Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.
Credit scores used to be a bit of a mystery. Unless you were willing to pay for your score, you might not know much about your profile until after getting denied a loan.
Looking for the best credit monitoring app to consider? Here’s a roundup of great tools that can give you all the information you need.
What’s the difference between credit monitoring services and apps?
Both credit monitoring apps and services can help you keep an eye on your credit. But the needs they cater to are a little different.
Apps are streamlined for accessibility and convenience, making it easy for people to check their credit scores often — even on the go. Many credit monitoring apps offer real-time updates, basic fraud alerts and score tracking, and simple financial tools like debt payoff calculators.
Full-fledged credit monitoring services, on the other hand, take a more comprehensive approach. Many offer multi-bureau monitoring, pulling data from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). They often offer identity theft protection, which monitors for potential vulnerabilities and provides assistance if your identity gets stolen. And beyond basic credit score updates, you get detailed reports on insights like your credit use, payment history, and debt-to-income ratio.
The 6 best credit monitoring apps to consider
What’s the best credit monitoring service to consider? The right choice for you depends on your budget and the number of features you’re looking for. Here’s a list of six popular options:
1. EarnIn
Price: Free
What sets it apart: Downloading EarnIn lets you access many other tools to help you stay on track financially, like
Cash Out for early access to your wages
,
Tip Yourself for building your savings, and
Balance Shield to help protect you from overdrafts.
EarnIn’s Credit Monitoring tool lets you track your credit score
anytime, giving you access to your Vantage Score 3.0® by Experian®. When you monitor your credit with EarnIn, you get real-time alerts to
protect yourself from fraud so you can act quickly when something isn’t right. Best of all, the Credit Monitoring tool is free to use, making it an accessible choice for those who want comprehensive credit monitoring without the cost.
2. Experian CreditWorks
Price: Free for basic features, and premium plans start at $24.99/month
What sets it apart: Experian is one of the three major credit bureaus, meaning the data and updates you receive come straight from the source.
Experian CreditWorks lets you access your FICO® Score, daily credit report updates, and a host of identity theft protection tools. Premium plans include advanced features like dark web monitoring and identity restoration services for added security. Experian also offers Experian Boost, a free tool that lets you add positive payment history for bills like utilities and streaming services to help track your score.
3. MyFICO
Price: The free plan offers one-bureau (Equifax) coverage, and Advanced and Premium plans start at $29.95/month
What sets it apart: The app’s emphasis on accuracy and in-depth information makes it a top choice for people serious about understanding their credit.
MyFICO delivers detailed insights by providing updates from all three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. It’s an accurate credit score app for those who want to track their FICO® Score, which is the one many lenders use for major financial decisions.
4. NerdWallet
Price: Free
What sets it apart: NerdWallet combines financial education with credit monitoring, making it a good fit for users seeking personalized advice alongside score tracking.
NerdWallet’s app blends credit monitoring with practical financial tools. The app provides free VantageScore updates and recommendations tailored to your credit profile, like the best credit cards or loan options for your score range.
5. Aura
Price: Individual plans start at $12/month
What sets it apart: Aura’s comprehensive identity theft protection and advanced security features make it ideal for those seeking peace of mind beyond credit monitoring.
Aura is a great credit monitoring company to consider for those prioritizing security. It offers monthly credit updates from all three bureaus, plus identity theft protection and tools like password managers and financial account monitoring.
6. Credit Karma
Price: Free
What sets it apart: Credit Karma goes beyond monitoring by offering recommendations for credit cards and loans.
Credit Karma is known for offering free credit scores from Equifax and TransUnion. The app also provides insights into factors affecting your score and tools to help you
plan for credit improvement.
How to choose an app for credit monitoring: 6 tips
Selecting the right credit monitoring app can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available. The best option for you depends on your financial goals, how closely you want to monitor your credit, and if you need additional features like identity theft protection.
Here’s an expanded guide to help you make an informed decision:
1. Assess your needs
Start by thinking about why you want to monitor your credit. Are you primarily focused on improving your score, or are you also looking for tools to protect against identity theft? Answering these questions can help you decide between a basic app or a full-featured credit monitoring service.
2. Evaluate how frequently you’ll get updates
The most basic credit monitoring apps update your credit score monthly or weekly. More advanced services often offer daily updates, plus real-time alerts for suspicious activity. If you’re actively working on increasing your credit score or you’re worried about potential fraud, go for a tool that offers more frequent updates.
3. Prioritize real-time alerts
Look for apps that provide real-time alerts for new hard inquiries, new
accounts opened in your name, and changes to your account balances or credit limits. Staying on top of these details will mean you can act quickly when something isn’t right.
4. Consider how easy the app is to use
A credit monitoring app is only useful if you actually use it. Choose one with a user-friendly interface and features that make it easy to understand your credit report, access updates, and take action when necessary. Apps with mobile-first designs like EarnIn, are a convenient way to check your credit score on the go.
5. Check for added features
Lots of apps — even some of the free ones — offer tools beyond credit monitoring. With EarnIn, for example, you don’t just get score updates and real-time alerts. You also get access to budgeting tools and a
Tip Yourself feature to help you save money
in small increments.
6. Don’t go over budget
If you’re looking for a better way to monitor your credit, that probably means you’re making financial health a priority. Don’t commit to a credit monitoring plan that doesn’t easily fit into your budget when a tool like EarnIn provides the information you need at no cost.
Take control of your credit with EarnIn
EarnIn’s Credit Monitoring tool gives you real-time insights into your credit health and sends fraud alerts to help you take action quickly. It’s free and easy to use, and using the tool to check your credit will never cause your score to drop.
But what really makes EarnIn the best app to check your credit score for free is all the other tools you’ll now have access to, from Tip Yourself
for easy savings to a range of
financial calculators that help you keep your finances on track.
Download EarnIn to take the stress out of credit management.
Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.
A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out. EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed is not available in all states. Restrictions and terms apply; see the
Lightning Speed Fee Table and
Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.
Balance Shield provides free alerts when your bank account balance drops below the threshold you set in your EarnIn account. You can also enable automatic transfers (up to $100/day -subject to your available earnings- with a limit of $750/pay period), if your bank account balance falls below your set threshold. You choose the speed of these automatic transfers. Standard speed is available at no cost and the transfer typically takes 1-2 business days. Lightning Speed is available for a fee [see
Lightning Speed Fee Table]] and the transfer typically takes less than 30 minutes. You will also have the option to set a tip for automatic transfers. Tips are optional and can be $0; however, if you choose to set a tip, it will be applied to each automatic transfer. Whether you tip, how much, and how often you tip does not impact the quality and availability of services. You can cancel the alerts and/or transfers at any time in your EarnIn account settings. See the
Cash Out User Agreement for more details. While Balance Shield can help you avoid overdrafts, it does not guarantee protection from third-party fees, and its effectiveness depends on your usage and bank activity.
Calculated on the VantageScore® 3.0 model. Your VantageScore 3.0 from Experian® indicates your credit risk level and is not used by all lenders, so don’t be surprised if your lender uses a score that’s different from your VantageScore 3.0.
Learn more.
Tip Yourself Account funds and Tip Jars are held with Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC and FDIC insured up to $250,000. Tip Yourself is a 0% Annual Percentage Yield and $0 monthly fee service deposit account. For more information/details visit
Evolve Bank & Trust Customer Account TermsThe FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. More details about deposit insurance
here.
The calculations provided are based on estimates and should be used for informational purposes only. Please be aware that comparisons may not be 100% accurate. The insights and data presented do not constitute financial advice, and we recommend consulting with a qualified financial advisor for personalized guidance.
