The Best Free Credit Monitoring Services 2025

Credit Karma is the best overall free credit monitoring service based on its features and functions. It’s not your only option, however. Anyone craving simplicity will find it with Credit Sesame, while users interested in monitoring their FICO® score will want to sign up for Experian.

If you’ve been wondering which free credit monitoring service is best for you, read our full analysis below. We compare what we liked, what we didn’t, and what you can expect from each service.

Credit Karma is the best overall free credit monitoring service based on its features and functions. It’s not your only option, however. Anyone craving simplicity will find it with Credit Sesame, while users interested in monitoring their FICO® score will want to sign up for Experian.

If you’ve been wondering which free credit monitoring service is best for you, read our full analysis below. We compare what we liked, what we didn’t, and what you can expect from each service.

The best free credit monitoring services

• Credit Karma: Best overall free credit monitoring
• Credit Sesame: Best for simple monitoring
• Experian: Best for FICO® score

Top 3 free credit monitoring services compared

	Our Pick
Star rating	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.4 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.4 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Price overview	Free	Free-$19.99/mo	Free or $24.99/mo
Financial account monitoring		Yes (Sesame+)
FICO® score
Credit score	Yes — TransUnion and Equifax	Yes — TransUnion on free plan, all three on Premium plans	Yes — Experian
Credit score update frequency	Daily	Daily	Daily
Credit report	Yes — TransUnion and Equifax	Yes — TransUnion on free plan, all three on Premium plans	Yes — Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit report update frequency	Daily for TransUnion, weekly for Equifax	Monthly (Sesame+)	Up to daily
Credit lock
Credit analysis
Credit building
Extras	Free identity monitoring, free-to-open checking account, free tax help (via TurboTax), and free assistance finding insurance policies, loans (personal, home, and auto), and credit cards	Premium only: identity theft insurance, rent reporting (additional credit building), ID fraud alerts, dark web surveillance	Includes a free dark web scan and the option to upgrade for access to 3-bureau reports and FICO® scores, bill fixer, ID theft protection and insurance, fraud resolution support, lost wallet assistance, dark web monitoring, Experian CreditLock, and more
Learn more	View plans Read Credit Karma Review	View plans Read Credit Sesame Review	View plans Read Experian Review

Credit Karma: Best overall free credit monitoring

Who it’s best for

Credit Karma is the right choice for anyone looking to monitor their credit and also wants financial account monitoring, credit building tools, and even assistance with their taxes. You’ll get these features and more included in your free account as well as a way to keep an eye on all the transactions that could affect your overall score.

What we liked

Daily credit updates: Unlike other credit monitors, Credit Karma gives daily credit score and report updates, which allows you to see immediately if anything hits your score. Point increases and decreases are noted prominently, and weekly score updates can more accurately reflect long-term credit scores. There’s even an easy menu outlining what’s changed so you understand your credit score completely.

Comprehensive free monitoring: Credit Karma safeguards your identity by continuously monitoring for data breaches or potential identity theft. It also monitors your credit report for changes, as well as all the accounts on your credit report. And it does all this for free, unlike competitors, which only offer identity monitoring for a premium. 

Financial assistance: Credit Karma’s money section helps you keep track of your finances. Other financial tools help you build your credit and support your financial well-being, including:

• Credit card and loan recommendations
• Guidance on loans for personal, home, and auto
• Credit Score Simulator
• Tax preparation assistance
• High-yield savings accounts

If derogatory remarks on your credit or collections are looming, Credit Karma will list them all for you.

What we didn’t like

Data collection: Credit Karma doesn’t charge you for free credit monitoring, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make money. The service collects a lot of data on you and discloses that it shares it for marketing purposes. If you’re suddenly getting a lot of marketing emails or text messages, Credit Karma sharing your data may be the reason.

Credit Karma pros and cons

Credit Sesame: Best for simple monitoring

Who it’s best for

Credit Sesame’s free tier is a low-effort credit monitoring service without too many bells and whistles. Simple credit monitoring allows you to keep track of your score without having many extra features you may not want or need.

What we liked

Free Sesame+ trial: Credit Sesame allows you to test out its paid service, Sesame+, which includes credit scores and monitoring for all three major reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you want to monitor all three, you’ll also enjoy some additional features Sesame+ includes, like credit dispute assistance or identity theft protection. If you choose to keep it simple, you don’t have to continue with it after the trial.

Security: Credit Sesame vows to keep your data private in addition to using AES 256-bit encryption and SSL 128-bit SSL encryption to protect your data. Many other free services share your information with third parties for marketing purposes. Credit Sesame’s clear privacy policy assures you that isn’t the case with its service.

What we didn’t like

Paywalled features: Most of Credit Sesame’s features, including monitoring Experian and Equifax, are locked behind the paywall of Sesame+. Some basic monitoring features, like Smart Credit reports and a Score Simulator, are also pay-only. We know free services can only do so much, but this one could include a little bit more.

Credit Sesame pros and cons

Experian: Best for FICO® score

Who it’s best for

Experian free credit monitoring is helpful for people with purchasing goals in mind; it provides insights into your FICO® score and overall creditworthiness. FICO® is often what lenders view, so using a service that helps you monitor and boost it can help you reach your financial goals.

What we liked

Financial monitoring: Very few credit monitoring services offer insights into your FICO® score, so finding one that does it for free is refreshing. With Experian, you can connect accounts to build your credit history and potentially increase your FICO® score. Monitoring your finances is equally vital if you monitor your FICO® score before making a big purchase.

Premium access to all 3 FICO® scores: One FICO® score is useful, but all three are even better. Experian gives you the ability to access your scores from all three reporting bureaus — but for a premium. There is a one-time cost, which isn’t that bad considering it’s similar to other service’s monthly costs. If you’re serious about your FICO®, this is the perfect way to monitor it.

What we didn’t like

Lots of upgrade prompts: Experian will prompt you regularly to upgrade your account to a paid plan, which includes additional features for a monthly fee. You’ll also be served a multitude of offers to apply for credit cards, loans, and more. It can get a little annoying.

Experian pros and cons

FAQs

 

Bottom line: The best free credit monitoring service

Credit Karma is definitely the best free credit monitoring service we’ve reviewed based on the amount of features and functions you get.

Credit Sesame’s simple functionality is useful for anyone wanting something secure that doesn’t require a lot of effort. Experian gives you insights into your FICO® scores, which can help you plan for the future. Even though Credit Karma has the best features and functionality, signing up for multiple services will help you gain a rounder perspective on your credit.

Monitoring your credit keeps you prepared for any surprises that may come your way. Who knows if your car will suddenly die or you’ll need a big loan for an unexpected reason? Having a handle on your credit means you always know where you stand. The best credit monitoring services will help you stay in control of your score.

3 best free credit monitoring services of 2025

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	Free	Best overall free credit monitoring	View plans Read Credit Karma Review
	Free-$19.99/mo	Best for simple monitoring	View plans Read Credit Sesame Review
	Free or $24.99/mo	Best for FICO® scores	View plans Read Experian Review