How much does family scam protection cost?
Updated October 16, 2026 · 5 min read
You can protect your family from impersonation scams for nothing, or pay a few dollars a month for help staying consistent. What matters is what the money buys. Here is a plain breakdown of what’s free, what costs, and how Countersign prices its plans.
What’s free
- A family safe word and a call-back rule. These cost nothing and are the core of protection.
- Bank alerts and trusted contacts, which most banks offer free.
- Spam filtering from your carrier.
- Reporting: the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, or your national fraud service.
- A free scam-text checker, like ours at /tools/scam-text-checker.
What paid tools add
- A way to check with the real person and see their answer.
- Reminders and visibility of who has learned the safe word.
- Practice so the habit sticks.
- More people and families in one place.
Countersign’s pricing
| What we compare | Postcard (free) | First Class |
|---|---|---|
| People | 1 family of up to 3 | 3 families of up to 12 each |
| Scam checks | 3 a month | Unlimited |
| Practice calls | 1 on the account | Unlimited, up to 2 per person a month |
| Scenarios | Starter | All |
| Price | Free | $5.99 a month or $49 a year in most countries |
Prices are lower where incomes are lower: $3.99 a month in some countries, $1.99 in others, set by the payer’s phone country. There is a 14-day trial. Safety basics, like asking the real person and the family phrase, are never behind a paywall.
How it compares
Some competitors charge $6.99 to $19.99 a month for family plans. See our honest KinConfirm comparison and the roundup of apps for protecting parents. Always check the current price on the provider’s site.
Is it worth paying?
If you only need a safe word and a rule, no. If you want your parent to practise, to see who has learned the word, or to check by text, a paid plan buys time and consistency. Try the free plan first.
Frequently asked questions
Is family scam protection free?
The basics, a safe word and a call-back rule, are free. Countersign has a free plan for your first family of 3.
How much is Countersign?
Free for your first family of 3. First Class is $5.99 a month in most countries, $3.99 or $1.99 in lower-income countries, with yearly prices lower still.
Can I cancel any time?
Yes. You manage or cancel a subscription from the billing portal, and your family keeps the free plan.