Login.gov vs ID.me: Which One Do You Need to Sign In?

What Login.gov and ID.me Are

Login.gov and ID.me are separate sign-in and identity-verification providers. Government agencies use them to confirm who is accessing an online service. They are not the same service, and their accounts are not interchangeable.

Login.gov is a program of the U.S. General Services Administration. ID.me is a separate credential provider used by government agencies and other organizations. Both can provide secure sign-in, multi-factor authentication, and identity verification, but each maintains its own account system.

So, what is the difference between Login.gov and ID.me? The most important difference for someone trying to sign in is that the agency or program chooses which provider it accepts. This is not a choice between a better and worse provider. You must use the option shown by the particular government service.

Which Services Use Which

Do not assume that every service within an agency uses the same provider. An agency may support Login.gov for one application, ID.me for another, or offer both on a particular sign-in page.

Login.gov's own published information identifies these examples:

• USAJOBS, operated by the Office of Personnel Management
• Trusted Traveler Programs, including Global Entry, from the Department of Homeland Security
• My Social Security services
• VA.gov services
• SAM.gov

ID.me's government-service list identifies these examples:

• IRS Online Account and certain other Internal Revenue Service services
• Social Security Administration applications, including individual and business services
• Department of Veterans Affairs applications, benefits, prescription, messaging, and identification-card services
• Selected Department of Health and Human Services applications
• Certain U.S. Department of the Treasury services
• Unemployment or benefits services offered by participating state agencies

The overlap is important. Seeing an agency such as Social Security or Veterans Affairs on both lists does not mean the accounts have merged. It means the exact application and the choices on its current sign-in page determine whether you need Login.gov or ID.me.

How to Tell Which One Your Account Uses

If you are asking, “Do I need Login.gov or ID.me?” start at the government agency's own sign-in page rather than at either provider's home page.

1. Read the sign-in buttons. Look for wording such as “Sign in with Login.gov,” “Sign in with ID.me,” or “Connect with ID.me.” If both appear, use the provider previously connected to that agency account unless the agency gives different instructions.
2. Check the page shown after you select Sign In. A redirect displaying the Login.gov name belongs to Login.gov. A page displaying ID.me belongs to ID.me. Stop if the branding or destination looks unexpected.
3. Search your email for the confirmation sent when you created or connected the account. The sender and message text may identify Login.gov or ID.me. Do not send that message, its codes, or your documents to anyone offering unofficial help.
4. Use the password-recovery option only on the provider named by the agency page. If that provider does not recognize your email, check whether you registered with another email before creating anything new.

A saved password may also be labeled Login.gov or ID.me in your browser or password manager. Do not reveal the saved password while checking its label.

Can You Use One Account for Both, or Switch

Can you use Login.gov instead of ID.me? Only when the agency's sign-in page explicitly offers Login.gov. The reverse is also true. A Login.gov password cannot sign you in through an ID.me button, and an ID.me password cannot sign you in through Login.gov.

The providers' help information treats them as separate account systems. It does not describe a way to combine, convert, or directly link a Login.gov account with an ID.me account. You may therefore need to keep both accounts if different government services require them.

Changing providers for one agency is an agency-specific matter. Do not delete the old account first. Check the agency's instructions for connecting or relinking a sign-in provider, because deleting a provider account does not itself move your government records or benefits.

Signing In and Verifying Identity: What Differs

For an ordinary Login.gov sign-in, you enter your Login.gov password and complete an authentication method, such as a code or authentication app. Some participating services also require identity verification. Login.gov says that this may involve identity information, a state-issued photo ID, and, for some verification levels, a selfie. Depending on the service, an in-person option at a participating U.S. Postal Service location may be available.

ID.me also uses a password and multi-factor authentication. When identity verification is required, its official help pages describe Self-Service using an accepted photo ID and other requested information. ID.me may offer a short video call after document upload, while an extended video call can require additional documents. Some participating organizations also allow in-person verification.

The requested steps depend on the agency and the level of assurance it requires. Do not assume that another person's process will match yours. Follow only the prompts reached from the agency's own sign-in page.

If You're Stuck: Where to Get Official Help

For a Login.gov password, authentication method, account, or identity-verification problem, use the Login.gov Help Center or its official contact form. Login.gov support handles sign-in issues, while the partner agency handles applications, eligibility, benefits, and records.

For an ID.me sign-in, multi-factor authentication, document, selfie, or video-call problem, use the ID.me Help Center and its official Contact Support option. Questions about a government application or what happens after verification belong with the agency.

In short, the Login.gov vs ID.me question is answered by the service's own sign-in page. The Login.gov and ID.me difference is not which one you prefer, but which separate provider that exact application accepts.