Credit Karma vs. myFICO: Which Should You Use to Check Your Credit?
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Credit Karma and myFICO both show you a credit score, but they are different kinds of services and show different scores. This guide compares what each one says it offers on its own official pages, in plain English, so you can pick what fits your situation. For why the numbers differ, see [VantageScore vs. FICO (and why your Credit Karma score is different)](/learn/vantagescore-vs-fico-credit-karma-score).
What each service is
Credit Karma is a free app owned by Intuit. Per its own product pages, it shows VantageScore 3.0 credit scores and report information from TransUnion and Equifax.
myFICO is the consumer service run by FICO, the company that makes FICO Scores. myFICO's support center says its free plan provides a FICO Score 8 based on Equifax. Its paid plans add other FICO Score versions, including industry versions used in mortgage, auto, and credit card lending.
When a free score is enough
If you mainly want to notice changes—a new account, a jump in a card balance, a new inquiry—a free score and report summary can do that.
A score change is a signal to look at the report behind it. If something looks wrong, see how to dispute something you see on Credit Karma.
When FICO Scores may be worth a look
Before a big application, such as a mortgage or auto loan, you may want to see the FICO Score versions lenders in that industry commonly use. myFICO's paid plans say they include scores for mortgages, auto loans, and more.
Paid plans carry a monthly fee, and prices and features change. Check myFICO's current plan page before you sign up, and cancel anything you no longer need.
You can also ask the lender which score and bureau it uses. If you are denied or offered worse terms based on a credit score, the lender's notice can show the score it used.
What neither one does
Neither service files disputes with the credit bureaus for you, removes accurate information, or guarantees a higher score.
Both show numbers calculated from your credit reports. If a report contains an error, every score built on it carries that error. You can get your reports free from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com, then scan my credit report with a free, step-by-step review to find entries worth a closer look.
Credit Karma vs. myFICO at a glance (per each company's own pages)
| Detail | Credit Karma | myFICO |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Intuit | FICO |
| Score shown | VantageScore 3.0 | FICO Scores (FICO Score 8 on the free plan) |
| Bureaus | TransUnion and Equifax | Equifax on the free plan; more on paid plans |
| Mortgage, auto, and card score versions | No | On paid plans |
| Cost | Free | Free plan, plus paid monthly plans |
| Files disputes for you | No | No |
Frequently asked questions
What to gather first
- A current copy of each credit report you want to review (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) from AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Government-issued photo ID and proof of current address, which bureaus commonly request with a mailed dispute.
- Account statements, payment records, or letters that relate to the item you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
- The exact account name, partial account number, and the reason you believe the entry is inaccurate or incomplete.
- A way to keep records: copies of what you send and, if mailing, proof of delivery.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Disputing information you know is accurate — that wastes the process and does not help you.
- Sending a vague dispute. Identify the specific item and explain what is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Disputing with only one bureau when the same entry appears on more than one report.
- Keeping no copies of what you sent, so you cannot show what was disputed or when.
- Paying a company that promises deletions or score increases — no one can promise those outcomes.
When to get additional help
Consider additional help if a bureau or furnisher does not respond, if an entry you believe is inaccurate stays on your report after a reinvestigation, if you may be affected by identity theft, or if you have questions about your legal rights.
- Submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Report suspected identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov (FTC).
- For legal questions, consider consulting a licensed attorney in your state. This page is educational information, not legal advice.
How this free tool can help
A free, AI-assisted report scan reviews a credit report you upload and highlights entries that may be inconsistent, incomplete, or worth a closer look. If you decide an item may be inaccurate or incomplete, it can draft a dispute letter you can review, edit, and send yourself.
This tool is not a law firm, credit bureau, lender, or credit-repair organization. It does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee deletions, dispute outcomes, or changes to your credit scores. You decide what to dispute and you send every letter.
Important limitation
Sources and further reading
- myFICO Support — Which FICO Score versions are offered?
- myFICO — Subscription plans (product information)
- Intuit Credit Karma — Credit Score FAQs (product information)
- CFPB — What is a credit score?
- CFPB — Does requesting my credit report hurt my credit score?
- AnnualCreditReport.com — Free credit reports
Review your own credit report
Use a free AI-assisted educational tool to organize report entries you may want to investigate for accuracy. You review every result and decide whether to take action.
this site does not provide legal, financial, lending, or credit-repair advice. No dispute, deletion, score increase, approval, or other outcome is guaranteed.
Start an Educational Report ReviewRelated guides
VantageScore vs. FICO (and Why Your Credit Karma Score Is Different)
VantageScore and FICO are different scoring models. Learn how they compare, why your Credit Karma score differs from FICO, and what to check if it dropped.
Is Credit Karma Accurate? What Its Score Does and Doesn't Tell You
Credit Karma shows VantageScore 3.0 scores from TransUnion and Equifax. Learn why they can differ from a lender's score and why the report data matters most.
How to Dispute Something You See on Credit Karma
Credit Karma shows TransUnion and Equifax data, but disputes are decided by the bureaus and the companies that report. Here's how to dispute, step by step.
Why Are My Credit Scores Different? A Comparison Checklist
Different credit scores usually come from different models, versions, bureaus, dates, or report data. Use this checklist to compare scores accurately.
Who wrote this & how we work
This page is maintained by this site to answer common questions about the Fair Credit Reporting Act and our free AI-assisted educational credit report review tool. It reflects current practices in the app and is not legal or financial advice.
Written by the Editorial Team. Every guide references FCRA, FDCPA, and CROA statutes with links to the U.S. Code.
AI assists our drafting. Official sources are linked and verified, and a human on the editorial team reviews every page before publication.
How this site parses your report, which patterns count as FCRA §611/§623 violations, and why each dispute letter is generated.
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