You can get a free credit report each year from all three of the major credit reporting agencies. A full credit report details your full financial history, including credit and loan accounts, how much you owe on each account, any late payments, and more. Checking your credit report can help you learn how to maintain a good credit score, as you can check for errors and see what lenders see.
A detailed credit report tells lenders, landlords, and employers about your history of handling money. Discover what sources to use to check your credit report and improve your score.
Equifax is the oldest of the three major credit reporting bureaus. It uses the VantageScore model to determine your credit score on a scale from 350 to 850. You can get a free annual credit report by setting up a myEquifax account.
Equifax also has a free reporting locking service that helps protect you from identity theft. You can lock and unlock your Equifax credit report from your smartphone if you suspect an instance of fraud.
In some cases, you may be able to access more than one free credit report each year. For example, you could get multiple free credit reports if any of the following apply to your situation:
- You’re unemployed and looking for a job
- You’re receiving public assistance
- You’re a victim of identity theft
- You’ve been denied credit based on your report within 60 days
If none of these scenarios apply to you, but you want to obtain another credit report, you can purchase another credit report for $15.95.
Equifax Pros:
- One of the three major credit bureaus
- Provides one free credit report annually
- Free locking service
- Has the lowest cost for additional reports
Equifax Cons:
- Fewest business services
- No credit monitoring options
Banks, credit card companies, lenders, and other financial agencies report account information to the three bureaus, but you may find slightly different scores or information between them. Discrepancies often occur because federal law does not require institutions to report details to all (or even one) of the three bureaus.
If you are applying for a loan or line of credit, the lender typically looks at at least one of your reports. This is why it could benefit you to look at your credit history with each major bureau. Check out how to get an Experian credit report each year and when you may need it.
Another source for a credit score check is Experian, another one of the three big reporting agencies. Like Equifax, you can request a free Experian credit report each year and check the information for errors or suspicious behavior. Additional reports per year cost $19.99 each.
Experian’s credit monitoring services set this bureau apart from the other two. Not only can you monitor your Experian credit report, but you can also keep an eye on your report from the other two agencies.
Although Experian uses the VantageScore model, it can also show your Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) score. A FICO score uses five – instead of six – categories to calculate your score. Many lenders prefer to see your FICO score, as it is older than the VantageScore model.
The Experian Boost service claims to increase your FICO rating. Experian Boost is a free service that connects utilities, streaming services, and other bills to your Experian account. Each on-time payment of a connected account can help improve your score.
Experian Pros:
- One of the three major credit bureaus
- Provides one free credit report annually
- Offers free credit boosting services
Experian Cons:
- Purchased reports are only valid for one-time viewings
- Has high monthly subscription costs for premium credit and identity protection
You can order all 3 credit reports plus your FICO rating from Experian for $39.99. Like a single Experian credit report, this multi-report purchase is only available for a one-time view.
The third major credit reporting bureau is TransUnion, and it may be a good option for you if you’re looking to manage your business’ credit. Next, discover how one of the newest reporting agencies could help your small business.
Another option to get your credit report is to order one from TransUnion, the smallest of the major credit bureaus. Like Equifax, you can request a free TransUnion credit report each year and check the information for errors or suspicious behavior. Subsequent reports cost $19.95.
In addition to a free credit report, the organization offers credit freezing, disputes, and fraud alerts at no charge. You can also get credit and identity monitoring through the TransUnion TrueIdentity, which comes with an insurance value up to $25,000. True Identity also gives you unlimited TransUnion credit report refreshes.
Premium services tend to provide more insurance coverage, like IdentityForce, which provides up to $1 million in insurance protection. Premium subscriptions start at $24.95 per month.
TransUnion Pros:
- One of the three major credit bureaus
- Provides one free credit report annually
- Offers credit monitoring and identity theft protection
- Business services
TransUnion Cons:
- Free trials are automatically billed to you if you do not cancel
TransUnion also offers credit scores for businesses and more services for businesses than the other bureaus. Some TransUnion business services include the following:
- Tenant screening for landlords
- Candidate credit reports for employers
- Fraud detection
- Portfolio management
TransUnion also uses the VantageScore model, but each agency calculates your score using a set of unique methods. You can get credit report assistance from each agency individually, or you can request all three credit reports from one entity. Save time by learning how to get reports from the only government-approved agency.
You can get a free annual credit report from all three major companies from one website. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only provider authorized by law to provide free reports. All 3 credit reports come directly from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
You can get your free credit report once every 12 months. It may be a good idea to check all three scores before a third party looks at them, such as a lender when you are applying for a mortgage. Review your reports to ensure all the information is correct.
You can also request just one report every four months to get free credit information year-round. For example, you could get your Equifax credit report in January, Experian in May, and TransUnion in September.
While you can get your credit report online, you can also request it by phone or mail if you prefer. Both the phone and mail methods can take up to 15 days, plus applicable delivery time.
You can find information to help protect yourself from identity theft, learn how to file a dispute, and change errors regarding your information. The site also details current contact information for each reporting bureau.
AnnualCreditReport.com Pros:
- A federally authorized agency
- Provides free credit reports annually
- Offers multiple ways to request credit reports
AnnualCreditReport.com Cons:
- No credit monitoring or identity theft protection services
- No user tools, like credit simulators
Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and AnnualCreditReports.com are the direct sources to get your reports. However, third parties may offer beneficial information and services to help you improve your credit score and avoid identity theft.
Companies like Credit Wise facilitate the credit report process, have tools to monitor your credit, and keep an eye on applications that use your Social Security number. It can send you an alert if something shows up on either your Experian or TransUnion credit report.
All three major credit reporting bureaus use the VantageScore model. If you want insight into your FICO score, the next source has your rating and credit reports from the three major credit agencies.
Many lenders use your FICO score to determine your creditworthiness. You can get this score and a detailed credit report for all of the bureaus by using MyFICO.com. You cannot get a free credit report through the site, but you can purchase a one-time report for $19.95 or all three for $59.85.
All reports have your FICO score and scores for any mortgages, car loans, and credit cards you have. The site also has analysis and education tools to help you understand your score.
MyFICO.com Pros:
- Get your FICO score
- Part of the Fair Isaac Company
- Subscriptions come with $1 million identity theft insurance
- Reports provide comprehensive information
- Has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
MyFICO.com Cons:
- No free credit reports
- Prices for one-time reports may be higher than reports directly from the source
If you choose a monthly subscription plan, you can get access to credit and identity monitoring services. The top premier plan includes credit reports from all three bureaus each month for $39.95, which may be less expensive than ordering the three reports monthly.
Identity theft can cost you hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Your Social Security number and other identifying financial information are prone to leaks, hacks, and other incidents leading to identity theft.
It’s important to check your credit report regularly, whether you use a subscription monitoring plan or take advantage of the free reports. Getting your credit reports before applying for new credit could save you a lot of hassle if you find errors or instances of fraud.