The Best ID Theft Protection Apps of 2024
Written by: BestApp.com App Testing Team - Updated: Apr 30, 2021
Identify theft is on the rise as more people and businesses migrate their information online. Our top pick for the best identity theft protection app is IDShield because of its 30-day free trial, affordable pricing structure, credit alerts, social media monitoring, and dedicated case manager. But if this app isn't exactly what you're looking for, we have nine other options on this list for you to try.
Top 10 ID Theft Protection Apps to Try
- IDShield — Top Pick
- ID Watchdog — Best Dark Web Monitoring
- IdentityForce — Best Free Trial
- LifeLock — Best Customer Service
- Identity Guard — Best for Social Media Monitoring
- PrivacyGuard — Best for Learning About ID Protection
- Zander Insurance — Lowest Monthly Fee
- ReliaShield — Best for Reimbursement
- IDnotify — Best for Parents
- Credit Sesame — Best for Protecting Credit
How We Chose the Best Identity Theft Protection Apps
To find the best ID theft protection apps, we sifted through the offerings out there, looking for apps that offered credit fraud alerts, social media monitoring, and an easy way to lock your credit to help prevent ID theft. We also evaluated what kind of subscription plans the apps offer, what customer service options are available, and how pricing works.
Choose the ID theft protection app that’s right for you
Choosing the right ID theft app for you comes down to what features are most important to you and what your budget is. You’ll need to figure out how many identities you need to keep track of so you can decide on an individual or family plan. After that, it’s a matter of which option is most affordable. Consider apps that have a free trial version so you can try before you buy.
Know when you need protection
Many people don’t look into ID theft protection apps until they’ve already been compromised, and while you definitely want to monitor your identity after a theft, prevention is also key. If you’re trying to fix or raise your credit or just do a lot of business online, it’s a good idea to have an ID theft protection app.
Our Identity Theft Protection App Reviews
IDShield — Top Pick
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
IDShield is our top pick for the best ID theft protection app because it offers the most features, from credit locks to credit fraud alerts, and you get a dedicated case manager and licensed investigator if there are any issues. The mobile app gives you instant alerts so you can take action on suspected fraud quickly, and there are several plan options at different price points to meet your needs.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $13.95 – $32.95/month
- Support available: FAQs, Live chat, Email, Phone
| IDShield Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Licensed investigators | Pricier option compared to others |
| Dark web monitoring | |
| 24/7 customer support | |
ID Watchdog — Best Dark Web Monitoring
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
ID Watchdog takes second place on the list because it has a thorough monitoring system and an easy-to-use app. It monitors everything from social media accounts and the dark web to public records and fraudulent change-of-address requests. The basic plan is one of the more affordable on this list, but there’s no free trial to make sure you like the setup.
Notable features:
- No free trial
- $14.95 – $32.36/month
- Support available: FAQs, Email, Customer service number
| ID Watchdog Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Thorough monitoring | No free trial period |
| Full customer support | |
IdentityForce — Best Free Trial
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
IdentityForce is a full-service ID theft app that offers three-bureau credit monitoring, reporting, and scoring to its subscribers. Its other features include a credit score simulator, smart SSN tracker, comprehensive banking and credit card activity alerts, advanced fraud monitoring, and a VPN through their mobile app. Furthermore, IdentityForce offers a $1 million identity theft insurance and recovery policy, as well as credit freeze and credit report fraud assistance. And whenever you’re in need of support, you’ll be able to easily reach one of their 24/7 US-based member services representatives.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $17.95 – $23.95/month
- Support available: Email, Phone, Contact form
| IdentityForce Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Full 30-day trial | No dedicated case manager |
LifeLock — Best Customer Service
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
LifeLock continually scans the internet for signs your identity has been compromised, and if it finds something, it sends you an instant alert so you can take action. This app stands out on our list for its impressive customer service offerings, which include a support library, live chats with agents, and full phone support.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $9.99 – $25.99/month
- Support available: Live chat, Support topics, Phone
| LifeLock Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Reimburses stolen funds | No social media monitoring |
| Can block hacking attempts | |
Identity Guard — Best for Social Media Monitoring
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Identity Guard offers full ID theft prevention and alerts, but it’s especially thorough when it comes to social media monitoring. Once you enroll in the program, you can set up exactly how much you want the app to monitor. The app will let you know what steps you can take to protect your identity and alert you of potential breaches.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $7.50 – $33.33/month
- Support available: FAQ, Email, Phone
| Identity Guard Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Risk management reporting | Premium subscription is comparatively expensive |
| Credit monitoring | |
PrivacyGuard — Best for Learning About ID Protection
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
PrivacyGuard offers ID theft monitoring services that include dark web and public record monitoring, but it also has the tools and educational resources you need to protect your credit and identity in the future. This app has all the standard ID theft features, such as bank account and application verification monitoring, and some subscription levels have extras like credit score simulators.
Notable features:
- No free trial
- $9.99 – $24.99/month
- Support available: FAQs, Email, Membership phone number
| PrivacyGuard Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Educational resources | No credit lock |
| Dedicated fraud resolution agent | No social media monitoring |
Zander Insurance — Lowest Monthly Fee
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Zander Insurance is an insurance provider that also offers ID theft protection services. The pricing is the cheapest of the picks on our list, but you’ll get proactive monitoring and alerts and a 24/7 customer support team for any questions or concerns. The family plan is a good choice for parents who want to keep an eye on their children’s identities, and if issues occur, Certified Recovery Specialists help make the process as painless as possible. You have the ability to lock/unlock your credit as well.
Notable features:
- No free trial
- $6.75 – $12.90/month
- Support available: FAQs, Email, Toll-free number
| Zander Insurance Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Affordable basic membership | Doesn’t offer social media monitoring |
| Dedicated recovery specialists | |
ReliaShield — Best for Reimbursement
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
ReliaShield, which is a subsidiary of Zander Insurance, provides a full ID theft monitoring service that offers a lot of features for a relatively low price point compared to some others on our list. It has three levels of service so you can pick what fits your needs, and features include things like credit fraud alerts, social media monitoring, and notifications when credit applications are made in your name. It also offers clients up to $1 million in stolen funds and expense reimbursement if identity theft occurs.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $7.19 – $31.49/month
- Support available: FAQs, Contact form, Toll-free number
| ReliaShield Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| $1 million in reimbursement | No dedicated case manager |
| Credit fraud alerts | No credit lock |
| Affordable family plan | |
IDnotify — Best for Parents
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
IDnotify is a service from Experian that provides internet monitoring, social media monitoring, and identity restoration. The higher subscription levels come with extra perks like credit monitoring, access to your credit scores, and identity theft insurance. This app is also the best for parents on our list because the child protection plan is only $5 a month, which makes it an affordable way to ensure your child’s identity is protected as well.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $9.99 – $25.99/month
- Support available: Email, Phone
| IDnotify Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Affordable child protection plan | No credit lock |
| Credit fraud alerts | No dedicated case manager |
| Multiple subscription levels | |
Credit Sesame — Best for Protecting Credit
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Credit Sesame is perhaps best known for its credit monitoring and building services, but it also comes with some decent ID theft features. It monitors your credit for any signs of potential fraud or identity theft and lets you know if there are any suspected breaches. While there’s no free trial, the pricing is very affordable compared with others on this list if you don’t need more intense ID monitoring services.
Notable features:
- No free trial
- In-app purchases: $1 – $19.99 per item
- Support available: Help center, FAQs, Q&A forum, Request form
| Credit Sesame Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Helps improve credit score | No family plan |
| Credit education resource library | Not as much internet monitoring |
ID Theft Protection Apps: Features Summary Table
| ID Theft Protection Apps Comparison Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| App | Cost | Features |
| IDShield — Top Pick | $13.95 – $32.95/month | ✓ Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan ✓ Social Media Monitoring ✓ Dedicated Case Manager |
| ID Watchdog — Best Dark Web Monitoring | $14.95 – $32.36/month | ✓ Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan ✓ Social Media Monitoring ✓ Dedicated Case Manager |
| IdentityForce — Best Free Trial | $17.95 – $23.95/month | ✓ Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan ✓ Social Media Monitoring X Dedicated Case Manager |
| LifeLock — Best Customer Service | $9.99 – $25.99/month | ✓ Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan X Social Media Monitoring ✓ Dedicated Case Manager |
| Identity Guard — Best for Social Media Monitoring | $7.50 – $33.33/month | X Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan ✓ Social Media Monitoring ✓ Dedicated Case Manager |
| PrivacyGuard — Best for Learning About ID Protection | $9.99 – $24.99/month | X Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts X Family Plan X Social Media Monitoring ✓ Dedicated Case Manager |
| Zander Insurance — Lowest Monthly Fee | $6.75 – $12.90/month | X Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan X Social Media Monitoring ✓ Dedicated Case Manager |
| ReliaShield — Best for Reimbursement | $7.19 – $31.49/month | X Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan ✓ Social Media Monitoring X Dedicated Case Manager |
| IDnotify — Best for Parents | $9.99 – $25.99/month | X Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan ✓ Social Media Monitoring X Dedicated Case Manager |
| Credit Sesame — Best for Protecting Credit | $1 – $19.99 per item | X Easy Credit Lock ✓ Credit Fraud Alerts ✓ Family Plan ✓ Social Media Monitoring X Dedicated Case Manager |