PrivacyGuard Review

Data breaches are common. You could be a victim anytime. In this guide, learn PrivacyGuard's features and how it helps you against identity theft.

PrivacyGuard offers identity protection features to help you combat identity theft.

However, not all plans feature identity theft insurance, which is crucial if you need to recover from the financial damages and loss caused by identity theft and fraud.

With that said, is PrivacyGuard still worth trying? You'll find out in this review.

What is PrivacyGuard?

PrivacyGuard is an identity theft protection service offering identity and credit monitoring features.

PrivacyGuard tracks sensitive and personal information like your name, birth date, and bank account. You are alerted when your data is used without your knowledge and authorization.

All plans feature a dedicated resolution agent to help you restore your identity. That way, you get immediate assistance if you fall victim to fraud and identity theft.

Who is PrivacyGuard Best For?

PrivacyGuard is for you if you're looking for flexible plans that cover individual protection.

If you sign up for PrivacyGuard, features are suited for individual monitoring with little room for sharing features with others.

Who Should Skip PrivacyGuard?

If you're looking for family plans, it's best to skip PrivacyGuard. You can't add other members to your account.

There are no extensive family protection features, which can be a make-or-break factor if you want to extend identity theft protection features to other family members.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Offers a 14-day trial for $1^[1]
  
• Starts at $9.99/month
  
• Includes identity and credit monitoring features
  
• Available on iOS and Android
  
• Dedicated ID fraud resolution agent
  
• Extra features, like secure browser and secure keyboard

Cons:

• Expensive
  
• No family plans
  
• No social media monitoring (others have this)
  
• Tracks VantageScore only
  
• Not all plans include $1 million identity theft insurance

Pricing & Fees

PrivacyGuard offers 3 plans with different inclusions. You will be charged monthly for your service.^[2]

	IDENTITY PROTECTION	CREDIT PROTECTION	TOTAL PROTECTION
Price (per month)	$9.99	$19.99	$24.99
Monthly credit score tracker	—	✔	✔
24/7 credit monitoring	—	✔	✔
Public and dark web scanning	✔	—	✔
SSN monitoring	✔	—	✔
Driver's license and passport monitoring	✔	—	✔
Bank account monitoring	✔	—	✔
Debit & credit card monitoring	✔	—	✔
USPS address change verification	✔	—	✔
Email, phone, name, and date of birth monitoring	✔	—	✔
ID/application verification monitoring	✔	—	✔
Public records monitoring	✔	—	✔
Lost & stolen wallet protection	✔	—	✔
Online fraud assistance	✔	—	✔
Annual public records report	✔	—	✔
$1 million identity theft insurance	✔	—	✔

Each plan focuses on a specific aspect of identity theft protection. As such:

• Identity Protection is ideal for basic identity monitoring with $1 million insurance.

• Credit Protection is best for those looking for credit monitoring features and monthly credit reports.

• Total Protection offers all the features from lower plans, including identity monitoring, credit monitoring, and $1 million insurance, to prepare you against identity theft.

All plans feature a secure browser and keyboard. PrivacyGuard will also send you notifications via email or text and provide monthly status reports for your account.

If you become a victim of identity theft, PrivacyGuard assigns you a dedicated agent. That way, you'll get a resolution for your case with the help of experts and assistance in streamlining the recovery process.

Total Protection Plan

Total Protection plan includes several features that aren't available in the two other plans, such as:

• Reduced pre-approved credit card offers
  
• Neighborhood reports
  
• Registered offender locator
  
• Emergency travel assistance
  
• Medical records reimbursement

Although PrivacyGuard doesn't offer extensive family protection features, Total Protection allows you to add, track, and monitor other SSNs in addition to your own.

Total Protection plan features SSN monitoring for children. You can add the SSNs of up to 10 kids to your account. PrivacyGuard monitors these numbers for unauthorized use and fraud.

Is PrivacyGuard Worth It?

The Identity Protection plan offers the best value for its price. It's more affordable than several alternatives but includes the essential features for identity monitoring.

For under $10/month, you get identity monitoring features to help you track any unauthorized activities using your information. Plus, you already get the standard $1 million insurance for coverage in case your data is compromised.

The Identity Protection plan provides the essential features to help you get started with identity theft protection.

How to Sign Up for PrivacyGuard

If you want to try PrivacyGuard, you can start at $1 for any plan. This gives you a 14-day trial before you get charged the regular fee.
To sign up, follow these simple steps:

1. Select your chosen plan.
   
2. Enter your email. Create a username and assign a password.
   
3. Provide your name, address, date of birth, and SSN.

Afterward, you need to fill out your credit or debit card information. Wait for PrivacyGuard to verify your information.

PrivacyGuard will automatically charge the monthly fees for your plan using the given payment option. If you don't want to continue your service, you can cancel it anytime.

Is PrivacyGuard Legit?

Yes, PrivacyGuard is legitimate and has been offering identity theft services since 1991.^[3] PrivacyGuard has more than 100,000 downloads combined from Google Play and App Store.

Customer Ratings & Reviews

In general, PrivacyGuard has thousands of high ratings from customers. However, it has fewer reviews from other platforms.

The most common comments state that PrivacyGuard is excellent in tracking and offers good customer support, like this one from Michael Anthony:

On the other hand, a handful of negative experiences have surfaced from PrivacyGuard reviews online. In Jeremiah's case, PrivacyGuard seems to be a scam:

Like any other identity theft protection service, PrivacyGuard isn't perfect. It has mixed ratings and reviews online.

It's best to exercise caution and diligence when sharing information. This way, you proactively guard against identity theft and lessen the likelihood of fraudulent activities using your details.

Customer Service

If you have questions or concerns, contact PrivacyGuard by:^[5]

• Phone: 1-800-374-8273
  
• Email: service@privacyguard.com

How PrivacyGuard Compares

If PrivacyGuard doesn't fit your needs, you can try the following alternatives below:

PrivacyGuard vs. ID Watchdog
ID Watchdog is an identity protection service from Equifax. It offers two plans: the Select plan ($14.95/month or $150/year) and the Premium plan ($21.95/month or $220/year).^[6]

If you want to focus on family protection and securing your kids' credit and identity, it's better to choose ID Watchdog.

Family options for the Select ($23.95/month or $240/year) and Premium ($34.95/month or $350/year) plans are available. These plans offer family protection features, like:

• Social media monitoring
  
• Equifax child credit lock
  
• Equifax child credit monitoring

You also get a personal VPN and safe browsing features. On top of that, you may extend up to $2 million in identity theft insurance to cover you and your family.

PrivacyGuard vs. LifeLock
LifeLock is a Norton product. It offers two plans: the Standard plan ($11.99/month or $89.99 for the first year) and the Ultimate Plus ($34.99/month or $239.88 for the first year).^[7]

If you want three times more insurance coverage than PrivacyGuard, opt for LifeLock's Ultimate Plus plan. With Ultimate Plus, you get up to $3 million in insurance coverage:

• $1 million for lawyers and experts
  
• $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement
  
• $1 million in personal expense reimbursement

In addition, LifeLock also offers credit report locks, which PrivacyGuard lacks. In turn, you get to restrict and prevent new creditors, lenders, and third parties from accessing your credit reports.

Bottom Line

PrivacyGuard provides tailored plans that focus on specific aspects of identity theft protection, allowing you to choose the plan that best suits your needs.

While the plans offer focused identity and credit monitoring, they might be considered costly for the features included. Other identity theft protection services may be more inclusive, with a more reasonable price range.

References