Aura vs. IdentityForce 2024: An In-Depth Look at Two Top Identity Protection Services
Identity theft remains a serious threat in our increasingly digital world. According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were over 5.7 million identity theft and fraud reports in 2021, a 70% increase from 2020. With criminals constantly finding new ways to steal personal information online, having robust identity protection is more crucial than ever.
Two of the most reputable names in identity theft protection are Aura and IdentityForce. Both offer comprehensive monitoring of your identity, credit, and online accounts. But which service provides better value and protection for your specific needs?
In this detailed comparison, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about Aura and IdentityForce in 2024. We‘ll examine their features, pricing, insurance coverage, ease of use, and more to help you make an informed decision on protecting yourself and your family.
Background on Aura and IdentityForce
Aura was founded in 2019 and offers an all-in-one digital security solution that bundles identity theft protection with antivirus software, a password manager, and VPN. Their AI-driven technology aims to proactively keep your identity and devices safe from the latest threats.
IdentityForce was founded back in 2005 and was acquired by the major credit bureau TransUnion in 2020. They have over 40 years of experience in identity protection and provide some of the most detailed monitoring and reporting features in the industry.
Pricing and Plans
For 2024, Aura streamlined their offerings to just three straightforward plans:
Aura Individual – $10/month
- Protects one adult
- $1M identity theft insurance
- Credit and fraud monitoring
- Antivirus, VPN and password manager for 10 devices
Aura Couple – $16/month
- Protects two adults
- $2M identity theft insurance ($1M per adult)
- Credit and fraud monitoring
- Antivirus, VPN and password manager for 20 devices
Aura Family – $23/month
- Protects 5 adults and unlimited children
- $5M identity theft insurance ($1M per adult)
- Child identity monitoring
- Parental controls and screen time management
- Antivirus, VPN and password manager for 50 devices
Aura offers a 14-day free trial and discounts for annual billing.
IdentityForce keeps their two-plan structure into 2024:
UltraSecure – $19.99/month
- Monitors one individual‘s identity, credit and financial accounts
- $1M identity theft insurance
- Recovery services if your identity is stolen
- VPN access
UltraSecure+Credit – $24.90/month
- Everything in UltraSecure plan
- Three-bureau credit monitoring and reports
- Credit score simulator
- Includes child identity monitoring
IdentityForce offers two free months with annual billing. They do not offer a free trial but you can cancel within 14 days of purchase for a full refund.
While IdentityForce‘s pricing is reasonable, Aura clearly offers better value, especially for protecting couples and families. The bundled digital security tools are also a major bonus.
Winner: Aura
Monitoring and Alerts
Both Aura and IdentityForce excel at comprehensively monitoring your identity and accounts for signs of fraud. The core features are very similar:
- Dark web and data breach monitoring
- SSN and address monitoring
- Bank and credit card activity alerts
- Payday loan and sex offender monitoring
- Social media account takeover alerts
However, IdentityForce pulls ahead with a few unique monitoring features not found in Aura:
- Fraud monitoring of investment and retirement accounts
- USPS address change verification
- Court record and medical ID monitoring
- Monthly credit score trackers and simulators
Aura focuses on proactive prevention with their bundled antivirus and secure browsing tools. But IdentityForce provides much more detailed reporting and control over your credit.
Both allow you to instantly lock your TransUnion credit report if suspicious activity is found. And both monitor all three credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Winner: Slight edge to IdentityForce for the extra monitoring features
Additional Security Features
Aura goes above and beyond typical identity theft protection services by including:
- Antivirus software powered by Avira
- Wi-Fi security alerts
- Malicious website and link blocking
- A password manager to create and store complex passwords
- A fast and secure VPN with military-grade encryption
This all-in-one approach to digital security is very convenient. It eliminates the need to subscribe to and manage multiple services. The inclusion of top-rated antivirus is especially valuable.
In contrast, IdentityForce only includes a basic VPN service and lacks any other device security features.
Winner: Aura by a large margin
Insurance and Remediation
No identity protection service can prevent identity theft 100% of the time. That‘s why having adequate insurance coverage and white-glove recovery services is so important.
Both Aura and IdentityForce provide $1 million in identity theft insurance per adult on all plans. This covers costs like lost wages, legal fees, and stolen funds. Aura‘s Family plan increases this to $5 million total.
If you do become an identity theft victim, you will be assigned a dedicated U.S.-based case manager to handle all the paperwork, calls and legwork to restore your identity. Based on customer reviews and testimonials, both companies provide caring and comprehensive recovery services to reduce your stress and get your life back on track quickly.
However, Aura‘s support team and insurance are provided through a third-party while IdentityForce handles everything in-house. Some may prefer the direct approach of IdentityForce.
Winner: Tie
Ease of Use and Support
Both Aura and IdentityForce earn praise for their user-friendly apps and online dashboards. It‘s simple to access alerts, reports and features. You can easily add family members and check on their protection.
IdentityForce recently revamped their interface to make complex data and controls very intuitive and understandable. Aura opts for a sleek, modern design that looks great and is easy to navigate.
As for customer support, Aura offers 24/7 access by phone, email and live chat. IdentityForce provides 24/7 phone support but live chat is only available during extended business hours.
Where Aura really stands out though is their in-app virtual assistant Luma. Luma can answer common questions, provide tips to improve security, and help you navigate the app. While not a full replacement for human support, Luma‘s AI smarts are impressive and make it fast to get help.
Winner: Aura for the 24/7 live chat and smart virtual assistant
Privacy and Security
Before trusting a company to handle your sensitive personal information, you want to be confident they follow the strictest security standards and won‘t misuse your data.
Both Aura and IdentityForce make protecting customer data a top priority:
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They use AES 256-bit encryption, the same standard used by major banks and the military.
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They don‘t sell customer data to third parties.
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They maintain strict access controls over your data and monitor their own systems 24/7 for potential breaches.
To keep your account secure, both require strong passwords and provide two-factor authentication options. IdentityForce supports secure PIN codes, while Aura allows USB security keys like YubiKey for extra protection.
Aura‘s privacy policy is clearer that they never share data with third parties for marketing purposes. IdentityForce‘s policy has more complex legalese about sharing data with affiliates acquired by TransUnion. While there‘s no indication they misuse data, Aura‘s stance is more reassuring.
Winner: Aura
Standout Features
To further compare these services, let‘s look at a couple unique capabilities of each:
Aura:
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Malware and Ransomware Protection: Aura‘s antivirus proactively defends against malware attacks that could lead to identity theft. It uses AI to stay ahead of the latest threats.
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Parental Controls: Aura offers the most extensive solutions for keeping kids safe online. You can block harmful websites, limit screen time, monitor texts for cyberbullying, and track your child‘s location via their phone.
IdentityForce:
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Medical ID Monitoring: They scan for criminal use of your medical benefits and alert you to unauthorized access to your medical records.
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Social Media Monitoring: Get alerted if your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram accounts show signs of hacking or impersonation.
Who Should Use Aura?
Aura is ideal for those who want an easy all-in-one solution to protect their identity and devices. Families will get the most bang for their buck with big discounts for additional members. Less tech-savvy users will appreciate the simple apps and helpful AI assistant.
Who Should Use IdentityForce?
IdentityForce is a great fit for detail-oriented users who want the most possible monitoring and control over their credit. Their granular features and detailed alerts may be overkill for some but a must-have for others.
Those who prefer full in-house support and insurance may favor IdentityForce‘s approach. But their plans get pricey for families.
The Best Alternative Identity Theft Protection
If neither Aura nor IdentityForce seems quite right for you, one top alternative to consider is LifeLock. They are another well-established name in identity protection.
LifeLock‘s major differentiator is including the official FICO credit score used by most lenders. They also provide excellent social media monitoring, data breach notifications, and stolen wallet assistance. But with plans reaching up to $34.99/month, they are one of the most expensive options.
Final Verdict
Both Aura and IdentityForce rank among the best identity theft protection services available. You‘ll gain peace of mind and support from either one.
But unless you need IdentityForce‘s most detailed monitoring features, Aura offers the better overall value and user experience in our opinion. Their Family plan is an unbeatable deal for comprehensive security. The antivirus and other digital protection features are must-haves these days that IdentityForce lacks.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your unique needs and priorities. Carefully review the features of each service to see which aligns best with your situation. Protecting your identity is one of the smartest investments you can make in 2024 and beyond.
