Aura vs LifeLock (2026)
Both are paid identity-protection services with credit monitoring and insurance, and neither has a free tier. Aura's Individual plan is $12 a month billed yearly ($144) and monitors all three bureaus; LifeLock starts at $124.99 a year for Core, which monitors two bureaus, and goes to $349.99 for Total with up to $3 million in coverage per adult.
By Wealthy Pot Editorial · Facts checked October 19, 2026
| Feature | Aura | LifeLock |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | No free tier (14-day trial) | No free tier (30-day trial, card required) |
| Paid price | $12/mo billed yearly or $15 monthly; Couple $22/$29; Family $32/$50 | Core $12.49/mo or $124.99/yr; Advanced $19.99 or $199.99; Total $34.99 or $349.99 |
| Cheapest paid plan, 1 year | $120 | $124.99 |
| Bureaus monitored | All 3 | 2 bureaus (Core); all 3 (Advanced, Total) |
| Score type | VantageScore (Equifax data, monthly) | One-bureau score (model not stated) |
| ID-theft insurance | $1M individual, $2M couple, $5M family (American Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida) | $1.05M, $1.2M or $3M per adult by tier (United Specialty Insurance Co.) |
| Best for | Households that want three-bureau monitoring, identity alerts, VPN and antivirus on one plan | People who want identity protection from the Norton brand with insurance up to $3M |
The yearly cost row is our arithmetic from each service's listed prices (annual plan where one exists, regular price, not intro offers), before tax.
Key differences
Bureau coverage and price line up differently. Aura monitors all three bureaus on every plan, at $12 a month billed yearly or $15 monthly for one adult. LifeLock Core ($124.99 a year or $12.49 a month) monitors two bureaus; Advanced ($199.99) and Total ($349.99) monitor all three. Hypothetically, three-bureau monitoring for one adult costs $144 a year at Aura against $199.99 a year at LifeLock Advanced, before any change in price at renewal.
Insurance limits and insurers differ. Aura covers up to $1 million for an individual, $2 million for a couple and $5 million for a family, underwritten by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida. LifeLock covers $1.05 million, $1.2 million or $3 million per adult by tier, underwritten by United Specialty Insurance Company outside New York and Washington. These are policy limits, not payouts you can expect; the policy terms set what is covered.
Trials, refunds and history also differ. Aura offers a 14-day trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans that does not cover renewals for a full refund. LifeLock offers a 30-day trial that needs a card, and refunds annual plans within 60 days of purchase and of each renewal. The FTC settled with LifeLock for $12 million in 2010 and $100 million in 2015 over its claims and data security. Either way, a credit freeze at each bureau is free under federal rules.
Where Aura wins
- All main plans monitor Equifax, TransUnion and Experian
- Family plan covers 5 adults and unlimited kids with up to $5M insurance
- Antivirus, VPN and password manager included
- No intro-price jump printed: $12 is the regular yearly-billing rate
- 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans bought from Aura
Where LifeLock wins
- Reimbursement limits up to $3M per adult on Total, including up to $1M for stolen funds
- Scam reimbursement of $5,000 or $10,000 a year on Advanced and Total
- No first-year price jump on Core, Advanced and Total as of October 19, 2026
- Refund available within 60 days of each annual renewal
- Data broker removal on every tier
Which should you choose?
Pick Aura if
- You want three-bureau credit alerts, identity monitoring and device security in one subscription.
- You have a household of up to 5 adults plus kids and want one plan with parental controls.
- You can pay a year upfront, which gets the lower rate and the 60-day refund window.
Pick LifeLock if
- You want reimbursement limits above $1M per adult and scam reimbursement, on Advanced or Total.
- You want home title, 401(k) and phone takeover alerts in one plan (Total).
- You want a refund window that also applies after each annual renewal.
Aura vs LifeLock: FAQ
Is Aura cheaper than LifeLock?
For three-bureau monitoring, yes at today's prices: Aura Individual is $144 a year billed yearly, while LifeLock's cheapest three-bureau plan, Advanced, is $199.99 a year. LifeLock Core is $124.99 but monitors two bureaus.
Which has more identity theft insurance?
Per adult, LifeLock Total lists up to $3 million against Aura's $1 million for an individual. Aura's family plan lists up to $5 million across the family. Both are policy limits set by their insurers.
Do I need either one?
Not to stop new credit in your name: a credit freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion is free and lasts until you lift it, and weekly credit reports are free at AnnualCreditReport.com. These services add alerts, insurance and recovery help.
Compare these against every option in our credit-monitoring comparison.
We summarize each service's published features, not user reviews or our own testing. Facts come from our full reviews of both services, each checked against the company's own pages on October 19, 2026 with every source listed. We do not earn a commission from either service. Nothing here is financial or legal advice.