The best free credit report is the one you’ll be able to access easily and refer to repeatedly. Once you’ve chosen the best free credit report, you’ll want to use the same company for future needs. This article focuses on how to determine the best free credit report for your needs, the difference between a credit report and a credit score, and the options available to consumers. Be informed because your credit rating is an important part of your consumer identity and your life. Poor credit can drastically change your opportunities, and it is your responsibility to know the condition of your credit.
Comparison Table
PRODUCT | WEBSITE |
|---|---|
IdentityForce  image by Identity Force | |
Wallethub  image by Maverick Merchant | |
Creditkarma  image by Creditkarma | |
Creditsesame  image by Creditsesame | |
Quizzle  image by Bankrate |
Credit Report FAQ
image by unsplash
Credit reports differ in their comprehensiveness, so getting a full report for free may be a challenge, but partial credit reports are available. It is important to understand the difference between a full credit report, a partial credit report, and a credit score. The first, a credit report, is free by law from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion once every twelve months, or whenever applying for a loan, but the report alone may be deceptive and simply bring up further questions. The entire system is confusing because a score sounds simplistic and a report sounds comprehensive, but the score is the more important piece of information.
1. What Is Credit Monitoring?
2. What Does a Credit Score Accomplish?
3. Why Would Anyone Pay for a Credit Report?
4. Where Can You Buy Credit Reporting Plans?
5. What Are Some Common Credit Report Problems?
6. What Protection Do I Have by Law?
7. How Do I Determine the Best Free Credit Report?
How We Reviewed
The following best free credit report sites have been identified based on parameters helpful to the average consumer. We included Features, Pros & Cons, Frequency of Availability, Update Capability, and Free Term Period. This list is comprised of companies that offer comparable free and paid services and use at least one major credit reporting agency. At the end of this review list, we give an informed analysis of the best free credit report based on the information we’ve compiled.
Overall Usefulness Of Credit Reporting
image by pexels
Credit reporting is important, but how often it is used is an individual choice. The bare-bones of credit monitoring may mean missing out on the best free credit report if the option to use annual free credit scores looks more enticing. If you care about your financial security, you are likely to keep up with your checking and savings accounts weekly or monthly. Your credit status is just as important, and that is where credit monitoring comes into the larger financial picture.
What We Reviewed
image by pixabay
IdentityForce
image by Identity Force
IdentityForce is one of the best free credit report options because it puts the emphasis on security and protection while offering comprehensive credit information. Besides financial information, this credit monitoring service also provides a monitor for dark web activities, sex offender status, court records monitoring and change of address updates. These features cost extra but if you are looking for maximum online protection, this company is hard to beat.
Features
This company offers a free 30-day trial in which you can get most of the information you need on your credit score. It is easy to cancel because their customer service department is responsive. If the trial expires, the consumer will pay a low fee of $13 to $20 per month, depending on features. Credit monitoring is a basic service, and with the Ultra plan consumers have full access to their credit reports. Many consider IdentityForce to be the best free credit report because it offers reports from all three of the big agencies, four times per year. The Credit Score simulator makes calculating your score a snap.
Pros
Cons
- Frequency of Availability
- Updated
- Free Term
Once signed up, the site is available for use as often as possible. Reports are available four times per year.
WalletHub
image by Maverick Merchant
WalletHub is a credit monitoring service comparable to the others on this list but offers a simpler and more user-friendly experience through its web interface. The site presents tools to help consumers monitor their spending, credit use, special occasions, and investment opportunities. More than just a credit monitoring service, WalletHub seeks to offer a one-stop shop for viewing financial information. The site is easy to navigate and a hit with users.
Features
WalletHub uses security software to make sure you can see every detail of your credit report, but hackers can’t gain access. The site is free, offers all the tools the majority of consumers need and rises above the competition in terms of ease of use. The website itself outrates the other services on this list.
Pros
Cons
- Frequency of Availability
- Updated
- Free Term
Basic service is free long-term.
Creditkarma
image by Creditkarma
This company is free with an easy application process and no complex language or hidden fees although it uses only TransUnion for its credit information. The site is designed for quick and easy access, with less emphasis on security and ID theft.
Features
Creditkarma partners only with TransUnion and accurately reflects the credit score and updates with precision. The calculator feature allows up-to-the-minute calculation of debt. Credit report alerts come with the service, so any time there are updates or changes to your score, you get notification immediately. There are a credit report simulator and a credit report card that sum up your credit situation in an easy-to-read format.
Pros
Cons
- Frequency of Availability
- Updated
- Free Term
Credit scores refresh and update monthly.
Credit Sesame
image by Creditsesame
This company offers a user-friendly site with one of the best free credit report options on the web. The site offers multiple tools, insurance, long-term financial picture information (trends) and all of it comes in a free package. For a nominal fee, the consumer can add extra services. Credit Sesame doesn’t shine in a single category but covers all the bases and is a no-cost service without a barrage of ads.
Features
This company provides free information, uses TransUnion as its base source, and has a niche service in providing identity theft protection. The company puts emphasis on products rather than services, but for many consumers the option for identity theft insurance up to $50,000 is attractive.
Pros
Cons
- Frequency of Availability
- Updated
- Free Term
The service is free to join and provides free credit reports long-term. Other data may require fees.
Quizzle®
image by Bankrate
Quizzle is an established credit monitoring service that has recently merged with Bankrate. The focus is on a comprehensive financial monitoring system, including banking. The merger with Bankrate may make Quizzle a better option for those customers who want to combine credit monitoring and banking—a trend that is becoming more popular as online banking becomes more specialized.
Features
Quizzle does not require a credit card, and its customers rate the site highly. This company gets its information from Equifax and in the past has used Experian. Quizzle is perfect for multiple accounts as it updates each account into a simple breakdown and the credit status “big picture.” The company offers free recommendations on home loans and credit cards which can be helpful in comparison shopping. The best feature of Quizzle is that it offers a full credit report, unlike the services from CreditKarma or Credit Sesame.
Pros
Cons
- Frequency of Availability
- Updated
- Free Term
30-day free trial. With Bankrate, basic credit reports are free.
The Verdict
For ease of use, free service, and a site that is easy and even fun to navigate, we recommend WalletHub. This credit monitoring service has a key feature that customers rave about, and that is its user-friendly interface. There are no tricks, games, or targeted ads at WalletHub, and customer loyalty is high. It is difficult to have a verdict set in stone, however, because some companies like IdentityForce offer the best protection against identity theft. We recommend frequent monitoring of whichever of the best free credit report sites you use—that is the optimized consumer protection of your identity and your financial future.
gif by giphy
Leave a Reply