Your credit score is a major part of your overall financial health and plays a key role in getting new loans (including when purchasing a new home). Fortunately, you can check your credit score for free without hurting it.
Checking your credit score frequently can help you spot errors, prepare for major purchases, and track progress while building or rebuilding your credit.
In this article, we’ll cover legit free tools for checking your credit score and credit report, explore the difference between soft credit inquiries and hard credit inquiries, and walk you through what to do with the information you gain.
What is a soft inquiry vs. hard inquiry?
When an individual, lender, or business looks at your credit report, it’s called a credit inquiry. There are two types of inquiries, soft and hard.
A soft credit inquiry does not affect your score. These inquiries happen when you check your own credit or when you’re prequalified for a loan. Soft inquiries don’t affect your score because they’re not tied to actual applications for new credit — you can think of them as a sort of credit background check.
A hard credit inquiry can affect your score because it shows that you’re actively applying for new credit. These inquiries happen when you apply for new credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, or mortgages.
A single hard inquiry usually lowers your score by just a few points. It’s a relatively minor hit that you can easily bounce back from over time.
It’s also worth noting that credit scoring models group similar inquiries that happen over a short time period (typically 14–45 days), so if you’re shopping for mortgage rates, you don’t have to worry about loan applications dinging your credit over and over again.
FICO vs. VantageScore
There are two different scores commonly used: FICO and VantageScore. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:
| FICO scores | VantageScores |
|---|---|
| Scoring model developed by Fair Isaac Corporation | Scoring model created by the three credit bureaus |
| 300–850 score range (poor, fair, good, etc.) | 300–850 score range (poor, fair, good, etc.) |
| Different scores for each credit bureau | Same score for each bureau |
| Requires one credit line at least 6 months old and activity in the prior 6 months to generate a score | Only needs one credit line, any age, to generate a score |
| More weight on current card balances | More weight on length of credit and types of credit |
| Used most by lenders | Used most by free credit monitoring sites and prequalification screenings |
| Gives specific percentage weights to each factor | Uses qualitative categories like “extremely” or “moderately” influential |
What goes into your credit report and credit score?
Understanding what’s in your credit report — and what affects your score — can help you make smarter financial decisions.
Your credit report includes detailed information about:
- Open and closed credit accounts: This includes credit cards, car loans, student loans, and mortgages.
- Payment history: Late or missed payments, collections, and charge-offs.
- Credit inquiries: Both soft and hard inquiries made when you check your credit or apply for new credit.
- Public records: Bankruptcies, foreclosures, and tax liens.
- Account types: Credit cards, personal loans, retail/store cards, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) accounts such as Affirm, PayPal Pay Later, Klarna, and Afterpay.
Your credit score is calculated based on the information in your report. Here’s how FICO and VantageScore weigh each variable.
| Credit Factor | FICO Score 8 | VantageScore 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% (most important) | Extremely influential |
| Credit utilization | 30% (very important) | Highly influential |
| Length of credit history | 15% (moderate importance) | Highly influential (combined with mix) |
| Credit mix/types of credit | 10% (less important) | Highly influential (combined with age) |
| New credit/inquiries | 10% (less important) | Less influential |
| Total balances/debt | Included in utilization and mix | Moderately influential |
| Available credit | Not a distinct factor | Less influential |
| Trended data | Not used | Used (looks at behavior over time) |
| Minimum history required | 6 months of activity | 1 month of activity + 1 tradeline |
Newer models may also factor in alternative data like rent, utility payments, and some pay-over-time options — especially if they are reported to the credit bureaus. While some BNPL accounts don’t report activity unless you miss a payment, others are starting to report on-time payments, which could help or hurt your score depending on your behavior.
Store credit cards and retail accounts are also part of your credit mix. These cards often have higher interest rates and lower limits, but they still count toward your available credit and payment history — which means they can either boost or hurt your score based on how you manage them.
Keeping track of these different accounts — and how they’re reported — can help you build and maintain a stronger credit profile over time.
How to check your credit score or report for free
There are several ways to view your credit report or credit score for free.
Get your free credit reports
Traditionally, you’ve been entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). However, as of 2024, this has been increased to one free report every week, which is an excellent change for consumers. These can be requested at AnnualCreditReport.com or by reaching out directly to the credit bureaus.
A credit report contains detailed information about your account history, credit inquiries, and public records (like bankruptcies or collections). That said, credit reports don’t typically include your credit score.
Your score would only show if you’ve been denied credit and your score was a factor — in these cases, lenders may be required to include your score. Otherwise, you’ll need to use a separate service to check it.
Here’s what you’ll need to request your free credit report:
- Full name
- Address
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
Check your credit score with a credit bureau
While your credit score isn’t typically included in credit reports, you can still check it for free by going through the credit bureaus directly:
- Equifax: Provides a free monthly credit score as part of the Equifax Core Credit program.
- Experian: Allows you to check your credit score as often as you like when you create an account.
- TransUnion: Provides free daily FICO scores and allows you to check your VantageScore for a $0.99 fee when you create an account.
It’s important to remember that FICO and VantageScore are two different scoring models. While both have a range of 300–850, they calculate your place in that range in slightly different ways, and lenders may have a preference for one over the other.
Signing up for each of these services is free, and checking your own score doesn’t hurt it; it’s considered a soft inquiry.
Use a bank, credit union, or credit card app
Many banks, credit unions, and credit card companies now provide free credit monitoring tools through their mobile apps or online banking portals. These tools give you regular access to your credit score without affecting it.
Examples include:
- Chase Credit Journey
- Discover Credit Scorecard
- Capital One CreditWise
- Bank of America FICO Score Program
These services use soft credit inquiries, so your score won’t be impacted simply by checking it. Just keep in mind that the scoring models used vary — some are FICO, and others are VantageScore.
This means the score you see in each app might be slightly different depending on which service you look at. That said, they still provide a reliable picture of your overall credit health.
What to do after checking your score
After checking your credit score, there are a few steps you should take to ensure you put the information to good use:
- Check for errors or unfamiliar accounts on your report. Review your credit report carefully for any inaccuracies, such as incorrect personal information, accounts you don’t recognize, or duplicate listings. These can negatively impact your credit score.
- Dispute any inaccuracies directly with the bureaus. If you find errors, your best bet is to dispute them with the credit bureaus immediately. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides guidance on how to proceed.
- Make a note of what’s helping or hurting your score. It’s important to understand what’s impacting your credit score. High credit card balances, late payments, or too many new credit applications can hurt your score, while on-time payments and a long credit history can help it.
- Track changes monthly. Make a habit of checking your credit score and report regularly. Setting monthly reminders can help you stay on top of your credit and quickly identify any new issues that crop up.
Generally, a FICO or VantageScore of 670 or higher is considered “good,” while a score of 740 is considered “very good.” A score of 800 or higher is considered “excellent.”
Improving your credit score takes time and consistency — making all your payments on time and working to lower outstanding balances can help move the needle in the right direction.
Why it’s a good idea to monitor your credit
Keeping an eye on your credit plays an important role in financial health.
If you’re trying to improve your credit, checking your score regularly serves as a signpost of progress. It can also help you prepare for major financial moves, such as shopping for a mortgage, by ensuring your report is clear and your credit score is in a good spot. Even small increases in your credit score can save you thousands of dollars over the life of a mortgage by helping you get a lower interest rate.
Regular credit monitoring isn’t just about getting a better interest rate, though. It also helps you catch fraud early. Unexpected activity or accounts can signal identity theft, and the earlier you catch it, the easier the cleanup process can be.
Many free tools also offer fraud alerts, identity theft monitoring, and credit freezes to help protect your score. For example, you can sign up for fraud alerts at any of the three credit bureaus.
Conclusion and next steps
Checking your own credit won’t hurt your score, and there are safe and free ways to do it. The three credit monitoring bureaus, as well as many banks and credit card companies, all offer free tools for monitoring your credit.
Combining a monthly credit score check (through your bank or another resource) with an annual full credit report check via AnnualCreditReport.com is a great way to start, but you can check more often if necessary.
For example, if you’re getting ready to apply for mortgages, you might want to keep a closer eye on things by checking weekly. In any case, making regular credit checkups a part of your routine can go a long way towards helping improve your credit and overall financial health.