The best credit score app is one that shows the score and report a lender is likely to use, explains what's moving it and alerts you to changes. Check which bureau and scoring model it uses, what's free and whether it covers your country. Ten apps follow in no particular order, with steps before you apply for credit.
Checking your credit score used to mean paying for a report and waiting for the post. Now there are apps that update daily and send alerts when something changes. That's useful, as long as you know what you're looking at, because the number in one app often isn't the number in another.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, covering the US and the UK. Each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today. If you're preparing for a home loan while working for yourself, my notes on getting a mortgage when you're self-employed are worth reading too.
Credit score apps side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site describes a free score, free report or free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated. Some free apps earn money by showing you card and loan offers.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checkmyfile | UK multi-agency report | Seeing several UK agencies at once | Yes |
| ClearScore | UK credit score app | Free UK score with monthly updates | Yes |
| Credit Sesame | US credit score app | Score tracking with action tips | Yes |
| CreditWise | Credit monitoring app | Monitoring without being a customer | Yes |
| Experian | Credit bureau app | Seeing your FICO score from a bureau | Yes |
| Grow Credit | Score-building card | Building credit through subscriptions | Yes |
| myFICO | FICO score tracking | Scores from the company behind FICO | Yes |
| NerdWallet | Finance app with scores | Credit checks alongside money guides | Yes |
| TotallyMoney | UK credit score app | Seeing eligibility before you apply | Yes |
| WalletHub | Credit and budgeting app | Daily score updates | Yes |
Ten credit score apps
Checkmyfile
Best for: UK users applying for a mortgage who want to see data from more than one agency before a lender checks it.
ClearScore
Best for: UK adults who want a free score and report they can check monthly without signing up for a trial.
Credit Sesame
Best for: US users who want score tracking plus suggestions on which balances or habits to change first.
CreditWise
Best for: People in the US who want free monitoring alerts from a bank, even if they don't hold a Capital One card.
Experian
Best for: Anyone in the US who wants their Experian report and a FICO score straight from the bureau itself.
Grow Credit
Best for: People with thin credit files who want to build history by paying streaming and phone subscriptions on a card.
myFICO
Best for: Borrowers preparing for a big loan who want the FICO versions lenders often use, from the company that makes them.
NerdWallet
Best for: Readers who already use its guides and want their score, cards and accounts tracked in the same free app.
TotallyMoney
Best for: Shoppers in the UK who want to see how likely they are to be accepted for a card or loan before they apply.
WalletHub
Best for: Score-watchers in the US who like daily updates and a breakdown of what moved their number.
Why your score is different in every app
If you've seen three different numbers in three apps, nothing's wrong. The CFPB says you have more than one credit score: scores can be calculated using different data from different credit reporting companies or at different times, and lenders use different credit scores for different types of loans.
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What that means for you: treat any app's number as a guide, not the exact score a lender will see. Check which bureau and scoring model each app uses, and watch the direction of travel rather than the precise number on one day.
Monitoring apps, bureau apps and credit builders
Monitoring apps show a score and report, with alerts when something changes and tips on what to improve. Bureau apps come straight from a credit reference agency, so you see that agency's own data. Credit-builder apps are different again: they help people with thin files build history, for example by reporting regular payments.
If you're simply keeping an eye on things, one free monitoring app is enough. Before a big application, check the bureau data a lender is likely to use.
Checking your credit before a big application
- Look at your full report, not just the score.
- Check every account listed is yours and the details are right.
- Dispute anything wrong with the agency that holds it.
- Pay down card balances if you can, as high usage often weighs on scores.
- Avoid lots of new applications in the months before a mortgage.
- Check again shortly before you apply, in case anything has changed.
Before you borrow
- Read the whole report. Old addresses and linked people can matter as much as the score.
- Know the process. My plain steps to getting a loan walk through what lenders look at.
- Watch the offers. Pre-approved offers in an app aren't guaranteed approvals.
- Keep old accounts open. Closing your oldest card can shorten your credit history.
Do you make a credit score app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a credit score app
If you just want to keep an eye on your credit, a free monitoring app with alerts is plenty. If a mortgage or car loan is coming up, look at the agency data lenders are likely to check and fix any mistakes early.
Be wary of apps that push lots of card and loan offers at you; they're often how the free score is funded. Use the score to spot problems, not as a reason to apply for something new.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free credit score app?
Several apps here offer a free score and report. In the US and UK, the right one depends on which agency's data you want to see.
Why is my credit score different in each app?
The CFPB says you have more than one score, because they're calculated from different data and models, and lenders use different scores.
Do credit score apps show the score lenders use?
Not always. Apps use different bureaus and scoring models, so the number can differ from the one a lender checks.
Which credit score app is best in the UK?
Look for an app that shows data from the UK agency your lender is likely to use, or one that shows several agencies.
Can an app help me build credit?
Some credit-builder apps help people with little history by reporting regular payments to the agencies.
How often should I check my credit score?
Monthly is plenty for most people, with extra checks before a big application such as a mortgage.
