Credit
Your credit score and your credit report are two different things: your score is the number, your report is the full story behind it. Start here to learn what shapes your score, how to read your report, and how to build strong credit over time.
Learn the basics
Start with whatever fits where you are right now.
Try the tool
Put what you learned to work. Pull up your own report and follow along.
How to Read a Credit Report
Walk through each section of your report, step by step: what it shows, and what to look for.
Understand your credit report
Your credit report is the record lenders, landlords, and even some employers use to judge your financial trustworthiness. Most people, though, have never actually looked at their own. Walking through each section can help you catch errors, spot signs of fraud, and understand what's really shaping your credit score.
You're entitled to a free copy, as often as weekly. Since 2023, all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) permanently offer free credit reports once every 7 days at annualcreditreport.com, the official site for credit reports. Pull your report before starting this walkthrough so you can follow along with your own report.
Credit score
A three-digit number, usually 300 to 850, that sums up how reliably you've repaid debt in the past. It's the quick number lenders check to gauge risk at a glance.
Credit report
A detailed record of your accounts, payment history, inquiries, and any public records. It's the full story behind your score: the raw data, not the summary.
Your score is calculated from your report. Understanding the report helps you understand the number, and improve it.
Take it with you
Printable guides to keep, share, or use offline.
