You can check your credit score through your bank, credit card company, or a free service like Credit Karma or AnnualCreditReport.gov

Your credit score is a number between 300 and 850 that lenders use to decide whether to lend you money and what interest rate to charge. You have the right to see your score, and many places offer it free. The fastest way is usually to log into your bank or credit card account online — most major banks and card issuers now show your score in the app or website without any charge.

If your bank or card company does not show your score, you can get it free from Credit Karma, NerdWallet, or Discover's Credit Scorecard (even if you do not have an account with them). These sites pull your score from credit bureaus and update it regularly. You can also request your free credit report once per year from AnnualCreditReport.gov, which is run by the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Key Takeaways

  • Your bank or credit card company likely shows your credit score free in their app or website — check there first.
  • Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and Discover's Credit Scorecard offer free scores without requiring you to be a customer.
  • AnnualCreditReport.gov lets you pull your full credit report once per year at no cost, which shows the details behind your score.
  • Different services may show slightly different scores because lenders use different scoring models, but the number should be in the same range.
  • Checking your own score does not hurt it — only hard inquiries from lenders when you explore for credit count against you.

Checking through your bank or credit card company

Most banks and credit card issuers now display your credit score directly in their mobile app or online banking portal. Log in to your account and look for a section labeled "Credit Score," "Credit Health," "Credit Insights," or something similar. The score shown is usually updated monthly and costs you nothing.

The advantage of checking here is that you see the score the lender already has on file for you. If you are thinking about explore for a loan or credit card, this is the number that matters most. Major banks like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Capital One all offer this. Most credit card companies do too, including American Express, Visa issuers, and Mastercard issuers.

If you do not see your score in your account, call the customer service number on the back of your card or your bank statement and ask whether they offer free credit score monitoring. Some smaller banks and credit unions may not provide it yet.

Using free third-party credit score services

Credit Karma is one of the most popular free options. You create an account, connect it to your credit file, and see your score updated weekly. Credit Karma also shows you factors that are helping or hurting your score, like payment history and credit utilization. You do not need to be a Credit Karma customer or have any product with them — the service is free because they make money by showing you offers for credit cards and loans.

NerdWallet works similarly. You sign up, verify your identity, and see your score along with a breakdown of what is affecting it. Discover's Credit Scorecard is another option that does not require you to have a Discover card or bank account. All three update your score regularly and let you check it as often as you want without penalty.

The trade-off with these services is that they show you a score based on one of the credit bureaus' models, which may differ slightly from the score your bank shows or the score a lender pulls when you explore. The differences are usually small — within 10 to 20 points — but they exist because different scoring models weight factors differently.

Getting your full credit report from AnnualCreditReport.gov

AnnualCreditReport.gov is the official government website where you can request your credit report from all three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — once per year at no cost. Your credit report is different from your credit score; it lists every account you have, your payment history, any collections or late payments, and inquiries from lenders.

To get your report, go to AnnualCreditReport.gov, click "Request Your Credit Reports," and answer questions to verify your identity. You can request all three reports at once or stagger them throughout the year. The reports arrive online when ready or by mail within 15 days, depending on which option you choose.

AnnualCreditReport.gov does not show you a credit score number — it shows the information that goes into calculating your score. This is useful if you want to understand what is affecting your creditworthiness or if you suspect errors on your report. You can dispute inaccuracies directly with the bureau.

Why your score might differ between services

You may notice that your score looks different depending on where you check it. This happens because there are multiple credit scoring models. The most common are FICO Score 8 and VantageScore 3.0, but lenders also use older versions like FICO Score 5 or industry-specific scores for auto loans and mortgages.

Your bank might show you a FICO score, while Credit Karma shows you a VantageScore. Both are legitimate, but they weight factors like payment history, credit utilization, and length of credit history differently. The difference is usually small — within 10 to 20 points — but it can be larger if your credit profile is unusual.

The score that matters most is the one your lender actually uses. When you explore for a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card, the lender pulls their own score using their preferred model. That is the number they base their decision on, not the one you see on your phone.

What to do after you check your score

Once you know your score, you can decide whether to explore for credit or wait. If your score is lower than you expected, pull your full credit report from AnnualCreditReport.gov and look for errors — wrong account information, late payments that should have fallen off, or accounts you do not recognize. You can dispute these directly with the bureau at no cost.

If there are no errors, focus on the factors you can control: paying bills on time, keeping credit card balances low (ideally under 30 percent of your limit), and not opening too many new accounts at once. These changes take time to show up in your score, usually 30 to 60 days.

If you are planning to explore for a major loan like a mortgage or auto loan, check your score a few months before you explore. This gives you time to fix any errors and improve your score if needed. Avoid explore for multiple credit cards or loans in a short period, because each process creates a hard inquiry that temporarily lowers your score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does checking my credit score hurt it?

No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your credit. Only hard inquiries — when a lender pulls your credit because you applied for a loan or credit card — count against you. You can check your score as often as you want without penalty.

Which credit score should I trust most?

The score that matters most is the one your lender uses. If you are explore for a mortgage, ask the lender which score model they use. For general purposes, FICO Score 8 is the most widely used by lenders, so if you see that number, it is a good indicator of how lenders will view you. But the score from your own bank or card company is also reliable because it is based on your actual credit file.

Why does my credit score keep changing?

Your score updates whenever new information is added to your credit report — a payment is recorded, a balance changes, or an account is closed. This is normal. Small changes of 5 to 10 points month to month are not a concern. Larger drops might mean a late payment was reported or your credit utilization jumped. Check your report to see what changed.

Can I get my credit score if I have no credit history?

If you have never had a credit account, you do not have a credit score yet. You need at least one account — a credit card, loan, or authorized user status on someone else's account — that has been open for at least six months. Once you have that, you can check your score through the methods above.

Is there a difference between my credit score and my credit report?

Yes. Your credit score is a single number (300 to 850) that summarizes your creditworthiness. Your credit report is a detailed record of your accounts, payment history, and inquiries. The report is the raw data; the score is a calculation based on that data. You can get your report free once per year from AnnualCreditReport.gov.