IdentityForce Review: Here’s What We Picked Instead (70% OFF)

Lauren Sakiyama
Writer
Brandon King
Editor
Last Updated March 18, 2024

After a three-month test run, I can assuredly say IdentityForce isn’t a bad choice; it’s just not the best. Aura is better in just about every way. 

So, if you want top-notch protection at an affordable price, you should consider Aura over IdentityForce.

You can lock in our OFF discount on Aura for life, today!

60 Day Money Back Guarantee
Here’s who should get Aura:
Here’s who should get IdentityForce:
  • You want 3-Bureau credit monitoring with every plan.
  • You want up to $5 million in theft insurance for your family.
  • You want the best value available.
  • You want a no-hassle sign-up experience.
  • 60-Day Money Back Guarantee
  • You want a wide and unique breadth of protection features.
  • You want white glove identity restoration for you and your family.
  • You want a top-notch, U.S.-based customer service team to help you through any issues.
  • You don’t mind only $1M in theft Insurance.

Home Security Heroes independently tests and reviews every product. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Read more here.

Is Identity Force Legit?

IdentityForce isn’t worth getting unless you have to have some of its unique features. If their ChildWatch or deceased member restoration service is a huge selling point to you, then this may be what you want. 

There are some reasons why IdentityForce stands out as a protection service. Features like their ChildWatch social media suite, top-tier credit monitoring, and premier customer service make them worth a look.

However, put this IdentityForce Identity Theft Protection Review next to our other identity protection reviews and you’ll quickly find that other services offer far more.

Aura, for example, offers more comprehensive coverage at its base level. And their prices are better (especially when you use our promo code). 

If you want to learn more about what it has to offer, read on. This review will trace each area of this identity protection service in detail. My guess is you’ll come to the same conclusion I have by the end. But, at least you’ll know you came there on your own terms.   

Overall Score
5.0
4.0

Otherwise, save yourself the time and check out Aura Identity Theft Protection instead.

Identity Monitoring and Alerts

Let’s start with monitoring and alert services.

I can’t say IdentityForce offers the best in threat monitoring and alerts, but it is at, if not above, the industry standard. 

It’s not Aura, and it doesn’t catch everything (more on that below). 

However,  it works quickly, catches many of the threats I expected to find, and offers a wide breadth of monitoring services, including:

  • Advanced Fraud monitoring
  • Change of Address monitoring
  • Court Records monitoring
  • Dark Web monitoring
  • Payday Loan monitoring
  • Bank and Credit activity monitoring

I’ll dig deep into its monitoring abilities below, but suffice it to say, it is better than I expected in this category.

Dark Web Monitoring 

After signing up for IdentityForce, I quickly received several identity fraud alerts. I expected these to show up (I test identity protection services for a living, after all), but I was impressed to receive them so fast. The initial scan took just under 1 minute! 

After the scan, I received 19 dark web alerts, only seven of which were unique. 

That’s not bad, but it’s not amazing, either. Compared to its alternatives and other identity fraud services I’ve tested, it sits somewhere north of the middle here, but it’s definitely not on top. 

Aura, for example, came up with 15 unique dark web alerts. 

So, the monitoring isn’t terrible, but it’s also not super impressive. 

Alerts Dashboard

Here’s where it starts to lose more ground in the identity protection industry. 

It’s not that their alerts dashboard is difficult to understand. It’s just that it’s a little clunky for my liking. 

I mentioned that IdentityForce was fast and that I received a series of alerts directly after signing up. Here’s what my initial review left out…

As the alerts came in, they all looked essentially the same and weren’t very helpful. Most of them read “email address monitoring alert.” Seeing that come in over and over again starts to desensitize you to the threat.

notifications

I’d like it if it included just a little more information with their alert headings, like the threatened login credentials or the name of the website. I’d also like them to use a more streamlined design, with more white space and less clutter. 

Credit & Financial Monitoring

It monitors bank and credit card activity with all of their plans. They also offer great job monitoring on investment accounts. 

However, they only monitor your credit with their top-tier plan. 

I find that a little frustrating because monitoring your credit is one of the most important parts of identity protection. 

But assuming you opt for IdentityForce’s top-tier plan, the credit monitoring is top-notch. Here’s why: 

  • They offer 3-bureau credit monitoring.
  • Their restoration team will walk you through the process of freezing your credit if needed.
  • They provide a credit simulator. The simulator shows what happens to your credit score should you pay off credit balances, transfer balances, and so forth.
  • They provide a credit score tracker that shows your credit score in a handy month-over-month graph. 

These are great features. I just wish they were available with lower-level plans. Given its price points, which I’ll discuss in detail below, it seems like at least some of the credit monitoring features should be included at the lower tier.  

Public Records Monitoring

It monitors criminal and court records to ensure your name isn’t listed in criminal convictions you know nothing about. However, that’s about as far as it goes with public records monitoring.

It doesn’t offer home title monitoring or data broker removal. Top-end protection services (like Aura) offer features like these, once again showing that IdentityForce, though good, isn’t as impressive as other options.

Identity Threat Resolution

Aura
IdentityForce

Expertise

  • Aura's knowdlegeable support experts answered my call within 1-2 minutes

  • Excellent, knowledgeable support experience

US Based Support?

  • Yes

  • Yes

Customer Hours

  • 24/7/365 Support

  • 24/7/365 Support

Concierge Resolution

  • Available on ALL plans

  • Available

Lost Wallet Protection

  • Available

  • Available

The threat resolution services, I found exactly what I expected.

They’re not the best I’ve ever seen, but they’re more than decent. And, it offers a few unique features (like restoration services for the entire family, even without a family plan). These make it stand out in a way that other identity protection services don’t. 

IdentityForce Customer Service Ratings

I’m a big fan of their customer support team. Here’s why:

  • They answer right away. It took me less than two minutes to reach a person when I called on a Monday morning.
  • They’re U.S.-based.
  • There are multiple ways to contact them. You can call, leave an email, or send a chat message for any feedback.
  • Their service team is available 24/7. With the exception of major holidays, the customer care team is available by phone Monday-Sunday at all hours. 

They’re also competent. Many people on their team have over 20 years of experience in the identity protection world. 

When I asked detailed questions about some of the alerts I received, they walked me through what they meant. They were understanding and compassionate, not a horrible customer service i believe. I never felt rushed. That’s the sort of support team I want with my identity protection service. 

Wallet Protection Service 

It offers basic wallet protection services. They’ll cancel your credit and debit cards if you lose your wallet, but that’s about it. 

Other services go much further in this area. Some, like Aura, help you create a recovery plan so you can secure sensitive information an identity thief might use. Others go as far as to send you emergency funds. 

So, yes, it offers a wallet protection service, but not in its most stellar form.  

Concierge Service 

The white glove concierge restoration service is top-notch. Their team is very experienced –many of them with over 20 years in the identity restoration industry. They know how to walk you through the process of fixing your identity should your information end up in the wrong hands. They’ll help you make phone calls, file paperwork, and formulate a detailed plan. 

Many services I review offer similar concierge restoration services, but few live up to their promises. Aura, IdentityGuard, and IdentityForce are the best I’ve seen. And it goes a step further than the other two. 

Let me explain. 

It offers white glove family restoration. So, if your spouse or child or anyone else in your household has their identity stolen, it will help them—even though they’re not members. 

The family plan is lacking (more on that in a bit), so perhaps this is to make up for that. Regardless, restoration services for the entire family are a pretty big plus.

Identity Theft Insurance

aura
IdentityForce

Theft Insurance Score

Theft Insurance 

  • Up to $5M Theft Insurance on the family plan  ($1M per adult)

  • $1M Theft Insurance per Adult on Individual & Couple plans

  • Maximum $1M Theft Insurance total on all plans

It offers $1 million total in theft insurance coverage with all of their plans.

Let’s take a look at how that breaks down: 

  • Aggregate Limit of Insurance: $1,000,000 per policy period
  • Lost Wages: $2,000 per week, for 5 weeks maximum
  • Travel Expenses: $2,000 per policy period
  • Elder Care and Child Care Expenses: $2,000 per policy period
  • Initial Legal Consultation: $2,000 per policy period
  • Deductible $0 per policy period

All-in-all not too shabby when it comes to theft and fraud insurance coverage, but there is one caveat…

Many other services offer $1 million in aggregate coverage. And lots of those services are available at a lower price point or with better features (Aura comes to mind). 

So, while the theft insurance is a point in their favor, it’s not enough to make me want to purchase one of their plans.

IdentityForce Family Plans

Here’s where I get annoyed with IdentityForce. 

While nearly every other identity protection service offers streamlined, perfectly packaged, and practical family plans, it does not. 

See, it has family plans (technically), but you have to call and speak to a sales rep to get pricing and details. That’s because their plan inclusions and prices are subject to change. 

I understand that creating a custom plan for your family that includes the things you want and leaves out what you don’t need might be appealing. But (speaking from experience here) sitting on the phone with a sales rep when you have kids running around is never a great time. 

So, I really wish it would package family plan information online (like every other identity protection company). 

That said, when I called, they said their most popular option was the UltraSecure + Credit family plan. Said plan included all of the UltraSecure + Credit plan inclusions for two adults and unlimited children. It had ChildWatch services built in (more on that below) and came out to around $32 per month. 

Will you get the same price if you call? 

Who knows. But hopefully, that gives you an idea of what to expect should you decide if it is the best option for you and yours.

Ease of Use

I wouldn’t say it is difficult to use, but it could be better. 

Some services I tested (IdentityForce alternatives) have exceptionally sleek designs that allow you to see what you need at a glance. It isn’t like that. 

The interface is on the clunkier side. It might take you two or three clicks to get where you need to go. And their dashboard isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as it could be. 

It’s not bad, though. If anything, it simply has a dated interface

IDforce dashboard

That’s not a dealbreaker for me. I care a lot more about pricing, monitoring, and threat resolution.

Additional Services

Aura
IdentityForce Review

Additional Services

  • VPN

  • Antivirus

  • Parental Controls

  • Password Manager

  • VPN

  • Password Manager

  • Antivirus

  • Parental Controls

It doesn’t have all the additional services the best identity protection products I reviewed offer, but it does have a few stand-out pros and features. 

Here’s what I mean: 

It doesn’t have antivirus software or a password manager. But it does come with a VPN. 

Perhaps better than that for parents, though, is its ChildWatch service. With ChildWatch, parents can feel a little better about their children using the internet. Available as a $2.75 monthly add-on to any adult plan, it offers the following benefits: 

  • Full identity monitoring 
  • Social media monitoring (including cyberbullying and discrimination detection)
  • Child Credit Activity Monitoring 
  • Fully Managed Restoration

Social media monitoring for online security is what stands out here. 

Many parents are concerned about the effects of online bullying and hateful behaviors directed toward their kids on social media. ChildWatch alerts parents if it detects any of that on their child’s social media account. 

There aren’t many other identity protection services offering this level of internet security or web security and social media monitoring for children, so this is a big plus.

That said, Aura also offers child monitoring, including cyberbullying protection, as part of their family plans. So, this isn’t a feature entirely unique to IdentityForce, either.

How much does IdentityForce cost?

Aura
IdentityForce

Promo Code

Individual Plan Cost

  • $9/month 

  • UltraSecure - $17.99/mo or $179.90/yr

  • UltraSecure+Credit - $23.99/mo or $239.90/yr

Couple Plan Cost

  • $17/month 

Covers 2 Adults

  • No Couples plan per se (See Family plan below)

Family Plan Cost

  • $25/month 

Covers 5 adults & unlimited kids

  • UltraSecure - $24.90/mo or $249.00/yr

  • UltraSecure+Credit - $35.90/mo or $359.00/yr

All family plans include Childwatch ID Protection

Renewal Price Increased After 1st Year?

  • No. You lock in the price for life

  • No. You lock in the price for life

Promo Code



It is surprisingly pricey compared to other identity protection services. 

I save this section for the end because it’s important to understand what a brand offers before discussing the cost. Sometimes, prices are high but justifiable given the services offered. 

Unfortunately, that’s not the case with IdentityForce. 

IdentityForce’s Subscription Options

UltraSecure PlanUltraSecure + Credit Plan
Monthly price per member$17.99/month$23.99/month
Annual price per member$179.90/year$239.90/year
Monthly price for families$24.90/month$35.90/month
Annual price for families$249.00/year$359.00/year

Allow me to explain…

Individual Plan Pricing

It offers two plan tiers:

  • UltraSecure
  • UltraSecure + Credit 

If you want it I recommend the UltraSecure + Credit option. The credit monitoring suite is one of their best service offerings. 

However, the UltraSecure + Credit plan will run you $23.99/ month as an individual. 

To put that into perspective, Aura’s individual plan (which offers virtually the same –if not better– coverage and features) is $12 per month.  

Family Plan Pricing 

As I mentioned above, purchasing a family plan through Identity Force isn’t easy. You can technically add their ChildWatch service for $2.75/ month to any individual plan. That would allow you to cover your children. 

To add additional adults, though, you’ll need to call them directly. 

When I called, they quoted me $35.90/month for two adults and unlimited kids on their UltraSecure + Credit plan. However, that price is subject to change, and you might receive a very different rate. 

Regardless, anything in the $30 range is pricey! Many other services offer similar coverage and features for less (Aura being one of them).

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

It is an identity protection service that comes from Sontiq, Inc – whose parent company is TransUnion, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus.

This service offers to monitor your personal information by combing the dark web, your financial statements, and public records. It will then alert you if there are signs of fraudulent activity. It also comes with identity theft insurance and threat resolution services should you become a victim of identity theft.

The costs range from $17.99 per month to $23.99 per month for individuals. Family pricing is significantly higher, at $24.90 to $35.90 per month.

Alternatively, it allows you to add-on its child protection services to individual plans for a few extra dollars per child.

It is far from a bad service, but it’s also not the best available. For more comprehensive protection, you should consider a service like Aura. It offers more features, including several digital privacy tools that make browsing the internet much safer.

If you have a family to protect, Aura also comes with parental controls and safe gaming which are much more thorough than IdentityForce’s ChildWatch tool. 

It monitors the information you provide, including your social security number, credit report and bank statements. If it detects signs of fraud or notices any suspicious activity, you’ll receive an alert.

The alerts let you know what it found, whether it be a data breach or a new account on your credit report. That way, you can take steps to stop an identity criminal, like changing account passwords or freezing your credit.

Like any identity protection tool, though, it can’t completely protect your identity. It can only help you mitigate risks. But, if your identity is stolen, the service will help you restore it. 

Final Verdict

As this Identity Force review showed, this service is far from bad. However, there are better options available for lower price points. 

If you want a comprehensive protection service with more practical features, easy-to-sign-up-for-family plans, and better threat detection, all at a lower price, you want Aura.

If you’re hard-set against Aura for some odd reason, then it is a good pick. Just realize you’ll be paying almost double for similar services.

IdentityForce vs. the Competition

Citations:

1. https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-06-26/ezshield-and-identityforce-combine-under-new-parent-company-sontiq

2. https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-awards-bpas-for-identity-monitoring-data-breach-response-and-protection-services

3. https://www.themiddlemarket.com/news/m-a-wrap-carlyle-david-rubenstein-ppc-tony-pritzker-soundcore-sycamore-constellation-brands

4. https://thedailyrecord.com/2019/06/26/ezshield-unveils-new-name-as-combined-company-with-identityforce/

5. https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2019/06/28/ezshield-identityforce-sontiq/

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