Does Checking Your Credit Score Hurt It? (The Truth)
Checking your own credit score never lowers it, however often you look. Learn the difference between soft and hard searches, how long searches stay on your file, and how to shop for credit without hurting your score.
Note: The scores shown by credit reference agencies are guides, not the scores lenders actually use. Each lender runs its own checks. This article is for educational purposes and isn't financial advice.
Key Takeaways
No, checking your own credit score never hurts it, no matter how often you look. It's a soft search, and lenders can't see it
Only hard searches can affect your score. They happen when you formally apply for credit, such as a card, loan, mortgage or phone contract
Most hard searches stay on your file for 12 months, and some agencies show them for up to two years. One search has a small effect, but several close together can worry lenders
Eligibility checkers and quotation searches are soft too, so you can shop around for credit without affecting your score
Checking regularly is actually a good habit. It's one of the quickest ways to spot errors and identity fraud
Phone contract, car finance or buy now pay later (depending on provider)
Often hard
Yes, slightly
Yes
The Short Answer
Checking your own credit score or report doesn't affect it. Experian, one of the UK's three main credit reference agencies, says checking your own report or score won't affect your score or your chances of being accepted for credit, "no matter how many times you check them."
That applies whether you check once a year or every day, and whichever app or website you use.
The myth probably comes from a real rule that people mix up. Applying for credit does leave a mark on your file. Looking at your own file doesn't.
Soft Searches vs Hard Searches
Every time someone looks at your credit file, a record is made. What matters is the type of search.
Soft searches
A soft search is a look at your file that only you can see. Lenders can't see it when they assess you, so it can't count against you. Soft searches include:
Checking your own score or report
Credit score apps
Eligibility checkers and "chance of acceptance" tools
Quotation searches for loans and mortgages
Some identity and background checks
Hard searches
A hard search happens when you make a full application for credit and give the lender permission to check your file. It's recorded on your report, and other lenders can see it.
One hard search has only a small, temporary effect. The problem is several in a short period. That can suggest you're struggling for money or being turned down elsewhere. Experian suggests a rule of thumb of no more than two or three applications every few months.
How Long Do Hard Searches Stay on Your File?
Experian keeps most hard searches on your report for 12 months. Other agencies can show them for up to two years.
Their effect on your score fades well before they disappear. A single search from nine months ago matters very little. Lenders care much more about whether you've been making several applications recently.
Curious how much a hard search actually costs you? Try it in our Credit Score Simulator, and compare it with changes that matter far more, like your card balances or a missed payment.
Where to Check Your Credit for Free
You never need to pay to see your credit information. The UK's data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office, confirms you have the right to request a free statutory credit report from each credit reference agency. You don't have to sign up to a paid subscription to get it.
Free apps show your file from each main agency:
Agency
Free way to check
Experian
Experian free account or MSE Credit Club
Equifax
ClearScore
TransUnion
Credit Karma
These services are popular. ClearScore alone passed 25 million users worldwide in 2026. They all use soft searches, so you can use all three.
Why check all three? Not every lender reports to every agency, and each one scores you differently, on a different scale. Experian scores out of 999, Equifax out of 1,000 and TransUnion out of 710. A problem might appear on just one report.
Why Checking Regularly Actually Helps
Checking your score won't hurt it, but not checking can hurt your finances. Regular checks help you to:
Spot errors early. A payment wrongly marked as late, or a settled debt still showing, can be disputed for free.
Catch identity fraud. Unfamiliar accounts, addresses or hard searches can be the first sign someone is using your details. Fraud prevention service Cifas found that identity fraud and account takeover made up 72% of the more than 444,000 cases filed to the UK's National Fraud Database in 2025, according to its Fraudscape 2026 report.
Prepare for big applications. Check three to six months before a mortgage or car finance application, so you have time to fix problems first.
Track your progress. Seeing your score rise is great motivation to keep making on-time payments.
A good routine is a quick look once a month in a free app, plus a full review of all three reports once or twice a year.
How to Shop for Credit Without Hurting Your Score
Check your own reports first. This is free and a soft search.
Use eligibility checkers on comparison sites or lenders' own websites. They show your chances of acceptance using a soft search.
Ask for a quotation search when getting loan or mortgage quotes. Most lenders and brokers use one as standard.
Apply only for the one you're most likely to get. One hard search, not five.
Space out applications. Leave at least three months between them where you can, and avoid new applications in the six months before a mortgage.
A hard search you didn't authorise needs looking into. First, check whether it matches an application you forgot about, such as a phone upgrade or a pay-monthly car insurance policy. If it doesn't:
Contact the company that made the search and ask why.
Raise a dispute with the credit reference agency if it wasn't authorised.
Check for fraud. Look for other unfamiliar entries, and report suspected fraud to Report Fraud (or Police Scotland on 101 if you live in Scotland).
The Bottom Line
Checking your own credit score is completely safe. It's a soft search that lenders can't see, however often you do it. Only full applications for credit create hard searches, and even those have a small, temporary effect unless you make several close together. So check your reports regularly, use eligibility checkers before applying, and spend your energy on what really moves your score. Our guide How to Improve Your Credit Score Fast shows you where to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can I check my credit score?
As often as you like. Checking daily has no effect on your score. Most scores update monthly, though, so checking once a month is usually enough.
Does an eligibility checker affect my credit score?
No. Eligibility checkers use a soft search, which only you can see.
How many points does a hard search cost?
It varies by agency and by the rest of your file. It's usually a small, temporary drop. Several searches close together matter more than one.
Do landlords' credit checks affect my score?
Usually not. Most tenant referencing uses a soft search. Ask the letting agent if you're unsure.
Is it worth paying for a credit report?
Not usually. Your statutory report is free from every agency, and free apps show your file from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Information is based on publicly available guidance from Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, the ICO and Cifas as of September 2026.
Still with us?
Take the community poll, test yourself with the quiz — or both.
Topic hubs
Browse more articles in these categories and tags.
Maya Thornton is a personal finance writer specializing in credit, debt strategy, and consumer banking. With a background in financial counseling, she translates complex credit system mechanics into plain-language guides that help everyday people take real control of their financial lives.
125K followers89 articles
Related reading
Related articles
Closely related by shared tags and categories — continue in this topic cluster.
