You can see your credit score through your bank, credit card company, or a free online service — most people have access to at least one without paying
Your bank or credit card issuer often shows your score in your online account or mobile app at no cost. If you have a checking account, a credit card, or a loan with a major bank, log in and look for a section called "Credit Score," "Credit Health," "Credit Insights," or similar. Many banks started adding this feature around 2018 and now offer it as standard.
If your bank does not display your score, you can get it free from AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official site where you can request your credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — the three major credit reporting agencies. The report itself is free once per year from each bureau. Some bureaus also show your score on that same report, though not all do.
Free credit monitoring services like Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and Discover's Credit Scorecard show your score without requiring a credit card or paid subscription. These services make money by showing you ads and offers, not by charging you. Your score updates monthly or more often, and you can check as many times as you want.
Key Takeaways
- Your bank or credit card company likely shows your credit score free in your online account — check your login first before looking elsewhere.
- AnnualCreditReport.com is the official government site where you can request your credit report and sometimes your score from all three major bureaus once per year at no cost.
- Free credit monitoring services like Credit Karma and NerdWallet show your score and update it regularly without requiring you to pay or provide a credit card.
- Different services may show slightly different scores because they use different scoring models, but the score from your bank or lender is usually the one that matters most for decisions about you.
- Checking your own score does not lower it — only hard inquiries from lenders and creditors affect your score.
How to check through your bank or credit card company
Log into your online banking account or credit card account and look for a section about credit or financial health. The label varies by institution — Chase calls it "Credit Journey," Bank of America calls it "Credit Tracker," and Capital One calls it "CreditWise." If you cannot find it, call the customer service number on the back of your card or your bank statement and ask whether they offer free credit score monitoring.
The score you see through your bank is usually a VantageScore or FICO score, depending on which bureau and model the bank uses. Both are legitimate scores that lenders recognize. The exact number may differ from scores you see elsewhere because different lenders use different scoring models, but the range is usually similar.
How to get your score from the credit bureaus directly
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and request your credit report from one or all three bureaus. You are may have access to to one free report per bureau per year under federal law. When you request the report, some bureaus will show your credit score on the same page or in an email shortly after.
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each have their own websites where you can also check your score directly, but those sites often ask you to sign up for a paid monitoring service to see the score. Using AnnualCreditReport.com keeps you in the free tier. If you want to check your score more than once per year, you will need to use a free monitoring service or pay for a subscription through one of the bureaus.
Free credit monitoring services that show your score
Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and Discover's Credit Scorecard all show your credit score free and update it regularly. You create an account by providing your name, address, and Social Security number — the same information you would give to any lender. These services pull your score from one or more of the three major bureaus.
The trade-off is that these services show you targeted credit card offers, loan offers, and other financial products based on your score and profile. You are not required to click on any offers or apply for anything. The companies make money from lenders who pay to advertise to you, not from you directly.
These services are safe to use — they are established companies with privacy policies and security measures. Your score updates monthly or sometimes more often, so you can track changes over time. You can check your score as many times as you want without any penalty.
Why your score might differ between services
Credit scores come in different models. The most common are FICO scores and VantageScores. FICO scores range from 300 to 850 and are used by most lenders. VantageScores also range from 300 to 850 but use a different calculation method. Within FICO, there are also industry-specific versions — one for auto loans, one for mortgages, one for credit cards — and they can vary slightly.
Your bank might show you a FICO score, Credit Karma might show you a VantageScore, and AnnualCreditReport might show you a different FICO version. These are all real scores, but they are not identical because they weight different factors differently. The score that matters most is the one your lender actually uses — usually a FICO score for mortgages and auto loans, and sometimes a VantageScore for credit cards or personal loans.
What to do after you check your score
Once you have your score, review your credit report for errors. You can get your report free from AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for accounts you do not recognize, incorrect payment history, or personal information that is wrong. If you find an error, contact the bureau in writing and dispute it — the bureau must investigate within 30 days.
If your score is lower than you expected, check your report for the reasons. Common factors are late payments, high credit card balances, too many recent inquiries, or a short credit history. You cannot change your history, but you can work on paying down balances and making payments on time going forward. These changes take time to show up in your score, usually several months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score at all. Only hard inquiries from lenders and creditors when you apply for credit lower your score, and usually only by a few points.
Which credit score should I trust if they are all different?
The score that matters most is the one your lender actually uses. For mortgages and auto loans, that is usually a FICO score. For credit cards, it might be a VantageScore or a FICO score. Ask your lender which score and model they use, or assume FICO if you are unsure — it is the most common.
Is it safe to use free credit monitoring websites?
Yes. Services like Credit Karma and NerdWallet are legitimate companies regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. They use encryption and security measures to protect your information. You are not required to apply for any offers they show you.
Can I get my credit score more than once per year?
Yes. Your free annual report from AnnualCreditReport.com covers once per year per bureau, but free monitoring services like Credit Karma update your score monthly or more often. You can check through your bank anytime as well.
What if I do not have a bank account or credit card?
You can still request your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com and see your score if the bureau includes it. You can also use a free monitoring service — you do not need a credit card to sign up, only your name, address, and Social Security number.