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? Multiple legitimate sites give you access to various credit scores, completely free, and some even help you improve your financial health.
Before Signing Up
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 a site is fake before signing up.
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. The site makes money by showing you credit cards with approval odds based on your current scores, along with relevant ads. You never have to apply for any credit cards or loans, though.
Benefits and Cons
Credit Karma serves as a hub to better manage your financial health. Some of the main benefits include:
- Personalized credit card, loan, and insurance recommendations
- Identity monitoring
- Tax preparation
- Financial advice based on your current scores
- Financial calculators
- iOS and Android apps
On the other hand, since it’s free, the site pushes credit card and loan recommendations. In fact, the home page is filled more with recommendations and ads than details on your credit scores.
2. NerdWallet
Scores: TransUnion updated weekly
If you want 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. They even let you check credit scores for free.
Benefits and Cons
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
The site makes money by promoting various lenders and financial institutions. You don’t have to apply to any of them, but the recommendations are too intrusive. Also, the mobile app isn’t nearly as feature-rich as the website.
3. Credit Sesame
Scores: TransUnion updated daily / $19.99 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.
Benefits and Cons
Like most credit monitoring sites, Credit Sesame does more than let you check your credit score for free. 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. Fees start at $9.99/month. Overall, the services offered aren’t quite as good and comprehensive as some of the competition.
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.
Benefits and Cons
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. Also, it’s sometimes hard to navigate the site with so much content crammed in.
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. While most sites focus on the TransUnion score, this one provides your Experian score. Since information may vary between credit bureaus, it’s a nice benefit to see a different score offered for free.
Benefits and Cons
Accessing your credit score and credit report from Experian is always free. Outside of this useful service, 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 gives you access to all three major credit bureaus and your FICO score. However, it’s $24.99/month. You also get extra credit building tools that can help boost your scores.
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.
Benefits and Cons
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
- 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. It also gives you access to full credit reports from all three major credit reporting bureaus.
Benefits and Cons
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. Consider using these reports alongside another site that shows your score.
You deserve to know your credit scores without paying. Many credit cards and financial institutions also offer free access to certain scores, including FICO, for being a customer. If you don’t want a credit card to affect your scores, try a virtual credit card. Or, if you’re recovering from a bad score, get help from these budgeting apps.
Image credit: Unsplash
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