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No credit reports provided, only monthly credit score
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Nearly impossible to contact customer support
Aura identity theft offers multiple features that help protect your identity, finances, and family from criminals. While Aura is very popular, if you’re looking for an alternative, check out our top tested recommendations: LifeLock, Identity Guard, IDShield, and IdentityIQ.
While these providers offer similar services, the cost and features included in each price tier vary greatly. Keep reading as we explore the top Aura identity theft alternatives to help you and your family get the best cyber protection.
Aura offers identity theft protection with multiple features and various membership plans, including a family plan that provides enhanced child safety options. All of Aura’s plans offer standard identity theft protection, antivirus, fraud remediation, and a vault that can act as a digital lockbox, helping to secure passwords and digital files.
| Service | 
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| Individual monthly plan | Starts at $7.50/mo (billed annually) for first year | Starts at $6.67/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $14.95/mo | Starts at $9.99/mo |
| Family monthly plan | Starts at $12.49/mo (billed annually) for first year | Starts at $10.00/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $29.95/mo | $29.99/mo |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $3 million | Up to $1 million | Up to $3 million | Up to $1 million |
| Credit monitoring | Varies by plan | |||
| 3-bureau credit reports | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | |
| Details | View Plans | View Plans | View Plans | View Plans |
If you’ve searched ‘What is identity theft?’ you may have seen multiple references or ads for Aura. While Aura offers many features and a free trial period, it can be expensive, especially if you only need individual protection or some limited monitoring.
With that in mind, let's see how some of Aura’s competitors stack up.
Top-rated identity theft protection service
Provides up to $3 million in coverage
Multiple monitoring features including dark web, home title, and social media monitoring
LifeLock is a well-known name in identity protection services. It offers three subscription options: Standard, Ultimate Plus for one adult, and Ultimate Plus for two adults. Existing Norton 360 account holders may find LifeLock beneficial, especially those who just want essential monitoring and the identity theft insurance found on the low-cost Standard plan.
LifeLock’s Standard plan offers identity and Social Security number monitoring, up to $1 million in coverage for lawyers and experts, and $25,000 each for stolen funds and personal expense reimbursement.
LifeLock’s higher membership tiers offer credit monitoring coverage from all three credit bureaus, phone takeover monitoring, and up to $1 million in stolen funds and personal expense reimbursement. An Ultimate Plus subscription also offers 401(k), home title, and social media monitoring.
LifeLock only offers child protection features if you bundle the service with Norton 360. The Ultimate Plan with Norton 360 covers two adults and up to five kids but costs $40.99 a month when paid annually. It then jumps to $68.33 per month after the first renewal.
| Plan | Individual | Couples | Family |
| Monthly price | $11.99-$34.99/mo | $69.99/mo | $26.99-$69.99/mo |
| Annual price | $89.99-$239.88 for the first year | $395.88 for the first year | $158.88-$419.88 for the first year |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Number of people covered | One adult | Two adults | Two adults and five kids |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $3 million, depending on the plan | Up to $3 million per adult, depending on the plan | Up to $1 million per adult and $25,000 per child, depending on the plan |
| 3-bureau monitoring | One bureau monthly; three bureaus annually | One bureau monthly; three bureaus annually | Each adult: one to three bureaus monthly, depending on the plan |
| Credit reports | One bureau daily and all three annually with Ultimate Plus | One bureau daily and all three annually | One bureau monthly for each adult on the Advantage or Ultimate Plus plan |
| Identity recovery | |||
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan |
Easy-to-use identity theft protection service
Includes extra features like a password manager
Compared to Aura and LifeLock, Identity Guard offers more affordable identity theft protection and can be an excellent option for people on a budget. It has three tiers of coverage: Value, Total, and Ultra.
Identity Guard offers features like data breach notifications, dark web monitoring, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance across all membership tiers.
All Identity Guard membership plans include $1 million in identity theft insurance, U.S.-based customer service, and notifications and monitoring. The Ultra membership adds white-glove fraud resolution, home title monitoring, and credit monitoring, among other features.
Its family plans offer the same features, but for up to five adults and unlimited kids.
Identity Guard can be helpful for those looking for low-cost identity protection, but its features are relatively limited compared to some of its competitors. For example, it doesn’t have a built-in virtual private network (VPN), antivirus software, or kid-specific protections.
| Plan | Individual | Family |
| Monthly price | $7.20-$23.99/mo | $11.99-$31.99/mo |
| Annual price | $80.04-$239.88/yr (includes a discount of 25% to 33%) | $120-$320.04/yr (includes 33% discount) |
| Free trial | No, but it offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans | No, but it offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans |
| Number of people covered | One adult | Five adults, unlimited kids |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| 3-bureau monitoring | Yes, with a Total or Ultra plan | Yes, with a Total or Ultra plan |
| Credit reports | Yes, with an Ultra plan | Yes, with an Ultra plan |
| Identity recovery | Yes, with an Ultra plan | Yes, with an Ultra plan |
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan |
Full identity protection features included on all plans
Comes with bonus VPN and password manager
Affordable pricing compared to other options
IDShield may be a good option for people who know their information has been exposed and want in-depth monitoring and alerts. It offers two pricing tiers — individual or family — each of which includes monitoring from one credit bureau. For an additional cost, IDShield will monitor all three credit bureaus.
IDShield has extensive monitoring capabilities, including medical data reporting, public records, social media, court records, and payday loan monitoring. If needed, it also offers access to dedicated licensed private investigators. IDShield also has mobile device virus protection, privacy management, and VPN protection, in addition to up to $3 million in reimbursement for uncovered costs through an insurance partner.
IDShield has many features that can be helpful if you know your information has already been exposed. However, you may not need all the extra monitoring, especially if you check your accounts regularly.
While it does check one credit bureau a month on its regular plans, you have to pay an additional $5 a month to monitor all three.
| Plan | Individual | Family |
| Monthly price | $14.95-$19.95/mo | $29.95-$34.95/mo |
| Annual price | $179.40-$239.40/yr (no yearly discount) | $359.40-$419.40/yr (no yearly discount) |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Number of people covered | One adult | Two adults and any dependents under 18 living with you |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $3 million | Up to $3 million |
| 3-bureau monitoring | Yes, with the $19.95/mo plan | Yes, with the $34.95/mo plan |
| Credit reports | ||
| Identity recovery | ||
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan |
Variety of plans to meet your needs
Unlimited monitoring for children
IdentityIQ may be best for individuals or couples seeking identity protection and restoration services and has four plan choices.
While IdentityIQ does offer identity theft monitoring services, many of its features center around credit monitoring, like utility payment reporting, change of address notifications, and changes to your credit score.
All IdentityIQ plans offer lost wallet assistance and ID restoration services, up to $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement, dark web monitoring, and various alert features. The highest tier also offers $25,000 in identity theft protection insurance and fraud restoration.
VPN and antivirus protection are not included in any plans, and IdentityIQ doesn’t have many parental controls or child protection options. Advanced parental controls, VPN, and antivirus software are available for an additional cost.
| Plan | Individual | Family |
| Monthly price | $6.99-$29.99/mo (does not include antivirus or VPN) | $8.99-$32.99/mo (includes antivirus and VPN) |
| Annual price | $71.30-$305.90/yr (includes 15% discount) | $91.70-$336.50/yr (includes 15% discount) |
| Free trial | 7-day trial for $1 | 7-day trial for $1 |
| Number of people covered | One adult | One adult enrollee and enrollee’s children under the age of 24 |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $1 million | Up to $1 million |
| 3-bureau monitoring | Yes, with a Secure Pro or Secure Max plan | Yes, with a Secure Pro or Secure Max plan |
| Credit reports | Yes, with a Secure Pro or Secure Max plan | Yes, with a Secure Pro or Secure Max plan |
| Identity recovery | Yes, with a Secure Max plan | Yes, with a Secure Max plan |
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan |
If you try Aura and decide it's not for you, it's relatively easy to cancel your subscription. You can cancel your account online through the membership page or call Aura at 1-855-712-0021.
If you purchase an annual plan, Aura offers a 60-day money guarantee. Depending on when you cancel, some users may be eligible for a refund if they cancel within that 60-day window.
Aura has no reported hacks and uses 256-AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) to protect your data.
Yes, freezing your credit can help you prevent identity theft. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report and prevents you (or scammers) from opening a new credit account until the freeze has been lifted.
Yes, you can lock your Social Security number by calling the Social Security Administration or creating an E-Verify account. If necessary, you can temporarily unlock your Social Security number by providing proof of identity to the Social Security Administration.
Companies like LifeLock, Identity Guard, and IdentityIQ offer a variety of features at reasonably affordable prices. If you know your information has been exposed or want to take preventative measures, services like IDShield may be more helpful, although you’ll likely pay more than with other companies.
While there are many Aura identity theft alternatives online, it's essential to research the features, pricing, and cancellation policies before you sign up with a site. Read our full review of the best identity theft protection services for more information about what to look for when shopping.
Top-rated identity theft protection service
Provides up to $3 million in coverage
Multiple monitoring features including dark web, home title, and social media monitoring
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