Best Credit Monitoring Services
Credit monitoring services can help protect your personal and financial information from hackers and identity theft. Here are some of the best credit monitoring services available, including free and paid options.
Best Free Credit Monitoring Services
1. CreditWise from Capital One: Offers free credit monitoring with dark web scanning and Social Security number tracking.
2. Experian Dark Web Scan + Credit Monitoring: Provides real-time alerts about new inquiries, account openings, and personal information changes on your Experian credit report, as well as dark web scanning and identity theft insurance.
Best Paid Credit Monitoring Services
1. Aura: Offers protection against financial fraud, identity theft, and online threats, including dark web scanning and credit score monitoring, with a focus on family protection.
2. IdentityForce: Provides 3-bureau credit monitoring, dark web scanning, and identity theft insurance with a focus on comprehensive security.
3. PrivacyGuard: Offers three plans, including credit protection, identity protection, and total protection, with dark web scanning and identity theft insurance.
What to Look for in a Credit Monitoring Service
* Reports to all three major credit bureaus
* Real-time fraud alerts
* Scans for sensitive information on the dark web
* Credit score monitoring and updates
* Identity theft insurance
What Credit Monitoring Can’t Do
* Prevent fraudulent activity
* Protect against phishing attempts or other online scams
* Fix errors on your credit report
* Guard your physical credit card from skimming
FAQs:
* How do I check my credit score without hurting it?
* Which credit monitoring bureau is most accurate?
* How much do credit monitoring services cost?
* How do I choose the best credit monitoring service for my needs?
Methodology:
* CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen services offering free and paid plans
* Compared features such as credit score updates, dark web scanning, and identity theft insurance
* Considered audience demographics and engagement with our content and tools to determine the best services for consumers.
