LifeLock vs. Identity Guard
You’ve probably seen a commercial on t.v. or heard of LifeLock by word-of-mouth. LifeLock is a prominent name in identity theft protection services, brought to you by Norton, an established name in cybersecurity. While Identity Guard might not have as much name recognition, this identity theft protection provider also brings a lot to the table thanks to its partnership with IBM Watson®. We take a look at the some unique offerings of both service providers to help you select the best one for your needs.
Compare LifeLock vs. Identity Guard
Digital & ID Theft Protection
Winner: LifeLockLifeLock is giving its customers more than the typical services you’ll find with identity theft protection--you’ll also get access to digital security and online privacy features as well with Norton 360. This includes a VPN for up to 5 devices and PC SafeCam to protect you from cybercriminals gaining unauthorized access to your webcam. Identity Guard doesn’t offer this extensive protection you’ll find with LifeLock.
Family Plans
Winner: Identity GuardIf you want ID theft protection for a spouse or your children, one of the best features that Identity Guard has to offer are family plans. You can get coverage for everything found in individual plans for your family members. Their cheapest family plan costs $14.99/mo. LifeLock only offers individual plans on their website.
Price
Tie: LifeLock and Identity GuardIdentity Guard has a slightly lower price-point than LifeLock with individual plans starting at $8.99/mo. (versus LifeLock’s $9.99/mo.). You can generally expect basic individual plans to fall around $10/mo. For services like social security monitoring, credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, and more, we think you’re getting a good deal with either company.
Stolen Funds Reimbursement
Tie: LifeLock and Identity GuardBoth LifeLock and Identity Guard provide reimbursement for lost funds. This isn’t a common feature you’ll find with many identity theft protection services, as most will assist with expenses related to the recovery process. Stolen fund reimbursement accounts for money you’ve lost up to the specified limit for your plan.
Customer Service
Tie: LifeLock and Identity GuardAccording to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Identity Guard currently holds an “A+” rating, which is stellar. LifeLock, however, currently has an “F” with the BBB. Many of LifeLock’s complaints surround customer service and difficulty with resolving matters. This is something you’ll definitely want to consider and may be more likely to avoid in choosing Identity Guard.
Lost Wallet Protection
Tie: LifeLock and Identity GuardOne of the most troubling things that can happen is discovering you’ve lost your wallet or purse. Thankfully, Lifelock and Identity Guard both assist with cancelling your credit accounts, replacements, and more. You can get access to this feature in both providers’ basic plans.
Winner: Identity Guard
 Lifelock | Winner  Identity Guard | |
|---|---|---|
Starting monthly fee | $9.99/mo. | $8.99/mo. |
Internet/Dark web monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Credit monitoring | Yes | Yes |
SSN monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Tri-bureau credit monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Bank account monitoring | Yes | Yes |
ID theft insurance | Yes | Yes |
Trial period | 60 days (Annual Membership) | 2 months of free service on annual plans |
BBB rating | F | A+ |
Unique feature | Digital and online privacy protection | Family plans |
Frequently Asked Questions about LifeLock and Identity Guard
We believe that using an identity theft protection service can provide you with an additional set of eyes in monitoring and safeguarding your information. In addition, several services offer insurance to cover expenses associated with the recovery process.
LifeLock gives you three plans to choose from: Standard ($9.99/mo.), Advantage ($19.99/mo.), and Ultimate Plus ($29.99/mo.). The Standard Plan gives you access to up to $25,000 in stolen funds reimbursement, identity monitoring alerts, credit monitoring for a single bureau, and more. The Advantage and Ultimate Plus plans offer more.
Identity Guard gives you three plans to choose from: Value ($8.99/mo.), Total ($19.99/mo.), and Ultra ($29.99/mo.). The Value Plan gives you access to IBM Watson artificial intelligence for monitoring, up to $1 million in insurance, dedicated recovery support, and more. The Total and Ultra plans provide you with additional features.
Yes, LifeLock has a 60-Day Money Back Guarantee available for annual memberships only. If you choose a month-to-month LifeLock plan, you will not have access to this guarantee.
Identity Guard offers a trial period based on the subscription you choose. If you choose an annual subscription, you’ll get two months of service for free.