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Identity Guard vs Microsoft Defender: catalog facts
Identity Guard	Microsoft Defender
Paid Subscription only; family plans start at $12.50.	Paid Included with a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, with a free trial available.
Web	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Monitors SSN, driver's license and financial accounts Credit monitoring and bank account alerts	Manages security for several family members and devices from one dashboard Dark web monitoring for more than 60 types of personal information
No free tier Built around US identifiers such as the Social Security number	Requires a Microsoft account and a Microsoft 365 subscription Closed source, with protection tied to Microsoft's cloud services
Hosted service	Downloadable app
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.