In an era where personal data is arguably more valuable than gold, protecting your identity becomes crucial. Two of the leading identity theft protection services in today’s digital landscape are IdentityForce and IDShield. This article aims to provide a detailed comparison of these services, evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, and unique offerings.
Overview
IdentityForce has been providing identity protection services since 2005 and is known for its comprehensive coverage, excellent customer service, and powerful identity protection features.
IDShield, on the other hand, launched in 2003 as part of LegalShield, offers identity theft protection and legal services. The combination makes IDShield unique, with its access to licensed private investigators and a suite of legal services.
Features
IdentityForce
IdentityForce offers some of the most extensive features in the industry, including:
- Identity Monitoring: Monitors personal information across numerous databases, including credit, court records, and the dark web.
- Credit Monitoring: Monitors all three credit bureaus and offers an annual credit report.
- Bank and Credit Card Activity Alerts: Notifies you about any changes in your bank or credit card activities.
- Medical ID Fraud Protection: Monitors misuse of your medical ID.
- Mobile App: Allows monitoring and receiving alerts on the go.
IDShield
IDShield’s suite of features includes:
- Identity Monitoring: Offers comprehensive monitoring, similar to IdentityForce.
- Credit Monitoring: Monitors one credit bureau as standard, but the three-bureau monitoring is available with a higher tier plan.
- Social Media Monitoring: Monitors your social media accounts for any suspicious activities.
- Legal Consultation: Access to legal advice for a range of issues, not only those relating to identity theft.
- Licensed Private Investigators: Provides access to a team of licensed private investigators to help in case of identity theft.
Pricing
IdentityForce offers two main plans: UltraSecure at $17.99 per month and UltraSecure+Credit at $23.99 per month, the latter offering three-bureau credit monitoring and reports. Discounts are available for annual subscriptions.
IDShield offers individual and family plans. For an individual, it costs $13.95 per month for one-bureau credit monitoring and $17.95 per month for three-bureau monitoring. The family plan costs $26.95 per month for one-bureau monitoring and $32.95 per month for three-bureau monitoring.
Resolution and Insurance
Both companies offer up to $1 million insurance for expenses related to identity restoration. However, IdentityForce’s service is more automated, while IDShield’s approach is more hands-on due to its access to licensed private investigators.
Customer Support
Both companies offer 24/7 customer support, but IDShield extends its support by providing access to licensed private investigators. IdentityForce, however, is highly praised for its dedicated and efficient customer service.
Conclusion
IdentityForce and IDShield are both excellent services, each offering a robust suite of features designed to protect your identity. Your choice depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you prefer more automated services and comprehensive credit monitoring, IdentityForce might be your best bet. However, if you value hands-on restoration assistance and legal consultation, IDShield’s unique blend of services may be more appealing.