Free Credit Score Online & No Credit Card Required

A credit score is a three-digit number that represents your creditworthiness based on information in you credit report. While it is impossible to calculate your credit score yourself, you can manage whether your credit score increases or decreases each month. You can obtain a free copy of your credit report once a year through AnnualCreditReport.com to monitor your credit-related axctivity, and you can order your credit score for a fee or, in some instances, for free.

Trial Memberships

Sometimes you can obtain a credit score free as part of a trial membership to an online credit monitoring service. These trial memberships may last from seven to 30 days, and they require you to provide credit card information. Keeping track of the cancellation terms and periods can be difficult, and if you forget to cancel the membership before the trial period expires, you will be charged a fee. Instead, you can find a free credit score service provider that offers your score without a credit card.

Free Credit Score

Free credit score resources online are scarce, but they are available with research. Websites such as Credit Karma and Quizzle provide you free credit scores in exchange for your personal information. However, no credit card is required to create an account. Both websites also offer credit monitoring services at no additional costs. Email alerts are sent each month to notify you of changes to your credit score and remind you to login to check your account. While less sophisticated than credit monitoring services offered by the three major credit bureaus, basic credit monitoring offered by free credit score outlets helps you manage your credit rating over time. These websites do not replicate the FICO credit score, which is the one used by most lenders, but they provide a credit score that is similar.

Alternate Resources

In addition to free credit monitoring services, applying for a installment loan online is another way to learn your credit score. One disadvantage to learning your credit score this way is that your credit score decreases with new credit inquiries, which occur each time a lender checks your credit report. An installment loan, such as a mortgage or car loan, is a loan repaid in increments until the balance reaches zero. When you apply for preapproval for such a loan, you receive an acceptance or denial notice that often includes your credit score. The credit score is included to explain the interest rate quoted for the loan.

Considerations

Free credit score monitoring is available to help you better manage your credit rating. Though credit cards are not required when ordering your credit score from a free service, your Social Security number is usually required. Your Social Security number is used to verify your identity and ensure you receive the correct credit information. To ensure accuracy, order your credit score from multiple free outlets and compare your results. Credit scores won't be exact matches, because they don't always come from the same credit bureau, but each score should be fairly close.