Identity Guard vs LifeLock: features, pricing, and my verdict

Identity theft is a serious concern in today’s digital world, with millions of people falling victim to attacks each year. According to the 2024 Annual Internet Crime Report, there were 859,352 complaints of suspected internet crime, with about 17.12% of that group being individuals over 60. That’s why I’ve taken the time to create this Identity Guard vs Lifelock comparison.

These two names kept popping up while I researched the best identity theft protection services. Both of which boast over 20 years of cybersecurity experience. They offer a range of identity theft protection features designed to protect users from the dangers of modern cyber threats.

The Cybernews research team and I spent countless hours paying close attention to what they both have to offer. This article highlights their prominent features, pricing, and data monitoring capabilities to help you make an informed decision, so let’s dive right in.

Key takeaways

• With Identity Guard vs Lifelock, you get flexible pricing. LifeLock is more expensive than Identity Guard at the entry level, but its updated Core, Advanced, and Total plans offer clearer pricing, automated data broker removal, and stronger scam support on higher-tier plans.
• Identity Guard focuses on providing premium security services at a lower price. However, it doesn’t feature an antivirus or VPN service.
• LifeLock offers broader identity protection, with Core including 2-bureau credit monitoring and Advanced and Total including 3-bureau credit monitoring. Antivirus and VPN features are available through Norton 360 bundles, not standalone LifeLock plans.

Overview of Identity Guard vs LifeLock

Here’s a brief comparison table of Identity Guard vs Lifelock.

Feature	LifeLock	Identity Guard
Rating	4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Overall rank	#6 out of #12	#8 out of #12
Price	Starts from $10.42/month	Starts from $7.50/month
Free version	No (offers free password manager)	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Credit monitoring	Yes, 3 credit bureaus (Advanced and Total)	Yes, 3 credit bureaus
Insurance	Up to $3 million	Up to $1 million
Coupons	Norton LifeLock coupon 16% OFF!	Get Identity Guard, now up to 16% OFF!
Free trial	Yes	No

Norton released LifeLock in 2005, and it initially focused on identity theft protection. Today, LifeLock’s standalone plans focus on identity monitoring, credit monitoring, automated data broker removal, recovery support, and scam protection on higher-tier plans. LifeLock was acquired by Symantec (a large American software corporation) in 2017, and eventually fused with the Czech cybersecurity company Avast, changing the name to Gen Digital.

To get a better idea, read my complete LifeLock review.Although Identity Guard does not enjoy a corporate legacy like LifeLock does, its track record shows that a great brand name alone isn't the only essential ingredient. Identity Guard was founded in 1996 and in 2019 merged with iSubscribed, at which point it was rebranded as Aura, currently ranking as one of the best identity theft protection services on the market. You will find out more about it in my Identity Guard review.

LifeLock outperforms Identity Guard in several essential categories, such as better identity theft insurance offering and a free password manager.

Our testing methodology

To create this Identity Guard vs Lifelock review, the Cybernews research team and I collaborated to create transparent testing guidelines for identity theft protection software. Here’s a quick rundown of how we prepared this informative review.

• Credit bureau monitoring. To ensure both services can prevent fraud in action, I took steps to verify the accuracy of Identity Guard and Lifelock’s 3-credit bureau reporting.
• Cybersecurity features. I wanted to understand the depth of their protection services, so I researched whether they offer additional Cybersecurity tools like password managers and VPNs.
• Personal data monitoring. The Cybernews team intentionally leaked selected personal data online so that we could track response time and assess the effectiveness of each service’s monitoring system.
• Price-value ratio. We considered the cost of each service and also evaluated the value that additional features offered to ensure the pricing is justified.

Features overview

Due to the rising threat of identity theft, it’s important to choose the best identity protection service. Identity Guard is a more affordable yet effective option, while Lifelock has more comprehensive tools. In this section, I will compare the key features of Identity Guard vs Lifelock, highlighting their monitoring capabilities and additional tools such as VPNs and antivirus, helping you make an informed decision.

	LifeLock	Identity Guard
Credit monitoring	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Dark Web monitoring	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Antivirus	✅ Yes (available with Norton 360 bundle)	❌ No
Social media review	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
VPN	✅ Yes (available with Norton 360 bundle)	❌ No
Automated data broker removal	✅ Yes	❌ No
Password manager	✅ Yes (available with Norton 360 bundle)	✅ Yes

Credit monitoring

Both LifeLock and Identity Guard offer 3-bureau credit monitoring on higher-tier plans. LifeLock Core includes 2-bureau credit monitoring, while LifeLock Advanced and Total include 3-bureau monitoring. Identity Guard’s entry-level plan does not include credit monitoring, which makes its most affordable plan more limited. Identity Guard reviews also pinpoint this as a palpable setback, as it makes the most affordable plan extremely limited.

I also recommend checking out Aura if credit monitoring is your top priority, as it monitors all 3 from the start. Drop by my Aura vs LifeLock review if you’re interested in learning more.

Dark Web monitoring

LifeLock begins by scanning the Dark Web for email leaks and allows adding more criteria, like driver's license or bank account numbers, later on. During my test, it detected intentionally leaked information between 24 to 48 hours, which is an average response time. However, it detected all associated data leaks.

Similarly, Identity Guard also looks up named personal data units for leaks over the Dark Web. It also has a free email leak checkup on its website, but it's hardly an advantage, as there are dozens of such tools. Overall, LifeLock vs Identity Guard Dark Web monitoring features are essentially identical.

Insurance coverage and identity recovery

Both LifeLock and Identity Guard have good protection insurance coverage and identity recovery services. LifeLock offers greater insurance coverage of up to 3 million. The coverage is meant to assist with legal expenses, lost wages, and other costs that may be incurred. LifeLock also features a comprehensive identity retrieval service and access to a dedicated recovery agent to assist you in recovering your identity.

Although Identity Guard has a lower insurance coverage of up to 1 million, it still has strong recovery options. It provides a US-based 24/7 customer support team to assist you. In cases of identity recovery, you get access to a White Glove fraud resolution agent (Ultra plan only). The lower coverage might be a drawback to anyone who wants maximum protection, but it is still a very reliable option for anyone looking for premium protection without breaking the bank.

Antivirus

The antivirus situation is tricky on both fronts. Firstly, neither Identity Guard nor LifeLock provides antivirus services on their identity theft protection plans. Although Identity Guard offers a Safe Browsing mode that offers limited phishing protection, it doesn't come close to fully developed antivirus capabilities.

You can get an antivirus to supplement LifeLock's identity theft protection plans as a separate subscription. The Norton 360 with LifeLock is its feature-rich cybersecurity bundle that includes an antivirus. You can upgrade to Norton 360 with LifeLock to combine both services into 1.

This solution could be more straightforward, as LifeLock and Norton 360 with LifeLock use separate apps, so be sure to subscribe to the right plan. However, because Identity Guard does not offer an antivirus at all, LifeLock has the upper hand.

Social media review

I give bonus points to both services for providing social media monitoring. Social networks are filled with personal data, which can be used for identity fraud, so protecting it from unauthorized access or surveillance is paramount.

LifeLock monitors Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat accounts. It alerts you to changes to your account settings or infectious backlinks on the platform. What's more, you can set up child monitoring for cyberbullying, adult content, and even threatening TikTok challenges, which I think is vital to all concerned parents.

Similarly, the Identity Guard also monitors suspicious social media activity. After asking for access to chosen accounts, it will look for dubious account setting changes, suspicious and malicious posts, and check for account credential leaks. I haven't identified any significant differences between LifeLock and Identity Guard social media monitoring.

VPN

Similarly to antivirus, neither service includes a VPN in identity theft protection plans. While Identity Guard does not offer a VPN at all, you can get one on Norton 360 with the LifeLock bundle.

Although Norton VPN does not disclose the exact number of servers, according to numerous Norton and LifeLock reviews, it is somewhere between 500+ and a few thousand. The network size is sufficient, but it cannot keep up with the best VPN services that offer up to 10,000.

Furthermore, its servers are located in 29 countries, which is significantly fewer compared to NordVPN servers spread in 125 countries. On the other hand, Norton VPN also uses the industry standard AES-256 encryption and claims no-logs policies, which should be verified due to its headquarters in the US.

Password manager

Identity Guard includes a password manager in its identity protection bundle. For LifeLock, password manager access should be treated as part of Norton’s broader cybersecurity ecosystem rather than a core standalone LifeLock feature.Although I find password manager browser extensions comfortable, I like having a stand-alone app desktop that is independent of browser vulnerabilities and offers advanced cybersecurity features, like NordPass XChaCha20 encryption.

Norton offers its password manager for free. I found it intuitive and easy to use with a password health checker, password generator, and form filling. Similarly, Identity Guard password manager also offers the same set of features, as there's no reinventing the wheel here. However, the Identity Guard password manager is only available on its identity theft protection bundle, with no stand-alone or free version.

LifeLock wins the password manager competition, but I also recommend checking out our best password manager list for more options.

LifeLock wins this section for stronger plan-based credit monitoring, automated data broker removal, higher potential insurance coverage, and scam support on Advanced and Total. Antivirus and VPN access require a Norton 360 bundle.

Pricing and plans

While investing in identity theft protection might seem expensive, the cost is a fraction of the potential losses. In 2024, cyber-enabled fraud resulted in a staggering $13.7 billion in damages in the US alone.

This table will help you identify the focusing on features you truly need to avoid overspending while still securing your digital presence.

	LifeLock Core	LifeLock Advanced	LifeLock Total
Monthly/annual cost	$10.42/month or $124.99/year	$16.67/month or $199.99/year	$29.17/month or $349.99/year
Credit bureau monitoring	2 bureaus	3 bureaus	3 bureaus
Identity theft coverage	Up to $1.05 million	Up to $1.2 million	Up to $3 million
Dark Web Monitoring	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Phone takeover protection	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
401(k) and investment account monitoring	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Social media monitoring	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Scam reimbursement	❌ No	Up to $5,000	Up to $10,000

LifeLock has switched to a simpler pricing system, so you won’t see unexpected price hikes after your first year. You can choose from three plans: Core, Advanced, and Total. The higher plans offer more credit monitoring, better scam support, and higher coverage limits.

As you can see from the table, their identity theft protection benefits are similar, except that Identity Guard lacks phone takeover protection. However, it also does not offer a VPN or an antivirus, which are available on Norton 360 with the LifeLock bundle. In other words, the additional $125/year compared to the most expensive plans is primarily for Norton VPN and antivirus.

Although LifeLock is more expensive than Identity Guard at the entry level, its updated standalone plans add stronger identity protection features, including automated data broker removal on all plans and scam support on Advanced and Total.

Identity Guard vs LifeLock: interface and ease of use

The best identity theft protection services must be accessible to all. That is, even a person unfamiliar with such software should be able to use it efficiently. Let's see how LifeLock vs Identity Guard compares regarding user experience.

Desktop apps

Both applications are easy to set up. LifeLock starts by requesting your personal information, including your SSN, birth date, and financial account details. Identity Guard does the same, gathering the required information needed to set up protection.

Identity Guard has a clean, well-designed dashboard and selection menu on top for easy navigation. The app covers information such as credit score changes, potential fraudulent activities, and your risk management score. It was a lot to take in at first, but also easy to understand. Identity Guard also boasts a fairly strong TrustPilot rating of 3.8, with 71% of customers giving it 4 or 5 stars.

I was skeptical about Norton's dual-app decision to separate Norton 360 with LifeLock app from the stand-alone LifeLock application. I usually prefer having all the cybersecurity features in one platform.

LifeLock has an option menu on the right side of the page that shows usage statistics, but much less detailed than Identity Guard. The layout is more straightforward and simpler to use despite the extra features. LifeLock has received a five-star rating on TrustPilot (out of a possible five stars), and 87% of the users have rated the product between 4 and 5 stars.

Mobile apps

It is important to protect smartphones, as they are often within reach. Both LifeLock and Identity Guard support Android and iOS devices with beginner-friendly applications. Although the mobile versions lack the functionality of the desktop equivalents, especially when it comes to complex customization settings, they are easy to navigate.

LifeLock’s interface is very smooth and easy to use, and I did not find it difficult to manage real-time alerts or track credit scores with Identity Guard. For this round, LifeLock takes the lead because the included Norton 360 package provides VPN and antivirus, offering even better protection.

Identity Guard vs Lifelock: customer service

It's important to have professional and responsive customer service in matters of identity protection. Let’s take a look at the Identity Guard vs Lifelock customer support options.

	LifeLock	Identity Guard
24/7 live chat	✅ Yes	❌ No
Email/ticketing system	❌ No	❌ No
Phone	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Guides or articles	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
FAQs	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Here, LifeLock is the clear winner over Identity Guard since it provides 24/7 live chat customer support. Both services have dropped email support, but they offer a U.S. phone number where you can contact them anytime. However, I personally regard the lack of a live chat feature in Identity Guard as a disadvantage since it is a much faster and convenient method to address casual requests.

LifeLock has better customer support availability as it provides a 24/7 live chat option, which is perfect for casual identity theft queries.

Identity Guard vs LifeLock: pros and cons

Lifelock: pros and cons

Identity Guard pros and cons

Identity Guard vs LifeLock: which is right for you?

The winner of this Identity Guard vs Lifelock comparison is Lifelock. Although both services provide strong identity theft protection, LifeLock edges this one out thanks to its comprehensive offerings, such as credit bureau monitoring at all tiers, a higher insurance amount, and the antivirus and VPN service provided with the Norton 360 bundle.

Choose LifeLock if:

• You want credit monitoring from the entry plan, with 2-bureau monitoring on Core and 3-bureau monitoring on Advanced and Total
• You want to have advanced cybersecurity tools, like antivirus and a VPN
• You prefer higher insurance coverage (up to $3 million)
• You’re looking for comprehensive dark web and social media monitoring

Choose Identity Guard if:

• You want a more affordable option
• You prefer a service that doesn’t charge you for renewal
• You don’t mind the lower insurance coverage of $1 million
• You prefer strong identity theft protection without the extra cost of cybersecurity tools

I recommend Lifelock if you want to have full-scale identity theft protection, while Identity Guard is a good choice in case if you want to have affordable and effective identity theft protection without any extra cost.

FAQ