You can view your credit score through your bank, credit card issuer, or a free online service — most people have at least one option available without paying anything.
Your bank or credit card company often shows your score for free in their online portal or mobile app. Log in to your account and look for a section labeled "Credit Score," "Credit Health," or "Financial Health." Not every bank offers this, but most major ones do — Chase, Bank of America, Discover, American Express, and Capital One all display scores to their customers at no cost.
If your bank doesn't show your score, you can get it free from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion — the three companies that calculate and store your credit information. Each one runs a website where you can view your score without paying. You can also visit AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official site for getting your free credit report once per year (the report itself is different from the score, but some services show both).
A third option is a free credit monitoring service like Credit Karma, NerdWallet, or Discover's free credit monitoring tool. These show your score and update it regularly, though they make money by showing you ads or referring you to financial products.
Key Takeaways
- Your bank or credit card company's app or website often displays your credit score at no cost — check your online account first.
- Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion each offer free score viewing on their own websites, though the score may differ slightly between them.
- Free credit monitoring services like Credit Karma show your score and update it regularly, but they are supported by advertising and referral fees.
- Paying for a credit score is rarely necessary — most free options update monthly and show you the same information a paid service would.
What your bank or credit card shows you
The score your bank displays is usually a VantageScore or FICO Score 8 — both are real credit scores that lenders recognize. The exact score may differ slightly from what a lender sees, because lenders sometimes use older FICO versions or industry-specific scores. But the number your bank shows you is accurate enough to understand where you stand.
Not all banks show scores. If you log into your account and don't see a credit section after a few clicks, call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask whether they offer free credit score viewing. If they don't, move to one of the other free options below.
Checking your score directly from the credit bureaus
Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are the three major credit reporting agencies. Each one maintains a file on you and calculates a score based on that file. You can visit each bureau's website and view your score for free — you will need to create an account and verify your identity by answering security questions or providing personal information.
The three bureaus may show you slightly different scores because they don't always have identical information about you. This is normal. If you want to see all three, you can check each one separately, or you can use a free monitoring service that pulls from all three at once.
The bureaus are:
- Experian.com
- Equifax.com
- TransUnion.com
Using free credit monitoring services
Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and similar services show your credit score and update it regularly — usually weekly or monthly. They don't charge you anything. They make money by showing you ads for credit cards, loans, and other financial products, and by earning a referral fee when you click through and open an account.
These services are safe to use. They pull your score from the credit bureaus the same way a bank does, and they don't have access to your bank account or the ability to make charges. The trade-off is that you will see advertisements and product recommendations tailored to your credit profile.
If you don't mind the ads and want a simple way to track your score over time, a free monitoring service is convenient. If you prefer to avoid advertising, checking your bank's app or visiting the bureau websites directly works just as well.
Understanding score differences between services
You may notice your score is different depending on where you check it. A score from your bank might be 680, while Experian shows 675, and Credit Karma shows 690. These differences are real but usually small, and they happen for a few reasons.
Different services may use different scoring models — FICO Score 8, VantageScore 3.0, or industry-specific versions. They may also pull from different credit bureaus or pull at different times, and your file can change slightly from day to day as new information is reported. A 10 or 15-point difference between services is normal and not a sign that something is wrong.
What matters is the range you fall into — whether you're in the poor, fair, good, or excellent range — rather than the exact number. Most lenders care more about that range than about whether your score is 710 or 715.
What you need to know about free versus paid services
Paying for a credit score is almost never necessary. Paid services promise things like "real-time monitoring" or "expert analysis," but the score itself is the same whether you pay for it or not. The credit bureaus calculate the same score whether you view it free or pay $15 a month.
Some paid services include credit monitoring that alerts you if something suspicious happens on your report — like a new account opened in your name. You can get similar alerts from free services, or you can check your credit report yourself once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com to catch fraud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit score hurt my credit?
No. Checking your own score is a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your credit at all. Only hard inquiries — when a lender checks your score because you applied for credit — can lower your score slightly and temporarily.
Why do I see different scores on different websites?
Different services use different scoring models and may pull from different credit bureaus or at different times. A 10 to 15-point difference is normal. What matters is whether you're in the poor, fair, good, or excellent range, not the exact number.
Can I get my credit score from AnnualCreditReport.com?
AnnualCreditReport.com gives you your free credit report once per year, not your score. The report shows your account history and balances. Some credit bureaus show your score on their own websites, which is separate from the report.
Is Credit Karma safe to use?
Yes. Credit Karma pulls your score from the credit bureaus the same way a bank does. It cannot access your bank account or make charges. It makes money through ads and referral fees, not by selling your data to third parties.
What if my bank doesn't show my credit score?
Visit Experian.com, Equifax.com, or TransUnion.com directly, or use a free monitoring service like Credit Karma. All three options are free and show you the same information your bank would.