Credit scores are a vital part of your financial life & these days you can check your credit score by using some of the best credit score apps for free!
Credit score affects whether you’ll be able to buy a car, get a mortgage or rent an apartment, and even what interest rates you’ll pay for those things.
In the United States, lenders use credit reports from one of three major reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
Each agency has its own scoring model that is used by companies to calculate your credit score.
All three models have some key components in common – payment history being the most important – but they also weigh different factors differently, so there’s no single “best” scoring system.
According to Lexington Law, 6 in 10 Americans have a FICO score above 700.
So if you want to check your credit score too then in this article, we’re going to look at five great apps that can help you monitor your credit scores with ease and give you peace of mind.
What Is A Credit Score App?
A credit score app is a mobile or web application that lets you check your credit scores on the go.
With so much of our financial lives now taking place online, carrying access to your credit reports and scores in your pocket has never been more useful.
The average American consumer makes six credit card transactions per month, making it hard to keep track of money spent without some way to monitor it.
Credit score apps can also help you manage your debt, giving you insight into how much you owe to each creditor and letting you make payments directly through the app’s portal.
Payment history accounts for about 35% of a FICO user’s score, meaning that by staying current with their creditors, consumers can increase their rating over time.
The Best Features Of A Credit Score App
It’s important that you have a way to monitor your credit scores and debt levels, specifically if you’re looking to get back on track with paying off your loans.
The one thing that can help you out is a credit score app, which is specifically designed for this purpose.
Knowing what makes the best credit score app will help you find one that’s right for you. For example, many apps are free to download but have in-app purchases for more features.
The reason why you need access to these types of services is so that you know where your spending habits are taking you.
If there is any pattern of bad behavior (i.e., overspending), then there may be an underlying addiction to shopping or gambling.
A good credit score app will help you monitor your spending and even set up monthly budgets so that you can stick to them.
You also want to be able to check your credit scores on the go, regardless of where you are.
For instance, if you’re out shopping or at work all day, then it’s important that an app offers mobile capabilities so that you don’t have to log in when you get home.
Any app that doesn’t offer this feature is simply not worth downloading because it won’t be helpful enough for you while away from home or work.
The best apps provide detailed statistics about your debts and payments.
If there are any strange charges on your accounts, these apps should be able to find them for you by scanning, uploading, and analyzing your accounts.
This will help you stay on top of your bills and get the necessary notifications about any changes so that you can dispute them if need be.
Finally, look for an app with a good track record. You want one with positive online reviews and testimonials from people who’ve had success monitoring their credit scores and debts.
That way, you’ll know that it’s a good and reputable service to use and not some fly-by-night operation that will take your money and run.
Best Credit Score Apps
Here are our top 10 options based on:
- Mint — Best Overall Credit Score App
- Plaid — Best Credit Score App For Small Businesses
- Credit Karma — Best For Free Credit Score Reports
- LendingTree — Best All-In-One Credit Score App
- WalletHub — Best Free and Reliable Credit Score App
- Experian — Best For Immediate Credit Score Increase
- Self — Best For Building Credit From Scratch
- MyFICO — Best For FICO Credit Monitoring
- PrivacyGuard — Best Anti-Fraud Credit Score App
- Credit Sesame — Best for Personalized Tips
1. Mint — Best Overall Credit Score App
Mint is a personal finance app that allows users to track their financial information through various categories, such as spending habits.
It also features mobile capabilities and provides detailed statistics about debts and payments.
Mint was created in 2007 by Intuit Inc. to help people get organized with their finances and make better decisions about how they spend money.
To use Mint, you must have an account with a major bank or credit card company supported by the app, such as Bank of America or Citibank.
Pricing:
- Free
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free
- Great user experience
- Simple tools for budgeting
Cons
- Displays ads
- No joint accounts
- Weak investment tracking
2. Plaid — Best Credit Score App For Small Businesses
Plaid is an American company founded in 2012 by Noah Weiss, Eric Paley, and Alexis Ohanian.
The company provides a free credit card reader for small businesses to allow them to accept payments via any major credit or debit card.
It also offers account aggregation services and reporting tools for those who want to monitor their spending habits and debt levels.
Plaid’s core product is its mobile app which can be used by both consumers and business owners alike to monitor and analyze their finances with ease.
Pricing:
- Free
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Robust integration across all platforms
- Fraud detection
- Excellent support
Cons
- Long loading times
- Limited functionality
3. Credit Karma — Best For Free Credit Score Reports
Credit Karma is a free credit score app that monitors your credit scores, alerts you to errors in your reports, and offers personalized advice on how to improve your financial health.
It’s available for both Android and iOS. The app has over 110 million members who use the service every month.
It is considered one of the most popular apps in its category because it’s easy-to-use, comprehensive, and also free!
Pricing:
- Free
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free
- In-depth credit reports
- User-friendly app experience
Cons
- Auto-logout setting can’t be changed
- No FICO score
4. LendingTree — Best All-In-One Credit Score App
LendingTree is a credit score app that offers services to both consumers and businesses.
LendingTree provides credit reports from all 3 major bureaus, free of charge.
They also offer various services for borrowers and loan seekers, including mortgage rates comparison, auto lending options, homeowners insurance quotes, and more.
LendingTree’s proprietary Instant Offers program enables them to match you with the best loans in their network in real-time when you’re ready to buy or refinance your home.
The company works with lenders such as Quicken Loans and Veterans United Home Loans so you can get the best terms on your next mortgage.
Pricing:
- Free
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Access the app at no cost
- Loan services
- Numerous helpful features
Cons
- Irritating cold calls and emails
5. WalletHub — Best Free and Reliable Credit Score App
Wallet Hub is a credit score tracking app that has been designed to help you monitor your finances.
The app offers financial advice, tips on lowering debt, and the ability to track your credit scores through monthly monitoring of three major credit bureaus.
Wallet Hub also features an in-depth consumer report card for each state which helps you understand how well different states are doing financially.
Pricing:
- Free
Pros and Cons
Pros
- A credit score is updated daily
- Helpful financial tools
- Free
Cons
- Some users may find the interface confusing
- Limited functionality
6. Experian — Best For Immediate Credit Score Increase
Experian is a leading global information services company that provides data and analytical tools to clients around the world.
It is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and has operations in 32 countries.
Experian offers credit scores for US consumers via its subsidiary TransUnion Interactive; it also offers credit-related products such as identity theft protection.
Pricing:
- Free
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Does not charge any fee to users
- Helps strengthen credit score
- Only reports positive payment info
Cons
- Required access to your online checking account
- You can only earn points if you pay bills through an online checking account and not a credit card
7. Self — Best For Building Credit From Scratch
Self is a new credit score app that helps you monitor your finances.
It’s really easy to use, and it will track your spending habits so you can be sure to avoid debt in the future.
It has some great features, like an on-screen dashboard where you can view all of your accounts at once, as well as graphs showing how much money is coming in and going out of each account.
You’ll also have access to detailed information about what percentage of your monthly expenses are for food, gas, entertainment, etc., which gives you a better idea of how much money you’re actually saving each month.
Pricing:
- Starts at $25 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Improve your credit score
- Excellent customer support
- Different plans to suit your needs
Cons
- Not free, unlike the previously mentioned apps
8. MyFICO — Best For FICO Credit Monitoring
MyFICO is a credit score app that monitors your debt and helps you to manage it.
It’s one of the best credit score apps Of 2022 because it has an easy-to-use design, simple navigation, and user-friendly features.
The app can help you track your scores on all three major bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian) by giving you access to your reports from each bureau every month for just $19.95 per month.
Pricing:
- Basic: Starts at $19.95 per month
- Advanced: Starts at $29.95 per month
- Premier: Starts at $39.95 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Access to credit scores of all major bureaus
- Credit monitoring and alerts
- Identity theft insurance of $1M
Cons
- No free plan
- Slow reporting
9. PrivacyGuard — Best Anti-Fraud Credit Score App
PrivacyGuard is a credit score app that allows you to monitor your debt and stay on top of your finances.
The best part about PrivacyGuard is the security it provides for its users.
PrivacyGuard has been awarded an A+ from the Better Business Bureau because it offers users 24/7 customer service as well as fraud detection alerts, which means you’ll always know if someone tries to steal your identity through this app.
In addition, all personal information remains encrypted and secure, so not even hackers can see what’s going on inside the app.
Pricing:
- Credit Protection: Starts at $19.99 per month
- Total Protection: Starts at $24.99 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 24/7 credit monitoring
- Text and email alerts
- 14 day trial for just $1
Cons
- No free plans or free trial
- No family plan
10. Credit Sesame — Best for Personalized Tips
Credit Sesame is a credit monitoring service that varies from Credit Karma in a few ways.
This one provides users with instant access to their VantageScore from TransUnion. It also provides personalized advice depending on your credit profile and objectives.
Finally, it compiles all of your credit data and provides money-saving recommendations.
If you spend more on fees and interest, Credit Sesame also shows you solutions to lower your payments.
Pricing:
- Basic: Free
- Advanced: Starts at $9.95 per month
- Platinum: Starts at $19.95 per month
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comes with a free plan
- Great user experience
- Debt analysis and tracking
Cons
- Free tier lacks functionality
Comparison
| Credit Score App | Best For | Price | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint | Overall use | Free | Simple tools for budgeting | 4.8/5 |
| Plaid | Small businesses | Free | Fraud detection | 4.5/5 |
| Credit Karma | Credit score reports | Free | In-depth reports | 4.8/5 |
| LendingTree | All-in-one app | Free | Mortgage rates comparison | 4.7/5 |
| WalletHub | Free and reliable | Free | Credit score is updated daily | 4.6/5 |
Verdict
Credit score apps are constantly evolving to meet the demands of consumers. Your credit score might play a significant role in your financial situation.
While these consumer scores may not exactly match those used by lenders, they can give you a rough idea of what to expect and help you keep track of your progress.
This list is just a few of some of the best credit score apps Of 2022, but it’s always good to do your research before settling on an app that suits you and your needs.
FAQs
Do credit score apps work with ANY type of credit card?
No, not all credit apps work with every kind of credit card. It depends on the type of app and card company you use to find out which cards will be compatible with your apps.
Do I have to pay a monthly fee if I get a credit score app?
Different apps charge different fees. Most of the apps are free, but if you want to access your score on a monthly basis, it may cost you money.
Do credit score apps improve your credit score?
Most of these apps do not help to improve your credit score. They can only monitor how well or poorly you’re doing with your current credit cards and/or loans.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.