How to Check Your Credit Score: Free Methods and Understanding Your Score

Free methods to check your credit score online

• AnnualCreditReport.com:

  • Get free credit reports to help check your credit score from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion once a week
  • Visit the official website or call 1-877-322-8228 to request reports and view credit information
  • Reports mailed within 15 days for online/phone requests, 3 weeks for mail requests

• Credit Karma:

  • Offers free credit score check with VantageScore 3.0 credit scores from Equifax and TransUnion
  • No credit card required, uses soft inquiries that don't affect your score when you view credit score online
  • Provides additional services like identity monitoring and credit change alerts

• Credit card issuers:

  • Many major credit card companies offer free ways to check your credit score for customers
  • Examples of how to check your credit score through issuers:
    • American Express: Monthly Experian FICO Score for primary cardmembers
    • Chase: Weekly Experian VantageScore 3.0 through Credit Journey
    • Citi: Monthly Equifax FICO Bankcard Score 8 for select cardholders

• Experian:

  • Offers free FICO Score 8 without requiring a credit card for a free credit score check
  • Includes Experian Boost to potentially improve your score when you check your credit score
  • Provides a FICO Score Simulator to see how actions might affect your score

• Credit Sesame:

  • Offers free VantageScore credit scores from TransUnion to view credit score online
  • Provides a free $50,000 identity theft insurance policy

Understanding your credit score

• Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850

• Score categories to help you interpret how to check your credit score:

  • Excellent: 781-850
  • Good: 661-780
  • Fair: 601-660
  • Poor: 300-600

• Main factors affecting your score when you check your credit score:

  • Payment history (extremely influential)
  • Credit utilization (highly influential)
  • Length of credit history (highly influential)
  • Credit mix (less influential)
  • New credit inquiries (less influential)

Tips for improving your credit score

• Pay all bills on time to positively impact your credit score when you check it
• Keep credit card balances low to improve your score in free credit score checks
• Limit new credit applications to maintain a good score when you view credit score online
• Keep old accounts open to maintain credit history length
• Use Experian Boost to add on-time utility and phone payments when checking your credit score

FAQ

How often can I check my credit score for free?

You can check your credit score for free weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com, which provides reports from all three major credit bureaus. Additionally, services like Credit Karma offer unlimited free credit score checks using VantageScore 3.0.

Will checking my credit score lower it?

No, checking your own credit score through free credit score check services or authorized providers is considered a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your credit score. You can safely view your credit score online as often as you like without any negative impact.

What's the difference between a credit report and a credit score?

A credit report is a detailed record of your credit history, including accounts, payments, and inquiries. A credit score is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness based on the information in your credit report. When you check your credit score, you're seeing a summary of your credit report data.

How can I view my FICO score for free?

Many credit card issuers offer free FICO score access to their customers. Additionally, Experian provides a free FICO Score 8 through their website. Check with your current credit card companies or sign up for Experian's free service to view your FICO score online.

What should I do if I notice errors when I check my credit score?

If you spot errors during a free credit score check, contact the credit bureau reporting the incorrect information immediately. You can file a dispute online, by mail, or by phone. The bureau must investigate and respond within 30 days, potentially resulting in a correction that could improve your credit score.