How Much Does Identity Guard Cost in 2024? All You Need to Know

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Identity theft is a growing threat that can leave you vulnerable and exposed. As a cybersecurity expert with over a decade of experience, I know firsthand how damaging identity theft can be. The emotional and financial impacts are devastating.

That‘s why having a robust identity theft protection service like Identity Guard is so important in 2024. But how much does it cost exactly? And what features do you get?

In this detailed guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about Identity Guard‘s pricing and plans to help you make the best choice. I‘ll also provide my insight as a cybersecurity pro on whether Identity Guard is worth it.

Let‘s dive in!

Why Identity Theft Protection Matters Now More Than Ever

Identity theft has been skyrocketing over the past few years. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft reports have nearly tripled in the last decade.

In 2022 alone, the FTC received a shocking 5.7 million reports of fraud and identity theft. Of those, 1.4 million were specific identity theft cases – one of the highest levels ever recorded.

Several factors are causing this upswing in identity theft:

• Data breaches – Major breaches like Equifax expose millions of people‘s personal information to criminals. There were over 1,700 publicly reported breaches in 2021.

• Rising cybercrime – Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated. Stolen data enables criminals to commit credit card fraud, bank theft, and more.

• Digital lifestyles – We spend so much time online now. This expanded digital footprint gives thieves more opportunities to steal information. Social media accounts are goldmines.

• Vulnerable databases – Many organizations still have vulnerability-ridden databases. These "honeypots" are prime targets for hackers to steal consumer data.

• The dark web – Vast troves of compromised credentials are bought and sold on dark web black markets daily.

With all these factors, the risk of becoming an identity theft victim feels inevitable. But having the right protection services can help minimize that risk substantially.

How Much Does Identity Guard Cost?

Identity Guard offers very reasonable pricing starting at just $6.67 a month for individuals. Cost varies based on whether you choose an individual or family plan and if you pay monthly or annually.

Here is the full breakdown of Identity Guard‘s pricing tiers:

Individual Plans

• Value Plan:

  • $6.67 per month billed annually
  • $8.99 per month billed monthly

• Total Plan:

  • $11.99 per month billed annually
  • $17.99 per month billed monthly

• Ultra Plan:

  • $17.99 per month billed annually
  • $29.99 per month billed monthly

Family Plans

• Value Plan:

  • $10.00 per month billed annually
  • $14.99 per month billed monthly

• Total Plan:

  • $17.99 per month billed annually
  • $29.99 per month billed monthly

• Ultra Plan:

  • $23.99 per month billed annually
  • $39.99 per month billed monthly

As you can see, Identity Guard‘s pricing is very competitive. And you can save some money by paying annually versus month-to-month.

For families, you can protect up to 5 adults plus unlimited children for a very reasonable monthly price.

Next, let‘s look at how Identity Guard compares to other popular identity theft protection services.

How Identity Guard‘s Pricing Compares

Identity Guard stacks up very well against other top competitors like LifeLock and IdentityForce when it comes to pricing.

Take a look at this comparison:

Plan	Identity Guard	Norton LifeLock	IdentityForce
Individual Plan (Paid Annually)	Starts at $6.67/month	Starts at $7.50/month for 1st year	Starts at $14.95/month
Individual Plan (Paid Monthly)	Starts at $8.99/month	Starts at $11.99/month	Starts at $17.95/month
Family Plan (Paid Annually)	Starts at $10.00/month	Starts at $13.33/month for 1st year	Starts at $19.95/month
Family Plan (Paid Monthly)	Starts at $14.99/month	Starts at $19.99/month	Starts at $27.95/month

Based on this comparison, Identity Guard provides strong value:

• Identity Guard‘s entry-level plan is about half the cost of IdentityForce‘s starting price.

• Identity Guard and Norton LifeLock have similar entry pricing, but LifeLock prices jump after the first year.

• Across all tiers, Identity Guard is very competitively priced for individuals and families.

The bottom line is that Identity Guard offers very fair pricing, especially for a premium identity theft protection service with robust features.

Next, let‘s explore exactly what you get with each Identity Guard plan.

Breakdown of Identity Guard‘s Plans and Features

Identity Guard offers three main plans – Value, Total, and Ultra. Each plan provides progressively more protection features to safeguard you from identity theft.

Identity Guard Value Plan

The Identity Guard Value plan is the most affordable option. It includes:

• Dark Web Monitoring – Monitors underground websites, hacker forums, and black market sites for your personal information being bought or sold.

• High-Risk Transaction Alerts – Warns you about potentially fraudulent transactions so you can take quick action.

• Data Breach Notifications – Alerts you anytime your personal information is compromised in a data breach.

• Up to $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance – Provides coverage for identity restoration and stolen funds reimbursement if you become a victim.

Pricing for individuals starts at just $6.67/month when billed yearly. For families, it starts at only $10/month billed annually.

The Value plan is an excellent entry-level choice focused on core identity theft monitoring essentials. The main limitation is lack of credit monitoring. But otherwise, you get solid basic protection.

Identity Guard Total Plan

The Total plan includes everything from the Value plan plus these key upgrades:

• 3-Bureau Credit Monitoring – Continuously monitors your credit reports at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for suspicious activity.

• Monthly Credit Scores – Provides your latest credit scores from all three bureaus every month so you can track changes.

• Bank Account Monitoring – Watches for unauthorized bank account withdrawals, transfers, or balance changes.

Pricing starts at $11.99/month for individuals when billed annually. For families, it starts at $17.99/month per year.

The Total plan is ideal if you want full-service monitoring with added credit protections. Having eyes on your credit reports and scores each month is invaluable.

Identity Guard Ultra Plan

The Ultra plan gives you Identity Guard‘s maximum level of protection. It includes everything from the Total plan plus these enhanced features:

• Social Media Monitoring – Scans your social media accounts for signs of account takeover or hacking activity.

• Payday Loan Monitoring – Alerts you to payday loans fraudulently taken out in your name.

• 401k/HSA Account Monitoring – Watches your retirement and health savings accounts for unauthorized access or changes.

• USPS Address Change Verification – Notifies you if someone tries to change your address with the post office or submit a change of address form.

• Sex Offender Monitoring – Alerts you if a criminal illegally assumes your identity within public offender databases.

• Annual 3-Bureau Credit Reports – Provides full copies of your credit reports from all three major bureaus once per year.

• Credit Lock Options – Lets you easily lock your credit reports as needed to block new credit applications.

The Ultra plan starts at $17.99/month for individuals and $23.99/month for families when billed annually.

With comprehensive monitoring and broad coverage, the Ultra plan provides complete 360° identity theft protection. It‘s the maximum protection option Identity Guard offers.

Does Identity Guard Offer Family Plans?

Yes, Identity Guard has family plans available for all three tiers of service: Value, Total, and Ultra.

The family plans cover up to 5 adults in your household plus an unlimited number of children or dependents.

Each family member gets full access to all the features included with the plan you select. The family plans also provide up to $1 million in identity theft insurance for every member of your household.

Here‘s a look at Identity Guard‘s family plan pricing:

Family Plans

• Value Plan:

  • $10.00 per month billed annually
  • $14.99 per month billed monthly

• Total Plan:

  • $17.99 per month billed annually
  • $29.99 per month billed monthly

• Ultra Plan:

  • $23.99 per month billed annually
  • $39.99 per month billed monthly

In my professional opinion, the family plans provide tremendous value. Being able to comprehensively monitor and protect your entire household for less than $25 a month is an exceptional value when it comes to safeguarding your family.

And sadly, children are frequent targets for identity thieves – so having robust protection for your kids‘ information and credit is critical these days.

Does Identity Guard Offer a Free Trial?

Identity Guard does not currently offer a traditional free trial where you can test out the service at no cost.

However, if you choose one of the annual plans, Identity Guard provides a 60 day 100% money back guarantee.

So essentially you get a 60 day risk-free trial period with the annual plans to evaluate the service. If you‘re unsatisfied for any reason within the first 60 days, you can receive a full refund with no questions asked.

In my experience, money back guarantees are often more flexible than rigid 30 day free trial periods. The 60 days gives you adequate time to fully experience Identity Guard‘s capabilities.

Is Identity Guard Worth It for You in 2024?

With identity theft at all-time highs, robust protection is critical now more than ever before. Identity Guard offers extremely comprehensive identity theft protection for individuals and families at very affordable pricing.

For an individual on a tight budget, the entry-level Value plan starts at just $6.67 per month when billed annually. Considering you get $1 million in identity theft insurance plus dark web monitoring and data breach alerts, the value is outstanding.

Stepping up to the Total plan nets you credit monitoring from all three bureaus starting at only $11.99 per month. For full 360° protection, the Ultra plan delivers maximum monitoring starting at only $17.99 per month.

For families, you can cover up to 5 adults and unlimited kids starting at just $10 per month – an unbelievable value.

When you consider than identity theft often costs victims thousands of dollars in damages, Identity Guard‘s very reasonable pricing provides serious peace of mind. Members also give Identity Guard excellent ratings for helpful customer support.

In my professional opinion as a cybersecurity expert, Identity Guard absolutely provides industry-leading value in 2024. For both individuals and families, it‘s an intelligent investment to defend yourself against the rising tide of identity theft threats.

The Bottom Line

Here‘s a quick recap of Identity Guard‘s key strengths that make it a top choice for identity protection this year:

• Very affordable pricing starting at $6.67/month for individuals and $10/month for families

• Multiple plan options (Value, Total, Ultra) to fit any budget and protection needs

• Robust features like dark web monitoring, credit reports/scores, social media scanning, and more

• Unique monitoring capabilities powered by IBM Watson artificial intelligence

• Generous 60 day money back guarantee available

• Provides up to $1 million in identity theft insurance

• Easy to use mobile app monitoring capabilities

With identity theft rates now at record levels, I highly recommend considering a protection service like Identity Guard this year. It provides tremendous value at reasonable prices. Defend yourself and your family from identity theft damage and headaches with Identity Guard‘s top-tier monitoring plans.

I hope this detailed guide to Identity Guard‘s plans and pricing helps you make the smart choice to protect what matters most – your identity and finances! Stay safe out there.