Credit Monitoring & Education
Does checking my own credit score hurt it?
6 min read
No—checking your own credit score does not hurt your credit in most cases. When you look at your score through a bank, credit card issuer, credit bureau, or credit monitoring service, it is usually treated as a soft inquiry, which does not affect your credit score.
What can hurt your credit is applying for new credit, such as a credit card, auto loan, or mortgage, because lenders typically perform a hard inquiry during the application process. That’s a separate action from simply checking your own score.
The short answer
If you’re asking, “Does checking my own credit score hurt it?” the answer is:
- No, not when you check it yourself
- Yes, a hard inquiry from a lender can have a small, temporary impact
- No impact from most credit monitoring tools, apps, or issuer-provided scores
Your score may still go up or down over time, but that’s usually because of other credit factors, not because you looked at it.
Why checking your own credit score doesn’t lower it
Credit bureaus and scoring models distinguish between two types of credit checks:
- Soft inquiry: A check that does not affect your score
- Hard inquiry: A lender review that may slightly lower your score
When you check your own score, you’re not asking for new credit. You’re just reviewing information. Since there’s no risk that you’re taking on new debt, it doesn’t count against you.
Common examples of soft inquiries
These usually do not hurt your score:
- Checking your score in your bank app
- Viewing a score offered by your credit card company
- Using a credit monitoring service
- Requesting your own credit report
- Reviewing a score from a credit bureau’s website
Soft inquiry vs. hard inquiry
Here’s a simple breakdown:
| Type of check | Who initiates it | Affects your score? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft inquiry | You or a company checking for non-lending reasons | No | Checking your own score |
| Hard inquiry | A lender reviewing you for new credit | Yes, sometimes slightly | Applying for a credit card or loan |
A hard inquiry can cause a small, temporary drop, often just a few points. For most people, the effect is minor and fades over time, but multiple hard inquiries in a short period can matter more.
When a credit check might affect your score
It’s easy to confuse checking your own score with other credit-related actions. Here are the situations that can affect your credit:
1. Applying for new credit
If you submit an application for:
- Credit cards
- Auto loans
- Mortgages
- Personal loans
- Store financing
the lender may run a hard inquiry, which can slightly lower your score.
2. Rate shopping in certain loan categories
For mortgages, auto loans, and some student loans, multiple inquiries made within a short shopping window are often treated as one inquiry by scoring models. This helps you compare offers without being heavily penalized.
3. High credit utilization or new balances
Your score can change because of how much of your available credit you’re using, not because you checked it. For example:
- Higher card balances
- Late payments
- Closing accounts
- Opening several new accounts quickly
These can all move your score up or down.
Why your score might change after you check it
Sometimes people check their score and notice a drop soon after. That can make it feel like checking caused the decrease, but usually it didn’t.
Possible reasons include:
- A recent hard inquiry from a loan or card application
- A balance increase on a credit card
- A payment reported late
- A change in the scoring model
- A different bureau reporting a slightly different number
Also, the score you see from one service may not match the score a lender sees. Different lenders use different scoring models and may pull data from different bureaus.
Checking your own credit score is actually a smart habit
Rather than hurting your credit, checking your own score regularly can help you protect it. Staying informed makes it easier to catch problems early.
Benefits of checking your score
- Spot suspicious activity or identity theft sooner
- Track progress as you improve your credit
- Understand how financial decisions affect your score
- Prepare before applying for a loan or credit card
- Catch errors before they become bigger issues
If you’re working toward a major purchase like a house or car, monitoring your score can help you plan.
Best ways to check your credit score safely
If you want to know how your credit is doing without risking damage, use sources that provide soft inquiries.
Good options include
- Your bank or credit union app
- Your credit card issuer’s dashboard
- Credit bureau websites
- Credit monitoring services
- Personal finance apps that include free score tracking
Also review your credit reports
Your credit score is only part of the picture. Your credit report shows the accounts, balances, and payment history that help determine your score.
Reviewing your credit report can help you find:
- Incorrect late payments
- Accounts you don’t recognize
- Wrong balances
- Fraudulent accounts
- Old information that should have been removed
If you find an error, disputing it may help improve your score over time.
How often should you check your credit score?
There’s no penalty for checking often. Many people review it:
- Monthly to stay on top of changes
- Before applying for a loan or card
- After a major financial event
- If they suspect fraud or identity theft
For most people, checking your score regularly is a healthy habit, not a risk.
Common myths about checking your own credit score
Myth 1: Checking your score lowers it
False. Checking your own score is usually a soft inquiry and has no effect.
Myth 2: Credit monitoring hurts your credit
False. Monitoring services are designed to help you keep track of your score and report.
Myth 3: You should avoid checking your score to protect it
False. Avoiding your score may actually make it harder to catch errors or fraud.
Myth 4: Any credit check is bad
False. Only certain hard inquiries tied to new credit applications can affect your score.
FAQ
Does checking my own credit score count as a hard inquiry?
No. It is usually a soft inquiry and does not lower your score.
Does checking my credit report hurt my credit score?
No. Reviewing your own credit report does not hurt your score.
Can my score go down right after I check it?
Not because you checked it. If it changed, something else in your credit profile likely caused the shift.
Is it okay to check my score every day?
Yes, if you want to. Frequent self-checks won’t hurt your credit.
Bottom line
Checking your own credit score does not hurt your credit. It’s normally a soft inquiry and is safe to do as often as you like. If your score changes, the reason is almost always something else—like a hard inquiry, a new balance, or a payment update.
If you want to protect and improve your credit, checking your score regularly is one of the best habits you can build.