Where to Get Free Credit Scores and Credit Monitoring
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You don’t have to pay to see your credit score or your credit reports. Here are the best free sources, what each one shows you, and when a paid service is worth it.
OUR #1 FREE PICK
Credit Karma: Free Credit Scores From Two Bureaus
- Free VantageScore 3.0 scores from TransUnion and Equifax
- Free credit monitoring with alerts when your reports change
- Built-in tool to dispute TransUnion errors
- No credit card required, and checking never hurts your score
Free credit reports
AnnualCreditReport.com is the official, federally authorized site for free reports. You can get a free report from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion every week. Reports don’t include scores, but they’re the data every score is built from, so check them for errors first.
Free credit scores
- Credit Karma: free VantageScore 3.0 scores from TransUnion and Equifax, plus report monitoring and alerts.
- Credit Sesame: a free TransUnion VantageScore 3.0 with daily refreshes.
- Experian: a free FICO Score 8 based on your Experian report.
- Your bank or credit card: many issuers show a free FICO score on your statement or in their app.
Keep in mind that free apps usually show VantageScore, while most lenders use FICO. The numbers won’t always match. See why there are different credit scores.
Free monitoring and protection
- Credit Karma and Credit Sesame both alert you to changes on the bureaus they cover.
- A credit freeze at each bureau is free and is the strongest protection against new-account fraud.
- You can place a free fraud alert with one bureau, which then notifies the other two.
When paid monitoring is worth it
Free tools usually cover one or two bureaus. A paid service makes sense if you:
- Are preparing for a mortgage or big loan and want to watch all three bureaus
- Have been part of a data breach or have had identity theft before
- Are actively working to raise your score and want to test different moves
SmartCredit is my top pick for three-bureau monitoring. More options are in the best way to monitor your credit.
Found something wrong?
Dispute it. Dovly automates TransUnion disputes, and our dispute guide walks through all three bureaus. If you need to build history, Self reports on-time payments to all three.
Buying a home soon? The Rate Update can pull your mortgage scores and tell you what would improve your rate.
Frequently asked questions
How often can I get my credit report for free?
Every week, from all three bureaus, at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Which free credit score is closest to FICO?
A free FICO score from Experian or your card issuer is an actual FICO score. Free apps usually show VantageScore instead.
Will checking my own score lower it?
No. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and never affects your score.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Dan Frio | NMLS #246527 | PBT Bancorp | NMLS #257781. Mortgage products are originated by PBT Bancorp, NMLS #257781. Equal Housing Lender.