#1 way to protect your credit: stop the credit bureaus from selling your info. Free, 5 minutes.Opt Out Now →

Free credit tools for home buyers from The Rate Update with Dan Frio

FREE VANTAGESCORE
Credit Scores & MoreA Rate Update resource · Credit help for home buyers
Credit Scores and More
  • 1. FREE SCORE
    • Start Here: Get Mortgage-Ready in 5 Steps
    • Opt Out of Prescreened Offers (Do This First)
    • Where to Get Free Credit Scores and Monitoring
    • What Is a Good Credit Score?
    • 10 Credit Score Myths
    • Credit Sesame vs. Credit Karma
  • 2. MORTGAGE SCORES
    • VantageScore 4.0 Mortgage Score Guide
    • Credit Score Needed to Buy a House
    • Which Score Do Lenders Use? FICO vs. VantageScore
    • What Is the Most Accurate Credit Score Site?
    • UltraFICO Score Explained
  • 3. BUILD CREDIT
    • Next Steps: FICO Scores & Credit Repair
    • The Best Way to Monitor Your Credit
    • Boost Your Credit Score Fast: 7 Tips
    • How to Fix Your Credit in 4 Steps
    • Best Credit Repair Options
    • The Real Problem With Credit Reports
    • Self vs. Credit Strong
    • Dovly Review
    • Legal Help to Repair Your Credit
    • Credit Advice From a Lending Veteran
  • 4. BUDGET
    • Budgeting Tools: Solvit (60 Days Free) & YNAB
    • How to Budget for Your First Home
    • What Home Buyers Need to Know About Credit Scores
  • 5. READY TO BUY
    • Compare 30+ Mortgage Lenders (The Rate Update)
    • First-Time Home Buyer Guide (The Rate Update)
    • 5-Day HELOC for Homeowners (The Rate Update)
  • BLOG
#1 way to protect your credit: stop the credit bureaus from selling your info. Free, 5 minutes.Opt Out Now →
Credit Scores & MoreA Rate Update resource · Credit help for home buyers
Credit Scores and More
  • 1. FREE SCORE
    • Start Here: Get Mortgage-Ready in 5 Steps
    • Opt Out of Prescreened Offers (Do This First)
    • Where to Get Free Credit Scores and Monitoring
    • What Is a Good Credit Score?
    • 10 Credit Score Myths
    • Credit Sesame vs. Credit Karma
  • 2. MORTGAGE SCORES
    • VantageScore 4.0 Mortgage Score Guide
    • Credit Score Needed to Buy a House
    • Which Score Do Lenders Use? FICO vs. VantageScore
    • What Is the Most Accurate Credit Score Site?
    • UltraFICO Score Explained
  • 3. BUILD CREDIT
    • Next Steps: FICO Scores & Credit Repair
    • The Best Way to Monitor Your Credit
    • Boost Your Credit Score Fast: 7 Tips
    • How to Fix Your Credit in 4 Steps
    • Best Credit Repair Options
    • The Real Problem With Credit Reports
    • Self vs. Credit Strong
    • Dovly Review
    • Legal Help to Repair Your Credit
    • Credit Advice From a Lending Veteran
  • 4. BUDGET
    • Budgeting Tools: Solvit (60 Days Free) & YNAB
    • How to Budget for Your First Home
    • What Home Buyers Need to Know About Credit Scores
  • 5. READY TO BUY
    • Compare 30+ Mortgage Lenders (The Rate Update)
    • First-Time Home Buyer Guide (The Rate Update)
    • 5-Day HELOC for Homeowners (The Rate Update)
  • BLOG
Credit Monitoring
Credit monitoring services

The Best Way to Monitor Your Credit (Free and Paid Options)

The Best Way to Monitor Your Credit (Free and Paid Options) Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Credit monitoring means watching your credit reports for changes: new accounts, late payments, hard inquiries and balances. It’s the fastest […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 1 Comment
Credit Scores
UltraFICO graphic over a person holding a credit card, asking whether tradelines still work

UltraFICO Score: How Your Bank Account Can Help Your Credit

UltraFICO Score: How Your Bank Account Can Help Your Credit Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. The UltraFICO Score lets you add your bank account history to your credit profile. If you have little credit history, or […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 0 Comments
Credit Scores
What is your credit score

Why Are There Different Credit Scores? FICO vs. VantageScore, and the One Your Lender Uses

Why Are There Different Credit Scores? FICO vs. VantageScore, and the One Your Lender Uses Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Check your credit score in three places and you’ll probably get three different numbers. One app […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 7 Comments
Credit Scores

What Is a Good Credit Score? FICO and VantageScore Ranges Explained

What Is a Good Credit Score? FICO and VantageScore Ranges Explained Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. A “good” credit score depends on what you’re applying for. A score that gets you a credit card may not […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 1 Comment
Credit Monitoring

Credit Sesame vs. Credit Karma: Which Free Credit App Is Better?

Credit Sesame vs. Credit Karma: Which Free Credit App Is Better? Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Credit Sesame and Credit Karma are the two best-known free credit apps. Neither asks for a credit card, and neither […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 1 Comment
Credit Monitoring Credit Scores

Where to Get Free Credit Scores and Credit Monitoring

Where to Get Free Credit Scores and Credit Monitoring Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. You don’t have to pay to see your credit score or your credit reports. Here are the best free sources, what each […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 1 Comment
Credit Repair

Dovly Review: Can an AI Credit Repair App Raise Your Score?

Dovly Review: Can an AI Credit Repair App Raise Your Score? Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Dovly is a credit repair and credit-building app that uses AI to review your credit report, find items that may […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 6 Comments
Build Credit

Self vs. Credit Strong: Which Credit Builder Is Right for You?

Self vs. Credit Strong: Which Credit Builder Is Right for You? Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. If you have no credit, thin credit, or you’re rebuilding after a rough patch, a credit-builder account is one of […]

September 30, 2026 / Dan Frio / 3 Comments
Credit Repair

The Real Problem With Credit Reports: Errors (and How to Dispute Them)

The Real Problem With Credit Reports: Errors (and How to Dispute Them) Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. The real problem with credit reports isn’t the scoring math. It’s the data. A Federal Trade Commission study found […]

July 12, 2022 / Dan Frio / 5 Comments
Credit & Homebuying Credit Scores

What Home Buyers Need to Know About Credit Scores

What Home Buyers Need to Know About Credit Scores Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Your credit score affects two big things when you buy a home: whether you qualify, and what interest rate you get. A […]

July 12, 2022 / Dan Frio / 1 Comment
  • 1
  • 2

Recent Posts

  • The Best Way to Monitor Your Credit (Free and Paid Options)
  • UltraFICO Score: How Your Bank Account Can Help Your Credit
  • Why Are There Different Credit Scores? FICO vs. VantageScore, and the One Your Lender Uses
  • What Is a Good Credit Score? FICO and VantageScore Ranges Explained
  • Credit Sesame vs. Credit Karma: Which Free Credit App Is Better?

Recent Comments

  1. UltraFICO Score (2026): Can Your Bank Account Boost Credit? on Self vs. Credit Strong: Which Credit Builder Is Right for You?
  2. What Is Your True Credit Score? FICO vs. Educational Scores on The Real Problem With Credit Reports: Errors (and How to Dispute Them)
  3. What Is a Good Credit Score? FICO Ranges Explained on Boost Your Credit Score Fast With These 7 Simple Tips
  4. Best Way to Monitor Your Credit: Free and Paid Options on Where to Get Free Credit Scores and Credit Monitoring
  5. Boost Your Credit Score Fast With These 7 Simple Tips on How to Fix Your Credit in 4 Steps (Explained)
Categories
  • Build Credit (3)
  • Credit & Homebuying (1)
  • Credit Monitoring (3)
  • Credit Repair (6)
  • Credit Scores (8)
Recent Posts
  • Credit monitoring services
    The Best Way to Monitor Your Credit (Free and Paid Options)
    September 30, 2026
  • UltraFICO graphic over a person holding a credit card, asking whether tradelines still work
    UltraFICO Score: How Your Bank Account Can Help Your Credit
    September 30, 2026
  • What is your credit score
    Why Are There Different Credit Scores? FICO vs. VantageScore, and the One Your Lender Uses
    September 30, 2026
about us

With over 30 years in the lending industry, we’ve helped thousands of people understand and improve their credit — and built this site to give you the same tools and guidance. Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this site are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you sign up or make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.

Youtube Facebook-f Linkedin-in

Ready to buy? From The Rate Update

  • Compare 30+ mortgage lenders with one application →
  • First-time home buyer guide →
  • Down payment assistance programs →
  • FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loan programs →
  • DIY Mortgage: check rates and apply online →
Increase your Credit Score
FICO score ranges chart from poor to exceptional

Copyright © 2026 Credit Scores and More. All Rights Reserved.

MY LINKS