Identity Guard Review: All-Around ID Theft Protection
Identity Guard was a pioneering company that started in 1996 as one of a handful of entities defining the identity theft protection industry. While still a contender as one of the best identity theft protection companies, today's Identity Guard reviews show that its role has changed somewhat since its acquisition by Aura in 2019.
About Identity Guard
Today, Identity Guard outshines much of its competition by offering three distinct plan options, all with family coverage availability. Available plans start with a very basic option featuring budget pricing and work up to a comprehensive program that rivals somewhat more expensive competitor offerings.
While you may recognize some of Aura's influence among the plan choices, there are some important differences. Similarities between the two include a strong focus on financial and high-risk transaction protections. However, where Aura provides more comprehensive, three-bureau credit monitoring in its lowest-cost plan, an Identity Guard credit report includes monitoring just one bureau unless you opt for a higher-cost plan.
That said, Identity Guard offers customers a wider range of choices for its members and does so for less monthly cost than its parent company—Making it a contender with its own ID theft protection approach.
Pros
- $1 million ID theft insurance in every plan
- Lower-cost options than parent company Aura
- More plan choices than Aura
- Social media monitoring available in Ultra plan
- High average consumer ratings
Cons
- No money-back trial period
- Most comprehensive features aren't available in lowest-cost plans
- Fraud resolution assistance only available in the Ultra plan
Identity Guard Features and Benefits
Identity Guard features and benefits rate well in our best identity theft protection companies review, and include all-around coverage starting with the basics and adding comprehensive and substantial protections in its higher-priced plan options.
Competitive pricing with annual payment option discount
Low-price plans available
High overall consumer satisfaction ratings
3-bureau credit monitoring in top two plans
$1 million ID theft insurance in all plans
Data breach alerts in all plans
Straightforward pricing for individuals and families
Unlimited children coverages in all family plans
No trial period available
Child protections include SSN monitoring
Credit card purchase monitoring includes debit cards
Both criminal and sex offender monitoring included in Ultra plan
Identity Guard Editorial Rating
Trusted Company Reviews Rating Score for Identity Guard: 4.5
Criteria | Total Points: |
Satisfaction Guarantee | 0 |
ID theft protection insurance amount | 6 |
Credit monitoring | 10 |
Family plan available | 10 |
Monthly pricing | 5 |
Dark web monitoring | 5 |
Resolution services available | 10 |
Alerts | 10 |
Online privacy attributes | 15 |
Expert opinion score | 19 |
Plans and Prices
Taking advantage of the annual payment option means plans start at just $6.67 per month or $10 monthly for an Identity Guard family plan.
Plan Name | Value | Total | Ultra |
Monthly / Family Annual Payment Prices | $8.99 / $14.99 $80.04 / $120.00 | $19.99 / $29.99 $143.88 / $215.88 | $29.99 / $39.99 $215.88 / $287.88 |
Features Family plans include same coverages for up to five adults and unlimited children | Experian credit monitoring $1 million ID theft insurance Data breach alerts Dark web protection Transaction alerts Limited web protections | Everything in Value plan plus: 3-bureau credit score with monthly updates Bank account monitoring | Everything in Total plan plus: Fraud resolution Social media monitoring Credit card purchase monitoring 401K, and home title monitoring Sex offender and address change monitoring Experian credit lock abililty |
Identity Guard Reviews
Identity Guard rates well across many customer review platforms—The company scores 4.3 stars at Consumer Affairs and 4.4 stars at Trustpilot. Many of the positive reviews compliment Identity Guard customer service as competent and responsive when help is needed. Following is a numerical breakdown of average star ratings in Identity Guard reviews.
Star Ratings | 5 stars | 4 stars | 3 stars | 2 stars | 1 star |
Review Percentages | 57% | 19% | 11% | 5% | 8% |
Is Identity Guard Right for You?
Identity Guard may be the right identity theft protection company for you if you're concerned about protecting your financial, online, and personal information safety but still want to keep an eye on your budget.
While Identity Guard provides excellent ID theft protections, helpful alerts, and $1 million in identity theft insurance, its parent company, Aura, may better suit those willing to spend a little extra to protect vital assets.
Identity Guard Vs.LifeLock
Although Identity Guard and LifeLock both offer identity theft protection services, the two couldn't be much different from each other. Identity Guard's three plans, each of which can become a family plan, pale in comparison to LifeLock's nine plan choices and add-on coverages.
However, that's not to say that Identity Guard isn't as good as LifeLock. The companies offer similar services, but LifeLock appeals to persons seeking more robust ID protections than a typical Identity Guard customer. Both companies are excellent at providing the service they offer.
The main difference is price, and it's why more budget-conscious consumers may benefit more from using Identity Guard. Where Identity Guard's most expensive plan costs $39.99 monthly, LifeLock's comparable plan will set you back $79.99 per month.
Feature | Identity Guard | LifeLock |
Trusted Company Review Score | 4.5 | 4.3 |
Maximum Identity Theft Insurance Amount Per Adult | $1M | $3M |
Trial Period | None | 30 days |
Credit Monitoring Available in Lowest Cost Plan | 1 Bureau | 1 Bureau |
Dark Web Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Available Number of Dependents Protected | No Limit | 5 |
VPN Available | No | Add on |
Lowest Monthly Cost | $8.99 | $11.99 |
Highest Monthly Cost | $39.99 | $79.99 |
For a more detailed comparison of LifeLock vs. Identity Guard, check out this recent blog post we did on the two companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Source
Image Source:
https://www.identityguard.com/
About Author
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.