ADT Identity Theft Protection Review

We compared ADT’s identity theft protection services to industry leaders. It’s good coverage, but not great.
Best for individuals
ADT Shield
ADT Identity Theft Protection
3 out of 5 stars
3
Monitoring costs
$9.99
/mo
  • pro
    Good coverage for individuals
  • pro
    Up to $1 million fraud resolution reimbursement
  • con
    No data breach notifications

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Cathy Habas
Jan 29, 2023
Icon Time To Read3 min read

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ADT’s identity theft protection service plunges the home security giant into the world of digital security. ADT isn’t the only brand to offer this combination—Frontpoint includes ID theft protection in all of its home security packages, for example.

We took a closer look at what ADT provides compared to dedicated identity theft protection brands. It’s an affordable choice for individuals but isn’t the most comprehensive option out there.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable
pro Bank account monitoring
pro Credit card monitoring
pro Dark web monitoring
pro Criminal record monitoring
con
Cons
con No hands-on fraud resolution services
con No monthly credit report monitoring
con No investment monitoring
con No family plans

Cost of ADT identity theft protection

Identity theft protection from ADT costs $9.99 a month. That’s it—there are no tiered plans to choose from and no family packages.

This price is on par with most competitors’ basic plans, give or take a couple bucks. We were surprised by the depth of ADT’s identity theft and credit monitoring compared to the competition, but it’s more appropriate for individuals rather than families or people with a lot of financial assets.

How ADT compares to other ID theft protection services

ADT’s ID theft protection is affordable but lacks the comprehensive services of our top pick, IdentityForce. Although IdentityForce costs more, you get a password manager and VPN along with hands-on recovery services.

Plus, IdentityForce and other competitors cast a wider net when monitoring for fraudulent activity. ADT hits all the basics, though, and is a great starter option for individuals. 

Compare ADT to other identity theft companies

Brand
Starting price
Data breach notifications
Credit report
Change of address monitoring
Learn more
Icon No  LightNo
Annual
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Costs extra
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Costs extra
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Costs extra
Icon No  LightCosts extra
Icon Yes  LightYes
None
Icon Yes  LightYes

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

What you get

ADT partners with Sontiq Cyberscout (a TransUnion company) to provide identity theft protection. This is the same company behind IdentityForce—our top-rated ID protection service.

ADT keeps an eye on the following data and shares its findings via an online dashboard. Alerts are also sent via email or text.

  • Annual credit report
  • Bank account and credit card monitoring
  • Change of address monitoring
  • Criminal record monitoring
  • Dark web monitoring
  • SSN
  • Email address and phone number
  • Driver’s license
  • Medical insurance ID
  • Passport

This is on par with most other ID theft protection services but at a more affordable rate.

What’s missing from ADT’s ID theft protection plan

ADT’s identity theft protection isn’t the most comprehensive on the market. Here’s what you can get from competitors but not from ADT. And because ADT only sells one ID theft plan, it doesn’t matter if you’re willing to pay more for extra perks—ADT doesn’t offer these services, period:

  • 3-bureau or quarterly credit reports
  • Data breach updates
  • Wallet protection
  • Sex offender monitoring
  • Social media monitoring
  • Investment monitoring
  • Home title monitoring
  • Hands-on recovery assistance

There are other ways to monitor some of the above, but that negates the done-for-you purpose of ID theft monitoring. Still, if you sign up for ADT ID theft protection, here are tips for filling in some of the gaps:

  • Learn how to access your free credit reports. The three credit reporting bureaus have to provide a free report every 12 months, so be strategic and cycle through each bureau every 4 months.1
  • Search the National Sex Offender Public Website to find out where registered sex offenders live in your area. The site also shows their names, photos, and addresses (in most states).

ADT ID theft contracts and warranties

ADT ID theft protection is a month-to-month service. Since you’re not locked into a long-term contract, you can cancel at any time without penalty.

While there are no guarantees or warranties associated with ADT’s ID theft protection, you do get up to $1 million in ID theft expense reimbursement to cover costs associated with fraud resolution.

ADT customer support and fraud resolution

One of the perks of signing up for an identity theft protection service is getting help if your identity is stolen. You need to file fraud reports, close accounts, change PINs and passwords, and clear up any damage done to your good name in terms of credit history, criminal records, or debt charges.

It’s a lot to tackle by yourself. ADT offers a 24/7 fraud resolution hotline for guidance so you know where to file the reports and how to move forward. But you still have to do the legwork yourself or hire a lawyer to act on your behalf.

Other companies like IdentityForce include “white-glove restoration” services, meaning they’ll make phone calls and file paperwork for you at no extra cost.

The cost of hiring someone or taking time off work to resolve fraud issues should be covered under ADT’s $1 million expense reimbursement plan.

Is ADT ID theft protection right for you?

ADT ID theft protection is a good choice for individuals without investments, home titles, or a significant social media presence. If the stakes are any higher than that with a family or other high-value assets to protect, we recommend a more comprehensive service with hands-on fraud resolution help. Check out our recommended identity theft protection companies to learn more.

How we reviewed ADT ID Theft Protection

To review ADT’s identity theft protection plan, we focused on comparing their monitoring services to competitors and evaluating the price of each. We looked for standard services like dark web monitoring, credit report monitoring, and bank account monitoring, plus fraud resolution expense reimbursements. Learn more about how we review products and services on the SafeWise methodology page.

Related articles on SafeWise


Sources

  1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “How Do I Get a Copy of My Credit Reports?” January 2022. Accessed August 30, 2022.
Cathy Habas
Written by
Cathy Habas
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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