Where Can I Get My Free Credit Score?

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One of the most important questions, when you're thinking about a new credit card, rent, or a new installment loan like a mortgage, is your credit score. If you want to start building your credit, it's helpful to know what your credit scores are. You don't need to pay for this service.

In rare cases, long-term monthly updated options for free legitimate FICO scores are available to the public where you can check your score every month, such as Experian.com & https://www.myfico.com/ (free Equifax scores). In most cases though, you'll need either a bank account, a credit union account, or a credit card to get a free FICO score on a monthly basis, as most public "free score" websites use the Vantage score model. Keep in mind that the models can change over time as well, & please let me know if you encounter any of the below that is not up to date at the time you check.

What Score Type Do You Need?

1. With credit cards & mortgages, you'll want to focus on FICO scores. The 3 main bureaus to keep in mind are Equifax, Transunion, & Experian.

• With mortgages & with Capital One credit cards, all 3 FICO scores will be pulled

• With most other credit cards, just one FICO score will be pulled, & Doctor of Credit has a great list of which bureau is pulled for 9 big issuers.

2. With a number of house/apartment renting options, Vantage scores can be more important than FICO scores, but it highly depends on the software the landlord or property manager are using. For instance, among some of the biggest property management screening/tenant software (per Google AI):

   1. Appfolio primarily uses the Experian VantageScore 3.0. They reportedly don't cause a hard pull, but opinions are mixed.

   2. Buildium uses the TransUnion Resident Score. It typically requires a hard inquiry.

   3. Doorloop uses the TransUnion Resident Score, which is a TransUnion VantageScore 4.0. It results in a hard inquiry.

   4. Entrata uses a complex model that integrates an Experian FICO score & in some cases the OneSite Screening score. Entrata typically causes a hard inquiry.

   5. Innago typically uses Experian Vantagescores. Innago doesn't do hard inquiries.

   6. MRI Software uses AccuScore, a different scoring model w/ little info about it online. That said, they typically don't cause a hard credit inquiry.

   7. RealPage has their own scoring model, but can pull from any or multiple options of the 3 bureaus. They primarily rely on Vantage Score, but may pull FICO as well. They typically perform at least 1 hard inquiry.

   8. Rent Manager typically uses FICO scores (which one can depend) or Rentwise scores. RentManager doesn't cause hard inquiries.

   9. TenantCloud uses both FICO & Vantage scores, and & can be from any of the 3 bureaus (primarily Transunion), but primarily uses soft inquiries.

   10. Yardi uses Vantage Score & can pull from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. They can cause a hard pull.

   11. Zillow typically uses Vantage Experian 3.0, & uses a soft credit pull.

In each case, the specific number they pull will likely vary from what you will find online based on changes to credit over time (i.e. a hard pull can impact credit in <5 seconds) & based on small fluctuations between scores if the exact score you are pulling is different from what someone else is pulling.

Experian FICO Options

1. Experian.com free account (the best Experian option, though every time you sign in they like to ask you if you want to "upgrade" though, which is a paid upgrade)

2. Chase if you have the Chase Slate (& not with other cards where you'll only get the Vantage score)

3. Wellsfargo.com (if you're an account holder)

Equifax FICO Options

1. https://www.myfico.com/ free Equifax scores

2. DCU - checking +credit card (both, not either unless you receive direct deposits into your checking) - Equifax Classic Risk Score 2008 (EQ-08).

3. Huntington Bank (if credit card holder)

4. Langley Federal (if bank account holder)

5. Navy Federal (if account holder)

6. Penfed (if bank account holder)

Transunion FICO Options

1. Bank of America (if you're an account holder)

2. Barclays (if you're an account holder)

3. Discover (if you're an account holder of Discover It or Discover More)

4. Partners 1st - bank account holders

5. Walmart Discover card or Walmart credit card

List of Dozens of Options Consolidated Alphabetically With Non-FICO scores in Red

Short Term Options

Get Your Free Full Report Weekly

Vantage Scores to Not Pay Much Attention to

More

Related:

• What do Buyers Need to Purchase a Home

• Mortgage Lender Recommendations

• Mortgage Recommendations

• Boosting Credit for Mortgages