
Identity theft is a growing problem globally, with fraud losses reaching $12.5 billion in 2024. However, some services aim to provide users with peace of mind in this age of constant data breaches and scams. Aura is one such service.
Aura is an all-in-one identity theft protection service that protects your personal and financial information with a full suite of tools. One of the best identity theft protection services out there, Aura combines identity monitoring, credit monitoring, dark web scanning, financial fraud alerts, and even digital security software into one package. Launched in 2019, through a merger with Identity Guard’s parent company, Aura set out to simplify offerings by bringing all its primary services under one roof.
💵 Price | Starts at $15/month or $144/year |
🎁 Free Trial | 15 days with annual plans |
🔁 Refund Window | 60 days for annual plans |
📊 Credit Checks | 3-bureau monitoring + score updates |
🛡️ Insurance | Up to $1M per adult |
🧰 Extras | VPN, antivirus, password manager |
👨👩👧 Best For | Families who need all-in-one protection |
In this article, we’ll review Aura, how it works, its features, user reviews, and how it compares to LifeLock and IdentityForce. We’ll also answer some common questions so you can get the full scoop on Aura’s identity theft protection.
Pros and Cons of Aura
Pros
- $1M theft insurance per adult
- Includes VPN, antivirus, password manager
- Solid family plan (5 adults + unlimited kids)
- 3-bureau credit monitoring on all plans
- 24/7 White Glove fraud support
- Great value with annual discounts
Cons
- Only available in the U.S.
- Antivirus and VPN are basic
- Monthly pricing is high without discounts
- Some users report support delays
Key Features of Aura Identity Protection
Unlike many other identity protection services, which are treated like supplementary services to other software like antiviruses and VPNs, Aura prioritizes identity protection. This means most of its features are dedicated to protecting your identity.
Comprehensive Identity & Credit Monitoring
Aura tracks your personal information across credit files, public records, and the internet. It monitors all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) for new accounts, inquiries, and changes to your credit report.
It also keeps an eye on things like your Social Security number (SSN), ID and passport numbers, bank account and credit card numbers, home address and more, and alerts you if they show up in places they shouldn’t, like the dark web or criminal/court records.
Aura’s identity monitoring even includes home and auto title monitoring. Which is a unique feature that watches for fraudulent transfers of your property titles. (Yes, criminals have been known to steal home titles or use them as loan collateral. Yikes!)
Fast Fraud Alerts
When Aura does find an issue, it boasts speed. The company says it delivers alerts up to 250x faster than competitors in some cases. In practice, that means if your info is found in a data breach or someone tries to open credit in your name, you’ll get a notification from Aura almost instantly so you can freeze accounts or take action.
Aura flagged 22 “critical” alerts right after setup in a hands-on test. The alerts were mostly old breached accounts, which showed that Aura was doing its job quickly. While we didn’t need to take any action as many of those alerts were old, if any further alert comes up, it’s comforting to know that we can respond to fraud in real time rather than finding out later on our credit statements.
Financial Tools & Credit Lock
Aura has tools to prevent financial fraud. All plans have a one-click credit lock for your Experian credit file (and easy instructions to lock the other bureaus). Locking your credit will stop identity thieves from opening new loans or credit cards in your name.
Aura also monitors your bank accounts, credit cards, investments, and retirement accounts (401k, IRA, etc.) for signs of fraud or large transactions. You get alerts for suspicious bank withdrawals, purchases over a set limit, or other banking red flags.
Plus, Aura gives you monthly credit score updates (VantageScore) and annual credit reports from all three bureaus for free so that you can stay on top of your financial game.
Dark Web Scanning
One of Aura’s core features is scanning the dark web and data breach databases for your info. You can enter your email addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license, passport, or even insurance and bank account numbers, and Aura will search underground forums and dumps to see if they’ve been exposed. If a match is found in a known breach or on the dark web, you’ll get an alert so you can change passwords or take action.
This is important since billions of records are out there. To put it in perspective, according to Aura’s data, over 22 billion records were exposed across 4,000 breaches in 2021. Aura’s dark web monitoring runs 24/7 and covers a wide range of personal info, so you’ll be the first to know if your data is exposed in a breach.
Fraud Resolution & Insurance
If identity theft does happen, Aura doesn’t leave you to fend for yourself. Every Aura plan includes a $1 million identity theft insurance policy per adult member. This policy (underwritten by a major insurer) can reimburse you for eligible losses due to identity fraud, covering stolen funds, unauthorized electronic transfers, and expenses like legal fees or lost wages incurred while restoring your identity.
Aura’s insurance is on par with industry-standard coverage (most competitors also offer $1M). In some ways, it’s very comprehensive in what it reimburses (including childcare or travel costs if they arise during recovery).
Additionally, Aura provides “White Glove” fraud resolution service, meaning if you’re victimized, they assign a dedicated case manager to guide you through the entire remediation process. This expert will help you contact banks, credit bureaus, and government agencies to resolve identity theft issues, and even assist with things like canceling and replacing credit cards or filing police reports.
Password Manager
Aura’s plans include a password manager, where you can store logins and sensitive documents. The vault uses “military grade” encryption, so your passwords are safe. Moreover, it can generate and autofill complex passwords for your accounts. This helps prevent hacks in the first place by encouraging good password hygiene.
While many may argue that this password manager is a bit basic compared to standalone password managers like Bitwarden, we actually found it quite useful. The password manager immediately flags passwords that have been compromised in data breaches, which many others don’t do.
Antivirus and VPN
Aura is a bit unusual for an identity protection service in that it also includes device security software. All plans come with an antivirus program and a VPN for up to 10 devices per adult. The antivirus software protects your computers and smartphones from malware, viruses, and hacking attempts, and the VPN encrypts your internet connection to protect your privacy when online.
These tools add an extra layer of protection against cyber threats that could lead to identity theft. But we did not find them to be that useful. They’re decent for an all-in-one service, but not the best in class.
The Aura antivirus is slow and resource-heavy, and the VPN is a “bare bones” version with limited server options. In fact, Aura partners with Hotspot Shield for its VPN and on mobile the VPN is somewhat limited. So while they’re nice to have, they don’t add much value to the plans.
Data Broker Removal & Spam Protection
One of the best things about Aura is that it helps remove your personal info from data broker sites and reduces spam calls/emails. Data brokers collect and sell your info (addresses, phone numbers, shopping habits, etc.) and often fuel spam and scam calls.
Aura’s service will automatically request the removal of your data from dozens of people-search sites and marketing lists. It even tracks when those brokers might re-add your data (some can legally do so after a certain period) and will repeat the removal process as needed. This continuous scrubbing of your digital footprint is something you’d have to do manually.
Plus, Aura has an AI-based call assistant (for family plans) that can screen and block suspected spam or scam calls and texts before they reach you. During setup, Aura actually asks questions like “Would you like to reduce the amount of spam emails, mail or phone calls you receive?” as part of personalizing your protection preferences. If you say “Yes”, Aura’s algorithms and team will get to work on minimizing those annoyances for you.
How Does Aura Work?
Aura is a digital safety net for your identity. It monitors your sensitive info across various channels like Social Security numbers, bank accounts, credit files, etc. If suspicious activity or fraud is detected, Aura sends you real-time alerts so you can take action. Think of it as an early warning system for identity theft: Aura won’t stop a thief (no service can), but it will alert you at the first sign of trouble so you can intervene as fast as possible.
Behind the scenes, Aura scans credit bureau data, public records, the dark web, and other databases for any signs your identity or finances are compromised. For example, if someone tries to open a new credit line in your name or your email and passwords show up in a data breach dump online, Aura will alert you in a flash. In fact, Aura sends fraud alerts up to 250 times faster than other services, so you can learn about potential identity fraud before traditional credit monitoring even catches up.
Each Aura plan comes with a big insurance policy (up to $1 million coverage per adult) to reimburse losses and expenses if identity theft happens. And if the worst happens, Aura’s White Glove fraud resolution team will guide you through recovery, from filing reports to restoring your credit.
Note that Aura currently only operates in the United States. The service is available in all U.S. states and territories and monitors the U.S. credit bureaus and personal data. Aura is not currently available in the U.K. or internationally, so users outside the U.S. will need to look elsewhere for identity protection solutions.
Aura Plans, Pricing, and Free Trial
Plans and Pricing
Aura keeps things simple with three main plans: Individual, Couple, and Family. Which mainly differ in the number of users and devices covered. Importantly, all the core features we mentioned (identity monitoring, 3-bureau credit checks, alerts, insurance, VPN, etc.) are included in every plan. You don’t have to pay extra to get the “full” protection; even the Individual plan has the same suite of services (minus the child-specific ones). Here’s a quick breakdown of each plan and price:
Aura Individual
This plan covers one adult, with all the core features included. It protects up to 10 devices (with antivirus/VPN). You also get up to $1 million in identity theft insurance for one adult. The pricing is $15 monthly or about $12/month if you opt for the annual plan at $144.
Aura Couple
This one covers two adults (you and a spouse/partner). Each adult gets their own monitoring and $1M insurance. You can share the dashboard to see each other’s alerts. Up to 20 devices can be protected (10 per person).
You’ll have to pay $29 a month or about $19 per month on the annual $228 payment. This is cheaper than two individual plans, and many couples find it convenient to manage joint finances and identity protection under one account.
Aura Family
Covers up to 5 adults and unlimited children in one plan, making it a great investment for big families or even extended family members. Each adult gets $1M coverage (potentially $5M total across all adults), and each can protect 10 devices (so up to 50 devices total). Kids are free and get the child monitoring features.
The subscription costs $45 monthly or about $20 a month with the annual $240 plan. The Family plan is more expensive monthly, but the annual option offers a big discount.
Free Trial and Refund
All plans come with a 14-day free trial, so you can try Aura for two weeks before being charged. Aura also has a money-back guarantee: if you pay annually, you have 60 days to get a full refund if you are not satisfied; if you pay monthly, you have 14 days to cancel for a refund. This is more generous than most, as the competition doesn’t even advertise a 60-day guarantee.
Customer Feedback and User Reviews
While expert opinions are important, our tests and reviews can easily miss what many long-term customers often pick up. So we decided to scour through the internet on Trustpilot, Reddit, and App Stores to see what users say about Aura. While the feedback is largely positive, there are some common complaints, too.
Reviews on Platforms
Overall Customer Satisfaction
A quick look through Trustpilot shows us Aura’s impressive 4.3 out of 5 rating across hundreds of reviews. Most of the users praise Aura for the peace of mind it provides, sharing stories of how it has helped them catch fraudulent activities early. For instance, some users reported that Aura alerted them to accounts opened in their name or personal data on the dark web, allowing them to freeze their credit and avoid damage. Users also like that multiple services are integrated.
Mobile App Experience
Aura’s apps are mostly good. The Aura app has a 4.7-star rating on the App Store and 4.5 stars on Google Play. Users like the clean interface and getting instant alerts on their phone about fraud. You can see your credit score, recent alerts, and even use the VPN all from the same app.
But some users pointed out a few minor issues: on iOS, a few complained about notification quirks (e.g., recurring “over limit” charge alerts with no way to dismiss); on Android, the app would occasionally crash or log the user out, and they would have to log back in. These don’t seem to be super common, but they do show up in the app store reviews. Aura seems to update its apps regularly to fix bugs.
Positive Highlights From Users
- Users love Aura’s instant alerts for suspicious activity. They get alerted right away to any purchases over a set limit.
- Aura’s credit alerts and dark web monitoring are also “pretty good” for most users.
- Multiple users have said Aura is removing their data from data brokers.
- Many say it’s great for kids, spouses, or elderly parents under one subscription.
- Users who’ve gone through identity theft said Aura’s support team was “super patient and helpful.”
- Users find the 24/7 fraud support comforting during stressful times.
Common Complaints
- Many users think that the additional features, like antivirus, VPN, and password manager, are subpar.
- Some users found the app to be resource-heavy and claimed that it slowed down their systems.
- Based on a few reports, users have particularly faced crashes on Windows PCs.
- Many users do not find the 24/7 support adequate.
- And while most users said their refunds were honored, some found the cancellation process very difficult.
Quick Comparison – Aura vs LifeLock vs IdentityForce
Let’s see how Aura stacks up against other well-known identity theft protection services like Norton LifeLock and IdentityForce:
Features | Aura | LifeLock | IdentityForce |
Credit Monitoring | 3- bureau on all plans | 1-bureau on lower tiers, 3-bureau on top tiers | 3-bureau only on the premium plan |
ID Monitoring | SSN, dark web, home title, and more | SSN, dark web, social media | SSN, dark web, social media |
Starts At | $15/month, $144/year | $11.99/month, $124.99/year | $20/month |
Insurance | Up to $5M total | Up to $3M per adult | Up to $2M total |
Extras | VPN, antivirus, password manager | Comes with Norton 360 bundle | VPN |
Family Plan | 5 adults + unlimited kids | 2 adults + 5 kids | 2 adults + unlimited kids |
Best For | Families & full protection | Power users who are already in the Norton ecosystem | Budget-conscious individual users |
Final Thoughts
Aura does what most identity theft protection services try to do, but actually makes it easy. You get credit and identity monitoring, fast alerts, real support if things go wrong, and a bunch of extras (VPN, antivirus, password manager) all bundled in. And the best part is that it’s all included in every plan, no confusing tiers or upsells.
It’s especially great for families. The family plan is probably the best deal out there; it covers up to five adults and unlimited kids, and it includes tools to keep everyone safe.
That said, it’s not perfect. The antivirus and VPN aren’t great, and support can be slow sometimes. But if you want solid, set-it-and-forget-it protection that actually makes your life easier, Aura’s one of the best out there.
TL;DR: If you’re in the US and want powerful, simple, and family-friendly identity protection, Aura is an easy recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aura Identity Theft Protection
Is Aura a legit identity theft protection service?
Yes. Aura is a US-based company that offers full identity, credit, and device protection. It is trusted by experts, rated by users, and backed by $1M insurance per adult.
How much does Aura cost?
Pricing starts at $12/month (billed annually). Plans range from $15/month (Individual) to $45/month (Family). Aura often has big discounts for new users.
Is Aura better than LifeLock?
Aura is better for all-in-one protection and family use. LifeLock is good if you already use Norton 360, but it’s more expensive and splits features across tiers.
Does Aura work outside the US?
No. Aura only supports US users. A Social Security Number is needed to monitor credit and identity records.
Can Aura help if I’m already a victim of identity theft?
Yes. Aura offers 24/7 fraud support and assigns a dedicated specialist to help you recover your identity, file reports, and restore accounts.