Identity theft affected 15 million Americans in 2025, with total losses exceeding $20 billion. The average victim spends $1,100 out of pocket and over 200 hours resolving the aftermath. Identity theft protection services promise to prevent and remediate these incidents — but are they worth the monthly fee?
How Identity Theft Protection Works
These services combine three functions: monitoring your personal information across the dark web, credit bureaus, and public records; alerting you to suspicious activity; and providing remediation assistance if your identity is compromised. Premium plans add insurance coverage for financial losses.
Top Identity Theft Protection Services
Aura — Best Overall Protection
Aura offers the most comprehensive monitoring suite, scanning the dark web, data broker sites, financial accounts, and all three credit bureaus in real time. Their $1 million identity theft insurance covers financial losses, legal fees, and lost wages. Plans start at $12/month for individuals and $26/month for families. The included VPN, password manager, and antivirus software add significant value.
Identity Guard — Best AI Monitoring
Powered by IBM Watson AI, Identity Guard detects threats traditional monitoring misses by analyzing patterns across billions of data points. Their plans include $1 million insurance and start at $8.99/month. The AI-driven approach catches sophisticated fraud attempts that keyword-based monitoring systems overlook.
LifeLock by Norton — Most Recognized Brand
LifeLock pioneered the identity protection category and remains the most widely recognized service. Plans range from $12-$35/month with $25,000-$1 million in reimbursement coverage. Integration with Norton 360 antivirus provides device security alongside identity monitoring.
Free Alternatives That Work
Before paying for protection, take these free steps. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — this prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name and costs nothing. Enable free credit monitoring through Credit Karma or your bank. Use a password manager like Bitwarden (free) to generate unique passwords for every account. Enable two-factor authentication everywhere possible.
These free measures prevent the majority of identity theft. Paid services add convenience and remediation assistance but aren’t strictly necessary for security-conscious individuals.