← Back to Identity Theft
Credit Monitoring Options
Choose the right credit monitoring service for your needs
What Is Credit Monitoring?
Credit monitoring services track your credit reports and alert you to changes, helping detect identity theft and unauthorized activity quickly.
Types of Credit Monitoring
Free Credit Monitoring
Sources:
- Many credit cards offer free monitoring
- Banks often provide basic monitoring
- Credit Karma (free, supported by ads)
- Credit Sesame (free with upsells)
- Annual credit reports (AnnualCreditReport.com)
Paid Credit Monitoring
Cost: $10-$30/month
Providers:
- Experian IdentityWorks
- TransUnion TrueIdentity
- IdentityForce
- IdentityGuard
- LifeLock (Norton)
What Gets Monitored
Credit Report Changes
- New accounts opened
- Credit inquiries
- Balance changes
- Address changes
- Public records (bankruptcies, liens)
- Collection accounts
Additional Monitoring (Paid Services)
- Dark web scanning for your data
- Social Security number monitoring
- Court records
- Non-credit data sources
- Bank account takeovers
- Payday loan applications
Single vs Three-Bureau Monitoring
Single Bureau
- Monitors one credit report
- Less expensive
- May miss fraud on other bureaus
Three-Bureau
- Monitors all three reports
- More comprehensive
- Higher cost
- Best protection
Key Features to Look For
- Real-time or daily alerts
- Mobile app with push notifications
- Credit score tracking
- Identity theft insurance
- Resolution assistance
- Dark web monitoring
- Lost wallet protection
- Family plan options
Do You Need Paid Monitoring?
Free May Be Enough If:
- You have credit freeze in place
- You check reports manually quarterly
- You're not at high risk
- Your credit card offers good monitoring
Consider Paid If:
- You're an identity theft victim
- Recent data breach exposed your info
- You want comprehensive three-bureau monitoring
- You want dark web scanning
- You need resolution assistance
Limitations of Credit Monitoring
- Alerts you AFTER fraud occurs
- Doesn't prevent identity theft
- Can't stop existing account fraud
- May have delayed alerts
- Doesn't catch all types of theft
Credit Monitoring vs Credit Freeze
Monitoring
- Detects fraud after it happens
- Allows normal credit activity
- Often costs money
- Passive protection
Freeze
- Prevents fraud before it happens
- Blocks new credit applications
- Free by law
- Active protection
Best Approach
Use both: Freeze for prevention + monitoring for detection
Alternatives to Paid Monitoring
DIY Monitoring
- Request free report every 4 months (rotate bureaus)
- Use free credit card monitoring
- Set calendar reminders
- Review bank statements weekly
- Place fraud alerts
After Data Breach
Many breached companies offer free credit monitoring:
- Usually 1-2 years
- Often three-bureau monitoring
- Sign up even if you have paid service
- Set calendar reminder before it expires