Credit scores affect so many areas of your life, yet they’re often behind a paywall. Did you know that you can check your credit score for free anytime you want with legitimate sites? The sites here may even offer help to better manage your finances.
Content
- Before Signing Up With Any Credit Reporting Service
- 1. Credit Karma
- 2. NerdWallet
- 3. Credit Sesame
- 4. WalletHub
- 5. Credit.com
- 6. CreditReport.com
- 7. AnnualCreditReport
- 8. myFICO
- 9. Credit Card Sites
Before Signing Up With Any Credit Reporting Service
Please note that any site that gives you access to your credit report and scores needs your social security number to verify your identity. Always watch for signs that a site is fake before providing your personal information. If you receive a random email or text asking you to sign up, don’t! Always go directly to the site instead of via a link from a suspicious message.
1. Credit Karma
Scores: TransUnion and Equifax updated daily
Credit Karma is by far the most well-known site to check credit scores for free. And it’s the one I personally prefer. The site makes money by showing you credit cards with approval odds based on your current scores, along with relevant ads. I know from personal experience that the dashboard is cluttered with recommendations, so if you don’t need a loan or new credit card, just skip to the scores.
What I like is that along with credit scores, you get:
- Personalized credit card, loan, and insurance recommendations
- Identity monitoring
- Tax preparation
- Financial advice based on your current scores
- Financial calculators
- Guide to understanding how scores are calculated
- iOS and Android apps
2. NerdWallet
Scores: TransUnion updated weekly
If you truly want to understand your finances inside and out, it’s hard to beat NerdWallet. Side-by-side comparisons and expert financial information help you make better decisions to build your credit and savings. Of course, I also like that I can see my TransUnion score for free.
Credit scores are just one of the many things NerdWallet offers. They also give you:
- Income/expense tracking
- Personalized financial recommendations
- Detailed educational tools/articles
- Investment guidance
- iOS and Android apps
Honestly, I find far more financial information here than Credit Karma, but the recommendations are even more intrusive here. But, I’d highly recommend reading at least the tips and advice to improve your financial health.
3. Credit Sesame
Scores: TransUnion updated daily / Starts at $9.95 per month to access Equifax and Experian
Credit Sesame is designed to help build and better understand your credit. Part of that is giving you free access to your credit score. Uniquely, the site uses AI to evaluate and explain your credit report to you.
Like most credit monitoring sites, Credit Sesame does more than provide a free credit score. A few major benefits include:
- Get your Credit Sesame grade to better understand your credit
- Provides financial recommendations for cards, loans, and more
- Get personalized advice to improve credit
- Notifications of any credit changes
- iOS and Android apps
While some features are free, many of Credit Sesame’s credit building features, such as a debit card, aren’t free. Overall, the services offered aren’t quite as good and comprehensive as some of the competition. Plus, I don’t like that you can’t see any details about premium plans until you’ve signed up for the free account.
4. WalletHub
Scores: TransUnion updated daily
WalletHub is one of the top sites to check credit scores for free. The site provides personalized financial recommendations (cards, loans, etc.) to give you free access to credit reports. You’re never obligated to sign up for anything outside of the free service.
Basic credit monitoring is free on WalletHub, but beyond credit scores, you also get:
- Alerts on any credit changes
- New personalized credit recommendations daily
- Detailed lender reviews
- WalletScore to better understand credit reports
- iOS and Android apps
While not necessarily cons, a few services aren’t free. These include identity theft insurance and restoration, address monitoring, TransUnion credit lock, dark web monitoring, and other more advanced credit monitoring. Services start at $6.49/month, which is a good deal for identity monitoring.
5. Credit.com
Scores: Experian updated every two weeks / $25 per month for all three scores
Credit.com is all about helping you build your credit. I was surprised this one offers Experian for free versus TransUnion. Since information may vary between credit bureaus, it’s a nice benefit to see a different score offered for free.
Outside of scores, Credit.com also offers:
- Guidance for building your credit
- Credit report card (for a better understanding of your score)
- Personalized loan and credit offers
- iOS and Android apps
- Premium credit-building services
Credit.com has one of the most comprehensive premium plans I’ve seen. You get all three main scores, FICO score, identity monitoring, credit building, ID insurance, and more for $25/month.
6. CreditReport.com
Scores: Experian and FICO updated weekly
CreditReport.com, which was purchased by Experian, is completely free. It’s a simpler site than most of the others on this list, but it does a great job of showing your Experian and FICO scores. Please note that you can also sign up on Experian to get the same information for free.
CreditReport.com doesn’t offer much beyond your score and report, but you do get the following benefits:
- Uncluttered site without ads and credit card recommendations (my favorite part)
- Full Experian credit report (some sites only offer the score or highlights)
- Basic credit education tools/articles
While Experian offers mobile apps, CreditReport.com doesn’t. You also won’t find nearly as many resources for understanding your credit report or building your credit.
7. AnnualCreditReport
Scores: Experian, Equipfax, and TransUnion updated weekly
AnnualCreditReport is the only site authorized by the federal government to provide free credit reports to consumers. While many other sites are legitimate, this one is backed by the government. I recommend using this site in addition to any other on this list for the most comprehensive look at your scores.
AnnualCreditReport is the only place to get all three major credit reports for free. The site also offers:
- Credit building and financial advice
- Details about understanding credit reports
- Full reports, not just scores or highlights
Now for the downside. The credit reports may not always list your credit score. However, a good report usually means you have a good score.
8. myFICO
Scores: Equifax
myFICO is best known as a premium service, but I was surprised to discover they also offer monthly Equifax credit scores for free. Of course, as the name implies, they also show you your FICO score.
The free service is extremely basic, and all you get is:
- Equifax score and credit report
- FICO score
- Score and credit monitoring for any changes
Financial literacy content is slim, too. But, premium plans (starting at $30/month) offer scores from all three credit bureaus, identity theft monitoring and insurance, and scores related to loans.
9. Credit Card Sites
Two of my credit cards also let me check credit scores for free. One provides Experian and the other TransUnion and FICO. I don’t have to pay anything for this service, and they both offer dark web monitoring for free so that I know if my information is out there.
If you have credit cards, check to see if credit scores are included with your service. Usually, you’ll have to log in on a desktop versus using a mobile app. But it’s convenient and free. Also, check with your bank. While not all offer credit scores, some do.
If you’re trying to improve your credit, take full advantage of tips and advice on these sites. Also, try budget apps and Notion budget templates to help you stay on track.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Crystal Crowder.
Crystal Crowder –
Staff Writer
Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.
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