Is IdentityForce Legit? What You Need To Know Before Buying

Can You Trust IdentityForce With Your Personal Information?

Over the years, IdentityForce has become one of the most trusted identity theft protection services on the market, garnering millions of customers and high-profile contracts with the U.S. government. Yet, despite its track record, IdentityForce has fallen behind many modern alternatives in terms of features and affordability. 

Here’s what you should know if you’re considering becoming an IdentityForce customer: 

• What users like about IdentityForce: Users and reviewers applaud IdentityForce's credit restoration support and unique features, such as its credit simulator and credit bureau summaries. 
• What users don’t like about IdentityForce: Many reviewers question the lack of credit monitoring in IdentityForce's base packages and the overall cost of the service. Users also complain about the company's customer service and its delayed alerts and response times [*]. 

Ultimately, your decision will come down to your individual needs, budget, and how much you trust the IdentityForce brand. 

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IdentityForce Review: Top Features, Plans, and Pricing

IdentityForce was first launched in 2006 to help combat identity theft during the rapid rise of data breaches at the start of the millennium. In 2021, the company was purchased by TransUnion — one of the three major credit bureaus. 

Since then, IdentityForce has been featured regularly on lists for best identity theft protection services in publications such as USNews.com, Forbes Advisor, and CNBC Select.

The company offers two tiers of protection. The more affordable UltraSecure plan focuses mainly on identity protection — with features including Dark Web monitoring, advanced fraud monitoring and alerts, basic digital security tools, and at least $1 million in identity theft insurance.  

The more expensive UltraSecure+Credit plan includes all of those features, and then layers on three-bureau credit monitoring, daily TransUnion credit reports and scores, and additional digital security tools and insurance coverage.

But while IdentityForce’s connection to TransUnion provides access to user credit scores and reports, it can have negative consequences. 

By signing up for IdentityForce you may unknowingly allow your personal data to be shared with marketers or waive your right to join class action lawsuits against TransUnion in the event of a data breach.  

Here’s a breakdown of IdentityForce's plans and pricing:

IdentityForce separates its main features into three categories: monitoring, prevention, and recovery. 

Before you become a paying customer, here’s what you should know about IdentityForce’s keystone features — what they include, how they work, and where they fall short.

Dark Web monitoring with risk scores and “Personalized Action Plans”

IdentityForce offers 24/7 Dark Web monitoring to help detect if your personal data is stolen, leaked, or sold online. The company monitors personally identifiable information (PII) that you store in your IdentityForce “vault.” This can include your SSN, driver’s license, phone number, email addresses, bank account numbers, credit cards, and medical identification numbers.

If IdentityForce finds that your PII was leaked, it sends a prompt alert along with a risk score and Personalized Action Plan based on your level of exposure. The service also monitors USPS change of address requests, court records, and sex offender lists to see if your data is being used without your permission. 

What you need to know: IdentityForce monitors thousands of Dark Web sites and other locations for most key pieces of PII, but it may take some time to set up the monitoring feature. According to the IdentityForce terms of service [*], the monitoring services can take up to four weeks to be activated. 

Limited digital security tools for your desktop and mobile devices

IdentityForce includes some rather basic digital security tools in its packages, including a virtual private network (VPN) for mobile devices along with anti-phishing, keylogging, and ransomware software for PCs only. The service also includes encrypted storage for your identification documents and a password manager. 

On its top-tier plan, IdentityForce steps up its protection with continuous monitoring for phishing websites and Botnet malware.

What you need to know: While IdentityForce helps you detect and recover from identity theft, the company falls short when it comes to actually preventing it. With no antivirus software or scam blockers, this service could leave you vulnerable to malicious online activity. 

Up to $2 million in identity theft insurance

If you become a victim of identity theft and fraud, IdentityForce’s ID theft insurance policy will cover you for up to $2 million in eligible losses and expenses — such as resolution costs, lost wages, legal fees, and unauthorized electronic fund transfer reimbursements. 

What you need to know: While IdentityForce offers high quality insurance protection on its individual plans, the coverage limit doesn't change for family plans. In comparison, Aura's identity theft insurance includes $1 million for every subscription plan member — up to $5 million in total insurance coverage for a five-adult family.

Optional three-bureau credit monitoring (and quarterly credit scores) 

On its UltraSecure+ Credit plan, IdentityForce monitors your credit reports with the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax). The company monitors for major warning signs of fraud — including new accounts, hard inquiries, and missed payments — and will send a notification if anything is found.

Additionally, IdentityForce sends you credit reports and summaries from the major bureaus every four months. It also includes a credit score tracker and credit score simulator to help you monitor your personal finances and better understand how financial decisions may affect your credit. 

What you need to know: IdentityForce only offers credit monitoring on its premium plan, but it provides coverage that is similar to many of its competitors. Compared to Aura, however, IdentityForce is sorely lacking a one-click CreditLock feature to secure your credit file in an instant. 

Financial account alerts 

IdentityForce monitors transaction activity within your bank, credit card, and investment accounts — although only in the most basic fashion. You set the dollar amount threshold on the mobile app, and the service will notify you when a transaction exceeds it. 

IdentityForce also notifies you whenever anyone changes your account information, opens a new account in your name (or if a lender pulls your credit report), or uses your information for a Payday loan. 

What you need to know: While IdentityForce promises to monitor your financial accounts, it makes no promises about catching fraud. In fact, the company includes a disclaimer stating that "monitoring services may not uncover all suspicious activity" [*]. Many customer complaints also mention that their banks were much faster to report fraudulent activity than IdentityForce [*].  

📚 Related: IdentityForce vs. LifeLock — Which Service Is Better? →

What Are the Downsides of Using IdentityForce?

IdentityForce may have a solid reputation in the industry, but the company and the service are not without faults. Here are some of IdentityForce's biggest drawbacks:

The company may sell your sensitive personal data to third parties

IdentityForce's privacy policy offers limited details on its data-sharing practices [*]; but its parent company, Sontiq, provides more specifics. According to Sontiq's privacy policy [*], user data that the company collects about you may be sold to:

• Consumer data resellers
• Government agencies
• Data brokers
• Marketing companies
• Retail merchants
• Social media networks

Limited digital security tools to proactively prevent fraud

IdentityForce includes a mobile VPN and Safe Browsing tools for PCs in both its premium and basic plans, but it may not be enough to stop fraud from happening. Without antivirus software or spam and scam protection, hackers can infect your device with malware or spyware, and scammers can access your personal information.  

Here are some real user reviews about IdentityForce’s digital security features from ConsumerAffairs [*]:

• "I have had your protection for over a year... I recently received an email message from my home phone/Internet Carrier that ended up as a virus and erased all of my messages! I thought that was something that IdentityForce would prevent!”
• "While Identity Force is consistent in sending updated information and offering a VPN for mobile devices, I find that the company is behind in offering a VPN plan for customers' desktop computers." 

Expensive plans — especially for basic identity monitoring

IdentityForce monitors the Dark Web, lenders, public records, and SSNs for suspicious activity and fraudulent behavior. For nearly $350 a year, however, you might expect more from the service. 

Here's how IdentityForce compares in price to competitors with superior plans:

Poor customer support reviews

IdentityForce claims that users can submit a case in real time for its restoration specialists to investigate, but customers complain that the process is much too slow to be effective.

Here are some reviews of IdentityForce’s customer support from third-party review site TrustPilot:

• "Had a tech hack to my computer. Exposed credit cards and other data. Called Identity Force for help. Told they were very concerned but needed someone higher up involved. I was told I’d get a call back within 24 hrs. Never got a call back or any help whatsoever. I had to handle it by myself." [*]
• "I called Identity Force for technical support and all I was told is that there is no support available and they would put in a ticket." [*]
• "When I received a major alert and called customer service for assistance, I was essentially told a Google Search could tell me that, and I was asked if I filed a police report. That's interesting, because under services that IdentityForce claims to offer, it says, ‘relax’ and that they will help with the paperwork. [That was] NOT my experience." [*]

Only basic child monitoring and protection on family plans

IdentityForce's family plans offer Dark Web and social media monitoring, plus ID restoration services for an unlimited number of children. The service also includes child credit activity monitoring for up to 10 children. 

Compared to its major competitors, however, IdentityForce appears to underwhelm with its child protection features.

Here’s what one reviewer on ConsumerAffairs said about IdentityForce’s family plans [*]:

"When I went to add my children, I discovered they only monitor the kid's Social Security numbers and do not provide any of the other services under this plan (credit cards, bank accounts, driver's license, etc.). I'm so disappointed because I thought my entire family would receive the same coverage under the 'Family Plan'." 

Anti-class-action clause

Many ID theft protection and credit monitoring services include arbitration clauses in their privacy policies to shield themselves against class action lawsuits, and IdentityForce is no exception. However, IdentityForce's connection to TransUnion could make this clause more restrictive than usual. 

By signing up for IdentityForce, you may also waive the right to take class action against TransUnion if they mismanage your information [*]. 

This is particularly relevant given the recent $425 million class action settlement with Equifax — another of the three major credit bureaus — for the data breach that exposed the information of 147 million people [*].

How Does IdentityForce Compare To Aura?

While IdentityForce offers a decent level of protection, there’s no denying that it is lacking in digital security and other critical features. This wouldn’t be too much of an issue if the company weren’t also charging some of the highest monthly and annual fees in the industry. 

Aura is a modern all-in-one identity theft protection service that combines identity and credit monitoring with advanced digital security tools, 24/7 support, and a generous insurance policy. 

In the past few years alone, Aura has been rated the #1 identity theft protection solution by TechRadar, NerdWallet, Forbes, USNews.com, Money.com, Identity Theft Protection Review, and others. 

But where Aura truly shines is in its full family protection. Aura’s family plans protect up to five adults and unlimited children, and include child identity theft protection, parental controls, spam call and text protection, and up to $5 million in identity theft insurance. 

Here's a quick look at how IdentityForce and Aura differ on key features:

You should choose Aura over IdentityForce if you want: 

• Faster fraud alerts. A recent mystery shopper survey found that Aura sent more reliable fraud alerts that were up to 250x faster than competitors³, such as IdentityForce.
• Cheaper plans with more protection. All Aura plans come with more comprehensive monitoring and device protection than IdentityForce's premium plan — at less than half the cost.
• Advanced digital security tools for all of your devices. In addition to its antivirus software — a blindspot for IdentityForce — Aura offers a VPN and Safe Browsing tools for all devices, not just mobile or PCs. You can also get an optional AI-powered spam and scam call protection tool. 
• Reliable 24/7 U.S.-based support. While IdentityForce advertises 24/7 live support, the negative user reviews about delayed response times call that claim into question [*]. Every member covered by an Aura plan gets access to 24/7 U.S.-based support and a team of White Glove Fraud Resolution Specialists.  
• Robust family protection including parental controls. Along with child SSN monitoring and credit freeze support, Aura family plans include online content filters, Safe gaming, and cyberbullying notifications.  
• More identity theft insurance coverage. Every adult member on an Aura plan qualifies for up to $1 million in identity theft insurance ($5 million in total on family plans).

The Bottom Line: IdentityForce Costs More, But Offers Less Protection

IdentityForce has long been a trusted provider of all-in-one identity theft protection, but its relatively basic features may make it unsuitable for some users. 

While the entry-level plans feature no credit monitoring at all, IdentityForce's premium plans have significant flaws as well — including no antivirus protection, limited parental controls, and a questionable privacy policy. 

IdentityForce may offer a stable brand name, but many of its competitors (including Aura) have been able to introduce better safety options with more modern features — all for a lower price. Before you sign up for an IdentityForce account, make sure that you'll get the protection you need at a fair price.