Experian Boost - Improve Your Credit Scores for Free (2024)

FAQs

Does Experian boost really raise your credit score? ›

Yes, if you receive a score increase when you add payments with Experian Boost, the increase will happen instantly. Any lender that uses the FICO^® Score 8 with Experian data will see that change reflected in score results. Users of Experian Boost whose scores improve see an average FICO^® Score increase of 13 points.

You have the right to request one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

Experian Boost works best for those with no credit, bad credit or thin credit files. The main drawback is that it only works for your Experian credit report and has no effect on our Equifax and Transunion reports.

Unlike credit repair companies, Experian Boost is completely free and can increase your credit scores fast. Credit repair may cost you thousands of dollars and only help fix inaccuracies, which you can do yourself for free.

As someone with a 650 credit score, you are firmly in the “fair” territory of credit. You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with a better credit score. The "good" credit range starts at 690.

On the Experian Boost landing page, identify the checking or credit card account(s) you use to pay the recurring bills you want added to your credit report. Eligible bills include cellphone and utility bills, streaming subscriptions and rent that you pay online.

Is a FICO Score of 8 good? ›

For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2023, the average FICO^® Score^☉ in the U.S. reached 715.

Step 1 – Check with your bank or credit union

Hundreds of banks and credit unions partner with FICO through its Open Access Program. If your bank or credit union partners with FICO, log in to your account online. You will likely be provided with a free FICO Score.

If you regularly use your credit card to make purchases but repay it in full, your credit score will most likely be better than if you carry the balance month to month. Your credit utilization ratio is another important factor that affects your credit score.

The “goodwill letter”

You're asking your creditor for forgiveness for an accurate late payment and to remove it from your record. But creditors are required to report accurate information to the credit bureaus, so there's no guarantee that they'll update your account.

Experian vs. Credit Karma: Which is more accurate for your credit score? You may be surprised to know that the simple answer is that both are accurate. Read on to find out what's different between the two companies, how they get your credit score, and why you have more than one credit score to begin with.

Ultimately, whether it's worth paying for a premium Experian account or not will depend on how closely you need to monitor your credit record. Since a general overview of your credit score is free, if you only require a cursory look at your credit report then these premium features might not be worth the investment.

Why is my Experian credit score different from FICO? The credit scores you see when you check a service like Experian may differ from the FICO scores a lender sees when checking your credit. That's because the lender may be using a FICO score based on data from a different credit bureau.