ExpressVPN addresses the key issue with the launch of Identity Defender

ExpressVPN, one of the the best VPN services, launched Identity Defender, a suite of identity alerting and protection features. Identity Defender comprises three products: ID Alerts, ID Theft Insurance and Data Removal. The launch of Identity Defender adds a number of ExpressVPN features that address one of our key concerns with the product – and some are remarkably similar to what some rivals offer.

ID Alerts are personal information monitoring tools that track address changes, personal information appearing on the dark web, and online appearances of your social security number. Identity Theft Insurance provides up to $1 million in coverage for identity theft and includes assistance in restoring stolen accounts. Data Removal scans and requests the removal of any personal information collected by data brokers.

“With Identity Defender, we aim to provide users with a one-stop solution that not only helps them quickly determine if their information is at risk, but also guides them through effective steps to resolve any issues,” says Lauren Hendry Parsons, Digital Privacy Advocate. at ExpressVPN.

Who is this available to?

At this stage, the new features are limited to new US users only, before rolling out to all US users. Android and iOS are the only platforms that currently support the new features, but ExpressVPN says more will be available soon.

All three features are included for free in the 2-year plan. However, for other plans, identity theft and data removal are optional extras. Our chart details Identity Defender’s pricing structure.

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ExpressVPN Identity Defender pricing plan
Product included?	1 Month Plan ($14.99 per month)	1 year plan + 3 months free ($8.33 per month)	2-year plan ($5.32 per month)
VPN, Password Manager, Advanced Protection	Yes	Yes	Yes
ID alerts	Yes	Yes	Yes
Identity theft insurance	It’s not included, but is available as an add-on for $7.99 per month	Yes	Yes
Data Removal	It’s not included, but is available as an add-on for $7.99 per month	It’s not included, but is available as an add-on for $4.39 per month	Yes

A strong response?

ExpressVPN was once our top VPN recommendation, but recently ExpressVPN Review we were critical that it lagged behind its competitors when it came to its complete package. The truth is that rivals like NordVPN and Surfshark offer more for less. However, this release shows that ExpressVPN is not resting on its laurels and is taking the fight to its market rivals – and this is a step in the right direction.

“Our mission at ExpressVPN is to provide our customers with the highest level of digital protection possible,” says Aaron Engel, Chief Information Security Officer at Express VPN. “Integrating identity protection solutions into our existing offerings was a natural progression for us.” There are a number of services offered identity theft protectionincluding some VPN providers, so this is a welcome response from ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN’s additions bring its service closer to its rivals’ top-tier plans in the market. Threat Protection Pro it’s included in NordVPN’s top-tier plans, and its Prime plan includes cyber insurance. It offers up to $1 million in identity theft recovery and $100,000 in cyber extortion protection. The NordVPN Prime plan is currently available for $7.89 per month for 2 years plus three free months. This makes ExpressVPN’s 2-year package at $5.32 per month, with three additional months and identity protection features included, a great value.

Surfshark, the the best cheap VPNincludes the Incognito data removal service as part of their plans. Incogni scans the internet for your personal data and sends takedown requests to data brokers. They continue to monitor your information and resend requests when necessary.