Checking your own credit report does not affect your FICO Score. FICO classifies a personal review as a soft inquiry. A lender’s inquiry when you apply for new credit is different: it is generally a hard inquiry and may affect a score.
Will checking my own credit report hurt my score?
No. FICO says that viewing your own credit report is a soft inquiry and does not affect FICO Scores. A report may still show inquiry information, but an inquiry appearing on a report does not by itself mean it lowered your score.
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BookFactory Glucose Log Book, 3.5" x 5.5" Wire-O, 104 Pages | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
This answer is specific to FICO’s scoring guidance. The FTC notes that scoring systems can calculate scores differently, so do not treat the FICO rule as a guarantee about every score model or every service’s process. If a service asks you to apply for new credit, check its terms before proceeding.
Soft inquiry vs. hard inquiry
The key distinction is why the credit information is being checked. Reviewing your own report is not the same as authorizing a lender to assess an application for a new account.
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- Weekly overview: Each page is designed to capture a week's worth of data, making it easy to see trends and patterns in your glucose readings. You can also track your weight at the beginning and end of each week to monitor overall health trends.
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| Check type | Typical context | FICO Score effect | Visibility to lenders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft inquiry | You view your own report or a check occurs outside a new-credit application | Does not affect FICO Scores | FICO says soft inquiries are not visible to lenders viewing the report |
| Hard inquiry | You apply for a loan or credit card | May affect a score; the effect varies by person | FICO says hard inquiries are visible to lenders viewing the report |
FICO says one additional inquiry costs fewer than five points for most people and that inquiries account for 10% of what makes up a FICO Score. Those are general FICO-published figures, not a prediction of how a particular application will affect an individual.
A credit report is not the same as a credit score
A credit report summarizes information about your credit history. A credit score is calculated using information in a report. Since scoring systems do not all calculate scores in the same way, a score you see from one service may not be the same score a lender uses.
Checking the report lets you review the underlying information; it does not mean you have applied for credit. If you spot an unfamiliar account or incorrect detail, the report gives you information to investigate rather than a reason to avoid checking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to get your credit report for free in the US
For US consumers, the Federal Trade Commission says Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion make free reports available weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com. The FTC identifies that site as the only website authorized to fulfill orders for the free reports consumers are entitled to by law. You can also order by calling 1-877-322-8228 or mailing the Annual Credit Report Request Form.
The FTC describes two access rules: consumers are entitled by law to one free report every 12 months from each bureau, and the bureaus currently make reports available weekly for free. The weekly access is separate from the statutory annual entitlement. Because the three bureaus may receive information from different sources, their reports can differ; reviewing all three can help you check accuracy and completeness.
Do you need to pay to check your report?
No paid monitoring subscription is required to use the official free-report route. The FTC cautions that a score advertised as free may be tied to paid credit monitoring, so read the offer terms before signing up. If your goal is simply to review your credit history, use AnnualCreditReport.com rather than assuming a paid service is necessary.
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