How can I check myFICO score without hurting it?

Asked by: Corene Larson  |  Last update: August 24, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (14 votes)

Soft inquiries such as viewing your own credit report will not affect your FICO Score. Hard inquiries such as actively applying for a new credit card or mortgage will affect your score.

Can you check your FICO Score without hurting credit?

Good news: Credit scores aren't impacted by checking your own credit reports or credit scores. In fact, regularly checking your credit reports and credit scores is an important way to ensure your personal and account information is correct, and may help detect signs of potential identity theft.

Does checking myFICO hurt credit score?

No, when you check your own credit it does not hurt your credit score. myFICO is the consumer division of FICO ®, launched in 2001 to help consumers get their FICO ® Score directly from the people that make the FICO ® Score. We have an A+ rating from the BBB and our headquarters are in Bozeman, MT.

Is there a way to check myFICO score for free?

You can sign up for a free account on myFICO.com to access your monthly FICO score based on your Equifax credit report.

Can I check my credit rating without affecting it?

You won't have to pay a penny when you check your credit score with us. We also carry out a soft search which won't affect your credit rating.

How to Determine Your FICO Score Without Paying for It Every Month

25 related questions found

How to check credit score without impacting it?

Many credit card issuers and banks provide free credit scores to their customers. Personally checking your credit score won't affect it. Nor will checking your own credit report. However, when you apply for credit, the lender will make a so-called hard inquiry, which can lower your score a bit.

How often can you check your credit score without hurting it?

You can check your credit score as often as you want without hurting your credit, and it's a good idea to do so regularly. At the very minimum, it's a good idea to check before applying for credit, whether it's a home loan, auto loan, credit card or something else.

Is myFICO the real FICO Score?

myFICO is a legitimate subscription credit monitoring service that helps Americans track their FICO® credit scores from the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — and provides limited identity monitoring, insurance, and restoration services.

Where can I see my real FICO Score?

You can check your FICO Score for free by accessing your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) once per year. Some credit card issuers and financial institutions also offer their customers free access to FICO Scores.

Why is myFICO so expensive?

myFICO service is a user-friendly free service for credit score analysis, but it becomes expensive if you're seeking paid identity theft protection. We liked testing the clean dashboard that isn't flooded with card and loan offers along with its easy-to-read language to learn about your credit standing.

Who gives the most accurate FICO Score?

Credit scores from the three main bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are considered accurate. The accuracy of the scores depends on the accuracy of the information provided to them by lenders and creditors. You can check your credit report to ensure the information is accurate.

Is it bad to have two hard inquiries within 30 days?

Hard Inquiries: These inquiries, triggered with your permission during loan or credit applications, have a temporary negative impact on your credit score. The impact is usually minimal, typically less than five points. However, multiple hard inquiries within a short period can cumulatively lower your score.

Is AnnualCreditReport.com a legitimate website?

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.

Why can't I see my FICO credit score?

You may not see your FICO® Score if: You have mismatched or missing information, like an address change that hasn't been updated with either Discover or TransUnion®. Your account status is abandoned, bankrupt, fraud, lost or stolen, closed, revoked, or charged off. You have a foreign address.

How many credit pulls are too many?

There's no such thing as “too many” hard credit inquiries, but multiple applications for new credit accounts within a short time frame may point to a risky borrower. Rate shopping for a particular loan, however, may be treated as a single inquiry and have minimal impact on your creditworthiness.

Why is my credit score going down when I pay on time?

Using more of your credit card balance than usual — even if you pay on time — can reduce your score until a new, lower balance is reported the following month. Closed accounts and lower credit limits can also result in lower scores even if your payment behavior has not changed.

How do I check myFICO score without lowering it?

You can check your credit score for free in several different ways without hurting it. The most common methods are through an annual free report, online credit monitoring services, and your credit card provider.

Does Chase use FICO or Vantage?

The 6 factors that impact your score. Different factors can go into determining your credit score. Chase Credit Journey® uses the VantageScore® 3.0 model, which calculates your score based on these 6 key score factors. Other models, like the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO®), may use different factors.

Does Experian show your real FICO Score?

A free Experian account allows you to track your FICO® Score 8, and it shows you how you're faring with each of the five scoring categories. You can also see the top five factors that are helping or hurting your FICO® Score.

How can I see my real FICO Score?

The first step you can take towards finding your FICO Score is by checking with your bank or credit union. Hundreds of banks and credit unions partner with FICO through its Open Access Program. If your bank or credit union partners with FICO, log in to your account online.

What is the riskiest FICO Score?

Credit score ranges—what are they?
  • 800 to 850: Excellent Credit Score. Individuals in this range are considered to be low-risk borrowers. ...
  • 740 to 799: Very Good Credit Score. ...
  • 670 to 739: Good Credit Score. ...
  • 580 to 669: Fair Credit Score. ...
  • 300 to 579: Poor Credit Score.

Why is MyFICO score 100 points lower than credit karma?

Your FICO Score is a credit score. But if your FICO score is different from another of your credit scores, it may be that the score you're viewing was calculated using one of the other scoring models that exist.

What 3 things can hurt your credit score without you knowing it?

5 Things That May Hurt Your Credit Scores
  • Highlights:
  • Making a late payment.
  • Having a high debt to credit utilization ratio.
  • Applying for a lot of credit at once.
  • Closing a credit card account.
  • Stopping your credit-related activities for an extended period.

What habit lowers your credit score?

Late or missed payments can cause your credit score to decline. The impact can vary depending on your credit score — the higher your score, the more likely you are to see a steep drop.

Is 700 a good credit score?

A 700 credit score is considered a good score on the most common credit score range, which runs from 300 to 850. How does your score compare with others? You're within the good credit score range, which runs from 690 to 719.