Credit Karma vs Experian
Both are free. Here's how they differ.
Feature
Credit Karma
Experian
Cost
Free forever
Free (paid Experian+ plan available)
Credit bureaus covered
TransUnion + Equifax
Experian only
Score model
VantageScore 3.0
FICO Score 8
Score update frequency
Weekly
Monthly (free), Daily (paid)
Credit report access
Yes
Yes
Dispute tools
No
Yes (from app)
Dark web monitoring
No
Yes
Mobile app
Yes
Yes
Identity theft protection
No
Yes (paid)
Best for
Free ongoing monitoring
Full Experian report + FICO score
Credit Karma
Best for free ongoing monitoring with weekly updates from two bureaus
- Weekly score updates from TransUnion and Equifax
- Free forever with no paid tier required
- Credit card and loan recommendations
Experian
Best if you want your official FICO score and the ability to dispute from the app
- Official FICO Score 8
- Built-in dispute tools
- Dark web monitoring included
Our picks
The specific products we'd point a friend to. We link directly to each provider's own site and don't earn a commission from these links.
Credit Karma
Credit Karma is free with no paid tier and updates your VantageScore from TransUnion and Equifax weekly, which makes it a low-friction way to watch two bureaus on an ongoing basis.
- Free, no paid tier required
- Weekly updates from TransUnion and Equifax
- VantageScore 3.0
Capital One CreditWise
CreditWise is free to anyone, not just Capital One cardholders, tracks your TransUnion VantageScore, and includes dark-web and Social Security number monitoring at no cost.
- Free for everyone, no account required
- TransUnion VantageScore tracking
- Dark-web monitoring included
Experian Free Credit Monitoring
Experian's free plan shows your FICO Score 8 from your Experian report, which is useful if you want the FICO model many lenders actually use rather than a VantageScore.
- Free FICO Score 8 (Experian)
- Experian report monitoring
- Paid plan adds daily updates
What members say
“I started with no credit and a secured card. Twelve months of on-time payments later, I crossed 700.”
— Maria, CA
“Paying my balances below 10% moved my score faster than I expected, and the monthly plan kept me on track.”
— James, TX