IdentityForce vs. LifeLock: Which Option Is Best in 2024?

Should You Choose IdentityForce, LifeLock, or Something Else?

If you haven’t been affected by identity theft, there’s a good chance that you could be targeted soon. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported that [*]: 

Over 5 million Americans were victims of identity theft and fraud last year with losses of more than $8.8 billion. 

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are worried about identity theft, you’ve probably heard of IdentityForce and LifeLock. 

These two identity theft protection services promise to keep your online accounts safe, warn you if your personal information was leaked or is being used without your permission, and help guide you through the identity restoration process if you become a victim. 

But while both companies offer similar features, there are critical differences that will determine which one (or neither) is right for you. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how IdentityForce and LifeLock stack up against each other, explore other alternatives to consider, and help you choose the provider that’s best for you and your family.

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IdentityForce vs. LifeLock Head-to-Head: What You Need To Know

IdentityForce and LifeLock are two of the most well-known identity theft protection providers, and they offer many of the same features. But upon deeper inspection, it’s clear that they take different approaches to identity theft protection and recovery. 

At a high level, the main differences between IdentityForce and LifeLock are that:

• ‍IdentityForce offers more protection and options when it comes to credit monitoring and simulation tools. This makes sense as IdentityForce is owned by TransUnion — one of the three major credit bureaus.
• LifeLock offers more robust digital security features through its integration with Norton 360 (at an additional cost). LifeLock is also more convenient if you’re looking for protection and coverage for your family. 

Let’s take a closer look at how the services compare head-to-head:

Is Aura a Better Option Than LifeLock and IdentityForce?

While LifeLock and IdentityForce are both strong products, they compromise on certain features or levels of protection — putting you and your family at risk. 

LifeLock’s pricing plans are complicated with expensive add-ons, and sky-high renewal rates that can jump 40–50% in your second year. ‍

IdentityForce, meanwhile, is lacking digital security tools and only offers credit monitoring on its most expensive plan. 

Aura is an award-winning alternative to LifeLock and IdentityForce that offers comprehensive protection, the industry’s fastest fraud alerts, simple pricing plans, and more.

Here are a few reasons to consider choosing Aura over LifeLock or IdentityForce:

• Award-winning identity theft protection and support. While Aura is a relatively new service, it’s already won awards or been rated #1 by Money.com, Forbes, Security.org, and others. Aura tracks your most sensitive personal information — including your Social Security number (SSN), passport, driver’s license, name, address, and more.  
• Three-bureau credit monitoring — on every plan. Aura doesn’t limit your protection based on different plans. Instead, you get 24/7 three-bureau credit monitoring with monthly and annual credit reports and scores, as well as Experian credit lock — all included with every plan. Aura also protects your financial accounts with bank and investment account monitoring and risky transaction alerts (such as for payday loans being taken out in your name).
• The industry’s most reliable and fastest fraud alerts. A 2022 mystery shopper study showed that Aura discovered more instances of potential fraud, and sent fraud alerts up to 250x faster than competing providers [*].
• $1 million in identity theft insurance on all plans. Aura offers up to $1 million in insurance coverage for each adult member on every plan (up to $5 million total coverage on family plans). This coverage includes reimbursement for stolen funds, lawyer fees, and more. 
• Comprehensive family coverage – including parental controls and Safe Gaming features. Aura’s family plans go above and beyond, covering up to five adults and unlimited children. Even better, plan members can live in different households — meaning you can protect your elderly family members and adult children living outside of the home. 
• Suite of digital security tools for proactive protection. Aura helps protect your data, devices, and network with powerful digital security tools. This includes a military-grade virtual private network (VPN), secure password manager, malware and antivirus software, and Safe Browsing tools that will warn you of fake and malicious websites. ‍
• 14-day fully featured free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee. Try all of Aura’s features free for 14 days to see if it’s right for you. All annual plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

What are customers saying about Aura?

Here’s some examples of what real customers are saying about Aura in reviews on TrustPilot [*] — a third-party review site: 

• Reliable and empathetic fraud resolution. “When my identity was stolen I felt violated, scared, and unprotected. [...] I called [Aura] and was put in touch with a member of their White Glove team. They explained what we needed to do together. They didn’t say here’s a number and this is what you do. Anyone who goes through this needs the kind of protection and kindness that [Aura] provides.”
• Fast fraud alerts that saved me money. “Aura caught several fraud attempts early on and were able to mitigate the damage almost immediately. I will not be without this service. It is a very wise investment!”
• Exceptional customer service. “Service is over and beyond what I expected. With one phone call, my Aura rep called each creditor and checked my credit reports and offered great follow-up advice. If you want peace of mind, you need Aura.”

How much does Aura cost?

Aura offers simple and transparent pricing plans. All features are included with every plan — all you choose is the number of people you want to protect. Also, Aura plan rates don’t increase in your second year. 

Here are Aura’s pricing plans as of December 2023 using this special 60% off discount code:

• Individual Plan: $6 per month (regularly $12/month billed annually)
• Couple Plan (two members): $11.49 per month (regularly $22/month billed annually)
• Family Plan (five adults and unlimited children): $20 per month (regularly $37/month billed annually)

Aura’s Family Plan also includes additional features such as parental controls, Safe Gaming tools to protect against predators and cyberbullies, and child identity monitoring.

💡 Learn more: Aura vs. LifeLock: Which One Is Right For You? →

LifeLock Overview: What’s Included and Pros & Cons

LifeLock was launched in 2005 and has become a well-known brand with an estimated 80 million users worldwide [*]. In 2017, LifeLock was purchased by Symantec, adding Norton 360 digital security tools to its feature set.

LifeLock offers identity monitoring and alerts, credit monitoring, digital security tools, Dark Web monitoring, and extensive identity theft insurance plans. Customers can also call a 24/7 support line for help.

Who should choose LifeLock?

You should choose LifeLock if:

• You want flexibility in your identity theft protection plans. LifeLock offers three tiers of plans for individuals, families, and households with kids. You’ll also have the option of paying for the service annually rather than monthly.
• You’re looking for a recognizable brand name. Despite recent issues, LifeLock is still a popular name that’s been around since 2005. LifeLock currently holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.2 stars — one of the better ratings for an identity theft protection company but still lower than both IdentityForce and Aura.

💡 Learn more: LifeLock vs. Experian: Which Is Best for You? →

How much does LifeLock cost?

Navigating the range of LifeLock plans can be complicated. Each tier — Standard, Advantage, and Ultimate Plus — offers different levels of protection that can be hard to understand. Then, you have to choose whether you want to add Norton 360 digital security tools, protect your family members, and pay monthly or annually. 

To make matters worse, LifeLock significantly raises prices after your first year as a customer — sometimes upwards of 40–70%.

Here are LifeLock’s pricing plans as of December 2023:

• LifeLock Standard plan: $8.29 per month (renews at $14.99/month)
• LifeLock Advantage plan: $15.99 per month (renews at $24.99/month)
• LifeLock Ultimate Plus plan: $24.99 per month (renews at $34.99/month)

You can also choose to add an additional adult to your plan or opt for the family plan (two adults and up to five children). Each is more expensive than the last. For example, LifeLock Ultimate Plus with Norton 360 for a family costs a staggering $40.99 per month (and renews at $81.99/month!).

💡 Related: Is LifeLock Worth It? What To Know Before You Buy →

Is LifeLock a good service?

Overall, LifeLock is a good service with solid features. That said, the company has had several issues in recent years that you should be aware of:

• A data breach in January of 2023. Sensitive information from thousands of LifeLock customers, including customer password manager data, was breached earlier this year [*].
• $100 million+ in fines from the FTC over unsecured user data. LifeLock paid to settle Federal Trade Commission contempt charges for violating the terms of a 2010 federal court order over misleading marketing claims. [*].
• Crypto mining fiasco. LifeLock services pair with Norton, which received backlash in 2022 after quietly installing a cryptocurrency miner (which could significantly slow down your computer or cause other issues) alongside Norton 360 software [*].
• Massive renewal pricing increases. While LifeLock has an attractive annual discount, its prices increase massively after the first year — sometimes up to 40–70%.

💡 Related: The Best LifeLock Alternatives of 2024 →

IdentityForce Overview: What’s Included and Pros & Cons

IdentityForce is an identity protection service owned by the credit bureau TransUnion. It is highly rated across many platforms and was founded in 2005.

With IdentityForce’s UltraSecure+Credit plan, you get three-bureau credit reports, limited digital security tools, and comprehensive identity monitoring — which includes monitoring of driver’s licenses, court records, address changes, sex offender registries, and more. 

However, it’s important to note that even IdentityForce’s most basic plan is significantly more expensive than other options out there — and with more limited features.

Who should choose IdentityForce?

If you want access to a suite of digital security tools, and you’re primarily looking to protect yourself as an individual, IdentityForce may be the service for you.

You should choose IdentityForce if:

• You want more credit tracking or simulation tools. IdentityForce offers three-bureau credit monitoring with monthly scores and a credit score simulator. This makes it an ideal choice if credit is your primary concern.
• You want to try out an identity protection provider before fully committing to it. Since IdentityForce offers a 30-day free trial, it’s a great option if you want to test out its features before committing to an ongoing subscription.

How much does IdentityForce cost?

IdentityForce offers a basic plan for individuals, as well as a more expensive plan that includes credit monitoring.

Here are IdentityForce’s plans as of December 2023:

• IdentityForce UltraSecure plan: $17.95 per month
• IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit plan: $23.95 per month

IdentityForce doesn’t offer coverage for families on its pricing page, but you can inquire about custom family plans by calling the company directly. While its plans are a bit pricier than many other identity protection services, IdentityForce does offer a free 30-day trial.

Is IdentityForce worth it?

Overall, IdentityForce is a reputable identity protection provider with great customer ratings. But there are a few factors to consider before you sign up:

• Expensive plans. ID theft protection cost is an important factor for most customers. Even IdentityForce’s most basic Ultra package without credit monitoring is more expensive than many other competitors.
• Pricing for families is unclear. You have to call IdentityForce directly to get information on family plans, which can be a waste of time if the cost ends up exceeding your budget.
• Many services are simple or you can do them yourself for free. Features like credit freeze assistance or medical ID fraud protection are services that you can do yourself, which calls out the question of why the service is so expensive.

💡 Related: Aura vs. IdentityForce: 2024 Comparison →

Other Identity Theft Protection Services To Consider

Aura, LifeLock, and IdentityForce aren’t the only options when it comes to identity theft protection. Here are several additional providers that you might want to consider:

• Identity Guard is another household name and has helped protect over 38 million Americans from identity theft and fraud. Identity Guard includes award-winning identity theft protection, Dark Web monitoring, three-bureau credit monitoring, and White Glove Fraud Resolution support. While Identity Guard used to be powered by IBM’s Watson artificial intelligence (AI) platform, the company recently joined forces with Aura to offer more modern identity theft protection.
• Experian IdentityWorks is owned by another main credit bureau — Experian. As such, IdentityWorks offers three-bureau credit monitoring, daily FICO credit scores, Experian CreditLock and more. Unfortunately, IdentityWorks doesn’t include any digital security features and has limited hours available for support. 
• IDShield is owned by a company called LegalShield and offers identity theft protection as well as “reputation and privacy management services.” One of the key differentiators of IDShield is that it employs a team of licensed private investigators to help you in the event that you become a victim of fraud.  

What To Do If You Think Your Identity Has Been Stolen

Unfortunately, no service can completely protect you from the risks of fraud. If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, these are some proactive steps that you can take to minimize the damage:

• Call the Fraud Resolution team at your identity theft protection provider. No one should have to go through identity theft alone. Aura’s dedicated team of U.S.-based Fraud Resolution Specialists are available 24/7 via phone and email to assist you.
• Freeze your credit with all three bureaus. Contact each bureau individually to initiate a credit freeze. This will block anyone from accessing your credit file, so identity thieves won’t be able to open accounts or take out loans in your name. 
• Notify your bank and credit card company. If you suspect that your bank account or credit card numbers have been compromised, call each company and request an account freeze. This prevents anyone from accessing or transferring your money.
• Scan your credit and bank statements for unauthorized charges. Even if you’re unsure whether your banking information has been compromised, it’s a good idea to look over your statements in case any fraudulent charges went unnoticed.
• File an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission. An official FTC report is essential for disputing fraudulent transactions and recovering your identity. You can file a report by going to identitytheft.gov.
• Contact your local police department. Local law enforcement is often limited in its ability to do anything if your identity was stolen by overseas criminals  — but making a report is important to establish a paper trail in order to prove your innocence and seek to recover losses.
• Secure your online accounts and add two-factor authentication. Scammers often try to take over your social media and other online accounts. Using a password manager and enabling 2FA whenever possible can prevent them from gaining access.

💡 Related: What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen (2024 Recovery Guide) →

Our Final Recommendation: Choose Aura for Peace of Mind

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. In 2024, investing in identity theft protection is more than worth the cost to stay safe.

Aura offers award-winning protection that includes 24/7 Dark Web monitoring, Safe Browsing security tools, parental controls, and three-bureau credit monitoring with fast alerts to help safeguard you and your family.

And if the worst should happen, you’ll be covered by Aura’s $1 million insurance policy and 24/7 team of U.S.-based Fraud Resolution Specialists.

Keep your identity (and finances) safe. Try Aura free for 14 days →