How to check your credit score

This content is for general educational purposes and is not intended as financial, legal, investment, or tax advice and should not be relied on as such. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information found in this post.

Summary

• You can check your credit score in minutes through some banks or a reputable app.

• Viewing your own score is typically a soft inquiry and won’t affect your credit score.

• Scores differ between apps because they rely on different models (e.g., FICO® vs. VantageScore), credit bureaus, and update frequencies.

• Scores update when new data hits your reports—often monthly, though some consumer tools refresh weekly.

• Don’t stop at the score. You’re allowed one free credit report per bureau each year. Requesting and reviewing your credit report can help you identify errors. 

Knowing your credit score helps you plan big moves, like applying for a mortgage or a new credit card, and helps you catch errors before they cost you. The best part: checking your credit score is quick and often free.

Quick ways to check your credit score

The most common options include your existing banking app and some personal finance apps.

If you want to see the same score versions many lenders use—such as specific mortgage or auto loan models—you can purchase them directly. The service or provider you choose affects which score version you’ll see, how often it’s updated, and how much detail is included.

Check through your bank or credit card issuer

Many banks and card issuers include a free score in your account dashboard, often at no additional cost. The specific model they use varies—typically, some show a FICO® Score, others show VantageScore—and update timing is typically weekly or monthly.

Use a personal finance app or service

Many apps that offer credit score monitoring update your score about once a week and show “reason codes” that explain what’s helping or hurting your score. 

It’s normal to see small differences in your score between apps since they may use different scoring models, versions, or credit bureau data. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has more detail on why scores can vary across apps and bureaus.

Buy a specific FICO® Score 

If you’re preparing for a major application—especially a mortgage—you may want to see the exact FICO Score versions lenders rely on to evaluate you for a specific lending product. You can purchase those through myFICO®.

Which score am I seeing?

Not all credit scores are the same. Most financial companies or apps use either a FICO Score or a VantageScore, but each of those score types has different scoring models and versions. 

You can think of a credit scoring model roughly as a method to compile a  “report card” for your borrowing habits. And just like schools sometimes update and iterate on their grading systems to better reflect students’ progress, FICO and VantageScore update their credit scoring models as new versions from time to time. So depending on which model or version an app or lender uses, your score can look a little different.

Why scores can differ across FICO and VantageScore

FICO and VantageScore both estimate the likelihood you’ll repay borrowed money on time, but they weigh your data a bit differently and release new versions of their scoring models over time. Mortgage lenders often rely on older FICO versions, while many consumer apps show newer VantageScore models.

Why lenders may use different models

Lenders typically choose the model and version that best fits their product and risk policies. That’s why a credit card issuer, for example, might use a different model or version than an auto lender.

Why your score can vary across apps and bureaus

Scores can differ not only because lenders report to and get information from different bureaus, but also because each scoring model assigns different weights to factors that impact your score and may update on different timelines.

Is checking my score a soft or hard inquiry?

When someone checks your credit, it’s called an inquiry or “pull.” 

Good news: checking your own credit score or report is usually a “soft” inquiry or pull, and it doesn’t affect your credit score. 

A “hard” inquiry or pull, on the other hand, happens when a lender checks your full credit history for a loan or credit application and can cause a small, temporary drop in your score.

Good news: checking your own credit score or report is usually a “soft” inquiry or pull, and doesn’t affect your credit score. 

A “soft” inquiry simply means your credit was viewed for personal or informational reasons. It doesn’t impact your score, so you can check as often as you want.

What counts as a soft pull (and why it won’t hurt your score)

Viewing your score in places like a personal finance app, your banking dashboard, or pulling your own full credit reports are all typically soft inquiries and do not affect your credit score. The CFPB confirms that checking your own credit report doesn’t hurt your score.

Why a hard inquiry happens

Hard inquiries typically happen when you apply for financial products like a credit card, auto loan, or mortgage. Many scoring models treat clustered inquiries for the same type of loan within a short window as a single event. FICO explains how inquiry treatment and windows work.

How often do credit scores update?

Credit scores don’t update on a fixed schedule. Instead, they change when new information is reported to the credit bureaus. Typically, banks and lenders send updates about your accounts once a month, usually around your statement closing date, so score changes often follow a monthly rhythm.

Weekly vs. monthly refreshes in personal finance apps

Some apps refresh weekly using the latest bureau data they receive, while many personal finance app dashboards refresh monthly. If your score looks “stuck” or like it hasn't changed, you may be between reporting cycles.

When to recheck your credit report after making positive changes 

Depending on what changes you’ve made towards building your credit, changes to your credit report will update at varying times. 

For instance, if you pay down a credit card balance, look for updates on your report after the next statement closes. But if you file a credit reporting dispute, the bureaus typically investigate within 30–45 days. The CFPB’s dispute guide covers timing and documentation so you know when to expect results.

What your credit score means

Your score is a snapshot, not a verdict—it reflects what’s on your reports today and can change with your habits. Understanding ranges and the biggest drivers impacting your credit helps you prioritize the actions that matter most.

Typical score ranges and what’s considered “good”

Ranges vary by model, but as a reference point, FICO commonly labels 670–739 as “Good,” 740–799 “Very Good,” and 800+ “Exceptional.” You can review FICO’s ranges and VantageScore’s consumer ranges to see how your number stacks up.

The main factors behind your score

Payment history and revolving credit utilization do most of the heavy lifting in many models, while length of history, new credit, and credit mix also contribute.

Check your credit reports (not just your score)

Your credit score is only as accurate as the data underneath it. Reviewing your full credit reports helps you catch credit errors, spot fraud, and understand what’s really driving your score.

Where to get free credit reports (AnnualCreditReport.com)

You can access free online credit reports from all three major bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. The CFPB explains how to get your reports and what to look for once you have them.

Reports vs. scores: What’s the difference and why both matter

A credit score is a three-digit number that summarizes how likely you are to repay borrowed money based on your past credit behavior. 

A credit report, on the other hand, shows the details including: credit limits, accounts, balances, payment history, and any negative items. 

If your score seems higher or lower than expected, reviewing your credit report will show you which accounts or activities influenced the change.

How to spot errors and signs of identity theft

Regularly reviewing your credit reports and scores can help you spot signs of fraud or identity theft early. It’s a good idea to  confirm your personal information, scan for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries, and check that limits, balances, and payment statuses are correct. 

If anything looks off, you can follow the CFPB’s dispute steps and review the FTC’s guidance on credit freezes and fraud alerts to help take steps to protect your file.

What to do if something looks wrong on your report

When submitting a dispute, you can send it directly to the credit bureau online, by mail, or through the entity that reported the information. Key components of submitting a dispute  include adding documentation that supports your claim and shows the steps you’ve already taken—such as account statements, payment confirmations, or correspondence with the creditor (the financial institution that provided you with the credit). Bureaus generally have 30–45 days to investigate.

You can also dispute credit reporting errors directly with the creditor. So it’s a good idea to save copies of all information provided to you. 

If a credit report dispute doesn’t resolve in your favor, you can add a brief statement, known as a statement of dispute, to your credit report explaining the item and continue working towards resolving the issue. 

You can also send your statement to the credit bureau that issued the report containing the error. That bureau will then attach your statement directly to your credit report, so it appears whenever the report is accessed.

Next steps: Building and protecting your credit

Knowing your credit score is one thing, but what you do going forward is what matters, and ultimately how you make progress towards building (or rebuilding) your credit. 

Setting up alerts and autopay

A few small automations can go a long way when managing and monitoring your credit. You can set reminders or enable autopay to help avoid missing a payment before your statement closes. These simple steps can support consistent on-time payments and may help keep your credit use ratio lower over time.

Put all together, these steps can help maintain a strong record of on-time payments and keep your revolving credit utilization ratio low.