Best Free Identity Theft Protection Services of 2021

TransUnion’s no-cost TrueIdentity tool helps customers stay up-to-date on their credit reports. It also comes with an insurance policy of up to $25,000 should fraud occur. This is an ideal choice for those who want a no-cost solution that provides monitoring, security alerts, and credit locks. This complimentary service consistently refreshes so clients can get real-time information at any time.

The TransUnion website is full of resources and quick answers for those burning financial questions. For example, visitors can learn how to handle inaccuracies on their credit reports, how their score is calculated, and what factors benefit and deter that number.

TransUnion’s reputation is strong. Its clientele includes over 65,000 businesses, not to mention personal customers. People come to this company for credit reports and advice on how to improve their financial privacy.

Even though this doesn’t gather details and scores from the other two major bureaus (Equifax and Experian), clients are still getting valuable insights from TransUnion. The ability to get this kind of knowledge at no cost means that people from disadvantaged households have a better chance of building up good credit or fixing past errors.

Plus, even if they forget, they can set up custom notifications at the start, so they receive monthly updates. The educational tools on the website are useful for learning about how to calculate scores, which purchases affect the scoring, and why routine monitoring is important.

Credit Sesame provides some of the best identity theft protection and a $50,000 insured policy on the basic plan. Moreover, premium tools are available to those who want them. They will cost extra but could be well worth it. For example, the reimbursement policy goes up to $1 million on the higher-tiered packages. Either way, this is a trusted brand that helps people take their financial situation into their hands.

Other perks include daily monitors, restoration specialists, live access to customer support, and monthly score updates. New clients don’t have to enter their card information to get started either. Credit Sesame’s strength lies in its loan help and alerts. It monitors billions of dollars in loans.

Even the paid features come at a decent price point, considering there are lots of competitors out there. For those who want to go the no-cost route, they can count on monthly check-ins from TransUnion as well as routine notifications on their scores. This way, they can see if any unusual activity is going on under their name or with their debit card. W

hen customers are ready to take the plunge and get mortgages or apply for loans, this provider is there to assist. There are refinancing and home-buying tips on the website to guide consumers in the right direction.

Top 6 Identity Theft Protection Services

While it’s great to start with a no-cost monitoring solution, over time, people need additional coverage. The following best identity theft protection providers offer paid assistance, but in many cases, a trial period is available. That way, consumers can give them a try and determine which is the best for their specific needs and circumstances.

ADT may be known for home security, but it also helps consumers by providing some of the best identity theft protection out there. The brand offers 24/7 monitoring for bank loans and cards, social security numbers, driver’s licenses, passports, email addresses, phone numbers, medical IDs, and more. It also accesses public and court records to check if any crimes were committed under the client’s name.

Plus, it’s affordable and starts at just $10 per month with no long-term contracts. Another cool feature is the sleek mobile app and visual dashboards, which send instant notifications. ADT also boasts a $1 million stolen funds policy and professional resolution assistance.

ADT is already a leader in digital surveillance, so it makes sense that its protective services expand to bank cards and financial accounts. Besides providing clients with their annual credit reports, ADT also delivers scores every 30 days. It will send notifications when new accounts or loans open under the customer’s name. It also scours the Dark Web to make sure that names aren’t being used falsely or being sold online.

The company also has a dedicated resolutions team department to help people get out of a tight spot. The user dashboard is comprehensive and gives users an overview of their personal information, records, history, and other data points. A downside here is that it’s hard to find pricing info. All the website says is that plans start at $9.99 per month.

ID Watchdog specializes in recovery assistance and has a 100% resolution guarantee. It also boasts a team of Certified Risk Management Specialists. Its identity theft insurance policy covers up to $1 million, although limitations apply and depend on the customer’s chosen bundle.

Those who want to try out the company can take advantage of a 30-day trial. If they decide to sign up, they should know that the base package doesn’t come with routine credit score checks.

On the other hand, consumers might appreciate that ID Watchdog is an Equifax company, which means that it has close ties to one of the major bureaus. ID Watchdog has received several national awards for its outstanding service and support. Plus, its agents are available to talk over the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

It’s great that this company offers individual and family plans. That said, the larger the family and the higher the package, the more the expenses add up. Also, parents and employers are most likely to benefit from this provider. There are advantages for workplaces that offer Identityguard, and parents can lock their children’s credit with the push of a button.

It would be nice if there were senior-specific features as well since older adults are much more likely to fall for scams. Fortunately, this brand has expertise in ID restoration and risk resolution management.

EverSafe’s identity protection service is unique in that it learns clients’ routine buying habits and regular bank transactions so it can spot when something is amiss. In that case, it sends immediate notifications via its mobile app as well as email and telephone. EverSafe watches over bank, credit, and investment accounts and has a clear user dashboard with visuals.

It also offers spousal coverage and special assistance for kids & seniors. This is a great move by the company, especially considering that older adults are susceptible to scams over the phone or the Internet. While it does have limited features on the basic plan, the prices are on par with rivals. That said, for triple-bureau coverage, clients need the top-tier bundle.

EverSafe has been recommended by AARP, Consumer Reports, NPR, and others. One of its most unique tools is “An Extra Set of Eyes”. This allows users to designate a relative or financial professional to log into their accounts on their behalf. It’s an interesting strategy that’s hard to find among other providers.

EverSafe can even monitor real estate properties, but this costs extra. Its learning system soaks up information like a sponge, helping users to manage their personal finances on-the-go.

This business is known for offering some of the best identity theft protection. There are two distinct plans to choose from, but before that, consumers can try the 14-day trial. The UltraSecure bundle includes all of the monitoring people need. The UltraSecure + Credit package adds monthly reports for an extra five dollars per month. Once clients sign up, the user dashboard has intuitive visuals so clients can track their progress over time.

The provider checks things like public documents, address changes, court records, applications for loans, as well as the Internet’s black market. All of these precautions ensure that customers get alerted of any fraud attempts right away. Along with acquisition with EZShield, the company advises consumers about bank cards, fraud alerts, and more.

Customers can set up custom notifications and reminders, so they’re always in the loop when it comes to their personal information and finances. This is also one of the few providers that work with two-factor authentication. It also takes a look at social media data to ensure that their clients’ names aren’t being dragged through the mud.

The company has a sleek mobile app that makes it easy to check in on credit history and updates, as well as simulate scores based on potential actions. It’s worth noting that several people have cited issues with the money-back guarantee. It looks like the company charges clients before the trial.

This identity protection service utilizes IBM’s Watson AI to put fraudulent activity on lockdown. This impressive artificial intelligence accumulates knowledge as it researches scams and other online data. Plus, it gains new insights and expands its reach as time goes on. As of early 2021, the technology can scour social media, dates of birth, SSNs, and much more.

The brand also provides clear information on what customers can expect from their bundles, including coverage terms, and guarantees. To be fair, the base plan does not come with monitoring, so consumers will most likely have to go for the $13-a-month bundle. Still, this price is on-par or better than many competitors.

The company is a subsidiary of Intersections, Inc. It has received consecutive awards in the Online Trust Audit and Honor Roll by the Online Trust Alliance. Even so, potential customers should be careful to read the fine print. For instance, monthly scores are only available on the higher plans. Also, three-bureau reports are included in just the top-tier package.

Moreover, those who opt for a month-to-month payment cycle are not eligible for refunds. On the other hand, this brand has a lot to offer. Families that want to keep everyone protected can get adequate coverage here. There are even anti-cyberbullying initiatives that come with all of the family bundles.

LifeLock is now a subsidiary of Symantec. While it had a spotty history and dealt with Federal Trade Commission investigations in the past, it is moving forward. That said, the F rating with the BBB continues to haunt the company. Putting that aside, LifeLock offers insurance terms, social security number tracing, and much more.

A unique feature is LifeLock Junior & Senior, which protects kids and older adults, respectively. These two age groups are highly susceptible to hackers and online scammers. Kids are simply oblivious, while seniors can get pulled in by sob stories or because of their memory loss.

LifeLock also provides reports and scores, as well as privacy alerts in conjunction with TransUnion. Despite allegations of false terms, the company has since turned things around.

Given the range of bundles and the focus on family affairs, this is a good choice for caretakers and parents. They can monitor their scores monthly with updates from Experian and enjoy the assurance of reimbursement policies ranging from $25,000 to $1 million. With the more expensive package, customers can get reports from all three bureaus annually.

Moreover, LifeLock has trained ID restoration specialists, and they look at the person’s card usage on the Internet as well as in physical locations. Any new or unusual activity shows up on the notifications. They also monitor crime records, investment account, applications for loans, and more.