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Knowing and understanding your credit score is important in many aspects of life — from buying a home or car to opening new credit cards. If you want to immerse yourself in the travel rewards world, you'll need to keep track of your score, and we're here to help you learn how. Here's how you can check your credit score for free.
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Understanding Your Credit Score
First, let's briefly go over what credit scores are and how they're calculated.
Credit scoring models
There are two main types of credit scoring models: FICO Score and VantageScore. Both models calculate scores ranging from 300 to 850, with anything above 660 considered “good.” These scores are based on a variety of personal financial information like payment history, length of credit history, amount of debt, credit utilization, and types of credit in your name. Additionally, each model has different versions that have changed over the years. So you will likely see numbers after the credit scoring model name that denotes which version is being used, i.e., FICO Score 8 or VantageScore 3.0.
Credit scoring bureaus
The information the scoring models use to decide your credit score comes from three main bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. These three bureaus collect consumer financial information and share it with the scoring agencies to determine your credit score. Each bureau collects different pieces of information from financial institutions, but all three give a broad view of your overall credit history that helps determine your score.
Because there are two main scoring models and three main scoring bureaus, it's possible to have different scores depending on where you check. This means it's helpful to have multiple options for regularly checking your score. Which score should you check? When applying for financing (a home loan, car loan, credit card, etc.), most agencies will pull your FICO score.
Checking Your Credit Report and Score With the Bureaus
You can check your credit report for free each week with all three major credit bureaus. It's important to note that this does not give you a score; instead, it gives you a full credit report detailing current accounts, account history, personal details, etc. Regularly checking this information to ensure accuracy is vital in tracking and understanding your credit score.
To do this, simply go to freecreditreport.com and enter your information. This is a joint-effort website from all three credit bureaus, providing a free weekly report from each.
Additionally, you can check your credit score once a month for free directly through Experian's website. TransUnion and Equifax charge for this service.
Banks
Most banks offer a way to check your credit score regularly for free. Let's look at the details for each.
American Express
Amex offers a service called MyCredit Guide, which allows anyone with an account to access their Experian FICO score 8. You do not have to be an Amex cardmember to access this service. Amex also provides a detailed credit report and tips for managing or improving your score.
Bank of America
Bank of America offers free FICO score checks via TransUnion. This service is available to “primary cardholders with an open and active consumer credit card.” Cardholders can check their credit score for free once a month.
We are prohibited from linking you directly to this service, but you can easily find it in these Google search results.
Barclays
Barclays members can access their TransUnion FICO score at any time by logging in to their account, selecting “services,” and then “Your FICO credit score.” You can also use this link to access the page directly.
Capital One
Capital One offers a service called CreditWise, which allows individuals to check their TransUnion Vantage 3.0 score at any time. You do not have to be a Capital One member to use this service. CreditWise also provides tips and advice for managing your score and offers alerts for changes to your TransUnion and Experian credit reports.
Citi
Citi offers free access to your Equifax FICO score if you hold “select Citi cards.” To see if you're an eligible cardholder, log into your Citi account. If eligible, your score should be listed on the left-hand side of the dashboard. You can select “Learn About Your Score” to see further details.
Chase
Chase's Credit Journey allows anyone to check their Experian VantageScore score for free at any time; no Chase account is needed. You can check your score as often as you'd like; however, your score will only be updated every 10–14 days. Credit Journey also offers credit monitoring and the option to create a free score improvement plan.
Discover
Discover members can access their TransUnion FICO score at any time. Cardholders and bank members can access their scores through the Discover website.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank members can access their TransUnion Vantage 3.0 score online or through the app at any time via the CreditView Dashboard. Your score is updated once a week.
Third-Party Options
Outside of the banks we've listed above, there are a few other options for checking your credit score:
- Credit.com: Check your Experian VantageScore for free. Scores are updated every 14 days.
- Credit Karma: Check your TransUnion and Equifax VantageScore at any time by logging on to the website or app.
- Mint: Mint recently joined forces with Credit Karma. Now, when you click the option on Mint to check your score, you'll be redirected to Credit Karma's website.
- Credit Sesame: Check your TransUnion VantageScore daily for free.
Bottom Line
We also want to note (and refute) the long-standing rumor that frequently checking your credit score will somehow harm it. This is not true. Regularly checking your credit score does not affect your score at all. Be sure to use one or more of the ways above to check your credit score for free, understand your credit report, and ensure that it's accurate.
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