Experian vs. Credit Karma 2025: A Free Credit Monitoring Showdown

We were impressed by Experian’s money management and credit monitoring services and pleased with the number of credit monitoring features available with Credit Karma.

We tested both Experian and Credit Karma to compare each service’s value, features, security, and customer support. Keep reading to learn whether Experian or Credit Karma is the right credit monitoring service for you.

Experian vs. Credit Karma review at a glance

Experian offers tools for monitoring your credit, tracking your spending, and more. Credit Karma includes tools for credit monitoring and offers for credit cards, loans, and more. Depending on your goals, one of these may be the better fit.

• Experian: Best for monitoring FICO®
• Credit Karma: Best for casual credit monitoring

Experian vs. Credit Karma

	Our Pick
Star rating	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	Free or $24.99/mo	Free
Free plan
Financial account monitoring
FICO® Score
Credit score	Yes — Experian	Yes — TransUnion and Equifax
Credit score update frequency	Daily	Daily
Credit report	Yes — Experian (Upgrade to see TransUnion and Equifax)	Yes — TransUnion and Equifax
Credit report update frequency	Up to daily	Daily for TransUnion, weekly for Equifax
Credit lock	No (Upgrade only)
Credit analysis
Credit building
Dark web monitoring	No, free dark web scan only
Extras	Can 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	Free identity monitoring, free-to-open checking account, help finding insurance policies, loans, and credit cards
Learn more	Get Experian Read Experian Review	Get Credit Karma Read Credit Karma Review

Experian pros and cons

Experian is one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, so using its services is like connecting directly to the source rather than using a third-party service. The information in the dashboard is well-organized and easily accessible, and we love having access to our FICO® Score, which lenders use to determine creditworthiness.

We were surprised that we couldn’t lock our credit for free through the Experian portal, but there are other ways to perform a credit lock or a credit freeze. The worst part about using Experian was the continual prompting from the service to sign up for new credit cards, loans, or other services. This wasn’t a deal breaker, considering most competitors use affiliate advertising to fund their services.

Credit Karma pros and cons

For a free service, we were impressed that we could monitor our credit with TransUnion and Equifax. (Most free services offer access to only one major credit bureau.) Credit Karma offers a clean, easy-to-use design that’s navigable and modern. It also offers plenty of financial education tools to help users become more financially literate.

Like competitors, Credit Karma pushes credit card and loan offers. We were put off by reports that Credit Karma falsely told people they were preapproved for credit, and then consumers were denied when they tried to apply for those cards or services. We also felt a little icky about the amount of data Credit Karma collects and shares with other third parties. Also, Credit Karma doesn’t allow you to freeze your credit.

Which is the better value?

Even though both services allow you to check your credit for free, we think Experian is the better value. It gives you free access to your Experian FICO® Score and the option to upgrade to a paid service if you want more premium features like 3-bureau credit monitoring and alerts, quarterly 3-bureau FICO® Scores, bill negotiator, identity protection and alerts, ID theft insurance, and more.

	Best Value
Price range	Free or $24.99/mo	Free
Best value plan	Free	Free
Money-back guarantee	N/A	N/A
Learn more	Get Experian Read Experian Review	Get Credit Karma Read Credit Karma Review

Both services are free, so you’d think they would be tied, but Experian’s free credit monitoring offers a paid service with identity theft protection if you want to use it.

We’ve reviewed the paid service, Experian IdentityWorks, and found it to be valuable. Even if you don’t want to use a paid credit and identity service, having the option is nice.

Credit Karma offers a lot for a free service, but there isn’t an option to upgrade to anything that resembles identity theft protection. If your goal is strictly to monitor your credit, then Credit Karma will work for you. If you want a little more, like money management tips, credit protection, and additional features, Experian is the better choice.

Which has the better features?

Credit Karma offers more free features compared to Experian, like identity monitoring, reporting from two credit bureaus, loan assistance, and more.

		Best Features
Credit score monitoring	Yes — Experian	Yes — TransUnion and Equifax
Credit report	Yes — Experian (Upgrade to see TransUnion and Equifax)	Yes — TransUnion and Equifax
Financial account monitoring
FICO® Score
Credit lock	No (Upgrade only)
Credit analysis
Credit dispute resolution support
Credit builder account
Money management tools (bills, budget, etc.)
ID theft insurance	No (Upgrade only)
Extras	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	Free identity monitoring, free-to-open checking account, help finding insurance policies, loans, and credit cards
Learn more	Get Experian Read Experian Review	Get Credit Karma Read Credit Karma Review

We found Experian’s features to be very useful, but Credit Karma offered more for free. As far as core features, these two are pretty evenly matched, but Credit Karma did include more services and extras, including the ability to open a checking account.

One advantage Experian has on Credit Karma is that it shows your FICO® Score, while Credit Karma shows only VantageScores. Experian gives you insights into your FICO® Score, which most lenders use to determine your creditworthiness. But we still feel Credit Karma’s extra features give it the edge over Experian.

Which service is more secure?

Experian asks for your consent before sharing your information, which is a massive win if you’re privacy-conscious.

	Our Pick
Two-factor authentication
Collects data
Shares data with third parties	Yes, with your consent
Learn more	Get Experian Read Experian Review	Get Credit Karma Read Credit Karma Review

Both services offer two-factor authentication and collect data. The biggest difference is that Experian will ask you before sharing your information, while Credit Karma is out there slinging it like a newsboy on the corner of a busy street.

You may wonder if it’s really a big deal if your data is sold, and yes, it is a big deal. Data is a multibillion-dollar industry, and people are beginning to realize how unethical it is to have their information collected and sold without their consent. Experian recognizes this and always asks for your consent.

Which has the better compatibility and customer support?

Credit Karma includes a live chat, so you don’t have to wait for an email response or have to go through a phone system.

		Best Support
Android
iOS
Credit dispute resolution support
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Phone and online guides	Live chat, email, online guides
Learn more	Get Experian Read Experian Review	Get Credit Karma Read Credit Karma Review

Let’s be honest, very few of us actually want to talk on the phone anymore. Experian’s only option is a phone number to support your premium Experian membership or online guides. It’s not the most robust customer service.

Credit Karma, on the other hand, has a live chat option. It was available only during business hours, but it’s still going to connect you with someone who will answer your exact question rather than leaving you to hunt for your specific issue endlessly.

FAQs

Experian vs. Credit Karma: Which is better?

It’s a very close race, but we think Experian edges Credit Karma out by a minuscule amount because it has the potential for upgrades to more intense credit protection and asks your permission before sharing your data.

	Best Overall
Value
Features
Privacy and security
Customer support
Learn more	Get Experian Read Experian Review	Get Credit Karma Read Credit Karma Review

Credit Karma is a widely used credit monitoring service that offers credit-building and financial literacy features. However, Experian offers upgrades and asks for consent before sharing your data, which is more important to us than the extra features Credit Karma offers.

Plus, Experian gives you access to your FICO® Score and breaks down the different factors affecting your creditworthiness. That makes Experian a better choice if you’re looking for money management and credit monitoring.

If your goal is to keep an eye on your credit and see what offers are available to increase your credit utilization, Credit Karma is a solid choice. Being mindful of your credit score is important, so using either of these free services can help improve your financial literacy.

Top alternatives

Experian can help you manage your spending and monitor your credit, while Credit Karma gives you plenty of credit monitoring features. If you’re looking for something a little different, however, consider one of the other services we’ve tested and reviewed.