Complete ID vs Identity Guard: Choosing the Best Identity Protection |

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Extensive security surveillance service that alerts you of suspicious activity quickly. Allows you access to a unique financial dashboard and provides 24/7 customer support.

Provides monthly and annual credit reports, allowing you to detect suspicious activity more easily
Individual children can be added to your subscription
Costco members get discounted rates

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Utilizes IBM AI technology to effectively monitor personal and financial information and detect potential threats. Customers receive immediate email and app alerts.

Various packages available at different price points
Savings, checking, and investment bank accounts can be monitored
Option for social media insights is available

As we progress toward a more digital-based society, almost every aspect of life is being computerized. While there are many advantages associated with advanced technology, the increased emphasis on digitization comes with a genuine threat. Cybercrime has risen exponentially in recent decades.

It’s more important than ever that people protect their identity from criminals. With so much of our data now embedded in the online world, it’s virtually impossible to keep it safe without help from experts.

When choosing a security provider, you might find yourself comparing Complete ID vs. Identity Guard. The following guide can help you decide which one best suits your needs.

Complete ID vs. Identity Guard: Comparison

WHAT YOU GET	COMPLETE ID	IDENTITY GUARD
Pricing	We Recommend Identity Guard	CHECK LATEST PRICE
Coverage	Individuals, businesses, and families. Special discounts for Costco members	Individuals and families
Core Security Services	Dark web surveillance SSN monitoring Neighborhood watch (for potential criminals in your area) Criminal record monitoring Child monitoring Financial takeover services Credit monitoring and reporting Restoration services 24/7 customer support	IBM Watson Artificial Intelligence surveillance and monitoring Credit monitoring and reporting High-risk alert system Social insights reporting Social Security number monitoring Financial account monitoring and reporting
Insurance and Fund Reimbursement	Up to $1,000,000 insurance reimbursement	Up to $1,000,000 insurance reimbursement
Latest Offer	We Recommend Identity Guard	CHECK LATEST OFFER

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Similarities

Both providers offer security cover over internet-based activities, including the dark web.
Financial activities, such as bank and credit card actions, are tracked and monitored.
Your address is searched to find if anyone is using your location for fraudulent activity.
They both offer up to $1,000,000 in insurance coverage in the event of a breach.
Both offer different packages at various price points.
There are family add-ons available from both, although the structure is completely different.
Both providers have downloadable mobile apps to access your account and to receive alerts.
Identity Guard and Complete ID send you notifications if any suspicious activity is detected.
3-bureau credit checks are performed by both providers, and they provide their customers with credit reports (depending on the package purchased).
Each provider offers excellent customer support services, although their availability differs.
Identity restoration services are available from both companies, helping you to regain any lost information.
In the event of a data breach, a representative will guide you through a step-by-step process to recover your stolen data.
Neither provider can guarantee that identity theft won’t happen; they just provide services to help prevent, detect, and recover your data in case it does.

Differences

Complete ID is a Costco owned brand that offers special rates to Costco members.
Complete ID offers 24/7 customer support. Identity Guard support services are more limited. It operates from 8 am to 11 pm on Monday to Friday and 9 am to 6 pm on Saturdays.
The pricing structures for both services are very different. The Complete ID pricing models are based around Costco membership, while Identity Guard offers different security packages at various price points.
Identity Guard offers family options for each of their packages. Complete ID requires customers to pay an extra charge per child every month.
Complete ID provides a unique financial dashboard that allows their customers to access and monitor their personal data.
Although both providers alert customers of suspicious activities related to their personal or financial information, Identity Guard uses a unique high-risk alert for certain financial transactions.
Identity Guard uses the IBM artificial intelligence engine, Watson, to survey and detect potential threats. This is a highly regarded tool that ensures Identity Guard provides an extensive security monitoring service.
Identity Guard has 2 downloadable apps. One of them is for customers to access their account and information, while the other is dedicated to anti-phishing.

Costco Complete ID Features and Services

ID Theft Protection

In the digital age, identity protection requires comprehensive security measures. There are numerous ways that cybercriminals can exploit you by using your identity. It can be used in criminal activities, to make purchases, or it can be sold on the dark web for further exploitation.

Complete ID provides comprehensive surveillance and protection to prevent identity theft from occurring. Complete ID identity theft protection includes services such as dark web surveillance, SSN monitoring, neighborhood watch, criminal record monitoring, payday loan monitoring, child monitoring, and financial account takeover alerts.

Credit Monitoring

The greatest concern for most people regarding identity theft is the financial implications. Your credit report is a good indicator of identity theft because it should point out credit card or bank account fraud.

The Complete ID credit monitoring service allows users to access a financial dashboard and alerts them if there is any suspected account takeover fraud, synthetic identity fraud, debit or credit fraud, or SSN ID theft.

Your Equifax and TransUnion score is charted yearly, and your Experian score is updated every month using the VantageScore 3.0² scoring algorithm.

Restoration

If the worst-case scenario occurs, you’ll need help restoring your stolen information. Complete ID offers 24/7 support to help guide you through each step of the process.

Any suspicious activities or patterns will trigger a warning, and you’ll be sent an alert. By responding to the alert, you can work with the Complete ID team to combat any potential data breach.

Plans and Pricing

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Executive Members Plan

The Executive Members plan costs $8.99 per person, per month.

Business and Gold Star Membership Plan

Business and Gold Star Membership is slightly more expensive, at $13.99 per person, per month.

Non-Costco Members Plan

As Complete ID is a Costco brand, non-members are charged a higher rate of $19.99 per person, per month.

If you’re after a Complete ID family plan, you can add up to 5 children to your membership account. For Executive Members, it costs $2.99 per child, per month. For Business and Gold Star Members, it costs $3.99 per child, per month.

All plans offer the same services that are outlined above.

Pros and Cons

PROS

3 Complete ID plans to choose from, giving you a variety of options.
The financial dashboard gives users information, assistance, and important alerts regarding their identity protection.
Comprehensive surveillance and monitoring services cover activities in person and online, including the dark web.
The Complete ID app is available on Android and iOS.
Opportunity to add children to your account.
Members can avail of 24/7 access to the US-based support team.
Complete ID offers a full restoration service.
Up to $1,000,000 of ID theft insurance .
On average, Complete ID closes identity theft cases within two months.

CONS

If you’re a non-Costco member, Complete ID membership is more expensive.
Per child charges can make membership expensive for large families.
There are no additional benefits for Business and Gold Star Members.
The financial dashboard is easy-to-use but could be more robust.
If personal assets are greater than $1,000,000, you’re not covered for the excess.
The mobile app doesn’t function well.
The neighborhood watch function is reported to be potentially inaccurate.
Complete ID offers no social media screening on any of its membership options.
Security alerts are standard and non-customizable.
Complete ID doesn't offer a service guarantee for lawyers and experts.

Identity Guard Features and Services

Identity Protection

Identity Guard provides extensive security features to protect your increasingly vulnerable information. Identity Guard identity theft protection revolves around constant scanning, monitoring, surveillance, and 24/7 quick alerts.

Identity Guard uses theft protection powered by artificial intelligence from IBM, called Watson. If a threat is detected, you will be notified immediately via push notification from the Identity Guard app or email.

Depending on your chosen plan, you’ll receive notification for personal information detected on the dark web, high-risk transactions, personal threats, monthly credit score, bank account takeovers, requests to open accounts in your name, and 3 bureau credit reports.