Your credit score is crucial for your financial future as it affects your ability to get loans and credit cards. As such, you should always have at least a vague idea of what your score is. It is better to regularly monitor your credit score as this lets you address any changes or errors immediately. The best credit score app will automate that process for you. Explore the top credit monitoring apps available, including both free and paid options.
The best credit score app for one person may not be the best for another. It depends on your budget and what features you want to be included. But as you consider credit monitoring apps, keep the following factors in mind:
Our top picks for paid and free credit score apps already account for the factors that aren’t based on personal preference. But you will also have to decide on some factors, such as your budget and what additional features you want, from budgeting to score simulators.
CreditKarma stands out for being a credit monitoring service that is always free. There is no upgrade option, so you will not pay for this service. The reporting is highly accurate and gets information from both TransUnion and Equifax. In addition, CreditKarma has some nice features to help you control your finances.
It is completely free to use CreditKarma’s credit monitoring service. You don’t even have to submit a credit card number, so there is no risk of the company charging you. The company makes money via advertising and partnerships.
CreditKarma is an incredibly useful option for those who want to monitor their FICO scores without paying anything. The application is easy to use, and you can access your account via your computer if you prefer. Consider this app if you just need the basics of credit monitoring.
As the name myFICO implies, this is the official credit monitoring app from FICO. As such, it reports and monitors your FICO score, which is what 90% of financial institutions use. This is a paid app with three pricing plans to choose from based on how many credit bureaus you want reporting from.
myFICO offers three plans for monitoring your credit score.
The Basic Plan costs $19.95 a month. It only includes reporting from Experian and monthly updates. The plan includes everything else except identity monitoring. You still get identity theft insurance and 24x7 identity restoration.
The Advanced Plan costs $29.95 a month. It adds identity monitoring and provides coverage for all three bureaus. Updates are every three months.
The Premier Plan is $39.95 a month. It is identical to the Advanced Plan but with monthly updates.
myFICO provides accurate reporting on your FICO credit score as it comes directly from FICO. The only downside is that it is a paid service, and the cost can add up over time if you want reporting from all three bureaus. As such, this app will be best for those who need to keep a very close eye on their credit score for some reason—perhaps, you are getting ready to apply for a loan like a mortgage or have had credit issues in the past.
Credit Sesame is another option for free credit score apps. In addition to the credit monitoring, you get monthly updates on your score, along with tools to restore your identity if it is stolen. There are available upgrades and other services available from Credit Sesame.
The free credit monitoring app from Credit Sesame is completely free, without any need to enter your credit card details. Like CreditKarma, Credit Sesame earns money via advertising and other strategic partnerships.
Importantly, Credit Sesame does offer upgraded plans. But you need to sign up for a free account before you can view the details of the plans. The Advanced plan costs $9.95 a month, while the Platinum Protection plan costs $14.95.
Credit Sesame is another strong choice for those who just need the basics of credit monitoring and prefer not to pay. It stands out from other free services with its identity theft insurance, giving you extra peace of mind. The fact that you don’t have to enter your credit card details gives you confidence that there won’t be any unexpected charges.
Mint is primarily a personal finance app, so you get much more than just the ability to monitor your credit score. You also get useful tools for budgeting and more. Mint additionally offers suggestions to let you know which credit cards you would likely be approved for and how those cards would affect your score.
It is free to sign up for and use Mint. Mint makes its money by working with partners to provide offers to clients.
Mint is worth considering for those who want a free app that does much more than just monitor your credit score. It also helps with overall money management thanks to its budgeting and categorization features, as well as the ability to connect all of your accounts. Because it is free, there is no risk in trying Mint to see if you like it. The absence of a fee also means you can use Mint along with a paid service that monitors your FICO score so that you get reports from all the major bureaus.
While most of the apps on this list do more than just monitor your credit score, that is the main purpose of CreditWise. The app is free for everyone, even if you aren’t a Capital One member. If you have a Capital One account, you can log into CreditWise with that account. If you aren’t, you can create an account.
CreditWise is free, even if you aren’t a Capital One client.
If your main goal is to monitor your credit score and you don’t need additional features to create a personal finance plan, CreditWise is a good choice. It is free and easy to use. It also stands out with the convenient credit simulator.
Experian CreditWorks comes directly from Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. This means that you can count on it to deliver accurate information. The app lets you choose from a free and paid version, the latter of which has additional features.
You can choose from the free Basic Plan or the paid Premium Plan. The latter costs $24.99 a month. If you pay for a full year, it is just $249.99, saving you $49.89 over what you would pay month-to-month for 12 months.
There is also a seven-day free trial for the Premium version. Take advantage of this if you are considering upgrading.
Experian CreditWise appeals to those who want information directly from one of the bureaus. The Basic version is especially appealing for those on a budget, but remember that you only get data from Experian. The paid version is worth considering if you want to monitor your score more closely, especially with its seven-day free trial.
TransUnion’s Credit Score Monitoring Services is yet another option that comes directly from one of the three major credit bureaus. This service is paid, but it can be worth it if you want to keep a close eye on your VantageScore 3.0.
TransUnion’s credit monitoring is a premium feature. It costs $29.95 a month. You can get a free copy of your credit score and report once a year from TransUnion.
The credit monitoring app from TransUnion is another solid option if you want an app created by one of the major credit bureaus. It is one of the more expensive apps on this list, however, so it is best for those who want to keep a very close eye on their credit score.
The best credit score app depends on your priorities and preferences. If you want one of the free credit score apps that focuses on your credit score, consider CreditKarma, Credit Sesame, or CreditWise by Capital One. If you want additional budgeting features in addition to your FICO scores, consider Mint. If you want a paid app directly from a major credit bureau, consider myFICO, TransUnion, or Experian CreditWorks.
At the very least, you should check your credit score once a year for free. Many people, however, feel more comfortable when they regularly monitor their credit scores. Downloading a credit monitoring service will give you updated scores and alert you to any important changes or potential fraud. The best paid apps also include identity theft insurance, credit simulators, and other features. To choose which apps to download, consider your budget and ideal features.