Credit Monitoring Apps Boost Your Credit Score
The credit monitoring apps chosen are based on rankings from reputable sites in the financial space.
Credit.com is owned by Credit.com Holdings, LLC. Oquirrh Mountain Law Group, PC, d/b/a Lexington Law Firm is an independent law firm that uses Credit.com Holdings, LLC, as a provider of business and administrative services.
Your credit score impacts your ability to obtain a credit card, purchase a home, or even rent an apartment. With so much at stake, it’s critical to maintain healthy credit. This often requires careful planning, determination, and hard work. There’s a lot to keep up with.
Fortunately, numerous mobile apps are available today to help you stay on top of your credit report. This article looks at the top eight apps to help you find the best credit monitoring app for you.
1. Credit.com
Credit.com is a truly free credit monitoring app intended to help consumers stay on top of their credit. With Credit.com’s Free Credit Score, you can access your Experian® VantageScore, updated every 14 days. You can also receive your Free Credit Report Card, which includes your payment history, credit utilization, credit age, account mix, and inquiries. This app also tracks your progress and provides customized money-saving tips to help you reach your financial goals.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: Free
2. myFICO
The myFICO app is another tool offering credit monitoring solutions. A free membership option is available that includes access to Equifax FICO 8 credit scores and reports.
To receive information from all three credit bureaus, you’ll need to pay a minimum of $29.95 per month. The Advanced and Premier plans also include your credit scores for mortgages, auto loans, and employment. They also provide a FICO Score Simulator, showing how specific actions may impact your score.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: Free with limited access; $29.95/month for the Advanced plan and $39.95/month for the Premier plan
3. Experian
The Experian mobile credit monitoring app lets you track your Experian credit report and FICO Score 8, which is automatically updated every 30 days. The app also sends alerts whenever there are changes to your credit report, such as a hard inquiry, changes to your personal information, or new accounts.
You can also use the Experian app to freeze and unfreeze your account if necessary. The Experian Boost feature can help you improve your credit score.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: Free, but some features require a paid Experian account
4. TransUnion
While downloading the app is free, you must pay $29.95 per month for a credit monitoring subscription. This membership gives you 24/7 access to your TransUnion VantageScore 3.0 credit score. You can also receive instant alerts if any changes are made to your credit report, such as hard inquiries or new accounts.
This app allows you to lock your credit report with TransUnion and Equifax. Additional features include a score simulator, credit tips, and $1 million in identity theft insurance.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: $29.95/month for a TransUnion Credit Monitoring account
5. Lock & Alert from Equifax
Lock & Alert from Equifax gives you more control over who has access to your credit report and when. This free service lets you lock and unlock your Equifax credit report at will. While this feature isn’t as secure as a credit freeze, it can still protect you against identity theft. It also offers easy access.
All you need to do is go into your app and turn the credit lock on or off. Keep in mind that this app only works for Equifax. You’ll need to work with TransUnion and Experian separately for full protection.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: Free
6. Lexington Law
If you’ve signed up for credit repair services with Lexington Law, you can use its mobile app to keep track of your progress. The app’s ReportWatch credit monitoring service alerts you to any changes in your credit report, such as new accounts, and offers tips and advice for rebuilding your credit. In addition to providing access to your credit reports from all three credit bureaus and updates on ongoing disputes, the money manager feature helps you track your income, spending, budgets, and debts.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: Requires a paid Lexington Law account
7. LifeLock by Norton
LifeLock by Norton provides identity theft protection and offers credit monitoring solutions. Its tiered membership plans offer varying levels of security and services. Its Standard membership includes credit monitoring for Equifax VantageScore 3.0 credit score, while the Ultimate Plus plans monitor your credit reports from all three credit bureaus. Both monthly and annual payment plans are available.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: Starts at $7.50 per month
8. Self
Self’s credit monitoring app is ideal for those working to build or rebuild their credit. You must first open a credit building loan to utilize its credit monitoring services. There are no hard inquiry requirements to open this account. Each month, you pay money toward your loan.
This money is not only deposited into a CD, which you can cash in later, but Self also reports your monthly payments to all three credit bureaus. As you put money toward your loan, you can access Self’s credit monitoring services and your VantageScore to track your progress.
Availability: Apple and Android
Cost: Requires a loan repayment of at least $25 per month
Credit Monitoring Apps to Fit Your Needs
These eight apps are just some of the credit monitoring tools available that you may want to consider using. If you want to get a snapshot of where your credit is at now, you can check your score for free using Credit.com’s free Credit Report Card. Then you can move on to the next step of assessing what your credit monitoring needs are and deciding which app might work best for you.