Is IDShield Worth It? What To Know Before Buying

Is IDShield Legitimate?

IDShield is an identity theft protection subscription service owned by the legal services company LegalShield, which provides monitoring for personally identifiable information (PII), credit cards, medical data, insurance, and more.

However, with more comprehensive coverage available at lower prices from competitors, IDShield may not be the best option for you.

With an estimated 1.7 million members^§, IDShield is one of the more popular choices available for protecting your identity and finances — but is it worth it?

^§ Based on https://www.idshield.com/about. All data below is current as of March 2025.

IDShield Review: What It Is and How It Protects You

IDShield provides tiered plans for individuals and families, primarily offering credit bureau monitoring and fraud recovery services. Its plans are intended to protect your data and intervene if criminals compromise your Social Security Number (SSN), bank account information, or identity.

IDShield identity theft protection plans come with the following features:

Credit score and report monitoring. IDShield tracks your credit scores and credit reports at one or all three major credit bureaus (depending on your plan).

You’ll get a monthly credit score update and alerts about changes to your credit reports — for example, if someone tries to open a new account or take out a payday loan in your name. While IDShield calls its alerts "instant," it doesn’t publish any statistics about its speed or reliability. 

Identity monitoring. IDShield tracks your personal information for suspicious activity across multiple platforms. This includes social media, the Dark Web, financial accounts, and court records.

Digital security via Trend Micro™. Members get free malware protection, a virtual private network (VPN), and a password manager for up to three devices through Trend Micro. These services cost up to $7.50/month when purchased individually.

Consultations with identity theft specialists. IDShield provides participants with access to a team of identity theft experts. These specialists can assist with questions and concerns regarding identity protection and credit monitoring.

Access to private investigators. If you fall prey to identity theft, IDShield has a team of licensed private investigators (LPI) who are on call 24/7 to help you recover your compromised or stolen identity.

Up to $3 million in identity theft insurance. If you are a victim of identity theft, IDShield offers identity theft insurance coverage for up to $3 million to help recover eligible financial losses and certain legal fees.

IDShield offers different levels of credit monitoring on its ID theft protection plans. The basic plan only monitors credit reports through one bureau, Experian. For three-bureau credit monitoring, you'll need to pay a higher monthly subscription fee.

Who should use IDShield?

Many people exploring identity theft protection aren’t sure which features matter most for their needs. IDShield keeps things simple by offering just two plans: one-bureau and three-bureau credit monitoring.

Monitoring your credit with just one bureau may not show the full picture; not all lenders report to every bureau. Checking all three can give you a better chance of catching fraud early.

So, who is IDShield right for?

• People who want access to private investigators to help recover their identity. IDShield offers unlimited consultations through its call center, along with access to private investigators in the event that your identity is stolen. Having said that, it’s always better to try to prevent identity theft rather than deal with the fallout.
• People who are willing to pay extra to monitor their credit at all three bureaus. While IDShield offers a budget-friendly plan, it only includes one-bureau credit monitoring. You'll need to opt for the higher tier plan to get credit monitoring from all three credit bureaus.
• People who want to try IDShield’s services for free. With plans as low as $14.95/month, IDShield’s basic services won’t break the bank. If you want to see how it works for yourself, you can try IDShield for free for 30 days.

📚 Related: The 11 Best Credit Monitoring Services (Ranked and Reviewed) →

IDShield Features, Pros and Cons

IDShield makes strong claims about how it can protect you against threats from identity thieves and hackers so that you don’t become a victim of fraud. However, there are limitations that you should know about before signing up.

Feature overview: Identity monitoring

A core feature of identity theft protection is to monitor your PII in various online locations for signs of identity theft. For example, you could get an alert if scammers use your personal information on applications to impersonate you or try to steal your identity. 

The IDShield website does not provide specific details about the data types it monitors or its feature set. This list is based on the official IDShield Benefit Overview shared with Caltech.

• Dark Web monitoring. IDShield monitors the Dark Web for your full name, date of birth, SSN, driver’s license number, passport number, mailing address, phone numbers, bank account numbers, and more.
• Court and public records scanning. IDShield checks your PII against millions of records at the Administration of the Courts, the Department of Corrections, county courts, and other legal agencies.
• Social media monitoring. IDShield monitors your social media feeds for reputation and privacy risks. You can receive alerts for posts, image captions, and comments that may indicate your identity is compromised.
• Medical data reports. While IDShield doesn’t specify what type of medical data it monitors, it may provide links to medical data report sources. Participants can then access and review their records for inaccuracies or signs of fraud.

Is IDShield worth it for identity monitoring? Speed and reliability are crucial when you need to stop or react to identity theft. Some customers on the third-party review site Trustpilot reported issues with IDShield's setup process and website, which prevented them from receiving identity theft alerts.

Credit monitoring and alerts

• 24/7 credit monitoring. IDShield offers continuous credit monitoring and real-time records of your credit score, which you can access through the customer portal.
• One- or three-bureau monitoring. IDShield divides its pricing tiers by the number of credit bureaus in which it monitors your credit file. The more expensive three-bureau plan includes credit reports from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. 
• Real-time alerts. IDShield sends instant alerts about changes to your credit report related to any of the following 12 markers: delinquent account, new address, new tradeline, debt settlement, card over limit, lost or stolen card, participant noted as deceased, fraud or victim statement, bankruptcy, liens and judgments, new employment, and new collection.

Is IDShield worth it for credit monitoring? You can check your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com for free — so credit monitoring tools must be reliable and fast to be worth paying for. With IDShield’s plan structure, you pay more for three-bureau monitoring than you would with competitors.

📚 Related: Do You Need Credit Monitoring or Identity Theft Protection? →

Identity theft insurance and support

• $3 Million coverage. As an IDShield participant, you can get up to $3 million in coverage for eligible losses related to identity fraud, including stolen funds and documents.
• Lost or stolen wallet support. IDShield offers support to help determine what items may have been stolen, and provides assistance in the event of identity theft. However, money stolen from your wallet is not covered.

Device security

VPN Proxy One, anti-malware protection, and a password manager are some of the more notable device security features available.

• Antivirus and VPN. IDShield includes a VPN and password manager from Trend Micro. The VPN uses bank-grade encryption to secure internet traffic, and protects up to three devices on the individual plan or 15 on the family plan. The password manager comes with one license on the individual plan and six on the family plan.

Is IDShield worth it for device security? While 15 devices may be sufficient for a couple or small family, larger households may benefit from Aura’s broader coverage. Aura supports an unlimited number of devices on both its family and kids plans.

Identity restoration and customer support

• Access to an LPI. In case of an identity theft event, the participant will be assigned a dedicated LPI. All IDShield LPI are licensed in the state of Oklahoma.
• 24/7 emergency assistance. IDShield also provides round-the-clock support for identity theft emergencies.

Is IDShield worth it for identity restoration? The private investigators are a standout feature with IDShield. With the IDShield family plan, restoration services also extend to your dependent children between the ages of 18 and 26, and to any dependent parents. These dependents don’t receive monitoring services, though.

Family protection

• Child SSN monitoring. IDShield monitors your dependent children's SSNs and will alert you if their SSNs are used to create any new accounts or are included in credit applications or loan documents.
• Sex offender monitoring. Participants can search for registered sexual offenders within a five-mile radius of their home address. You can also set up alerts to notify you when a sex offender moves into the area.

Is IDShield worth it for family protection? These features aside, the IDShield website does not explicitly mention parental controls. Some marketing materials reference this feature, which may include a content filter and screen time monitoring.

📚 Related: IDShield vs. LifeLock vs. Aura: Which One Is Best For You? →

What Are the Downsides of Using IDShield?

While IDShield can help protect you against fraud, it’s not a perfect service. If you’re weighing your options, consider these five drawbacks of IDShield before making a decision:‍

• ‍Limited visibility into features. IDShield’s website provides only broad descriptions of its services. Specifics — such as the exact types of data monitored or how alerts are triggered — are often missing or only available through partner documents.‍
• One-bureau credit monitoring on the base plan. The lower-tier plan only includes credit monitoring through Experian. To monitor all three major bureaus, users need to upgrade to a higher-priced plan.‍
• Partial coverage for dependents. The family plan includes monitoring for two adults and children under 18. Dependent children aged 18–26 and dependent parents are only eligible for identity restoration services — not ongoing monitoring.‍
• Device limits may not suit larger households.The individual plan protects up to three devices, while the family plan covers up to 15. Households with more devices may find these limits restrictive compared to competitors like Aura that allow unlimited device protection.‍
• Unclear insurance coverage for families. While IDShield advertises up to $3 million in identity theft insurance, the company doesn’t clearly explain how that coverage is divided among family members or whether the limit applies per person or per household.‍
• Inconsistent user experience. Some customers have reported issues with setup, delayed alerts, or trouble navigating the platform. These issues could impact how quickly users are able to respond to potential threats.‍
• Limited information on parental controls. Although certain marketing materials mention parental control features, the IDShield website does not offer details on what’s included.

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

Why You Should Consider Aura as an IDShield Alternative

Aura is a relatively new player in the digital security market, but it has already been rated #1 by Money.com, TechRadar, USNews.com, and more.

Here’s a breakdown of how IDShield and Aura compare:

Going head-to-head, Aura stands out as the better option in a number of ways, including:

• Faster fraud alerts. When someone commits fraud with your personal information, speed is your ally. According to a 2022 mystery shopper survey, Aura's credit fraud alerts were up to 250 times faster than competitors.³
• Integrated online security features. Unlike IDShield, Aura's app provides access to all of your plan's features, including an integrated VPN, antivirus, password manager, and more.
• Better support (that’s available when you need it). Victims of fraud have 24/7 access to Aura’s dedicated team of U.S.-based White Glove Fraud Resolution specialists to help navigate challenges with banks, vendors, and government agencies.
• More comprehensive family protection with more insurance coverage. Aura provides digital security tools to protect the whole family online, including parental controls, safe gaming tools with cyberbullying alerts, and child identity monitoring.‍
• Better value for money. With Aura, you get more features, protection, and recovery tools to secure your identity at a lower price than IDShield.