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Finding a Free Credit Score and Understanding What Is Included

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from CFPB. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

Do I have to pay for my credit score?

Credit reporting companies may charge you a fee for your credit scores, but you may be able to get a free score from your credit card issuer, another lender, or from a non-profit credit or housing counselor.

You actually have more than one credit score. Credit scores are calculated based on the information in your credit reports. If the information about you in the credit reports of the three large consumer reporting companies is different, your credit score from each of the companies will be different. Lenders also use different scoring models for different types of loans, and different models might generate slightly different scores.

Some credit score sources provide an "educational" credit score to consumers, instead of a score that a lender would use. The CFPB published a report on the differences between educational scores and those used by lenders. For most people, an educational score is similar to the scores lenders use and can be helpful. But the scores can be quite different for some. Our report found a meaningful difference for one out of four people. When choosing where to get your credit score, find out what kind of score is offered.

How to get a credit score

There are several ways to get a credit score:

From a mortgage scoring notice: If you apply for a residential mortgage loan and the lender uses your credit score, the lender will send you a notice with the credit score.

From an adverse action notice:If you apply for credit and get turned down, have to pay a higher deposit fee (like for a cell phone plan), or are offered different terms due to your credit, you may receive a disclosure from the lender with your credit score.

From a risk-based pricing notice: You may receive a notice of your credit score from your lender if you received credit on terms less favorable than the terms available to most consumers who got credit from that lender.

From your financial service provider: Many major credit card companies and some auto loan companies have begun to provide credit scores for all their customers on a monthly basis. The score is usually listed on your monthly statement or can be found by logging into your account online.

By talking to a non-profit counselor: Non-profit credit counselors and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies can often provide you with a free credit report and score and help you review them.

By using a credit score service: Many services and websites advertise a “free credit score.” Some sites may be funded through advertising and not charge a fee. Other sites may require that you sign up for a credit monitoring service with a monthly subscription fee in order to get your “free” score. These services are often advertised as “free” trials, but if you don’t cancel within the specified period (often as short as one week), you could be on the hook for a monthly fee. Before you sign up to try one of these services, be sure you know what you are signing up for and how much it really costs.

By buying a score: You can buy a score directly from a credit reporting company. You also can buy your FICO credit score at myfico.com. Other services may also offer scores for purchase. If you decide to purchase a credit score, you are not required to purchase credit protection, identity theft monitoring, or other services that may be offered at the same time.

Free credit reports

You are entitled to get a free credit report annually from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies. It’s a good idea to review your credit reports for free every 12 months. Most or all of the information that goes into a credit score comes from your credit report. Your credit report tells you much of the key information about your credit record. Learn about the difference between a credit report and credit score.

When you visit AnnualCreditReport.com, you may see steps to view your updated credit reports at no cost, online. This gives you a greater ability to monitor changes in your credit. In addition, you are entitled to six free credit reports every 12 months from Equifax through December 2026 as part of the agreement to settle charges against Equifax related to its 2017 data breach.

You can access these free reports online at AnnualCreditReport.com or get a "myEquifax" account at equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/free-credit-reports/ or call Equifax at 866-349-5191.

Learn more about how to get and keep a good credit score.

I got my free credit reports, but they do not include my credit scores. Can I get my credit score for free too?

Free credit reports provided by the nationwide credit reporting agencies currently do not include free credit scores. However, your credit card company may provide a free score. Be wary of programs offering “free scores” if you enroll – they are generally not really free.

Tip

Take care when sharing personal information with companies that do not already have access to it.

You can purchase your score directly from the credit reporting agencies and scoring companies. However, it’s important to check your credit report to make sure the information is accurate because your credit score is based on the information in your credit report. It’s also important to note that the score you purchase may not be the same as the one lenders use to decide whether to give credit.

Your credit card company may share a credit score with you for free. Some companies include credit scores on your monthly statements.

Creditors (including card issuers) generally have to disclose your credit score (and related information) if they use the score and:

  • deny your application,
  • increase the cost of your credit, or
  • offer you a higher rate than other consumers get from that creditor.

Mortgage lenders also have to disclose your score when they check your score to approve a mortgage loan.

There are other third parties that claim to offer “free” credit scores. However, you should consider the following:

You may need to enroll in a program with a fee or purchase a product to get this “free” credit score. That means it is not really free. Sometimes there is period of time during which you can cancel without paying a fee. These programs are not free unless you remember to cancel within the allowed period of time.

Where can I get my credit scores?

You can get a credit score for free from many credit card companies or other lenders you use, and from nonprofit credit and housing counselors. You can pay for a credit score service, which might include credit monitoring or other services.

Tip

Your credit scores are based on the information in your credit reports, so it is important to make sure the details are correct. You can check your credit reports for free every week at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Mistakes in your credit reports can lower your scores.

You have more than one credit score. Scores can be calculated using different data on you from different credit reporting companies or can be calculated at different times. Lenders also use different credit scores for different types of loans. This means it’s normal to see credit scores that are slightly different.

There are a few main ways to get your credit scores.

Can I check my credit card or other loan statements for my credit score?

Many major credit card companies and other lenders provide credit scores for their customers. The score could be listed on your monthly statement or can be found by logging in to your account online.

Can I talk to a nonprofit counselor about my credit score?

Nonprofit credit counselors and housing counselors trained by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development can often provide you with a free credit report and score and help you review them.

Can I use a credit score service for an accurate estimate?

Many companies now advertise “free credit scores.” These businesses could be part of credit reporting companies, scoring companies, lenders, or others. Some services make money from advertising and don’t charge you a fee.

Other services offer scores for purchase. For example, you can buy your FICO credit score at myfico.com . Many services provide scores as part of a subscription package that includes credit monitoring, identity protection, or other services, for a monthly fee. Before you enroll in these services, be sure you know what you are signing up for and how much they really cost. A “free trial” might last for a specified period only, and after that you must cancel or pay a monthly fee. If you decide to purchase a credit score, you are not required to purchase other services that might be offered at the same time.

Some credit score sources provide an "educational" credit score. For most people, an educational score is similar to the scores lenders use.

Sources and publication details

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

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