Free credit monitoring vs a freeze: which matters?

The difference in one line

Monitoring tells you fraud happened. A freeze stops it happening.

What monitoring does

It watches your credit file and alerts you after a new account appears — useful information, after the fact. You still do the cleanup.

What a freeze does

Blocks new-credit checks entirely, so the fraudulent account is never opened. Free at all three bureaus, no effect on your score or existing cards, and you can lift it in minutes when you need credit yourself. See how to freeze.

So, after a breach

1. Take the free monitoring — it costs nothing and the alerts are occasionally useful.
2. Freeze anyway. Monitoring is a smoke alarm; the freeze is the locked door.
3. Never pay for either. The free versions are the real protections.