Reports and scores are not the same thing
A credit report is the record a bureau keeps about your accounts, balances, payment history and inquiries. A credit score is a number a scoring model calculates from that record. The free sources split along that line:
- Reports: the FTC says the three nationwide bureaus have permanently extended a program that lets you check your report from each of them once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, and that it is the only site authorized to fill orders for the free annual reports. Equifax adds that it makes at least six additional free Equifax credit reports each year available there.
- Scores: the CFPB says you may get a free score from your credit card issuer or another lender, often on the monthly statement or in your online account, and from nonprofit credit counselors.
The FTC also warns about sites that claim to offer free reports, scores or monitoring and then sell you services. Our guide on how to read a credit report explains each section of the report once you have it.
Why your score differs between sites
The CFPB gives three reasons you can have more than one score: lenders use different scores for different products, there are many different scoring formulas, and the information can come from different credit reporting sources. If your three bureau reports differ, your score from each will differ too.
The free sites in this list use these models and bureaus, as their own pages state:
| Site | Score model | Bureau |
|---|---|---|
| Experian free membership | FICO Score 8 | Experian |
| myFICO Free plan | FICO Score 8 | Equifax |
| Capital One CreditWise | FICO Score 8 | TransUnion |
| Bank of America My Credit | FICO Score 8 unless otherwise noted | Not stated |
| Wells Fargo Credit Close-Up | FICO Score, version not stated | Experian report |
| Credit Karma | VantageScore 3.0 | TransUnion and Equifax |
| Chase Credit Journey | VantageScore 3.0 | Experian |
| Equifax Core Credit | VantageScore 3.0 | Equifax |
The CFPB also notes that some sources give an "educational" score instead of one a lender would use. For most people it is similar, but the CFPB's report found a meaningful difference for one out of four people, so find out what kind of score a site offers. What counts as a good number is in our guide what is a good credit score.
What to check before you sign up
- Who can join. Chase says Credit Journey works whether you have a Chase account or not, and Capital One says anybody can get CreditWise. Bank of America's My Credit and Wells Fargo's Credit Close-Up are for their own customers.
- Payment details. Experian and myFICO state "No credit card required" for their free plans. The CFPB notes that some sites require a credit monitoring subscription with a monthly fee, so read the plan name before you enter anything.
- Your Social Security number. CreditWise and Bank of America's My Credit both require one. The FTC warns that imposter sites may misuse personal information, so make sure you are on the official site before you type it in.
- Effect on your score. Credit Karma, Chase, Capital One and Bank of America all say checking your own score does not hurt it; Bank of America calls it a soft inquiry.
- Freezes and alerts. A free myEquifax account also lets you place a security freeze or an initial fraud alert. Our guide on credit freeze vs fraud alert explains the difference.
What our tools add
A score shows where you stand; the numbers behind it show what to work on. Our guide on the credit utilization ratio shows how to calculate how much of your card limits you use. The credit card payoff calculator shows how long a balance takes to pay off and what it costs in interest, the debt snowball planner orders several debts, and the debt-to-income ratio calculator shows the ratio lenders look at next to your score. If you are setting up a budget at the same time, see our list of free budgeting apps.
This list is general information about where to see your credit data, not financial advice; the services set their own terms, so confirm them on the official pages before you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get my credit report for free?
The FTC says AnnualCreditReport.com is the only site authorized to fill orders for the free credit reports, and that the three nationwide bureaus have permanently extended the program that lets you check your report from each of them once a week for free. Several free score services, such as Credit Karma, Experian and CreditWise, also show a report from one or two bureaus.
Does checking my own credit score lower it?
No, according to the services we checked. Credit Karma says checking your own score only triggers a soft inquiry, Bank of America says checking is a soft inquiry that does not affect it, and Chase and Capital One say their tools do not impact your score.
Why is my score different on each site?
The CFPB lists three reasons: lenders use different scores for different products, there are many scoring formulas, and the data can come from different bureaus. Credit Karma, for example, shows VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and Equifax, while CreditWise shows FICO Score 8 from TransUnion. The CFPB also notes that some sites show an educational score that can differ from the scores lenders use.
Where can I get a free FICO Score?
Experian's free membership shows a FICO Score 8 based on Experian data, the myFICO Free plan a FICO Score 8 based on Equifax, and Capital One CreditWise a FICO Score 8 based on TransUnion, which anybody can get. Bank of America and Wells Fargo show a FICO Score to eligible customers of their own.
Do I need to be a bank customer to get a free score?
Not for every service. Chase Credit Journey works whether you have a Chase account or not, and Capital One says anybody can get CreditWise. Credit Karma, Experian, Equifax and myFICO have their own free accounts. Bank of America's My Credit and Wells Fargo's Credit Close-Up require an eligible account with the bank.