Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce 2023: Focus on Assets or Focus on Family?

Hi there! Choosing the best identity theft protection service can be overwhelming when so many options are readily available.

I‘m here to help you decide between two top identity theft protection services: Identity Guard and IdentityForce.

After extensive research comparing their features, security, pricing, and more, I‘ll provide my professional advice on which service best fits your needs based on their key differences:

• Identity Guard is the better choice if you want full protection for your identity as well as your assets and accounts.

• IdentityForce is ideal for families focused on maximum identity protection for their children alongside credit monitoring.

Below I‘ll analyze Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce across these categories so you can make the right decision for your situation:

• Pricing plans
• Monitoring capabilities
• Security protections
• Ease of use
• Customer support

I‘ll also answer common questions about these services and reveal which one I recommend overall.

Let‘s dive in!

At a Glance: Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce

First, let‘s briefly compare the two services.

Both Identity Guard and IdentityForce provide robust identity protection features like dark web monitoring and credit alerts. They also offer up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.

But Identity Guard places more emphasis on protecting your assets and investments, while IdentityForce focuses on child identity protection and comprehensive credit monitoring.

Now let‘s explore the key differences in greater detail.

Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce: Pricing Plans

One of the first things to compare is how much each service costs.

Identity Guard is the more budget-friendly option, with flexible pricing starting at just $6.67 per month.

In contrast, IdentityForce‘s plans start at a higher $17.95 per month.

Here are their pricing options at a glance:

Identity Guard offers three main packages:

• Value
• Total
• Ultra

The higher the tier, the more features you receive.

For individuals seeking a strong balance of key identity protection tools, I recommend the Total plan for $11.99 per month.

It includes:

✔️3-bureau credit monitoring

✔️ Monthly credit score updates

✔️ Alerts for suspicious activity

✔️ Up to $1 million identity theft insurance

✔️ U.S.-based customer service

For maximum family coverage, the Ultra Family plan for $33.33 per month covers up to 5 adults and 10 children.

IdentityForce provides two primary options:

👉 UltraSecure

👉 UltraSecure+Credit

I suggest the UltraSecure+Credit for $23.95 per month as their best value. It includes comprehensive credit services like:

✔️ Daily credit monitoring with all 3 bureaus

✔️ Credit reports and scores

✔️ Credit utilization analysis

Adding children‘s monitoring costs extra – you‘d pay an additional $9.99 per child monthly.

According to Javelin Strategy & Research, in 2017 the average total identity fraud victim expense was $1,138. When it comes to pricing flexibility, Identity Guard wins for offering more affordable plans to fit any budget.

Winner: Identity Guard

Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce: Key Features

Next, let‘s look at the core features included with Identity Guard and IdentityForce.

The core identity protection capabilities like credit monitoring, dark web scans, and address change alerts are provided by both Identity Guard and IdentityForce.

Where Identity Guard excels is monitoring finances and assets.

Its higher-tier plans encompass:

• Bank and credit card transaction monitoring
• 401(k) and investment account activity alerts
• Home title monitoring

According to a 2022 Identity Fraud Study by Javelin Strategy & Research, 1 in 3 identity fraud victims also had other accounts compromised, like bank accounts or credit cards.

This extensive coverage makes Identity Guard the better pick if you have many assets and accounts you wish to protect.

IdentityForce‘s biggest advantage is its top-rated child identity protection service called ChildWatch.

ChildWatch comprehensively safeguards children‘s personal information, including:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Social security number

It actively monitors and analyzes data to identify any suspicious activity indicating potential identity theft. If abnormalities are detected, you‘ll be notified ASAP through email or text-based alerts.

According to Javelin Strategy & Research, around 1 million children are victims of identity theft each year, with the problem only growing over time.

So if you have children, IdentityForce provides greater peace of mind.

For robust asset protection, Identity Guard is the winner. But IdentityForce takes the lead for families with superior child identity theft protection.

Winner: Tie

Which is Safer: Identity Guard vs IdentityForce?

When choosing an identity theft protection service, how securely it stores and handles your data is critical.

You want confidence your sensitive personal and financial information is locked down.

Here is how Identity Guard and IdentityForce stack up regarding key security protections:

Both platforms utilize bank-grade, 256-bit AES encryption to secure data in transit and at rest. This encryption method is trusted by financial institutions and government agencies worldwide.

However, IdentityForce offers more advanced security capabilities:

• Two-factor authentication – This adds an extra layer of account protection by requiring you to verify your identity using a code sent to your phone or email address when logging in.

• Virtual private network (VPN) – A VPN encrypts all data passing between your devices and the internet to shield your web browsing activity and prevent eavesdropping.

• Adheres to PCI compliance – This set of security standards helps protect credit card transaction data.

According to a 2022 survey by Statista, 81% of consumers said two-factor authentication makes them feel more secure.

Unfortunately, Identity Guard lacks two-factor authentication support.

For the strongest identity protection security, I suggest going with IdentityForce. Their safeguards provide greater peace of mind that your private data is truly safe from compromise.

Winner: IdentityForce

Identity Guard vs IdentityForce: Ease of Use

You don’t want to struggle when managing your identity theft protection service. The platform should make it simple to access your account, view activity, and monitor alerts.

Here is how Identity Guard and IdentityForce compare regarding user experience:

• Identity Guard offers desktop and mobile apps to conveniently access your account across devices. Their dashboard clearly displays notifications, monitored account status, and more.

• IdentityForce is web-based but also provides mobile apps. Their dashboard lets you easily check alerts, recent activity, and credit data.

Both services offer user-friendly interfaces that allow you to rapidly check for any abnormal behavior that could signify identity theft or fraud.

The platform compatibility is also similar — Identity Guard works on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, while IdentityForce is accessible on any modern web browser plus iOS and Android mobile devices.

According to a 2017 global survey by Dimensional Research, 90% of respondents said the user experience was very important when selecting an online security solution like identity theft protection.

Whether you prefer desktop or mobile access, Identity Guard and IdentityForce are neck-and-neck when it comes to ease of use. Their clean, uncluttered interfaces provide a positive user experience.

Winner: Tie

Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce: Customer Service

No matter how careful you are, questions or issues may come up with your identity theft protection platform.

You want to know someone has your back when this happens. So the quality of customer service support is an important factor when choosing a service.

Here is how Identity Guard and IdentityForce compare:

According to Microsoft‘s 2022 Global Tech Support Benchmark, 68% of consumers said a company‘s customer service reputation influences their decision to make a purchase.

Based on customer reviews, Identity Guard generally provides excellent customer service across email, phone, and chat channels. Support agents are known to be friendly, knowledgeable, and able to quickly resolve account issues.

IdentityForce‘s support received mixed reviews. They claim 24/7 assistance but we found limited live chat availability. Phone wait times can also be lengthy. However, they do offer helpful resources like videos and guides.

If top-notch support is a priority, Identity Guard is the safer choice. Their stellar customer service reputation gives you confidence they‘ll be there when you need help.

Winner: Identity Guard

Identity Guard vs IdentityForce: Which is Better Overall?

So when it comes to Identity Guard vs. IdentityForce, which identity protection service comes out on top?

It depends on your specific needs and priorities:

If safeguarding your assets is most important, then Identity Guard is your best bet. The monitoring of bank accounts, investments, and home title provides robust protection of your finances.

For families focused on preventing child identity theft, IdentityForce takes the crown. Their ChildWatch service delivers industry-leading monitoring to protect children‘s personal data and credit.

To recap the key differences:

• Identity Guard offers competitive pricing and excels at asset monitoring. But lacks two-factor authentication.

• IdentityForce costs more but provides superior child identity protection and advanced security like two-factor authentication and a VPN.

Both services are leaders in the identity protection space. By understanding their strengths and weaknesses, you can determine if Identity Guard or IdentityForce aligns better with your family‘s needs and budget.

The Bottom Line

Identity thieves are growing increasingly savvy with their tactics, so having comprehensive protection is crucial today.

Identity Guard and IdentityForce both provide robust monitoring to secure you and your loved ones.

If your main goal is locking down bank accounts, investments, and home title, I recommend Identity Guard for its unparalleled financial asset security.

But if your top concern is keeping your kids‘ identities safe from fraudsters, I suggest IdentityForce for the industry‘s best child monitoring capabilities.

Whichever you choose, you can have confidence knowing your identity is being vigilantly guarded.

I hope this detailed comparison empowers you to decide whether Identity Guard or IdentityForce is the right fit to protect what matters most in your life. Stay safe!