If identity theft is happening now, recovery comes before monitoring
Do not buy a monitoring subscription as the first emergency step. In the U.S., IdentityTheft.gov provides an official recovery plan, and credit freezes are free. Paid monitoring is an optional ongoing layer.
Start with the situation, not the product
IdentityTheft.gov / credit freeze
Start here when information is already being misused or you need to stop new U.S. credit from being opened.
The FTC provides reporting and personalized recovery steps. A credit freeze is free and remains until you lift or remove it.
Free U.S. government baseline; no commission.
Aura
Compare when a U.S. household wants ongoing identity and credit monitoring plus bundled digital-safety tools.
Aura currently offers identity monitoring, three-bureau credit monitoring, fraud remediation, and family plans; some plans also bundle device-security and privacy tools.
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LifeLock
Compare when ongoing U.S. identity monitoring, credit monitoring and restoration support are the priority.
Current LifeLock plans include identity monitoring, U.S.-based restoration specialists and varying levels of credit and financial-account monitoring depending on plan.
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Quick difference
| If the real need is… | Start here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft or fraudulent accounts are already happening | IdentityTheft.gov | Official recovery/reporting steps come before a subscription |
| Ongoing household monitoring with a broad digital-safety bundle | Aura | Identity/credit monitoring is bundled with other family digital-safety tools |
| Ongoing identity and credit alerts with restoration support | LifeLock | Identity monitoring and restoration are core parts of the service |
U.S.-focused comparison. Availability, insurance, monitoring scope and eligibility vary by provider, plan and jurisdiction.
U.S. recovery guidance and commercial-service descriptions re-verified against FTC, Aura and LifeLock official information September 23, 2026. Re-check current terms before purchase.