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What if you wake up one day to find your hard-earned savings drained or loans taken out in your name—scenarios that have become all too common with identity theft on the rise? It is a scary scenario, isn’t it? In 2023 alone, the FTC received over 1 million identity theft reports, with losses exceeding a staggering $10.3 billion. For many, the damage to finances and credit is devastating, and it often takes years to recover.
But here’s the real question: how can you protect your credit and financial health when cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics? Credit monitoring services are your first line of defense, alerting you to unauthorized activities before they spiral out of control. However, not all services are equal—some offer only partial coverage, leaving you exposed to fraud even when you think you're protected.
Ready to find the best place to monitor your credit score and safeguard your future? Let’s dive into the blog and explore solutions.
Although the majority of credit monitoring services have a similar appearance, they differ and have subtleties that affect the degree of protection they offer. We consider the following five factors while evaluating the top credit monitoring services for 2024:
Secure your credit and personal information with real-time alerts and advanced fraud protection. Learn how Shepherd Outsourcing can help you safeguard your financial future.
The top credit monitoring services include bank account monitoring, three-bureau credit monitoring, and quick and accurate fraud warnings. They also offer proactive identity theft protection and easily available recovery assistance in the event that you are a victim.
Some, but not all, of these functions were well-executed by the majority of credit monitoring companies.
We've produced a list of the top eight credit monitoring services and credit score applications, both free and premium, to help you pick the right one for you.
Note: Businesses frequently alter plans, costs, and features on a regular basis. Although we make every effort to present the most recent information, data is only valid as of the publication date.
Why we picked it: Shepherd Outsourcing has earned a reputation as a reliable and transparent provider of credit monitoring and debt relief services. Known for its personalized approach to credit repair and debt management, it offers robust protection through three-bureau credit monitoring, real-time alerts, and expert support. With a focus on customer satisfaction, Shepherd Outsourcing is a trusted name for those seeking to manage their financial recovery.
Each of Shepherd Outsourcing’s credit monitoring plans comes with three-bureau credit monitoring, fraud alerts, and identity theft protection services. They offer a tailored solution based on individual financial situations, making it a standout choice for those who want personalized, hands-on assistance.
Shepherd Outsourcing offers one straightforward plan that covers three-bureau credit monitoring, real-time alerts, identity theft protection, and access to expert support. Their Comprehensive Plan is affordable and designed to meet the needs of individuals who want complete coverage without unnecessary extras.
Why we picked it: With over 20 years of experience in identity theft protection, Identity Guard has established itself as a leader in the industry. Over that time, it has helped more than 47 million customers and resolved over 140,000 fraud cases.
Identity Guard provides three-bureau credit monitoring in two of its three plans, along with monthly VantageScore® credit scores, Dark Web scanning, bank account monitoring, device protection, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. Their plans are designed to keep you informed and protected against both credit issues and identity theft.
Identity Guard's Ultra plan offers premium credit protection, including three-bureau credit monitoring, monthly credit scores, and Experian CreditLock. Additionally, it covers bank accounts, investment accounts, and public records monitoring, making it a comprehensive option for those seeking thorough protection.
Get Identity Guard’s Ultra Plan for $25/month and enjoy premium protection for your credit and identity, along with advanced monitoring tools to help you stay ahead of any potential fraud.
Why we picked it: As a service owned and operated by Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, IdentityWorks is backed by the authority and reliability of a trusted name in the credit industry. With over 100 years of experience, Experian offers robust credit monitoring services that can help protect your financial future.
IdentityWorks offers a Basic plan that provides free Experian credit report monitoring and FICO® score tracking. For those seeking more comprehensive coverage, the Premium plan includes three-bureau credit monitoring, an Experian CreditLock, daily FICO® scores, and identity alerts.
Best plan & average cost: IdentityWorks Premium for $24.99/month
The Premium plan is the most comprehensive option, offering three-bureau credit monitoring, daily FICO® scores, Experian CreditLock, identity theft alerts, and insurance coverage, all for $24.99/month.
Get started with IdentityWorks Premium for $24.99/month, and enjoy detailed credit monitoring, daily FICO® scores, and identity theft protection to keep your finances secure.
Why we picked it: CreditWise, administered by Capital One, offers users a simple and accessible way to monitor their financial health without any cost. This service allows you to track your credit with ease, providing a clear picture of how your financial decisions affect your credit score.
CreditWise offers two-bureau credit monitoring with TransUnion and Experian, a VantageScore® credit report tracker, and credit alerts to keep you informed about any changes. Users can also request their credit reports at any time and gain insights into their credit status with a free service.
Best plan & average cost: CreditWise (Free)
CreditWise offers only one free plan that includes two-bureau credit monitoring, credit score tracking, and access to a credit report tracker. It’s a solid option for those who want basic credit monitoring at no cost.
Get started with CreditWise for free and gain easy access to credit score tracking and credit report monitoring, all with no cost involved.
Why we picked it: LifeLock has been a trusted name in identity theft protection and credit monitoring for nearly 20 years. After being acquired by Symantec in 2017, LifeLock added Norton’s digital security tools to some of its packages, providing an even more comprehensive protection service.
LifeLock offers a range of plans, with the Standard plan featuring one-bureau credit monitoring and the Ultimate plans providing three-bureau monitoring, unlimited VantageScore® updates, a TransUnion credit file lock, and up to $3 million in identity theft insurance. Additionally, LifeLock includes substantial identity and financial account monitoring for added protection.
Best plan & average cost: LifeLock Ultimate Plus for $19.99/month
LifeLock’s Ultimate Plus plan includes three-bureau credit monitoring, unlimited access to your credit score, identity monitoring with alerts, and up to $3 million in identity theft insurance. However, be aware of the significant price increase after the first year of service.
Get LifeLock Ultimate Plus for $19.99/month and enjoy comprehensive three-bureau credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and exclusive Norton 360 digital security tools. Just be prepared for a significant price increase after your first year.
Why we picked it: MyFICO, developed by the creators of FICO® credit scores, makes it easy for users to monitor their credit health with a focus on the FICO® scores most commonly used by lenders. With its extensive range of tools and resources, MyFICO is ideal for those who want to dive deep into their credit status and receive valuable financial insights.
MyFICO offers three plans, including a free option that provides FICO® score tracking, but only the paid plans give access to three-bureau credit monitoring, identity monitoring, mortgage and auto loan interest rate updates, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.
Best plan & average cost: MyFICO Premier for $39.95/month
The Premier plan provides comprehensive three-bureau credit monitoring, monthly FICO® score updates, and basic identity monitoring. However, it comes at a high price compared to other services that offer similar features for less.
Why we picked it: Credit Karma, a product of Intuit, offers a free credit and financial health monitoring service that is easily accessible to anyone looking to keep tabs on their credit. The service provides credit monitoring for TransUnion and Equifax credit reports, unlimited access to VantageScore® credit scores, and real-time credit alerts—all at no cost to you.
What you should know about Credit Karma’s “free” services: Credit Karma’s services are free, but the company generates revenue by promoting credit cards, loans, and other financial products. They earn a commission when users sign up for these products through the platform. Additionally, Credit Karma has faced some controversies, including a $3 million fine from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for misleading advertising of "pre-approved" credit offers and a security breach that exposed users' personal finance data.
Credit Karma offers a single plan that is completely free, making it an attractive option for those who just need basic credit monitoring.
Why we picked it: Credit Sesame offers users free access to credit monitoring with an emphasis on understanding and improving your credit score. Users can monitor their VantageScore® credit scores and credit reports from TransUnion, with free tools to help manage their financial health.
Credit Sesame offers a free basic plan, which includes VantageScore® credit score tracking, credit report summaries, and helpful financial tips.
While each credit monitoring service on this list has its strengths, Shepherd Outsourcing rises above the competition with its tailored solutions, three-bureau credit monitoring, and real-time fraud alerts. Unlike free plans that often compromise on coverage, Shepherd’s focus on premium, hands-on support ensures you receive reliable protection and expert assistance when you need it most.
It's true that tracking your credit file and scores can be done mostly for free. For instance, every American is entitled to access a free credit report from all three major bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Additionally, some financial institutions, including banks and credit card providers, offer free credit monitoring services as an incentive for signing up. If a company or service you use experiences a data breach, they may offer free credit monitoring through specialized services like Kroll or IDX.
But before you rely entirely on these free services, it's important to consider the downsides of monitoring your own credit or using basic, free tools:
Free credit monitoring services almost never provide full identity theft protection, insurance, or three-bureau credit monitoring. Many only monitor one or two credit bureaus, leaving you exposed if fraud or errors are reported to a different bureau.
Example: If fraud occurs at TransUnion and you’re only monitoring Equifax, you might not get an alert until much later, when the damage is already done.
Most free services only notify you of major credit changes like new accounts or credit inquiries, missing many of the smaller red flags that could point to identity theft earlier on.
Example: A thief could use your personal information to apply for a small loan, which might not trigger an alert if the free tool only monitors for large transactions or new credit lines.
Fraud alerts from free services are often delayed, arriving well after an event has occurred. In some cases, by the time you’re alerted to potential fraud, it’s too late to take action and prevent significant damage.
Example: By the time you’re notified about a credit inquiry or a new account opened in your name, the fraud may have already spread to other areas of your life.
Many free services offer minimal support when it comes to handling fraud cases, and the help that is provided may not be available during off-hours or when you need it most. For people facing active fraud or identity theft, this can be incredibly frustrating and overwhelming.
Example: If you notice a fraudulent charge and need to take action immediately, free services often don’t provide the round-the-clock support that a dedicated identity theft protection service can offer.
While free credit monitoring tools are accessible and helpful for basic tracking, they come with significant limitations. The average person likely won't have the time or expertise to monitor credit across all three bureaus and follow up with all the necessary checks to prevent identity theft or fraud.
Even if you’re using a free tool, you’ll probably still need to monitor your credit reports from other bureaus that aren’t covered in your plan. Crucially, free services don’t offer protection or remedies for identity theft, meaning that if your data is compromised, you’ll have no control over how it’s used or what happens next.
The risks are high—hackers, scammers, and identity thieves don’t wait for permission to strike, and often, by the time you're alerted, the damage is already done. This is why opting for comprehensive, paid credit monitoring with robust protection is usually a far more effective solution. When it comes to safeguarding your financial health and personal data, relying on free services alone is often a gamble you can't afford to take.
Don’t wait for a data breach to happen—monitor your credit with Shepherd Outsourcing’s expert services today. Sign up for a risk-free trial and experience premium protection.
©2024 by Shepherd Outsourcing.