All-in-one digital security: identity theft protection, credit monitoring, VPN, antivirus, and password manager starting at $12/month.
Editorially reviewed by Harvey Brooks
Aura is an all-in-one digital safety platform that combines identity theft protection, credit monitoring, VPN, antivirus, password manager, and parental controls into a single subscription. Founded in 2019 and backed by notable investors, Aura has rapidly grown to serve millions of users.
Plans start at $12/month (Individual) and include 3-bureau credit monitoring with monthly updates, identity theft insurance up to $1 million (or $5M on family plans), AI-powered fraud alerts, dark web monitoring, VPN for Wi-Fi security, antivirus protection, and a password manager.
The Family plan ($37/month for up to 5 members) adds parental controls and Safe Gaming features, making it one of the best value propositions for families who need both digital security and credit monitoring.
Aura's AI-powered system monitors your personal information across the dark web, data broker sites, public records, and financial accounts. If fraud is detected, you get real-time alerts and access to a 24/7 US-based support team plus White Glove fraud resolution specialists.
Yes. Aura is a registered company headquartered in Burlington, MA, founded in 2019. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Contact for details.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
Ideal for Families needing credit monitoring + digital security and People who want one subscription instead of multiple security tools. Strength: All-in-one: credit + identity + digital security. Watch out for: Individual plan is basic compared to dedicated credit monitors.
Public data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Source: consumerfinance.gov | Last checked 2026-03-28
CRS Credit API is a B2B credit data platform providing API access to consumer and business credit reports, scores, and public records for lenders, fintech companies, and screening services.
Best for: Fintech companies and BNPL lenders needing integrated credit decisioning, Auto leasing and lending businesses requiring automated credit reports
Regal Credit Management offers AI-backed credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and credit building solutions for individuals and financial professionals managing client accounts.
Best for: Financial professionals (CPAs, wealth managers) seeking client credit and identity monitoring tools, High-net-worth individuals prioritizing institutional-grade identity theft protection
The Credit Bureau offers credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and credit restoration services with access to all three credit bureaus and a $1 million AIG protection plan.
Best for: Families seeking multi-person identity theft protection with a single subscription, Consumers prioritizing comprehensive monitoring across all three credit bureaus
Learn what makes up your credit score, how it's calculated, what the ranges mean, and how to check yours for free.
Read guide →Your credit report contains the raw data behind your score. Learn what's in it, how to read it, and how to dispute errors that could be dragging your score down.
Read guide →Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm — they make spending easy. But what happens to your credit score when you use them? Here's what the fine print doesn't tell you.
Read guide →New to credit and lending? Here are the key terms used on this page, explained in plain language with real-number examples.
A 3-digit number (300-850) that summarizes how reliably you've handled borrowed money. Higher scores mean lower risk to lenders and better loan terms for you.
Your credit score determines whether you get approved and at what rate. A 100-point difference can mean thousands of dollars more or less in interest over a loan's life.
Example
On a $250,000 30-year mortgage: a 760 score gets you 6.2% ($1,536/month). A 660 score gets 7.4% ($1,729/month). Over 30 years, the lower score costs you $69,480 more.
The most widely used credit scoring model, created by Fair Isaac Corporation. 90% of top lenders use FICO scores for lending decisions.
FICO has many versions (FICO 8, 9, 10). Mortgage lenders still use older versions (FICO 2, 4, 5), so your mortgage score may differ from what free apps show you.
Example
Your FICO 8 score (used for credit cards) is 740. Your FICO 5 score (used for mortgages) is 725 because it weighs collections differently. Same credit history, different scores.
An alternative credit scoring model created by the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Same 300-850 range as FICO but uses a slightly different formula.
Many free credit monitoring apps show VantageScore, not FICO. Your VantageScore may be 20-40 points different from the FICO score a lender actually uses.
Example
Credit Karma shows your VantageScore 3.0 as 720. You apply for a mortgage and the lender pulls your FICO 2 score: it's 695. Different model, different number, different rate offered.
A detailed record of your borrowing history maintained by credit bureaus. It lists every loan, credit card, payment history, collection, and public record tied to your name.
Errors on credit reports are common — 1 in 5 consumers has at least one mistake. Checking your report regularly is the first step to fixing errors that are costing you money.
Example
You pull your free report from AnnualCreditReport.com and find a $2,400 medical collection you already paid. You dispute it, the bureau verifies it's resolved, and your score goes up 40 points.
The percentage of your available credit that you're currently using. If you have $10,000 in credit limits and owe $3,000, your utilization is 30%.
Utilization is the second-biggest factor in your credit score (after payment history). Keeping it below 30% helps your score; below 10% is ideal.
Example
You have 3 cards with a $15,000 total limit. You're carrying $4,500 in balances (30% utilization). Paying down to $1,500 (10% utilization) could boost your score by 20-50 points.
When a lender checks your credit report because you've applied for credit. Each hard inquiry can lower your score by 5-10 points and stays on your report for 2 years.
Multiple hard inquiries in a short period suggest you're desperately seeking credit, which is a red flag. Exception: mortgage and auto loan shopping within 14-45 days counts as one inquiry.
Example
You apply for 5 credit cards in one month. Each application triggers a hard inquiry. Your score drops 25-50 points from the inquiries alone, making each subsequent application harder.
A credit check that does NOT affect your score. Happens when you check your own credit, when lenders pre-qualify you, or when employers do background checks.
You can check your own credit as often as you want without penalty. Prequalification offers from lenders also use soft pulls, so shopping around is safe.
Example
You use Credit Karma to check your score (soft pull — no impact). A credit card company sends you a pre-approved offer (soft pull). You then apply for the card (hard pull — small impact).
A company that collects and sells information about your credit history. The three major bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Not all lenders report to all three bureaus, so your reports may differ. You should check all three reports because an error on one could be costing you money.
Example
Your car loan only reports to Equifax and TransUnion. Your Experian report doesn't show that good payment history, so your Experian score is 15 points lower.
A free tool that locks your credit report so no one (including you) can open new accounts until you lift it. It's the strongest protection against identity theft.
A credit freeze prevents criminals from opening loans in your name, even if they have your Social Security number. It's free by law and doesn't affect your credit score.
Example
Your data was in a breach. You freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus (takes 10 minutes online). A thief tries to open a credit card in your name — denied because the lender can't pull your frozen report.
Want to learn more? Read our Financial Wellness Guides for in-depth explanations and practical advice.
Affiliate Disclosure: CreditDoc may earn a commission when you click links to Aura and other services. These commissions help us maintain our free research. Our editorial team independently evaluates all services. Compensation does not influence our ratings or rankings. Learn more.