How to Check Your Credit Score for Free—and What to Do Next

If you're just starting your credit journey or trying to turn things around, one of the best first steps you can take is checking your credit score. Thankfully, this doesn’t require spending a dime. In fact, you can check your credit score for free—safely and easily.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to get your score, what those numbers actually mean, and what to do next to improve it.

Why Your Credit Score Matters

Your credit score is a three-digit number that reflects your creditworthiness—essentially, how risky it would be to lend you money. It affects everything from getting approved for credit cards and loans to renting an apartment and even landing certain jobs.

A better score opens more doors. A lower score doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever, but it does mean you’ll have to work a bit harder to prove yourself to lenders. The good news? You can absolutely improve it with the right game plan.

Where to Check Your Credit Score for Free

You don’t have to pay a subscription fee or sign up for sketchy “free trial” offers. These are legitimate, no-strings-attached ways to access your score:

1. Credit Card Issuers and Banks

Many banks and credit card companies offer free credit score access to their customers. Here are a few examples:

Discover Credit Scorecard – Open to anyone, not just Discover customers. Uses your FICO Score based on TransUnion data.

Capital One CreditWise – Free for everyone, provides a VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion.

Chase Credit Journey – Offers a VantageScore 3.0 and educational tools, even if you’re not a Chase customer.

2. Credit Monitoring Services

There are several reputable companies that provide free access to your credit score and more:

Credit Karma – One of the most popular free services, offering VantageScores from TransUnion and Equifax.

Credit Sesame – Offers a free TransUnion VantageScore and insights into your credit profile.

WalletHub – Provides free daily updates to your TransUnion VantageScore.

3. Experian

Experian offers free access to your FICO Score 8, the score used by most lenders. You’ll need to create an account, but there’s no credit card required.

4. AnnualCreditReport.com

While this site doesn’t give you your credit score, it’s the only place authorized by federal law where you can get your full credit reports from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Reviewing your credit report is crucial to understanding the “why” behind your score.

FICO Score vs. VantageScore: What’s the Difference?

You might see different numbers depending on where you check your score. That’s because there are two main scoring models: FICO and VantageScore. Both range from 300 to 850 and weigh similar factors, but each calculates things a little differently.

Don’t stress about small differences. Focus instead on the overall direction and what’s in your credit report.

What Your Credit Score Means

Here’s a general breakdown of credit score ranges:

Excellent (800–850) – You’ll likely qualify for the best rates and terms.

Very Good (740–799) – Strong approval odds and good terms.

Good (670–739) – Most lenders consider this an acceptable score.

Fair (580–669) – You might still qualify, but often with higher interest rates.

Poor (300–579) – Time to focus on rebuilding. But don’t worry—you can absolutely improve from here.

What to Do After You Check Your Score

Once you know your number, the real work begins. Here's how to move forward based on where you are today.

If You Have a Poor or Fair Score:

Get a Secured Credit Card: These are designed for credit-building and require a refundable deposit.

Pay on Time, Every Time: Payment history is the biggest factor in your score.

Lower Your Credit Utilization: Try to use less than 30% of your available credit—ideally under 10%.

Dispute Any Errors: If you find mistakes on your credit report, dispute them with the bureau.

If You Have a Good or Excellent Score:

Maintain Low Balances: Keep credit card balances low to maintain your utilization ratio.

Don’t Close Old Accounts: Older credit accounts help your score through the length of credit history.

Use a Mix of Credit: Installment loans (like auto or student loans) plus revolving credit (like credit cards) show you can manage different types of debt.

For Everyone:

Set Up Alerts: Use apps or services to notify you about due dates, unusual activity, or changes to your score.

Check Regularly, But Don’t Obsess: Once a month is plenty. Watching your score grow slowly over time is more helpful than stressing over every tiny change.

Final Thoughts: Your Score Isn’t Set in Stone

Checking your credit score for free is a powerful first step—but it’s just that, a first step. Whether your score needs a little polish or a full-on rescue mission, you’ve got options.

Remember, credit isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing steady, responsible use over time. And the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see progress.

You've got this. One step at a time.