Last updated: September 2026
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Aura and LifeLock are the two names most people compare when shopping for identity theft protection. LifeLock, part of Norton, has been in the business since 2005 and remains the most recognized brand in the category. Aura is the newer challenger, winning attention by bundling identity monitoring with digital security tools like a VPN and antivirus. This comparison is research-based: we compared published plan details and pricing from both companies, and we did not sign up for or test either service hands-on.
Quick Verdict
Choose Aura if you want a simple, all-inclusive bundle — the same full feature set on every plan, a VPN and antivirus included, and a generous family plan covering up to 5 adults and unlimited kids.
Choose LifeLock if you prefer an established brand with decades of restoration experience, or are already a Norton customer who wants everything under one roof.
Price Comparison
| Aura | LifeLock | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan names | Individual, Couple, Family | Core, Advanced, Total |
| Entry-level annual cost | $9/mo billed annually ($108/yr, Individual) | $124.99/yr (Core) |
| Mid-tier annual cost | $17/mo billed annually ($204/yr, Couple) | $199.99/yr (Advanced) |
| Top-tier annual cost | $20/mo billed annually ($240/yr, Family) | $349.99/yr (Total) |
| Money-back guarantee | 60 days on annual plans | 60 days on annual plans |
Aura's prices in this table are a special intro offer. Special intro pricing; may renew at a higher rate. Both companies run frequent promotions, so checkout prices can differ. Aura's Individual plan is $108 a year when billed annually, less than LifeLock Core at $124.99. LifeLock still splits key features across its tiers: three-bureau credit monitoring requires stepping up to Advanced or Total, while Aura includes three-bureau monitoring on every plan. Aura Couple is $204 a year, just above LifeLock Advanced at $199.99, and Aura Family is $240 a year, below LifeLock Total at $349.99. Monthly billing costs more than annual on both services. Prices change frequently — verify current pricing before you buy.
Features Compared
Credit monitoring
Aura includes three-bureau credit monitoring on all plans. LifeLock gates it by tier: Core includes limited bureau coverage, with full three-bureau monitoring reserved for Advanced and Total. If credit monitoring is your priority, Aura's approach is simpler, and it costs less at the entry level: the annual Individual plan is $108 a year with three-bureau monitoring, versus $124.99 a year for LifeLock Core with more limited bureau coverage.
Identity theft insurance
Aura offers $1 million in identity theft insurance per adult on all plans, up to $5 million on the Family plan. LifeLock's coverage scales by tier: up to roughly $1.05 million on Core, $1.2 million on Advanced, and $3 million on Total. Both plans cover reimbursement of recovery expenses (legal fees, lost wages, stolen funds) subject to policy terms — these are reimbursement limits, not lump-sum payouts.
Digital security extras
This is Aura's clearest advantage. Every Aura plan includes a VPN, antivirus, a password manager, a privacy assistant, and spam-call protection. LifeLock's plans include data broker removal and a credit/payday loan lock on all tiers, and Norton bundles are available if you want antivirus — but those are separate purchases, not a single built-in bundle. If you already pay for a VPN or antivirus elsewhere, this advantage shrinks.
Family plans
Aura's Family plan covers 5 adults and unlimited kids with parental controls, content filtering, and child SSN monitoring. LifeLock's family options cover 2 adults with up to 10 children on Advanced and Total tiers. Households with more than two adults — multigenerational families, for example — will find Aura's family structure notably more accommodating.
Guarantees and restoration
Both services offer a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans. LifeLock additionally backs its service with a restoration guarantee: if its specialists cannot restore your identity, it refunds your membership fees for the period. Aura advertises white-glove fraud remediation with 24/7 support. LifeLock's longer track record — nearly two decades of restoration work — is its strongest intangible asset.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
Aura
- Pros: same full feature set on every plan; three-bureau monitoring included everywhere; bundled VPN, antivirus, and password manager; generous family coverage.
- Cons: special intro pricing may renew at a higher rate; promotional pricing changes often; newer company with a shorter restoration track record.
LifeLock
- Pros: established brand since 2005; restoration guarantee; integrates with Norton ecosystem.
- Cons: features are split across tiers, so full protection costs more; family plans accommodate fewer adults; renewal rates can rise after the first year.
Final Verdict
Aura is the better pick for most people who want a single, comprehensive subscription: no tiered feature-gating, three-bureau monitoring across the board, and a genuinely useful bundle of security tools. Its family plan is one of the best in the category.
LifeLock remains a solid choice if you want the brand with the longest restoration history, or if you're already in the Norton ecosystem. Just compare the tier you actually need — the Core headline price may not include the monitoring you want.
Prefer the established brand? You can compare LifeLock's current plans on their site directly — note that LifeLock is not currently accepting new affiliate partners, so we can't link you to a signup.
Not sure you need a paid service at all? Read our honest explainer on who actually needs identity theft protection, and our full Aura review for a deeper dive. Back to the Trident homepage