Experian vs. Credit Karma: Which is more accurate for your credit scores? You may be surprised to know that the simple answer is that both are accurate.
This is mainly because of two reasons: For one, lenders may pull your credit from different credit bureaus, whether it is Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Your score can then differ based on what bureau your credit report is pulled from since they don't all receive the same information about your credit accounts.
While Experian is the largest bureau in the U.S., it's not necessarily more accurate than the other credit bureaus. The credit scores that you receive from each of these bureaus could be the same, depending on which scoring model they use.
FICO scores are used in over 90% of lending decisions making the FICO® Basic, Advanced and Premier services the most accurate for credit score updates.
Credit Karma compiles its own accurate VantageScore based on that information. Your Credit Karma score should be the same or close to your FICO score, which is what any prospective lender will probably check.
This is due to a variety of factors, such as the many different credit score brands, score variations and score generations in commercial use at any given time. These factors are likely to yield different credit scores, even if your credit reports are identical across the three credit bureaus—which is also unusual.
The slight differences in calculations between VantageScore and FICO credit scores can lead to significant variations in scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.
You Have Late or Missing Payments
Your payment history is the most important factor in your FICO® Score☉ , the credit scoring model used by 90% of top lenders. It accounts for 35% of your score, and even one late or missed payment can have a negative impact. So, it's key to make sure you make all your payments on time.
Put simply, Experian will be the more accurate of the two, as it is Experian that lenders use to check your credit score when evaluating a credit application. But Clearscore provides a more intuitive dashboard for tracking trends in your credit score and finding out what factors are impacting your score.
Here's the short answer: The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus.
Credit scores from the three main bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are considered accurate. The accuracy of the scores depends on the accuracy of the information provided to them by lenders and creditors. You can check your credit report to ensure the information is accurate.
While there are multiple credit scoring models, the FICO® Score☉ is one of the most commonly used by lenders and business to determine how reliable you will be in paying back a debt. You can get your FICO® Score for free from Experian.
Although Experian is the largest credit bureau in the U.S., TransUnion and Equifax are widely considered to be just as accurate and important. When it comes to credit scores, however, there is a clear winner: FICO® Score is used in 90% of lending decisions.
FICO scores are generally known to be the most widely used by lenders. But the credit-scoring model used may vary by lender. While FICO Score 8 is the most common, mortgage lenders might use FICO Score 2, 4 or 5.
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.
When you apply for credit, lenders will go directly to Experian to look at your data rather than looking at how it appears in your ClearScore account. Bear in mind that your credit report is only one factor in a lender's decision.
The main difference is Experian grades it between 0 – 1000, while Equifax grades the score between 0 – 1200. This means that there is not only a clear 200 point difference between these two bureaus but the “perfect scores” are also different, which is 1000 as reported by Experian and 1200 as reported by Equifax.
Why is my Experian credit score different from Credit Karma? To recap, Credit Karma provides your Equifax and TransUnion credit scores, which are different from your Experian credit score.
Which Credit Bureau has the Lowest Score? The credit bureau that gives the lowest FICO or Vantage score tends to be the one that lenders use the most in your geographic area. Lenders typically slice the pie (between Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at the three-digit zip code level.
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 2022, the average FICO® Score☉ in the U.S. reached 714.
Checking your free credit scores on Credit Karma doesn't hurt your credit. These credit score checks are known as soft inquiries, which don't affect your credit at all. Hard inquiries (also known as “hard pulls”) generally happen when a lender checks your credit while reviewing your application for a financial product.
Lenders, credit card issuers and other data reporters typically update your credit information at the three national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) once every month. Because each reporter sets its own update schedule, the contents of your credit reports can change continually.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 600 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.