Can I Get a Free Credit Score in the UK? Yes - Here's How
Published 26th of November 2012·Updated 29 April 2026
Reviewed by: Reviewed for accuracy April 2026
Yes, you can get a free credit score in the UK - and for two of the three main credit reference agencies, it is free permanently with no trial period required. ClearScore gives you your Equifax score for free with no time limit. Credit Karma gives you your TransUnion score for free. Experian offers a free basic account with a limited score view, or a 30-day trial of its full CreditExpert service.
Short Summary
The UK has three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Each calculates a separate score using its own model, so your score will differ between them. Checking all three gives you the most complete picture.
ClearScore (equifax data) and Credit Karma (TransUnion data) are both permanently free with no credit card required. Experian's full credit score requires either a paid CreditExpert subscription or a free basic Experian account, which shows a limited score overview.
Your statutory credit report - a basic record of the data each agency holds on you - costs £2 per agency and is available on request. It does not include a credit score, only the underlying data.
Checking your own credit score never affects it. Viewing your file is recorded as a soft search, which is invisible to lenders and has no impact on your rating.
Which agencies offer a free credit score in the UK?
| Agency | Free score | How to access | Cost after trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equifax | Yes, permanently free | ClearScore (clearscore.com) | Free forever |
| TransUnion | Yes, permanently free | Credit Karma (creditkarma.co.uk) | Free forever |
| Experian | Free basic overview | Experian free account (experian.co.uk) | CreditExpert: £14.99/month |
ClearScore and Credit Karma are the most accessible options because they require no payment details and no trial to cancel. Both show your score alongside a breakdown of the factors affecting it, plus a summary of your credit accounts.
Why do I have three different credit scores?
Each credit reference agency holds its own database and uses its own scoring model. The score Experian gives you is calculated differently from the score Equifax gives you, and both differ from TransUnion's score. None of the three scores is more "official" than the others.
The scores differ because:
- Not all lenders report to all three agencies
- Each agency weights factors such as payment history and utilisation differently
- Each agency uses a different numerical scale
Experian scores range from 0 to 999. Equifax scores (as shown by ClearScore) range from 0 to 1,000. TransUnion scores (as shown by Credit Karma) range from 0 to 710. These numbers are not directly comparable to each other.
Which credit score does my lender use?
Different lenders check different agencies. Most high-street lenders including Barclays, HSBC, and Lloyds use Experian. Many mortgage lenders use Equifax. Newer fintech lenders and some banks use TransUnion. Some lenders check two agencies or all three.
You will not usually know in advance which agency a specific lender checks. Checking all three is the safest approach, as an error on one file could affect an application with a lender you are not expecting.
What is a statutory credit report and should I request one?
Your statutory credit report is a legal right in the UK under the Consumer Credit Act. Each of the three agencies must provide it for free upon request (the historic £2 fee was abolished). It shows the raw data they hold on you: your accounts, payment history, linked addresses, and any public record information such as CCJs or insolvency records.
A statutory report does not include a credit score - it is the underlying data only. It is most useful for spotting errors or checking what a specific agency holds on you before applying for credit. You can request a statutory report from each agency directly through their websites.
How often should I check my credit score?
Checking monthly is a sensible habit. Both ClearScore and Credit Karma update automatically each month and send you alerts if anything significant changes on your file. Regular checks let you catch errors quickly and track the effect of any steps you take to improve your score.
FAQ
Does checking my credit score lower it?
No. Viewing your own credit score or report is recorded as a soft search. Soft searches are not visible to lenders and have no effect on your score. Only hard searches triggered by credit applications affect your rating.
Is ClearScore really free?
Yes. ClearScore is permanently free and does not require you to enter payment details. It makes money through sponsored financial product recommendations, not through subscriptions. Your Equifax credit score and a summary of your credit file are available at no cost with no time limit.
Can I check all three credit scores for free?
Yes. Use ClearScore for your Equifax score, Credit Karma for your TransUnion score, and Experian's free account for a basic Experian overview. All three are free with no payment details required for the first two, and no trial to cancel.
What is the difference between a credit score and a credit report?
Your credit report is the underlying record: all your accounts, payment history, addresses, and public records. Your credit score is a number calculated from that data to summarise your creditworthiness. Lenders typically use both - the score for initial filtering and the report for detailed assessment.
How do I improve my credit score once I can see it?
The most impactful steps are: correct any errors on your report, register to vote at your current address, pay every bill on time, reduce credit card balances below 30 per cent of your limit, and avoid multiple credit applications in a short period. Most of these changes will be visible in your score within one to three months.
What is the highest credit score I can get in the UK?
Experian's maximum score is 999 (considered "Excellent" above 881). Equifax's maximum as shown by ClearScore is 1,000 (considered "Excellent" above 811). TransUnion's maximum as shown by Credit Karma is 710 (considered "Excellent" above 628). These scales are different and the numbers are not comparable across agencies.