Updated November 5, 2026
You want to see where your credit stands before applying for a mortgage, financing a car or opening a new card. Then you hear that checking your credit can lower your score. So you wait.
Here’s the good news. Checking your own credit report or score won’t lower your credit scores. That’s a soft inquiry. A lender checking your credit as part of an application is a different step and can result in a hard inquiry. [1]
How do I check my credit?
Start with your credit reports. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to get free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A report shows your accounts, balances and payment history. A credit score is a number calculated from information in a report.
Choose a service that shows the score you want. Check which bureau supplied the data, which scoring model was used and when the score was calculated. A FICO® Score and a VantageScore® can differ, even if both are based on your credit history.
Review the details behind the number. Look for unfamiliar accounts, late payments you believe were reported incorrectly and balances that don’t look right. Review the total balance across your cards and how much of each card’s limit you’re using. If you spot a genuine error, you can dispute it with the bureau that reported it.
Soft inquiry vs. hard inquiry
What you’re doing | Typical inquiry | Can it affect your credit scores? |
|---|---|---|
Checking your own report or score | Soft | No |
Viewing your own credit through a monitoring service | Soft | No |
Applying for a credit card, mortgage or auto loan | Hard, if the lender runs a hard pull | Yes |
If a monitoring app also shows you offers for loans or credit cards, viewing your own score and applying for one of those offers are separate actions. Read the inquiry disclosure before submitting an application. [1][2]
Credit Check Total and other ways to check your credit
If you searched for “credit check total,” you may be looking for CreditCheckTotal.com, a credit monitoring service powered by Experian. You may also just want a more complete look at your credit across the three bureaus. Here’s where to start.
Service | What to look for |
|---|---|
FICO® scores and credit monitoring. Check the plan for the score versions and bureau coverage included. | |
VantageScore® 3.0 scores based on Equifax and TransUnion data. [3] | |
Access to your Experian credit information. Check which scores and reports come with the option you select. [2] | |
Three-bureau credit reports and FICO® scores through its membership. [4] | |
Access to credit scores and reports through its monitoring service. [5] |
Using any of these services to view your own credit is a soft inquiry and won’t hurt your scores. Compare the total cost, renewal terms, bureau coverage and scoring model before choosing a plan. [1]–[5]
Can I check my credit before applying for a loan?
Yes. Checking early gives you time to review your reports and ask the lender which scoring model it uses. The score you see in a monitoring app can differ from the one your lender uses. Your own check is still a soft inquiry. The lender may run a separate credit check when you apply.
Explore your FICO® scores and credit monitoring options. Checking your own credit won’t lower your scores.