Written by Carol Pope | Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird and Xiomara Martinez-White | Reviewed June 13, 2023
If you’re rebuilding your credit or rebounding from identity theft, you know how crucial it is to keep tabs on your financial health — that’s where credit monitoring can come in.
There are tons of credit monitoring services out there, each with its own benefits, drawbacks and price tag. How do you know which one to choose? We can help. Our personal finance professionals took a deep dive so you can find the best credit monitoring service for you.
Monthly fee: From $12 to $50, depending on plan and annual discount.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Three-bureau monitoring comes standard Includes VPN, ad blockers and password managers for up to 10 devices per person AI-assisted spam blocker helps filter scam phone calls and texts | Can only lock Experian report No free plans Parental controls are only available on the family plan — unable to add this feature to an individual account (which could be inconvenient for single parents) |
Monthly fee: Free (Premium plan is available for $15.95 per month).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Provides $50,000 in identity theft coverage at no additional cost Real-time credit score alerts App is highly rated by both Apple and Android users | One-bureau monitoring (TransUnion) Website isn't clear what features are paid and which ones are free No phone or chat for customer service |
Monthly fee: Individual plans range from $14.95 to $21.95, with family plans between $23.95 and $34.95. Discounts are available if you pay annually.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Can lock Equifax and TransUnion on Premium plan Credit freeze assistance is available on all plans Lost wallet vault feature allows you to securely store your personal information on a digital platform | No free plans No money-back guarantee Must purchase the most expensive plan for three-bureau monitoring |
Monthly fee: Plans range from $8.99 to $29.99, plus a discount for paying annually.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cheapest plan is less than $10 a month, yet provides up to $1 million in identity theft coverage Can add unlimited children to the family plan 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans | Must opt for Total or Ultra plan for credit monitoring Credit freeze assistance isn't available, and must have Ultra plan to lock (Experian) Mobile app is poorly rated |
Monthly fee: $29.99, or $25.50 if paid annually.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Monthly three-bureau credit reports and scores Family coverage is included at no additional cost Up to $25,000 in ID theft protection for eligible children | No email or chat options for customer service Website is unclear if credit freeze or credit lock is available Customer service phone line isn't available 24/7 |
Monthly fee: From $19.95 to $39.95, depending on plan.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Uses FICO Score model when most services use VantageScores Identity restoration team is available 24/7 Every credit monitoring alert includes your current FICO Score | Cybersecurity options are lacking Unable to freeze or lock credit With a basic plan at almost $20 per month, not the cheapest paid service on this list |
Monthly fee: Individual plans range from $14.95 to $19.95. Family plans are between $29.95 and $34.95.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Phone, email, live chat and help center are available Offers a reputation management service to help you improve or maintain your social media persona Includes VPN, malware detectors and parental controls in all plans | No discount for paying annually No credit locking Cannot cancel over the phone (must submit written notice) |
Monthly fee: Free.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Experian Boost allows users to add utility, streaming service and rent payments to improve their FICO Score Provides FICO Scores rather than VantageScores Credit freeze assistance for Experian report | One-bureau monitoring (Experian) No dark web monitoring Alerts for attempted credit inquiries are not sent in real time |
Monthly fee: The Basic plan is free, Premium is $24.99 a month and the Family plan is $34.99 a month.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Mobile app is highly rated by Apple and Android users Experian credit lock available on Premium Uses FICO Scores | Customer service isn't available 24/7 No money-back guarantee Three-bureau credit reports and FICO credit scores are available on the Premium plan, but only once a quarter |
Monthly fee: Individual plans range from $17.99 to $23.99 a month per member, per month, with a discount for annual members.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
ChildWatch provides comprehensive credit, social media and identity monitoring for children Includes anti-phishing, anti-keylogging and malware prevention software Instant alerts for bank account withdrawals over a certain threshold | Mobile app user ratings range from middle-of-the-road to poor No credit lock Must call the company for family plan pricing |
To find the best credit monitoring service, you’ll need to understand which credit bureaus the service keeps track of — and that can be tricky. This is because some credit information may make it to only one bureau. For the most comprehensive view, you should look for credit monitoring that offers three-bureau reporting (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Three-bureau monitoring tends to be the most expensive.
On the flip side, although most free credit monitoring services only offer one-bureau monitoring, they can still be a budget-friendly way to keep your finger on the pulse of your overall credit health and any suspicious activity.
FICO Score vs. VantageScoreThere are also two different types of credit scores your monitoring service can show you: your FICO Score or your VantageScore.
Most financial institutions use the FICO model when underwriting loan applications, but generally speaking, most credit monitoring services use VantageScore. When you check your credit score using a credit monitoring service, there’s no guarantee that it’s the one your lender uses. Still, your FICO Score and VantageScore tend to be fairly similar, so knowing either one can give you a good idea of your creditworthiness.
The general idea behind credit monitoring is the same, but specific offerings vary from company to company. While you’re shopping, ask yourself what you hope to achieve with credit monitoring. Are you more concerned with your credit score or identity theft — or both? Once you know what you want your credit monitoring service to do for you, you’ll have an easier time choosing a company best suited for your needs.