Monitoring your credit report is a smart and simple way to be proactive about your finances. Checking your credit report regularly can help you spot fraud early and ensure the correct information is reported to the credit bureaus. There are many resources available so you can get a free credit report as often as once a month.
Below, CNBC Select reviews credit report basics and different ways you can get a free credit report, so you can start monitoring your credit now.
Does checking my credit report hurt my credit?
No, checking your credit report does not hurt your credit. And checking your credit score doesn't hurt your credit either. These actions are considered "soft pulls" which don't affect your credit score. Actions, such as applying for a credit card, which require a "hard pull," temporarily ding your credit score.
Do I have to pay for my credit report?
It depends. There are many free credit report resources available, but there are several that also charge fees. With so many free resources available, there really isn't any need to pay for your credit report. Just make sure you access your credit report through a verified site, such as those listed in this guide and sites that start with "https."
How to get a free credit report
Annualcreditreport.com
Every year, you're entitled to one free credit report from each of the main credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can access these reports for free at annualcreditreport.com, which is authorized by federal law. We recommend you don't access all three reports at the same time, but instead space one report out every four months.
You can also receive reports from each individual bureau by going through their websites (or partner website, in the case of TransUnion). See more below:
CreditWise from Capital One
If you have a Capital One credit card, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) or *Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, you may have come across CreditWise (which is open to everyone, even if you're not a Capital One cardholder).
CreditWise provides access to your free TransUnion credit report. After sign-up, you can receive email alerts whenever your TransUnion credit report changes, including recent inquiries, delinquent accounts and more. And when something meaningful changes on either your Experian or TransUnion credit report, CreditWise will send you an alert.
Read our CreditWise review.
Experian
Experian offers a service that provides your free Experian credit report, updated every 30 days, after you create an account. You won't receive free copies of your Equifax or TransUnion report. If you want all three reports, Experian offers an all-inclusive package with credit reports from each bureau, but it costs $39.99. It doesn't make sense to pay for this when you can get credit reports for free.
With Experian's service, you can get notified when new inquiries, new accounts, fraud alerts and personal information or public record updates are detected on your Experian credit report. Plus, if you see inaccuracies on your credit report, you can use the Experian dispute center to submit and track your disputes online.
myEquifax
Equifax now offers two free Equifax credit reports per year with myEquifax. You need to create an account to access these credit reports. And if you sign up for Equifax Core Credit, you can receive an updated Equifax credit report every month.
*Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the cards prior to publication.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
FAQs
You may request your reports:
- Online by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.
- By calling 1-877-322-8228 (TTY: 1-800-821-7232)
- By filling out the Annual Credit Report request form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service. PO Box 105281. Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to get your free annual credit reports. This right is guaranteed by Federal law. You can verify this is the official site by visiting the CFPB's website. Don't be fooled by look-alike sites.
Which free credit report is safe? ›
AnnualCreditReport.com is authorized by federal law and safe to use — as long as you ensure you're on the correct site.
What is the official website to receive your free credit report annually? ›
Online: You can ask for your free annual credit report from https://www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Make sure you are on this site before ordering your report. This is the official site, authorized by the Federal government, for you to get your free reports.
What is the most accurate free credit score site? ›
Generally, Credit Karma is the overall best site in terms of getting free credit scores and free credit reports.
Where to check credit score without hurting it? ›
Checking your free credit scores on Credit Karma doesn't hurt your credit. These credit score checks are known as soft inquiries, which don't affect your credit at all. Hard inquiries (also known as “hard pulls”) generally happen when a lender checks your credit while reviewing your application for a financial product.
Does AnnualCreditReport hurt your credit score? ›
No, requesting your credit report does not hurt your credit score. You can check your credit at no charge at annualcreditreport.com . You can review your credit report online for free once a week, from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
How much does it cost to get your credit score from AnnualCreditReport com? ›
Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request free copies of your credit reports. Other sites may charge you or be fraudulent sites set up to steal your personal information. By law, everyone is entitled to one free credit report every twelve months from each of the three credit reporting agencies.
Is Experian free credit report safe? ›
Checking your own credit report or score won't affect your credit scores. It's an example of a soft inquiry—a request for credit info that does not affect credit scores. Experian, TransUnion and Equifax now offer all U.S. consumers free weekly credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.
What are the 3 free places you should pull your credit score report from? ›
You have the right to request one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. You may also be able to view free reports more frequently online.
The primary credit scoring models are FICO® and VantageScore®, and both are equally accurate. Although both are accurate, most lenders are looking at your FICO score when you apply for a loan.
What is considered an excellent credit score? ›
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
How do I get a free credit report without paying? ›
How To Get Your Free Annual Credit Reports
- visit AnnualCreditReport.com.
- call 1-877-322-8228, or.
- complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:
AnnualCreditReport.com is an official site and a safe and free way to check your credit reports from the three major consumer credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Experian, TransUnion and Equifax now offer all U.S. consumers free weekly credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.
What is the only government approved website that gives you access to your free credit report group of answer choices? ›
AnnualCreditReport.com is the only official site explicitly directed by Federal law to provide them.
What does a full credit report look like? ›
A full credit report looks like a financial statement, depicting various information on an individual's credit profile. It has personal information on the top and is broken down by the various credit that an individual has, such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages, as well as other sections, such as public records.
How accurate is credit karma? ›
The credit scores and credit reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. They should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus — but they may not match other reports and scores out there.
How to get a full credit report from Credit Karma? ›
Click View credit reports
From the right side of the credit report, select the Print report button. This will open a printable version of your credit report in another browser tab. From your browser, select File > Print. This should open your printer options and allow you to print or save your credit report.
Is a 600 a good credit score? ›
According to a report from Experian®, the average FICO credit score in America was 714 in 2022. So 600 falls below that national average. On the VantageScore range, the company says 600 scores are considered poor.
