Where to view your credit score
You can view your credit score through three main routes: directly from the credit bureaus themselves, through your bank or credit card issuer, or through free third-party websites that pull your score from one or more bureaus.
The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — each maintain a copy of your credit history and calculate a score based on it. You can visit each bureau's website directly to purchase your score, though most people find free options more practical. Equifax operates AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official site for your free annual credit report (the report itself, not the score), but does not include your score without payment.
Your bank or credit card company often provides your score at no cost if you log into your online account. Chase, Bank of America, Discover, American Express, and Capital One all show scores to their customers. The score they show may come from a different bureau than the others use, so you may see slightly different numbers across your accounts.
Key Takeaways
- Free credit score sites like Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and Experian.com show your score without requiring payment, though the exact number may vary slightly depending on which bureau provides it.
- Your bank or credit card company usually displays your score in your online account at no cost, updated monthly or more frequently.
- The three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) may calculate slightly different scores for you because they use different data and formulas.
- Your free annual credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com shows your history but not your score; you need a separate source to see the actual number.
- Checking your own score does not lower it, so you can look as often as you want without penalty.
Free third-party websites that show your score
Credit Karma, NerdWallet, Experian.com, and Discover's CreditScoreCard all display your credit score without charging you. These sites pull your score from one or more of the three bureaus and update it regularly — usually monthly, sometimes more often. They make money by showing you credit offers (credit cards, loans, insurance) that match your score range, not by charging you to see the number.
The score you see on these sites is real and reflects how lenders will see you, though the exact number may differ slightly from what your bank shows you. This happens because different bureaus use different data, and some lenders report to all three bureaus while others report to only one or two. A difference of 10 to 20 points across different sources is normal and not a sign of error.
When you create an account on any of these sites, you will need to verify your identity by answering security questions based on your credit history. This takes a few minutes and happens only once. After that, you can log in and see your score whenever you want.
Checking your score through your bank or credit card
Most major banks and credit card companies now show your score in your online account or mobile app. Log into your account and look for a section labeled "Credit Score," "Credit Health," "Credit Insights," or similar. The location varies by institution — sometimes it is on the main dashboard, sometimes under a "Tools" or "Account" menu.
The score your bank shows you comes from one of the three bureaus, and different institutions use different bureaus. Your Chase account might show an Equifax score while your American Express shows a TransUnion score. This is why you may see different numbers across your accounts. All three numbers are legitimate; lenders simply prefer different bureaus.
Bank-provided scores update monthly or sometimes more frequently. You do not need to do anything to see it — it appears automatically once you log in. This is one of the easiest ways to check your score if you already bank with an institution that offers it.
Understanding why your scores differ across sources
Your credit score is not a single number that every lender sees. Instead, each of the three bureaus calculates its own score based on the information it has about you. Because not all creditors report to all three bureaus, each bureau may have slightly different information on file. A credit card company might report to Equifax and TransUnion but not Experian, which means Experian's file on you will be missing that account.
Additionally, different scoring models exist. The most common is the FICO score, but VantageScore is also widely used, and some lenders use proprietary models. A site showing you a VantageScore will display a different number than a site showing you a FICO score, even if both pull from the same bureau. When you check your score, look for which model and which bureau it uses — that information is usually displayed on the page.
Differences of 10 to 30 points between sources are normal and do not indicate a problem. If you see a much larger gap — 50 points or more — it may mean one bureau has incorrect information about you, which is worth investigating through your free annual credit report.
What to do after you view your score
Once you know your score, you can use it to understand what interest rates and terms you might receive if you apply for credit. Lenders have score ranges they target — a mortgage lender might focus on borrowers with scores above 620, while a credit card company might target scores above 700. Knowing your range helps you decide whether to apply and which products to pursue.
If your score is lower than you expected, review your credit report for errors or accounts you do not recognize. You can get your free annual report from AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for late payments, high balances, or accounts that should not be there. If you find an error, you can dispute it directly with the bureau that reported it.
If your score is accurate but lower than you want, the most effective steps are paying down existing balances (especially on credit cards), making all payments on time going forward, and not opening multiple new accounts in a short period. These changes take time to show up in your score — usually one to three months — but they are the most reliable ways to improve it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit score lower it?
No. When you check your own score, it is called a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your score at all. Only hard inquiries — when a lender checks your score because you applied for credit — may lower your score slightly and temporarily. You can check your own score as often as you want without any penalty.
Why does my score look different on different websites?
Different websites pull from different credit bureaus, and the bureaus may have different information about you because not all creditors report to all three. Additionally, some sites show FICO scores while others show VantageScore, which use different formulas. Differences of 10 to 30 points are normal. If the gap is much larger, one bureau may have incorrect information.
Is the score my bank shows me the same one lenders will see?
Probably, but not always. Your bank shows you a score from one of the three bureaus, and most lenders use scores from the same bureaus. However, some lenders use specialized scoring models or pull from a bureau your bank does not use. The score your bank shows is a good indicator of where you stand, but a lender may see a slightly different number.
Can I get my credit score from AnnualCreditReport.com?
No. AnnualCreditReport.com provides your free annual credit report (the detailed history), but not your score. To see your score, use a free third-party site like Credit Karma or Experian.com, or check your bank or credit card account. Your report and your score are two different things.
How often should I check my credit score?
There is no set frequency. Some people check monthly to track progress, while others check only when they are planning to apply for credit. Since checking does not lower your score, you can look as often as you want. If you are working to improve your score, checking every one to three months gives you time to see the impact of your changes.