products and services you're comfortable using and feel will best protect your interests.

Aura

LifeLock

Credit monitoring in lowest-cost plans

No

Limited

3-Bureau credit monitoring

Yes

Available

Credit score updates

Monthly

Monthly

24/7 customer service

Yes

Yes

Full credit report availability

Annual

Annual

Dark web monitoring

Yes

Yes

Social Security monitoring

Yes

Yes

Mobile app

Yes

Yes

Social media / online predator monitoring

Available in top plan

No

Family plan available

Yes

Yes

Identity theft insurance

Up to $5 million

Up to $3 million

Lowest cost

$15/month or $144.00/year

$11.99/month or $124.99/year after 1st year

Highest cost

$50/month or $444.00/year

$34.99/month or $339.99/year after 1st year

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Aura?

Aura, not to be confused with Aura Identity Guard, is an identity theft protection company that provides credit monitoring as part of its three paid plan offerings for individuals or families of up to five adults plus children.

Is Aura a legit company?

Aura is a legitimate identity theft and credit monitoring company that ranks highly among consumers on review platforms and carries an A+ grade at the Better Business Bureau.

Is Aura part of Identity Guard?

Aura's parent company owns and operates Aura and Identity Guard. However, the two companies are separate and independent of each other.

How does Aura monitor credit?

Aura monitors all three credit bureaus and updates your credit score monthly through VantageScore. You can receive up to one full credit report from each bureau through Aura's services.

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze, or freezing your credit, disallows any outside lender inquiries or access, protecting your identity and credit score until you remove the freeze. Freezing your credit is also possible at each of the three credit bureau websites.

What does VantageScore Mean?

VantageScore is a credit scoring company that gathers information from the main credit bureaus to compile individual scores. The credit scores are determined using a current scoring model, typically VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0. These scores are then passed along to credit monitoring services.

Can Aura help me improve my credit?

Aura cannot change or affect your credit score in any way. The company monitors your credit score and activity and watches over your banking and credit transactions to alert you when something seems wrong. You can use the information that Aura supplies to improve your credit and keep your accounts safe.

What are recent complaints about Aura credit monitoring services?

Summary of 7 recent complaints about Aura credit monitoring services, as listed at the Better Business Bureau.
  1. The customer purchased a service that includes credit report scores but was unable to access them due to technical issues with the web app. Customer service was unhelpful, and the refund was not provided promptly.
  2. The customer was deceived into paying for an annual subscription instead of canceling after the free trial. They requested a refund, and after some resistance, a partial refund was issued.
  3. The customer signed up for a free trial and was promised ************ tickets but never received them. Despite multiple contacts with Aura, the issue was not resolved promptly.
  4. The customer faced difficulties in contacting Aura's support, was asked for personal account credentials, and had concerns about their account being accessed by someone else.
  5. The customer subscribed to Identity Guard but experienced identity theft and credit card fraud with no notifications or assistance from the service. The customer requested a refund, which was initially refused, but later provided.
  6. The customer's banking information couldn't be registered, and they canceled within 24 hours. Despite the "money-back guarantee," the customer was initially denied a refund.
  7. The customer complained about automatic renewal without clear communication during signup and difficulty obtaining a refund. They also mentioned alleged lies by customer support regarding an email.

These complaints highlight issues with technical problems, deceptive subscription practices, delayed refunds, lack of proper support, and unmet promises. Some customers faced difficulties with automatic renewal and were not informed about refund policies.

For a complete listing of the most up-to-date and accurate complaints against Aura, review Aura's BBB profile page here.

Is Aura better than LifeLock?

In the comparison between Aura and LifeLock, both companies offer identity theft and financial fraud protection, including credit monitoring. While Aura tends to be somewhat more expensive, it provides more flexibility, straightforwardness, and substantial online tools for families with children.

Aura offers credit monitoring of all three credit bureaus and monthly credit score updates on all plans, while LifeLock reserves three-bureau updating for higher-cost plans only. Both companies offer a 60-day money-back guarantee, but Aura's trial period is 14 days, while LifeLock's is 30 days.

In terms of identity protection and fraud deterrence, both companies offer extensive features, including virus protection, online tools, comprehensive ID theft insurance coverage, and assistance with lost or stolen wallet incidents or identity exposure issues.

Ultimately, the choice between Aura and LifeLock will depend on your comfort level with their products and services and which features you consider most important for protecting your interests. It's essential to assess your specific needs and priorities when deciding which company to choose for your identity theft and credit monitoring protection.

About Author

Deane Biermeier

Deane Biermeier

Deane Biermeier is a certified financial educator through the University of Minnesota and a respected authority in financial research, writing, and editing, renowned for his in-depth analyses and expert advice. With a distinguished career that previously spanned home improvement, real estate, and finance topics, Deane's role at Trusted Company Reviews focuses exclusively on finance. Deane has contributed to leading publications such as Forbes Home, US News and World Report, Newsweek Vault, and others. Since joining TrustedCompanyReviews.com in 2023, he has solidified his reputation as a crucial resource for clear, factual financial guidance.