Is it worth paying for credit monitoring?

Concerns & risks

You keep seeing ads for credit monitoring services and wonder if it's worth paying for.

Paying for what's free hurts.

Causes & evidence

Free credit reports and freezes cover a lot. See credit score basics and identity theft recovery.

What to do

1. Check reports free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
2. Use free score tools in your card apps.
3. Freeze your credit (free).
4. Set up account alerts in your banking apps.

Common mistakes: Common mistakes: paying for something you could do free. You can check free credit reports regularly, set up fraud alerts and freeze your credit at no cost. Some services add insurance or alerts, so read what's included. If you were in a data breach, see if free monitoring is offered. Before buying, check whether your bank or card already includes free score tracking or alerts. Many do. Whatever you choose, nothing replaces reading your reports yourself and acting fast on anything you don't recognize.

Speed Man tip: A free freeze does more to block new accounts than paid monitoring alone.

Wrap-up: Free tools cover most needs. Freeze your credit. Use bank alerts.